ARTSPEAK RADIO Dia de los Muertos

Wednesday Octover 30, 2019, noon to 1pm CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live www.kkfi.org

Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd talks with Edgar Galicia Executive Director Central Avenue Betterment Association, Sarah Hyde-Schmeidler Francis Family Foundation Educator, Family Programs & Events with Larissa Briley, Coordinator, Public Programs with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Jenny Mendez Cultural Arts Director Mattie Rhodes Art Center, and Bonnie and Mickie Swade founders of Suicide Awareness Survivor Support-SASS.

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican ancestry living in other places, especially the United States. It is acknowledged internationally in many other cultures.

The multi-day holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to ask for the wellbeing of and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.

Prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the celebration took place at the beginning of summer. Gradually, it was associated with October 31, November 1 and November 2 to coincide with the Western Christian triduum of “Allhallowtide”: All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called “Ofrendas”, honoring the deceased using “Calaveras”, Aztec marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess “Mictecacihuatl” The holiday has spread throughout the world, being absorbed within other deep traditions for honoring the dead.

It has become a national symbol and as such is taught (for educational purposes) in the nation’s schools. In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

EDGAR GALICIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CENTRAL AVENUE BETTERMENT ASSOCIATION- The mission statement shall be to improve the Quality of Life and Economic Development of the Central Avenue Area and its territory of operation. This mission shall be accomplished by promoting youth education, improving family structure, and stability, promoting neighborhood enhancement, and maintenance in addition to economic development. Our method is to lead by example in promoting culture, facilitating entrepreneurship, and increasing business growth within the association’s territory.

Join the Celebration 2019, November 2nd On Central Avenue KCK, 66102

2pm a 5:30pm, Calavera Face Painting and Offering Showdown
3pm a 6pm, Walking Catrinas Show
3pm a 9pm, Food and Art Vending
4pm a 6pm, Live Music (5 stages)
6pm a 7:30pm, Parade 6th St. to 15th St. on Central Ave.
9pm Closing

Venue: 12th Street to 15 Street on Central Avenue

Central Avenue Betterment Assoc.
913.281.9222 or 954.699.5853
1621 Central Avenue, KC KS. 66102
www.CABAKCK.org
www.FW4K.org

BONNIE & MICKIE SWADE-Drawing on personal tragedy, Bonnie Swade started Suicide Awareness Survivor Support Missouri and Kansas, a non-profit support group for those affected by a suicide. Along with offering support, the group also organizes a walk each year to raise funds for the education, awareness and grief support groups in the Kansas City community. Bonnie, an Overland Park, Kan., resident, has facilitated suicide prevention groups and suicide survivors support groups, also spending time visiting the Lansing State Prison to facilitate STOP Violence groups.

SASS (Suicide Awareness Survivor Support) believes the public must be educated about suicide. We sincerely feel that “Suicide is everyone’s business.” With this in mind, SASS has five steps that we’re taking to make sure that “Suicide is everyone’s business.” Those steps are:
• Education
• Public awareness
• Networking with healthcare agencies
• Uniting survivors; and
• Providing information to area support groups.

Hope for the Holidays-Suicide Awareness Survivors Support
(SASS) (www.Sass-MoKan.com) will hold their twelfth annual memorial service to help families, who have lost loved ones, cope with the holidays. A “Hope for the Holidays” service will be held on Saturday, November 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Rodgers Conference Center at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, 9100 W. 74 th Street, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66204.

The guest speaker will be educator Beth Sarver who is founder of Breathing Room KC, which promotes a healing-centered approach for building resilient communities. Her topic will be “Life is Practice & Healing is Our Nature.” Passionate about leveraging neuro-biology in organizational change, Beth teaches mindfulness through play, creativity, and the arts. She specializes in trauma-informed care, trauma-sensitive schools, and resilience education. Her talks delve into the depths of life’s most challenging subject matter to bring forward body wisdom and grace for the human experience. As a trauma and suicide survivor, she shares her story with vulnerability and a humorous interpretation of lessons learned in the darkness. In her talk, “Life is Practice & Healing is Our Nature,” Beth will build a bridge to hope through interactive storytelling and teaching resilience practices.

Candle lighting and a slide show of loved ones lost to suicide will be shown during the service. Digital photos in JPEG format need to be sent to Joe Spiller at [email protected] by November 15. Names or dates do not need to be included on the pictures. Pictures used in the past can be shown this year by informing Joe at the email address above.

Music will be provided by harpist Juli Sackman and special guest, Oscar Polk, who will play the saxophone.

Mark Fenton, a chaplain and licensed grief counselor, will talk about “Honoring our Loved Ones during the Holidays.” His talk will be followed with an activity that allows the audience to honor their loved ones. This will be followed with fellowship and refreshments. The event is free with donations welcomed. To confirm attendance, please email Joe Spiller at [email protected] by November 15.
www.sass-mokan.com
Also Bonnie’s Blog Site www.sass-mokan.blogspot.com

SARAH HYDE SCHMEIDLER/LARISSA BRILEY/JENNY MENDEZ- Celebrate the culture of Mexico at the annual Día de los Muertos Festival! Experience dance, music, artist demonstrations and poetry readings throughout the day.
FREE parking in garage for museum members; $10 parking for nonmembers. Additional parking and FREE shuttle to the museum available at Kauffman Foundation and Kauffman Gardens, 4800-01 Rockhill Road.
Programs
Altar Installation 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Kirkwood Hall, Plaza Level Experience an innovative Día de los Muertos altar with colorful alebrijes, fantastic creatures that represent one’s spirit, that fly over a miniature cityscape complete with traditional Mexican altars. The display is created in collaboration with local artists, Mattie Rhodes Center and community and school groups. Visitors are invited to add their own remembrances.

Live Music & Dance Performances
Ongoing Activities & Demonstrations
10 a.m.–4 p.m. (except where noted)

68 Voces, 68 Corazones (68 Voices, 68 Hearts)
Rockhill Room, Level 2
Drop by to enjoy an ongoing animated series aimed at gathering the 68 indigenous languages of Mexico and their stories, created under the premise “No one can love what they don’t know.”

Photo Opps
Art Activities
Create an alebrijes-inspired mask to take home.
Artists Demonstrations
Live Printing
Pick up a free print by local artists led by Erick Felix fresh off the mobile printing press. While supplies last.
Story Time for Preschoolers
Readings
Dine in Rozzelle Court Restaurant
Bloch Lobby
The Tamale Kitchen
Enjoy tamales that support opportunities to the Hispanic community in the Northeast Kansas City area.
Panaderia de las Americas
Aguas Frescas Bernice

Share Your Pictures Follow & tag us!
View, share & print photos from this event! Available soon at flickr.com/nelson-atkins.
Nelson-Atkins Museum 4525 Oak Street Kansas City, MO 64111 816.751-1278
816-751-1278 www.nelson-atkins.org

Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery Calaca Parade and Closing Reception- 915 W. 17th St. KCMO Friday November 1st 6-11 pm
Join us for our final celebration! Be part of our Calaca Parade and light up the night as we parade through the Westside neighborhood! www.mattierhodes.org

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#kkficommunityradio


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