Ofelia Esparza
Ofelia Esparza is a legend in the Boyle Heights community. Best known for her Altares de dia de Muertos built every year in the same are. She has a deep connection with Self-help Graphics where every year they invite the community to part take on the making of flores de papel. Ofelia is at the center of it and very much respected by her community. I’ve had the honor of meeting her and one of her daughters during a workshop at the same venue. Ofelia stresses on the importance of passing on such important traditions on to future generations. While at the same time every year she honors her own ancestor, the women before her. Ofelia’s work has sparked a curiosity for the celebration and its cultural significance in the life of Chicanxs. Today the celebration has expanded to DTLA’s Grand Park where every year different orgs. set up their own altars. Esparza invites people to learn more about the celebration beyond the face painting. This is important because the conversations about our ancestors’ celebrations is a form of decolonization and a way to stay rooted.
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