Ofrendas for the Future

             The Ofrendas for the Future virtual event was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. First off, the altars were beautiful. It was so inspiring and sweet to see Rosanna and her mother Ofiela talk about their work and why they do it. I really liked how she was explaining that these are not decorations (as I am sure she gets that a lot) and talked about how it is about honoring the life of those we hold dear. Another aspect that was really inspiring is when Patricia was talking about how there is an entity that existed before the concept of Jesus that is "the protector of heads". I have had native american friends growing up and I feel like I am somewhat familiar with their culture, but I am so glad to be learning more. The main thing that stood out to me was the dialogue between Ofiela, Rosanna, Omitosin, and Patricia. They all come from different walks of life and have different cultures, but they were sharing their similarities and their differences in how they honor their loved ones. I have encountered each of these cultures before in the past, but I have never seen an interaction like that and it brought tears to my eyes. Especially with everything that is happening with the black community, it really reiterates that although we may be a little different, we are all human and we have to respect each other and it should not be hard. Although I wish it had been in person and I could have met some of these wonderful people along with seeing the altars, it was still an experience that I will always remember.