Soto Zen meditation in Echo Park, Los Angeles.
We provide traditional Zen practice in a casual atmosphere open to anyone and everyone who would like to join us. We aspire to build a community based around Zen’s original promise that no one here has to do or become anything other than what they already are.
about us
ACZC was established in 2016 as a place to take our Zen practice seriously and ourselves a little less so. We offer daily meditation, weekly talks, traditional chanting services, bi-annual retreats, monthly writing workshops, poetry and music nights, and many other community events. All of our programs are donation based and open to everyone.
our team
Dave Cuomo has been practicing Zen since 2007, originally with the Nashville Zen Center under the tutelage of Taiun Michael Elliston. He was a founding resident of the Angel City Zen Center and was ordained shortly after its opening in 2017. In 2022 he received a masters in Buddhist Chaplaincy at the University of the West and became a student of Gyokei Yokoyama. He did two training angos at Toshoji Monastery in Yakage, Japan and received dharma transmission in 2025. Before taking on Buddhism full time, Dave was one half of the folk punk duo Chicken Little and chef/owner of the Bella Nashville Pizzeria & Bakery.
Dave Cuomo
Head of Practice
Gyōkei completed his training at Eiheiji, one of the head temples of Sōtō Zen, in 2000 before graduating from Sophia University in Tokyo, where he majored in intercultural communication and was involved in the interfaith community. He was a vice abbot of Iwoji temple from 2006 to 2011 and an abbot from 2011 to 2013. After serving Long Beach Buddhist Church for seven years from 2014 through 2021, he now serves Montebello Sozenji Buddhist Temple, one of the branch temples of Sojiji head monastery in Yokohama, Japan. He has also been serving on the board of Association of Soto Zen Buddhists as the secretary since 2015 and the board of Soto Zen Buddhist Association since 2021.
Gyōkei Yokoyama
Supporting Teacher
Sara began practicing with Angel City Zen Center in 2019 and became a resident in 2020. After taking jukai with Gyokei Yokoyama in 2022, she completed ACZC’s first training ango with Dave Cuomo and received lay dharma transmission in 2025. She serves as board president and facilitator at ACZC, where she supports the sangha in both practice and the ongoing life of the center. Outside the zendo, she works as a coach and storyteller helping clients sound more like themselves.