Partners in work and in history

Cherry Blossom Festival Southern California is one of the organizations with which we regularly partner. If it were possible for groups to be friends, they would be one of Latino Heritage's Best Org Friends. We have been doing things together supporting each other's missions for close to a decade.

Executive Director Wendy Fujihara Anderson has helped us with the jamaica. She is a gifted producer, who is talented in many ways, and has used her skills to help us with everything from exhibitors to press releases. We have helped as we can, and been happy for doing so.

We have valued the similarities of the Latino and Japanes American experience. Folks of my generation who self identified as Chicano/Mexican American have often experienced being neither here nor there; our identities are often set by being a part of the United States and a part of our Mother Country. Individuals and segments of our community sometimes have to think hard about what that means to each of us on a day to day basis. Mestizo, hapa, mulatto - all ways of defining where we come from and who has helped us define who we are.

Adolfo Guzmán-López shares similar thoughts in the link below.

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/movie-miento/mix.html

In the Crawford Family Forum

Lucky us.

KPCC/SPCR's mission is to "strengthen the civic and cultural bonds that unite Southern California's diverse communities. So they host events that engage an audience as part of programming through community engagement and building cultural awareness".

So when we approached them about a screening of "When Worlds Collide", co-written and narrated by Rubén Martínez, they were not only open to the idea - they were most enthusiastic.

The documentary is focused on the latino experience but many of the topics covered in the documentary are issues that folks from any heritage can relate to with some ease.

Because of this groups like the Cherry Blossom Festival, NAACP and YWCA join us as outreach partners. As Cherry Blossom's Wendy Fujihara Anderson shares "When you step back you that our cultures may be different, but historically we've dealt with many of the same issues.

Again- lucky us.

KPCC reporter Adolfo Guzmán-López will join Rubén Martínez in a conversation after the screening. I don't know what tack they may take with the conversation but do know that it will be insightful and that it will contain ideas that will have audience members thinking about identity in ways that may be new and exciting.

Latino Heritage is proud to be one of the hosts of this event.

Lucky us.

Friday, January 21st, 2011 - When Worlds Collide screening

On January 21, come watch your Friday night film – admission-fee free, with complimentary munchies and water besides – at The Crawford Family Forum. The Crawford Family Forum is located at 474 South Raymond Avenue,
Pasadena, CA 91105

Latino Heritage, in partnership with Cherry Blossom Festival, the NAACP Pasadena and Altadena Branches, and the YWCA Pasadena-Foothills Valley, and 89.3 KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum presents a screening of When Worlds Collide: The Untold Story of the Americas After Columbus.

When Worlds Collide is a vivid exploration of the first century after the “Old World” encountered the “New World”. Beginning on the streets of Los Angeles in 2010, this 90-minute documentary travels back to Spain and Latin America in the 16th century, when contact between Spanish conquistadors and native peoples first occurred.

The most important consequence of that era – the development of an entirely new "mestizo" or mixed culture, which is a significant part of the heritage of 30+ million Latinos in the U.S. today – was a radical change experienced by both worlds. When Worlds Collide presents an extraordinary and unexpected account of the foundation of modern Latino culture.

6:30pm – Doors Open
7:00pm – Film Screening
8:30pm – Q&A

A post-reading Q&A will be moderated by KPCC’s Adolfo Guzmán-López and will feature Rubén Martínez, co-writer and narrator of When Worlds Collide.

Admission is FREE, but RSVPs are required.

Reservations will begin on Friday, January 7th.

Call Phone: 626.583.5215 or click on the following link to secure your seat(s):

http://www.scpr.org/events/2011/01/21/when-worlds-collide/

You are more than welcome to forward this message to family, friends, and/or colleagues who may be interested in joining us for this screening and discussion.

Literacy, Legacy, and the Latino Community

Latino Heritage has been around fro 12 years. Those who have been aware of our work have thought of us as parade people. And we are. But we have also been about classes, lectures, and workshops that share something of the local Latino experience and history in places throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Our moderator was KPCC reporter Adolfo Guzmán López pictured here with our panelist Manuel Contreras. Both were wonderful throughout the evening which began with a mixer, panel session followed, and then there was time for book signings and informal conversations.

Pictured below are Randy Jurado Ertll, Victor Cass, Sandra Gutierrez, and me (r to l).

But the best part of the evening was having audience members, especially students, talking with the authors. Author Thelma Reyna is seen here in an informal exchange with a student. That interaction between generations is one of the ways of making sure that a legacy is developed among those of us who are a part of the Latino community.

SEE BELOW

Please do join us.

Literacy, Legacy, and the Latino Community

Please join this groundbreaking gathering of authors who live and work in Pasadena.

We will also be acknowledging Manuel Piñeda and Elías Galván, authors who have written about Pasadena and about their lives.

Dias de los muertos

Traditionally Días de lo muertos is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd; a time to remember those who have a been a part of our lives. It is a tradition that comes from the Maya and the Aztecs combined with 16th century Roman Catholic traditions. The dead are remembered, favorite items are shared; a toy for a child, whisky or coffee for an adult. A favorite picture of the departed.

This ofrenda was presented by the La Pintoresca library staff and includes traditional elements. The spirits return to partake of the spiritual portions, the living often enjoy the tangible portions. To help the spirits quench their thirst water is included. To help light the way candles are lit. To help guide the spirits, marigolds are placed in vases on the ofrenda and on the pathway that leads to the grave of the departed or home. Food or drink is shared. The nature of the ofrenda is set by the pocketbooks of the surviving.

The students, staff, and parents of St. Mark's Episcopal School made this altar. The pan de muerto, bread baked for this holiday, is visible. Pictures of saints and of the dead can be seen. The elements are traditional, the form can be a means of creative expression. Often skeletons or skulls are included reminding us that death is always close and that it need not be feared.

Also acknowledged is the Mexica (Aztec) tradition that there are three deaths.

The first death is when our bodies cease to function; when our hearts no longer beat of their own accord.

The second death comes when the body is lowered into the ground.

The third death, the most definitive death, is when we are lost from memory.

Nothing can be done about the first two deaths. The last death is delayed by remembering those who came before.