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Julio Sandoval, Sonia Gutierrez
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DENVER – With sugar skulls, paint and family trees, the Latino Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) kicked off an eventful fall dedicated to Dia de los Muertos and mental wellness.
The series of events, called Offer 2022, focuses on resilience through storytelling. Events begin in October and continue through 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 bonds that held us together were damaged and this is LCAC’s effort to create community as they learn about the well-being and traditions of Día de los Muertos.
“Especially from a resilient perspective, especially from an indigenous balance perspective,” Lara explained.
LCAC also strives to make sure the community is connecting with resources.
“A lot of times life gets in the way, work gets in the way, and we often feel stressed or tired or in a moment of crisis,” said Lara, who works with LCAC’s community arts programs. “Sometimes in those moments we don’t have the ability to get to those resources, that is if we know where they are.”
“The goal is to try to feel more relaxed and try to be in the present,” explained Jackeline Ruiz, who is a facilitator with the Latino Cultural Arts Center. “We wanted to focus more on family, tradition, memories and things.”
According to Mexican tradition, those who pass join the spirit world. Altars, called ofrendas, are placed in homes to honor and remember lost loved ones. Offerings are decorated with pictures, flowers, candles, food, water and salt.
“We have a lot of traditions in Latin America,” Ruiz said. “Something beautiful about tradition is the way you can connect with other people; it’s how you can connect with your community. It’s a way to feel more human, [show] more empathy.”
Traditions are something that travel with people and LCAC creates a safe space to honor it. Below is the list of upcoming events that people can attend.
