JANUARY 3, 2025

DECEMBER 18, 2024 — “Mariposa Colibrí” demonstrates the art of musical theater to share the stories of SF Mission District Latino/a workers who struggle with mental health after COVID. This performance features the stories of Somos Esenciales community researchers Ana Alfaro (ROXANA), Daniel Salazar (SMOKEY) and Connnie Rivera (VIVI). They share their struggles with depression due to lost livelihood, immigrant trauma of border crossing, and surviving immigrant detention centers. It is a story that is hopeful in the end: community can heal and support each other in organic and folkloric ways of convivencia. Crossing the border was worth it. Freedom is the most valuable purpose in life.

October 14, 2023 — KQED and Acción Latina presented a full  bilingual  program featuring multimedia performance by local theatermaker Paul S. Flores and local researcher Adriana Camarena.  These stories of Latinx essential workers through poetic monologues, conversation with City health workers and policy makers, along with dance and music performed by local artists, celebrate Latino labor and self–determination.

Featured Panelists:

• Dr. Lisa Fortuna, Chief of Psychiatry at Zuckerberg SF General Hospital
• Joshua Arce, Director of Workforce Development for the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)
• Roberto Hernandez, Director of CANA and Mission Food Hub
• Adriana Camarena, Researcher & Writer

Featured Performers

• Andreina Maldonado, Dancer & Performer
• David Calderon, Spoken Word Artist
• Claudia Portillo, Cellist
• Pedro Gomez, Percussionist
• Jessica Recinos, Dancer & Designer
• Manolo Davila, Musician
  Danza Azteca Mixcoatl

August 11, 2022 — “Somos Esenciales” tells the stories of Latino Essential Workers at the Mission Food Hub in San Francisco. The film shows the resilience and self determination of the Latino community to respond to the COVID pandemic by relying on cultural practices such as food pathways, healing circles, lowriding, volunteering and arts practices to address the decline in mental health. Ultimately, “Somos Esenciales” puts a face on who Essential Workers are in the Latino community by sharing what they have endured and also what they hope for in the future.

Dir. Rafael Flores

Prod. Paul Flores

Funded by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, The Creative Work Fund and Southwest Folklife Alliance