Strengthening and Valuing Latino Conference:
“Raíces/Roots: Honoring Our Past to Vision Our Future”

We would like to invite your organization to participate in our Dia de los Muertos event; ceremony, processional and community altar building.

The LCI Conference is inviting several school groups and community organizations to create an altar at the Guadalupe Museum as part of the celebration of Dia de Los Muertos. This celebration is a holiday with a complex history that varies from region to region, in Mexico. It is not a time of mourning, but rather a festive occasion for families to visit, build alters and honor the souls of loved who have passed away. We invite your organization to create an altar that reflects your traditions and culture in celebrating your ancestors. This event will most assuredly promote passing on of the tradition of honoring our ancestors to children and families as well as rekindling the practice for Latinos who may have lost the tradition.   

The Community Altar Making Event:
October 21, 2006 at 10:00 A.M Welcome and Introductions
                                    11:00 A.M Altar Making Begins
October 22 Final Day of Altar Making

School Groups
Week of 10.9-13 Visit Schools with Lecture and Slideshow
Provide Curriculum on Altar Making for Teacher

Week 10.16-20 Teachers Choice:
Students come to site and create altar
Create components in classroom for teacher to assemble altar at site
Students and Family are invited to participate in Processional.

Ceremony
Friday October 27, 6:00
Maestro leads a ceremony on Dunham Street. Welcoming of spirits and blessing 4 directions.

Processional
All community members walk to Guadalupe
Pan Dulce and Chocolate

For more on the conference visit the website at http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Esocialwk/Conference.html
You do not need to attend the conference to participate in this event.

Or contact Dawn Martinez Oropeza @ 515.281.5773 or dawn.oropeza@iowa.gov