One of San Bernardino’s biggest musical success stories returned to the city where it all began.
The City of San Bernardino mayor and council presented the band Fuerza Regida with the Key to the City on Thursday, Sept. 17, during a special hometown celebration before a packed house of over 1,500 students from the San Bernardino City Unified School District.
During their remarks to the crowd, Fuerza Regida’s lead singer Jesús Ortiz Paz announced that the band will be partnering with the city on a new youth community center dedicated to sports, music and the performing arts.
The announcement was met by screams and loud cheers by the audience of local middle and high school students who participate in music and performing arts programs. The students were still in shock, as they were not aware that Fuerza Regida were the guests of honor at the event held at the California Theatre until the band took the stage moments before.
Paz stated that he envisions the youth center as a place to dream, to include programs for music and the arts, studying medicine and engineering, and one of his favorite sports, boxing.
“A new youth community center in partnership with the band right here in San Bernardino will be an amazing place where young people can discover their creativity, develop their talents and have opportunities to pursue their dreams,” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran. “Thank you, Fuerza Regida.
Formed in San Bernardino in 2015, Fuerza Regida has grown from its Inland Empire roots as a cover band playing backyard parties into one of the biggest names in Mexican music.
The group has earned more than 35 billion career streams and has tens of millions of monthly listeners on Spotify. In 2025, the band’s album 111XPANTIA debuted at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Fuerza Regida has also made history on the concert stage, including becoming the first Regional Mexican group to sell out Dodger Stadium in July. The band sold out both Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles during the same weekend in 2025.
Frontman Jesús Ortiz Paz, known as JOP, continues to represent his San Bernardino roots, including operating Street Mob Records in the city and supporting the development of emerging música mexicana talent.
Through their Fuerza Music Foundation, the band also supports first-generation communities through scholarships and cultural programs.
