Arriving at the 9th annual Women Who Rock event, the vibe in the room is buzzing. The lively music sets a light mood while scattered conversation and laughter comes from every corner. Our professors are beaming, a mixture of nervous and giddy excitement, they’re ready to get the event up and going. A beautiful ofrenda sits at the front of the room. Yellow and orange paper flowers decorate the alter along with delicate piece of papel picado. Portraits, pictures and art work capture the loved ones that we wish to celebrate and honor. The ofrenda perfectly captures the essence of honoring and spreading ancestral knowledge because it’s a direct connection with those who have passed.  By continuing to acknowledge their existence for decades, the ofrenda is a way to explore the duality of human existence. 

Starting off the event with a blessing and cleansing of the room, I felt at peace. It was amazing to be a part of thanking the space and thanking all of the happiness that will be created through song, dance, and conversations. Acknowledging that we are in sacred space and on sacred land, it was important to honor those who have been here before us and those who are overlooked and silenced. What an amazing kick off to this event!