In recognition of the 12th annual Día de Muertos initiative at Stanislaus State, the Department of Ethnic Studies and the Chicanx Latinx Faculty & Staff Association (CLFSA) will host a campus panel exploring the cultural significance of Día de Muertos and its connections to community, remembrance, identity and belonging.
Featuring invited speakers, the panel will provide students, faculty and staff with an opportunity to learn about Día de Muertos through cultural, historical and community perspectives. The discussion is part of an expanded multi-day Día de Muertos initiative that connects campus educational programming with Ethnic Studies coursework and the annual public Día de Muertos event and exhibition at the Stan State Art Space in downtown Turlock. The panel is open to the campus community and is intended to foster dialogue, cultural learning and community connection.
Panel Discussion and Q&A | 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | MSR 130
In recognition of the 12th annual Día de Muertos initiative at Stanislaus State, the Department of Ethnic Studies and the Chicanx Latinx Faculty & Staff Association (CLFSA) will host a panel discussion featuring Celia Herrera Rodriguez, Laura Malagon, Malinalli of Copal Calli, Victor Escoto, and Citlalin Vigil.
The panel will explore the cultural and historical significance of Día de Muertos, with particular attention to memory, healing, identity, community, and belonging. Through diverse cultural, artistic, and community perspectives, the discussion will highlight how Día de Muertos traditions honor ancestors, preserve cultural knowledge, and create spaces for collective remembrance and connection.
Garden Tour | 1-2 p.m. | Campus BioAg Field Site
Participants interested in the garden tour will meet at MSR 130 for a brief presentation before walking together to the Campus Garden. Hector Vera, gardening specialist in the Department of Agriculture, will lead an educational tour highlighting culturally significant plants and agricultural traditions, including marigolds (cempasúchil) and the Three Sisters—maize, beans, and squash. Participants will also explore the connections among land, culture, food, remembrance, and community.