Día De Los Muertos Celebration, Solano Students From Dr. Valdivia's Classes Create Ofrenda

Student-Created Ofrenda of Remembrance, Resistance, and Collective Care

 

Ofrenda created by solano students in Dr. Valdivia's ES courses, november 2026

Cal Poly Maritime students in Ethnic Studies courses taught by ES faculty member Dr. aa Valdivia created this community ofrenda which honors lives and histories shaped by four interconnected wounds: displacement, erasure, violence, and separation. Through photographs, flowers, artwork, and personal offerings, the ofrenda reflects on what has harmed our communities, the scars we continue to carry, and the forms of healing, remembrance, and collective care that help us move forward.

Dr. Valdivia teaches ES 2252: Global Origins of Race in the U.S. and ES 2255: Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies at Cal Poly Maritime for Fall 2026. This project was presented at the Oakland Museum of California’s Día de los Muertos event on October 25, 2026.