All Are Welcome at the Community Ofrenda
JCIRA hosts activities throughout this week
Flowers, photographs, a poem, some chocolate, even a cup of coffee: These are mementos that can make an ofrenda, a little altar for your beloved who has passed.
This week, a multifaceted ofrenda will come together in anticipation of El Dia de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — a Mexican tradition all community members are invited to celebrate. The Jefferson County Immigrants Rights Advocates, aka JCIRA, are hosting this event for the first time at their Multicultural Center in Port Townsend.
“We’re focusing on remembrance, and on honoring loved ones,” said Liliana Paredes, JCIRA’s executive director. She encourages people across Jefferson County to bring their mementos to the center at 1200 W. Sims Way, across from the QFC supermarket and near the Mean Bean coffee kiosk. JCIRA is open five days a week: from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday and Monday.
These mementos, be they pictures, favorite sweets, flowers or short remembrances written on cards, will be added to JCIRA’s community ofrenda. Then everyone is invited to a party this Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’ll have a little refreshment: traditional pan de muerto, fruit punch and tamales to try,” along with music and sharing of stories, Paredes said. JCIRA’s Multicultural Center will be fully decorated, with papel picado and giant sugar-skull artwork made by Port Townsend High School students. Then the community ofrenda will stay on display through Monday, Nov. 2.
Ofrendas can honor family members, friends and pets, Paredes added. She hopes JCIRA’s event gives people an opportunity to connect with one another, learn about the Day of the Dead tradition and enjoy a taste of Mexican culture.
Throughout the year, JCIRA offers a variety of resources to immigrants and the community, and information about them all is found here. The JCIRA Legal Defense and Family Support Fund provides grants to immigrants needing legal assistance, help with paying immigration form fees and other needs. The organization also offers families aid with the basic costs of living in Jefferson County, including rent, medical expenses and school fees.
At the Multicultural Center, immigrants can use free computers, receive help with completing forms and take free English as a second language classes. For community members who want to learn Spanish, beginning conversation classes are offered Monday evenings by instructor Francisca Ramirez. No registration is necessary for the classes, while more details can be obtained by texting 360-332-6070 or emailing jcirawa@gmail.com.
JCIRA’s operational funding, Paredes said, comes from private donations and grants from local and regional organizations including the Rotary Club and the Jefferson Community Foundation.
In recent weeks, Paredes has worked with Port Townsend High School Spanish teacher Reed Aubin to include students in JCIRA’s community ofrenda-making. Aubin, who for years has collaborated with high school art teacher Michele Soderstrom on Day of the Dead projects, said his students embrace the concept.
“It’s always a special assignment,” said Aubin. “It’s interesting, and it’s personal, and it appeals to people on a lot of levels. I try to create a balance between the weight of the lost loved one and the joy and beauty of the holiday.”
