In a world constantly competing for our attention and peace, Cinthia Peña has a clear sense of how to hold onto both.

“Remember that you’re human,” she says. “You need other people in your life. Things in the world, they come and go. But the people you love, and the life you’re building…that’s what you’re here for.”

In Peña’s voice—enthusiastic and encouraging—the sentiment, which might have felt like a platitude from someone else, comes across as reassuring and genuine. It’s a way of thinking rooted in listening, connection and choosing to focus on what’s good. As the new managing director of the nonprofit CreArte Latino, a cultural center for Latino residents, she’s helping build a community where those values take shape every day through art, storytelling and a deep belief that everyone deserves to belong. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

You’ve been volunteering with CreArte since 2018. What spoke to you about its work?

“You know, Sarasota breathes art—there are so many wonderful, creative things to experience. But when I came here, there wasn’t anything in Spanish where everyone could feel included. With CreArte, people can come and finally see a play in their own language; invite grandparents who don’t speak English. It’s beautiful. My background is in fashion design and merchandising, so art has always been a big part of my life. I designed private labels for stores, I did technical flats [technical drawings of a garment representing how they look laid flat], I worked with freelance designers. Being able to use my creativity, especially in marketing, was exciting for me. I started as a volunteer here in 2018, and took on the role of marketing director in 2022.”

How has CreArte evolved over the years?

“It started off as a theater troupe in 2012. It’s grown so much since then, especially in regard to our bilingual literacy and children’s programs. Our mission is to celebrate our Latino and Hispanic heritage and promote cultural exchange through arts and education—and that’s broad, because we want to welcome the community in every way possible. Now we offer everything from dance, acting and music classes to English and Spanish courses for all ages. For new generations, it’s important that they feel proud of who they are and where they come from.”

Is there an event that captures what CreArte is all about?

“One series that stands out is Voces—which means ‘Voices’—which we launched in 2024. We pick a subject, interview people in the community, then turn those real conversations into a play. We’ve presented ‘Voices of Motherhood,’ ‘Voices of Mental Health’ and ‘Voices of Immigration.’ In the past, the performances were entirely in Spanish with English subtitles. Isn’t that so cool? To me, presenting something about mental health in the Latino community was big. It was a proud moment for me. We Latinos, we migrate, and when we come here, we’re focused on surviving and working. If something happens to us, we just get stronger. In our culture, no one tells you it’s OK to cry or just feel down sometimes. And with immigration, people may have a general idea, but they don’t always understand what individuals actually go through—some of those journeys are incredibly difficult, having to cross the desert to get here from very bad situations. The stories were so touching, and that’s the goal: to help the community learn about what we go through.

“Next, we’re presenting ‘Voices of Adolescence,’ and for the first time, it will be performed in both English and Spanish.”

Is there a moment that’s made you think, “This is why I do this”?

“There was a little girl in third or fourth grade—she was doing well in school, but her teachers were concerned about how shy she was. They suggested her mom put her in theater or something that would help her come out of her shell. She started attending workshops at CreArte, and over time, you could see the change. She gained confidence, and she felt more secure in herself. She transformed completely. Now she’s a teenager, and she’s even taking public speaking classes at school. It completely opened up her world.

“We see it in other ways, too. Some children are ashamed to speak Spanish—they’re at school where no one else speaks it, and then they come home and don’t want to use it with their parents. Here, our workshops are bilingual, and we encourage both languages. By the end of a workshop, we’ll have parents coming up to us saying, ‘Oh, my God, he never spoke Spanish to us until now!’ It’s not just giving them the push to do so; it’s making them feel proud of themselves. At the end of it, they feel happy about who they are, and they know that speaking two languages is a superpower.”

Is there anything you want non-Latino members of the community to know about the Latino community here in Sarasota?

“We Latinos, we have warm hearts. We’re an open book. We invite everyone to come see what we do, collaborate with us, volunteer with us.”