This article highlights the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, California, which is one successful model of a community-based arts education organization whose central mission is to provide these deep art-rich experiences for students from low socio-economic status (SES) communities, who in this instance are predominately African Americans and Hispanics. How the East Bay Center has survived and grown from a modest start in 1968 to a $15.4 million capital campaign and building renovation is a model of how multicultural community-based organizations can serve their constituents and grow and mature in cities that are not economically vibrant. Looking at the lessons learned, but more especially how the Center has managed to retain institutional integrity and quality of services, can assist other organizations to likewise thrive.