Mayor Norma Bustamante on Monday opened the city’s third PILARES community innovation center, expanding her administration’s effort to turn underused public spaces into hubs for education, arts, and job training in high-need neighborhoods.
The new center, located in the División del Norte area, is part of a national program launched under President Claudia Sheinbaum that converts older community facilities into free spaces for learning, recreation, and skill-building.
The centers offer residents access to educational programs, arts and cultural workshops, sports activities, and vocational training, with a focus on reaching families who may lack those resources elsewhere.
Bustamante described the opening as part of a broader strategy to strengthen social well-being across Mexicali by bringing services directly into neighborhoods.
“We’re continuing to transform former centers into spaces that offer real opportunities for personal and professional growth,” the mayor said during the opening.
With the División del Norte site now open, Mexicali has three of these centers in operation. Homero Samaniego, head of the city’s Social Well-Being agency, said the facilities serve residents of all ages, offering everything from early childhood education to sports, cultural programs, and technical skills workshops.
Several state and federal officials attended the opening, along with local government representatives.
