DENVER — With sugar skulls, paint and family trees, the Latino Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) kicked off a fall full of events dedicated to Día de los Muertos and mental wellness.
The series of events, called Ofrendas 2022, focuses on resilience through storytelling. The events begin in October and carry into November, honoring family traditions and creating safe space to share mental health resources.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Lilian Lara with LCAC said the social ties that held us together were damaged and this is LCAC's attempt to create community while they teach about wellness and the traditions of Día de los Muertos.
“Especially from a standpoint of resilient, especially from an Indigenous perspective of balance,” explained Lara.
LCAC also tries to make sure the community is connecting to resources.
“A lot of times life gets in the way, work gets in the way, and we often feel stressed or tired or at a moment of crisis,” said Lara, who works with the community arts programs with LCAC. “Sometimes in those moments we don’t have the ability to reach out to those resources, that’s if we know where they are.”
“The goal is trying to feel more relaxed and try to be in the present,” explained Jackeline Ruiz, who is a facilitator with Latino Cultural Arts Center. “We wanted to be focused more on family, tradition, memories and ofrendas.”
According to Mexican tradition, those who pass on join the spirit world. Altars, called ofrendas, are set up in homes to honor and remember lost loved ones. The ofrendas are adorned with photographs, flowers, candles, food, water and salt.
“We have many traditions in Latin America,” said Ruiz. “Something beautiful about tradition is the way that you can connect with other people; it’s the way you can connect to your community. It’s a way where you can feel more human, [show] more empathy.”
Traditions are something that travel with people and LCAC creates a safe space to honor that. Below is the list of future events people can participate in.
