January 2022 Newsletter
Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, Alfredo Reyes seated in the front row
Dear LCAC Comunidad

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! I want to start by wishing you and your family a healthy and prosperous 2022. We are changing the format of the monthly newsletter to give you a deeper look at the stories and people behind the LCAC. The opening letter will be split into three short notes; from me, the Board, and a LCAC Team member.

As difficult as the pandemic has been, along with the significant loss of our sisters at Sol Tribe, Alicia Cardenas and Alyssa Maldonado, I continue to find hope, courage, and resilience through art, ceremony and community. I am continually learning that our ancestors live on through us, and that our community is worthy of excellence in all aspects of our lives. 

Alfredo Reyes
Executive Director 
I Am Denver Interview with Adrianna Abarca
A Note from the LCAC Board:

It’s been an intense, but rewarding, 5 years to get the LCAC launched and in a position to thrive. Building a viable and energetic arts organization, with a bold vision for our community, has required the commitment & investments of many individuals and families from near and far. Thanks for your support!

We are just getting started! In the coming months, you will see a new Strategic Plan and significant steps to activate spaces that embody the LCAC values. The possibilities are endless as to how we can support the creativity and aspirations of Latino artists and artisans while contributing to the well being of our communities. Please continue to share & invest in our programs and partnerships, while we keep delivering exceptional opportunities in the cultural arts that elevate Colorado. 

Adrianna Abarca 
LCAC Founder and Board Chair
A Note from the LCAC Team Member:

My vision for 2022 is to deepen my practice that enforces the LCAC values: Imaginative Excellence, Cultural Courage and Collective Impact. This community is made up of exceptional thought leaders and doers that challenge us to see art as an expression of our collective imagination and freedom.

Everyday I celebrate that I get to work within a community of leaders that advocate fiercely for making a difference in our everyday lives. It's been 6 years since I made Colorado my new home. I'm looking forward to strengthening my kinship to this community. Please join me for a cafecito! I'd love to explore how we can build LCAC together!

Victoria Paige Gonzalez
LCAC Marketing and Digital Infrastructure
Latest LCAC News/ Upcoming LCAC Events
Viva Southwest Mariachi Festival Rescheduled for September 25, 2022

After several conversations with our partners Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo and the MSU Denver, Music Department, we decided to reschedule the Festival to September 25, 2022. The safety and wellbeing of the team, students, teachers, musicians, and all of our families is of the upmost importance.

In the meantime, we can confirm that we will be joined by Lupita Infante at the Levitt Pavilion! Lupita Infante blends elegance and grace, bringing a sensual and soothing vocal contrast to the bold sounds of regional Mexican music. Her GRAMMY nominated debut album, "La Serenata" is proof that she is a star on the rise, capable of forging her own way. Infante is a fierce advocate for empowering women within an industry historically dominated by men. 

Although heir to the Infante legacy of Mexican music and film, Lupita has emerged through her own fearlessness and grit, honoring the past, celebrating our present and reimagining our future.
LCAC Partners with Rocky Ridge Music in Estes Park for Nuestras Raíces: Música Mariachi July 18-24, 2022

In Summer 2022 we are partnering with Rocky Ridge Music Academy to work toward the goal of launching an exciting new week-long residential summer camp dedicated to the music of the Americas. Nuestras Raices: Música Mariachi will focus on this traditional music in its inaugural year.

Led by LCAC Music Programs Director Marialuisa Meza-Burgos, will bring together expert Mariachi performers and educators providing individual instruction in violin, trumpet, guitar and voice. Classes will include lessons on the culture, history and theory of Mariachi. Full and partial scholarships are available. Please contact Mari@lcac-denver.org for an application.
Join the LCAC Mambo Orchestra this Spring

The LCAC Mambo Orchestra is looking for experienced middle and high school musicians to join our ensemble. Rehearsals will take place Saturday mornings at 800 Kalamath for a duration of 8 weeks at a cost of $50 per student. The 2-hour class is taught by seasoned Jazz musician and award-winning luthier, Eric Trujillo. Students who audition for the eight week course will study classic and contemporary Latin, Mambo and Salsa music.

For more information about the LCAC Mambo Orchestra and to schedule an audition, contact Eric Trujillo at (303) 877-4380.
The LCAC Partners with the Children's Hospital

Lilian Lara had the wonderful opportunity to work with the Children's Hospital Colorado to facilitate a Poinsettia Lantern craft session for their kids! Poinsettias, or Flor de Nochebuena, represent cheer and community spirit. Their bright red color is a symbol of resilience, and they have been highly valued since ancient times.

Through the help of the Seacrest Studios, we were able to safely explore the book Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola and create beautiful lanterns together. Learning about the origins of this Mexican flower and being able to share its story is what all of our programming is about:connecting traditions and building community in new ways. 
Hijos del Sol is Temporarily CLOSED for Inventory
2715 W. 8th Avenue

We appreciate your patience while we prepare to transfer Hijos del Sol's inventory into our new CRM software to help us track sales, patron relations, and fundraising initiatives. We will open back up in March 2022 in time to celebrate International Women's Month, so we can honor all the masterful artisan communities we carry in the store. In the meantime, check out some of their stories in our blog!
En Comunidad / In Community
Antonio Ruíz, El Sueño de la Malinche (Malinche's Dream), 1939
Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche co-curated by Victoria Lyall and Tere Romo

Opening Feb. 6, 2022 at the Denver Art Museum this show examines the historical and cultural legacy of La Malinche. Both reviled as a traitor and hailed as the mother of Mexico, she is an enigmatic figure whose legacy has been the subject of controversy, legend and adulation from the 16th century through the present day.

Lilian Lara and Norbeto Mojardin are working on an exciting collaboration with CU Denver at Next Stage Gallery in the DCPA to compliment the show! Stay tuned!
Lunar New Year 2022 at the Federal Plaza
1147 S. Federal Blvd. February 6, 12 - 5pm

Hosted by Now Pho, KUTEA, Saigon Travel and Denver Street Partnership, enjoy spectacular performances by Colorado Asian Heritage Center which include: The Lion Dance, Dragon dance, drum show and more! They will also give out li xi
(red envelopes) for good luck!
Colorado Youth Mariachi Program (CYMP) is Looking for New Emerging Musicians

Interested enrolling your child in Mariachi classes? Lessons are available in trumpet, violin, guitar, voice, and traditional Mariachi instruments. Students will learn about Mariachi history, music interpretation, and performance etiquette. CYMP offers classes at a low monthly cost and has scholarship opportunities.

Email Isahar Mendez at isaharcymp@gmail.com for enrollment.
LCAC Denver \ Colorado
@LCACdenver
720-496-9375