On Sunday, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), celebrated Dia de los Muertos with a three-hour event. Every year, the Latino Research Center, or LRC, receives a grant from the City of Reno to make this event possible.
UNR has been celebrating Dia de los Muertos on campus for 23 years. A student club put on the first event, and the LRC has helped out in the past few years.
“It honors that cultural context, those ancient traditions, while bringing the modern experiences and what we see taking place,” said Dr. Jafeth Sachez, the director of the LRC.
The LRC receives a grant annually from the City of Reno’s Arts and Culture Commission, but it’s the Office of Hispanic/Latinx Community Relations that uses some of the money to put together the celebration. They say the money from the grant has gone down over the years, forcing them to make some changes.
“We had more performers years ago, and unfortunately, we did have to cut some of them because the grant doesn’t get us to the point that it was in the past,” said Osvaldo Jimenez-Estupinan, UNR’s Director of Hispanic and Latinx Community Relations.
The event itself featured multiple cultural dances, face painting, food, and many other activities. You don’t have to be Hispanic to join in.
“It’s open, free for everyone coming in, sharing, learning about Dia de los Muertos, learning about the culture, participating in the tables,” said Jimenez-Estupinan.
One student named Dennis Garcia, who’s the president of the school’s Latino Students Advisory Board, says he appreciates UNR’s efforts to connect with the Hispanic community, but he feels there’s more they can do.
“We mainly shine during Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Garcia, “And I wish that it could be throughout the whole year, not just one month.”
Despite this shortcoming, Garcia says the LRC helped him get in touch with his culture.
“When I arrived in Reno four years ago,” Garcia said, “It took me two years to talk to somebody in Spanish. When I went to the LRC, I remembered full-on speaking Spanish and being immersed in the culture.”
Even though UNR’s celebration is over, you can click here to learn more about the LRC and its impacts on the Hispanic community.
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