La Peña promotes social justice and cultural understanding through the arts, education and community action. Annually, La Peña presents over 200 events with emerging and established music, theater, dance, multi-disciplinary, literary, video and visual artists, produces new works by local artists; presents internationally and nationally renown artists; offers ongoing free and low-cost art classes for youth and adults; and houses a Latin American café.

Each year La Peña staff, in conjunction with its board and input from the community, sets the programming plan. Selection of artists for NPN residencies comes out of this process, which is active and continuous. Artists speak to us about their ideas, and we approach artists with our ideas about community programming. La Peña presents all disciplines with a focus on music, theater and multi-disciplinary work, as our space is limited for dance presenting.