November 1, 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
November 2, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

This November 1st and 2nd, MECA proudly presents Dia De Los Muertos: Honoring our Past, Celebrating Our Future. Dia de los Muertos is a traditional Latin American holiday that honors and celebrates the lives of family and friends who have gone before us. Different countries celebrate Dia de los Muertos in their own unique way. The common theme that runs through the two-day celebration, traditionally held November 1 and 2, is the belief that the dead return home, visit loved ones, and feast on their favorite foods. A playful mockery of death and a reaffirmation of life are demonstrated through music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. MECA's event features Dia de los Muertos celebrations from throughout Latin America, with an altar exhibit competition, foods from the Americas, vendors selling authentic Latin American Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts, and a Calavera Fashion Show. This festival truly is a community cultural event celebrating our ancestors and Latin American traditions. MECA Dia de los Muertos: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future is held at MECA's colorful, art-filled campus located at the nationally recognized historic Dow School in Houston's Old Sixth Ward.

The event will provide a unique opportunity for those unfamiliar with this tradition to learn how countries throughout the Latin American world celebrate this day, which is commonly known in other cultures as All Souls Day. The enclosed material tells some of the history of this celebration and also of some of the wonderful traditions that MECA will observe during these two days. MECA is requesting your support to help make this event a success.

Since 1977 MECA has grown from a small community organization to a large multicultural arts center that serves thousands of students annually and is recognized across the country for the quality of its program. MECA students have the advantages of multicultural and classical arts education, recreation, support services headed by a Licensed Master Social Worker, academic assistance in the form of tutoring, mentoring, school advocacy, SAT preparation, and assistance with college selection, enrollment and financial aid. The social services aspect of MECA's program sets us apart from other arts organizations in Houston and is an important part of MECA's mission.

MECA's success stories are many. Some of our students have gone on to the finest universities in the land, often on scholarship in the art form to which they have been introduced right here at MECA. Our students have pursued higher education at such institutions as The Julliard School of Music, North Carolina School of the Arts, American Musical and Dramatic Acting Academy, Rice University, The University of Texas and University of Houston to name only a few. MECA also awards an annual art scholarship to one of our deserving high school seniors and a general scholarship to all MECA high school seniors. Other students have had the opportunity to travel the world and learn about other countries, such as Costa Rica, Cuba, Ireland, Italy, France, Mexico, Vietnam, Norway, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.

We invite you to join us in celebrating MECA's past success and its continued growth by having an artist booth at MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future.

Sincerely,

Alice E. Valdez              Mardi Mayerhoff
Executive Director         President

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MECA Dia de los Muertos publicity plan available upon request.