Axis Community Health and La Clinica Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrated November 1-2, is a Mexican holiday that combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day brought by Spanish invaders in the early 1500s. During this time, families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion celebrated with food and drink.
Some of our member health centers use this day to honor and celebrate through community commemorations as well as use the opportunity to provide healthcare services, education, and outreach to patients and community members alike.
Axis and Livermore Connects Coalition celebrate Dia de los Muertos
Axis and the organizations who make up the Livermore Connects Coalition (Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance, Open Heart Kitchen, Tri-Valley Haven, and City Serve of the Tri-Valley) assembled to support La Familia and the City of Livermore at the Dia de los Muertos community celebration. At the event, Axis administered flu vaccines, handed out free dental kits and Covid-19 at-home test kits, and hosted coloring activities and a prize wheel for families that came to Axis’s table. The community celebration had music, dancing, delicious food, traditions, and honoring loved ones who have passed.
Axis is honored to have participated in an event with the community at its core. This is the second event that Axis has participated in with the Livermore Connects Coalition, which aims to improve health and economic outcomes for the Tri-Valley’s most vulnerable population in the 94551 and 94550 area codes. The combined services that the community can receive from the coalition members include mental health, healthcare, emergency financial assistance, temporary and permanent housing, food distribution, and domestic violence support.
La Clinica Celebrates 43 Years of Service in Fruitvale
La Clinica’s Casa CHE (Community Health Education) celebrated 43 years of service in the Fruitvale community with a Dia de Los Muertos health fair on November 2nd. With the support from La Clinica’s Dental, TRUCHA (Together Reaching Users Combating HIV and AIDS) and Cultura y Bienestar (Latino focused mental health prevention) departments, they were able to provide the community with health resources and foster a space to honor and celebrate each other and loved ones.
Cultura y Bienestar started with a workshop on Altar making with traditional healer, Irma Alvarado and held two more workshops on sugar skulls and paper flowers facilitated by program staff with an estimated attendance of about 60 community members. This series culminated with a Dia de Los Muertos Altares and Celebration event on November 1st, 2023 at the newly reopened Wellness Garden of La Clinica’s Fruitvale location in Oakland.
Additionally, Casa CHE was able to share healthy food recipes, linkage to healthcare education, and COVID-19 test kits and resources to community members during the Unity Council’s 28th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration and Cultura y Bienestar’s community altar celebration.
Learn more about Axis Community Health HERE.
Learn more about La Clinca HERE.
Click below to view images from their celebrations:
