Post by Claudia Ivette Sanchez

El Dia de los Muertos is a ritual that has indigenous roots and has been practiced for over 3000 years. Outside of Mexico, other Latin American countries like Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil continue to celebrate this ritual. With the influx of Latin American people in the US, many US cities collaborate to continue this celebration, as well.

 The current tradition consists of basic principles adapted from the originating Aztec ritual (such as the use of skulls), but in modern day it is highly influenced by Catholic theology. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth and were used to honor the dead, whom the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations believed came back to visit during the ritual.

Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. However, the Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan. The ritual was celebrated throughout the duration of the 9th month of the Aztec calendar. To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today.

There is a vast diversity in the way this tradition is celebrated and often varies from town to town. In some areas family members visit the cemetery, while others create altars in memory of the deceased in their homes or community spaces. These altars transform into the space where the living and the dead can reconnect. People place offerings, photos and memorabilia, and many more items that show their respect and remembrance of the deceased.

Join us on Wednesday 11/2 and Thursday 11/3 from noon-3pm at SPH 1 and check out our altar display, learn more about this tradition, health issues afttecting the Latino community, and have a bit of fun with some arts and crafts!

Dia de los Muertos 2011 @ UM SPH brought to you by La Salud.

Post by Claudia Ivette Sanchez

Four members of La Salud attended Prospective Student Day 2011 at the University of Michigan School of Public Health on Saturday, October 22nd. Part of the Prospective Student Day Agenda included a Student Organization Fair that gave interested students an opportunity to learn about the active groups within the UM School of Public Health. Daniel Chavez-Yenter, Lanette Garcia, Claudia Ivette Sanchez, and Gerardo Rodriguez hosted La Salud’s information table and got to chat with future MPH’ers. Aside from giving information about La Salud, our members were able to answer questions for prospective students about applications, requirements, and life as an MPH graduate student at U of M.

Please follow us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/UMLaSalud

La Salud will be having a Dia de los Muertos event in the next coming week. Stay tuned for details!

Cuatro miembros de La Salud atendieron El Dia de el Estudiante Prospectivo 2011  de la escuela de salud publica en la Universidad de Michigan el Sabado 22 de Octubre. Parte de la agenda de El Dia de el Estudiante Prospectivo incluyo una feria de organizaciones que les dio la oportunidad a estudiantes interesados para aprender sobre las organizaciones activas en la escuela de salud publica. Daniel Chavez-Yenter, Lanette Garcia, Claudia Ivette Sanchez y Gerardo Rodriguez hospedaron la meza de La Salud y charlaron con futuros MPH-istas. Aparte de dar informacion  sobre La Salud, nuestros miembros contestaron preguntas sobre solicitudes, requisitos y sobre la vida como estudiante de MPH (Maestria de Salud Publica) en la Universidad de Michigan.

Por favor, siganos en facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/UMLaSalud
La Salud tendra un evento para el Dia de los Muertos en la proxima semana. Esten atentos para mas detalles!

After viewing the film participants shared their comments and reactions to both films, providing very insightful questions to ponder on such as the accuracy of the HIV facts presented and the use of such short films to promote HIV testing.

The food selection was also great! Students had the opportunity to taste delicious casamiento (rice and beans), Salvadoran tamales and fried plantains with sweet cream.

El jueves 19 de noviembre, La Salud presentó al primer orador de su serie La Vida Latina, la cual busca enfatizar los problemas que enfrenta la comunidad Latina. Nuestro invitado especial fue el Dr. Larry LaFountaine-Stokes, profesor asociado del Estudios Latinos del Departamento de Cultura Americana aquí en la Universidad de Michigan. El Dr. LaFountain-Stokes mostró dos cortometrajes que abordan el tema del VIH/SIDA y la comunidad Latina, SIDA en el Barrio, Eso No Me Pasa a Mi y Tal Como lo Imaginaste.

Después de ver los cortometrajes hubo oportunidad para compartir nuestros comentarios y reacciones hacia ambos videos, que dieron lugar a muy buenas preguntas como la veracidad de la informacion sobre el HIV presentada en el video y el uso de tales para promover la prueba del VIH.

La comida estuvo deliciosa! Los que llegaron tuvieron la oportunidad de saborear un delicioso casamiento (arroz con frijoles), tamales salvadoreños, y plátanos fritos con crema dulce.

Carrie Rheingans

La Salud presents its first speaker in the new lecture series: Larry La Fountain-Stokes! The speaker series hopes to highlight health issues that are important to the Latin@ community. Please send suggestions for future speakers to la.salud@umich.edu

Join us Thursday 11/19 for brief movie screenings then a discussion by Associate Professor of Latino/Latina Studies, American Culture, and Spanish Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes. Traditional El Salvadoran dinner included.

Room 1690 (Lane Auditorium), School of Public Health building I

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

AIDS Films and the Latina/o Community: Urban Interventions
Screening AIDS in the Barrio: Eso No Me Pasa A Mi
and Just Like You Imagined?

¡La Salud presenta la primera orador en la serie nueva de oradores: Larry La Fountain-Stokes! La serie de oradores espera que descatar temas de salud importantes para la comunidad latina. Por favor mande segurencias para oradores posibles a la.salud@umich.edu

Acompáñenos el jueves 19 de noviembre por una proyección de dos películas breves. Después de las películas, habrá una discusión con el Profesor Adjunto de Estudios Latinos, Cultura Americana, y Español, Larry La Fountain-Stokes. Cena tradicional de El Salvador incluido.

Sala 1690 (Lane Auditorium), Esceula de Salud Publica edificio I

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Películas de SIDA y la comunidad latina: Intervenciónes Urbanas

Proyecciónes de: “AIDS in the Barrio: Eso No Me Pasa a Mi” (El SIDA en el Barrio: Eso No Me Pasa a Mi) y “Just Like You Imagined?” (¿Cómo se imaginó?)

Dr. Larry La Fountain-Stokes

Carrie Rheingans

Last week, Latin@ graduate students, both members of groups and not, had a mixer at Cafe Habana on Washington St. Students from Rackham (communications & pshychology department), social work, public health, law, public policy, and the school of education were present. It was a great networking event for students on campus, and the food was great! Check out our flyer below for more details.

Graduate Student Mixer Flyer

La semana pasada, estudiantes latin@s postgrad@s, de organizaciones y no, tenian una reunion en Cafe Habana en la calle Washington. Habian estudiantes de Rackham (departamentos de conmunicaciones y sicologia), trabajo social, salud publica, facultad de derecho, orden publico, y la facultad de educacion. Fue un evento bueno para establecer conexiones para estudiantes en el campus, y la comida fue buenasa! Por favor, vea la hoja arriba para ver mas detalles.

La Salud members

Michigan’s La Salud Hosts Dia de los Muertos Event to Educate Public About Health Disparities

La Salud, a Latino/a health student organization at University of Michigan School of Public Health, hosted a celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos at the school on Monday, November 2. It was a chance to make traditional decorations like sugar skulls and cookies, but it was also a time to honor the memory of Latinos who have died of preventable diseases, and to educate the public about Latino health disparities.

Latinos are, for example, disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, diabetes and certain types of cancer in this country, the student organizers explained.

La Salud is a student organization at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health addressing Latino/a public health issues in the community. All students who share these concerns and interests are welcome to join the organization. The group’s main objectives are: 

· To serve as a resource to current Latino/a Public Health students, as well as to facilitate the transition of incoming Latino/a students upon their arrival at the School of Public Health;

· To develop a link between School of Public Health students and Latino communities; and

· To serve as a vehicle for leadership development and building the capacities of members to become public health professionals.

More information about the event is available at the La Salud student blog,http://lasaludum.wordpress.com/.

From top to bottom: Jane (our in house specialist) decorating a sugar skull beautifully, Kristen having fun decorating a sugar cookie, and Manuela with our beautiful decorations.

Join La Salud in celebrating the traditional Mexican holiday – Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)!

When? Monday, November 2nd from 10:00-3:00

Where? 1623 at the School of Public Health

Come decorate sugar skulls and delicious sugar cookies and learn about Latino health disparities. 

Carrie Rheingans

CNN has a new series it’s doing called “Latino in America”. You can learn more here: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/latino.in.america/ There are a couple families they’re following, as well as the “Meet the Garcias” section, in which they highlight seven people with the last name Garcia, which has become the 8th most popular surname in the US.

CNN tiene una serie nueva llamada “Latino in America”. Haga clic arriba en el vínculo a aprender más. Siguen algunas familias, y también una sección llamada “Meet the Garcias”/”Conozca los Garcia”, en que destacan siete personas con apellido Garcia, el octavo apellido de los EE.UU.