How Corazón began
Dawnelise and Ari Rosen at an early Día de Muertos event
Shared dreams and listening hearts with Ari and Dawnelise Rosen
When Ari and Dawnelise Rosen first opened the doors to their restaurant Scopa back in 2008, it marked the beginning of something special. The tiny Italian restaurant would quickly become beloved for its warmth, exceptional hospitality and nonna’s braised chicken. But even in that moment of promise, there was something pulling at their hearts.
“As our restaurant family grew tighter, it became clear that many were facing challenges beyond the workplace with often nowhere to turn,” Dawnelise remembers. “We found ourselves being passed the phone to translate a doctor's appointment, asked for emergency financial loans and for legal guidance. As we worked alongside our staff to navigate these challenges, we quickly realized that these were not isolated struggles. They reflected a much larger gap in support and resources affecting the broader community."
Having long drawn inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of justice and beloved community, Ari and Dawnelise found themselves asking: If Dr. King were alive today and in Healdsburg, what would he think? What would he do? They didn’t have the answers, but they knew it had something to do with building a more inclusive and connected community.
Less than a year after opening Scopa, they hosted their first MLK Dinner in January 2009, a fundraiser for what was then just an idea taking root. Ari remembers recognizing that he wasn’t alone, that many others shared a sense that this community could be more connected, less divided, and stronger for everyone who called it home.
“People were hungry for it, hungry for connection and community,” he says.
Ari and other local chefs prepared soul food. He and Dawnelise shared what they were seeing, and people began to come together around a shared vision for something different in their community. They held Dollar Dances (like at weddings and quinceañeras) where guests tossed cash at dancers and helped raise money. Bringing in $5,000 in one night felt like a huge win. And it was just the beginning.
Building Corazón together
As what would someday be known as Corazón Healdsburg began to take shape, Ari and Dawnelise were guided by two mantras: 1. Simpler is better. 2. For the people, by the people. “If it fell outside of those,” Ari says, “I knew we were off the mark. It kept us grounded.”
They started by listening, talking with people, connecting with staff in the backs of kitchens across town, knocking on doors and hearing not just what people were facing, but what they hoped for themselves and their community. A board began to form, and early board member Lisa Rhodes and Doug Provisor helped give the organization its name: Corazón. Adam Burns, a local tattoo artist, created the first logo, a lotería‑style image inspired by sacred heart iconography, with the word ‘comunidad’ across a banner in the middle.
A rain-soaked turning point
Then, in October 2016, the early Corazón team hosted our very first Día de Muertos event and officially introduced ourselves to the community.
"I remember the morning of the event, as the forecasted light rain turned into a torrential downpour. Raining so hard that the pop up tents were collapsing and it felt like the event was going to be canceled,” Ari says. “In hindsight, I understand that the rain mirrored the grief carried quietly within the community. Both needed to be acknowledged, felt and released before healing could begin. Guided by a higher spirit we pushed forward with the event set-up, as our boots literally filled with water. And, I kid you not, from the first drum beat, as the feet pounded the pavement, the rain completely lifted.”
Corazón’s first executive director, Leticia Romero, danced with her Danza Azteca group, ceremonially inviting the opportunity for healing to begin. With the sweet smell of copal, marigold and fresh rain, the conch called out to the community inviting us to ground our hearts and remember our connection to each other.
As the day progressed, dancing filled the streets, with Banda Pacifica playing from the back of a flatbed truck and bellies were filled with free pozole, generously donated by local restaurants and community members. It was a humble and heartfelt beginning, for the people by the people.
10 years of impact
In the last decade, the annual Día de Muertos has become a true Healdsburg tradition and something many of us look forward to all year. We’ve also seen real change in our community.
Language access has grown significantly, with far more public meetings interpreted in Spanish, more documents available in both languages, and more bilingual staff welcoming families across schools, nonprofits, and local government.
A huge well of cultural richness that was previously pushed to the margins has begun to take center stage, shaping how we gather, celebrate, and make decisions together.
Together we have shared 3.4 million dollars in direct aid, keeping local families fed, housed, and stable, and offering a lifeline in moments of crisis.
82 Healdsburg High School students have become the first generation in their families to attend university, with many now graduating from college, pursuing graduate school, and launching careers rooted in their talents and passions.
And most importantly, our community has a place to go when they don’t know where else to turn.
The work continues
Ari is the first to admit that part of what drove the early days of Corazón was a desire to turn his complaints into action. There was so much good in the community, and at the same time, he could see the gaps no one seemed to be filling. “Rather than being stuck in a helpless place, it felt good to take action,” he says. “It was a gift to myself to channel that negativity into something positive.”
After so many years and so much accomplished, it’s still true. There is so much to celebrate in our community, and still so much work to do.
If, like Ari and Dawnelise, you want to take action and be a part of building a more inclusive, connected Healdsburg, we invite you to become one of our 10 for 10 this anniversary year. We’re looking for 10 individuals, families, companies, or organizations to give 10,000 dollars to help sustain and grow Corazón’s programs and community-rooted work. You can learn more here.
