- SPECIAL EVENT
Las Posadas on December 9th!
Events
Everyone is cordially invited to come celebrate Las Posadas with us!
Las Posadas are Christmas celebrations in which the route taken by Mary and Joseph in their search for a place to stay for the birth of Jesus is recreated. Originally, Las Posadas were used by Spaniards as a tool to Christianize the conquered pueblos. Throughout the centuries, elements of the new Latin American realities from the region, the mestizos, and the indigenous were fused little by little in this colorful celebration.
Rancherias, small pueblos, neighbors, or families walk in procession singing songs and carrying the musical instruments, asking for a posada. At two of the locations where they go, they are denied but it is at the third location where the doors are merrily opened for them. Thereafter, follows a celebration filled with music, the breaking ofpiñatas, eating, and dancing as a community.
Instituto Familiar de la Raza has opened our doors to many peregrinos and has contributed to the construction of a stronger and healthier community for over 30 years. During the holiday season, Instituto proudly opens our doors to be a part of this tradition.
Everyone is welcome to attend as there will be activities for the kids, a procession, singing, piñatas for the littler ones, presents, and a visit from the Three Wise Kings (Los Reyes Magos)! The celebration begins at 4:30 p.m. at Instituto Familiar de la Raza.
In the spirit of community,
Instituto Familiar de la Raza
Poster
- SPECIAL EVENT
El Día de los Muertos Ceremony November 4th!
Events
You’re invited to El Día de los Muertos Ceremony on November 4th!
Every year, Instituto Familiar de la Raza comes together to honor our ancestors and those individuals who have passed before us. Join us at IFR as we celebrate this special event with cultural traditions taught throughout Latin America. On this day, we give recognition to the sacrifices of our ancestors. This festivity to honor the spirits helps us understand how our present life is directly connected to the lives of those who walked the Earth before us. It is in this way that our traditions and culture live and are ever present within us.
Members of the community can bring flowers, candles, or photos of loved ones to honor the dead. This year we will dedicate our altar to the lives of those who have passed who were peacekeepers or conservators of the peace through their actions or philosophy. At Instituto, we offer an altar in recognition of the sacrifices made by all our ancestors on this continent, and in recognition of the great sacrifices made by our parents, our families, and our community in order for us to exist.
This month-long celebration commences in October as Instituto hosts a variety of workshops to teach youth about traditions practiced in Latin America, and to remind families of our rich cultural background. This year, the talleres will feature events such as building of sugar skulls, nichos, mantelitos, baking pan de muerto, among other topics! The dates and times of the talleres are as follows:
Friday, October 21st from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. –Sugar skulls and nichos
Wednesday, October 26th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. –Mantelitos
Wednesday, October 26th from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. –Pan de Muerto
Friday, October 28th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. –Movie Screening of La Ofrenda
Wednesday, November 2nd from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. –Sugar skulls and nichos
Make sure you don’t miss our ceremony on November 4th. It begins with a procession at Horace Mann Middle School at 5 p.m., and culminates at Instituto with performances by Danza Xitlalli and a ceremony to honor the dead.
In the spirit of community,
Instituto Familiar de la Raza
Poster
- SPECIAL EVENT
Hope and Healing Concert Series September 29th!
Events
Hope & Healing Concert RESCHEDULED! New concert date is Thursday, September 29!
Like you, we have looked forward to Susana Baca’s performance at the Hope & Healing Concert and Social Gathering. We are extremely proud of her recent and historic appointment as Peru’s Minister of Culture. Unfortunately, these new duties require that she meet before Peru’s Congress on August 25th, requiring us to postpone the event on that date.
Expressing her profound apologies, Susana has worked with our team to reschedule a date that takes into account her new duties. We are happy to announce that a new date for the Hope & Healing Concert has been confirmed. The new date for the concert is Thursday, September 29th.
We know this change presents an inconvenience, for which we apologize. Your interest in the concert shows your commitment to Instituto Familiar de la Raza, and we are extremely grateful for your support. We hope your support will continue with the rescheduled event. Premium Tickets and tickets purchased through City Box Office will be automatically applied to the new date of the Hope & Healing Concert. You do NOT have to purchase a new ticket. We will, of course, honor your wishes if you prefer a refund. The details of the Social Gathering are currently underway. We will notify Premium Ticket Holders once it is confirmed.
More than ever, IFR remains committed to presenting the event we promised you. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. We look forward to seeing you and Susana Baca on the 29th! Thank you for your continued support.
In the spirit of community,
Instituto Familiar de la Raza
Poster
- FEATURED PROGRAM
Chicano/Latino Family Resource System
The original intention of FRS was to be a prevention program, a “safety net” for families who were considered at risk for involvement in the Child Welfare System and who often fell through the cracks of other systems of intervention. It has grown to not only be a prevention service, but also an early intervention for families already associated with the child welfare system. Learn more.
- SUCCESS STORY
Child Care that Changes Lives
More than fifteen years ago, Adelita called IFR to sign up for Charlas for Providers, a support group for child care providers. Adelita was just starting a family home day care business and wanted to learn how to provide the best care possible, but as a recent immigrant, she was new to the field and the licensing system. Many years later, she is still a regular participant in Charlas, and she has built a well-respected Montessori-based program that is a considerable community asset. Through her curriculum, she makes supports children developmentally and culturally. She continues to run her child care program, now in partnership with her adult granddaughter, who is also Montessori trained.
Charlas for Providers is just one of the many programs offered through IFR’s Early Intervention and School-Based Program. Learn more here.
Our Mission
The mission of Instituto Familiar de la Raza (IFR) is to promote and enhance the health and well-being of Chicanos/Latinos and multicultural/multiracial youth.
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