The 2017 Taste of Tlaquepaque event was one of the best yet thanks to a great guest list and some amazing partnerships! The fundraiser was held on Friday, October 13 at the Oasis Convention Center. We are proud to have provided the community with a unique cultural learning experience by bringing Day of the Dead, or “Dia de los Muertos,” from Mexico to Springfield.
The evening kicked off with cocktails served by Oasis staff wearing sugar skull makeup as painted by Springfield Little Theatre. As the ceremony began, the Sacred Heart Spanish speaking Scout Troupe presented colors: the Mexican flag alongside the American flag.
Professor Enrique Ortiz, visiting from Tlaquepaque, gave an interesting presentation on the cultural significance of Day of the Dead and followed it with a song. Then, Beth Domann and Jim Anderson hilariously led a silent auction of three beautiful sculptures: one by Paco Padilla, visiting from Tlaquepaque, and two by Paco’s brother, Rodo Padilla.
Finally, the six member band from Tlaquepaque entertained dancing guests well into the evening. Members of the band included Enrique and Paco as well as Manuel Orozco, Fernando Quintana, German Quintana, and Javier Inquez. They were joined on occasion by Maite, Enrique’s lovely wife.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for this event and to everyone who helped make it possible. We could not do it without you! Events like these, which facilitate friendships, peace, and understanding, are so important to our mission. As Manuel so aptly stated, “We must build bridges, not walls.”
“We must build bridges, not walls.”
A special thank you to the Sister Cities Board, Tlaquepaque Committee, Decorating Sub-Committee, Mika Logan, Springfield Little Theatre (Lorianne Dunn, James Brandon Martin, Kayla Buecker), Jim Anderson, Beth Domann, John Price, Patrick Parnell, Samantha Francka, Nancy Hoeman, and Tom and Kim Prater.
Thank you to our host families for your hospitality to our friends visiting from Tlaquepaque: Tom Finnie, Kerri and Matt Miller, Lisa and Randy Bakerink, and Rick and Karen Maxson.
A huge thank you to our sponsors:
Central Bank and Central Trust
Foster Hospitality
City of Springfield
L&W Industries
Bob and Cindy Stephens
Tom Finnie
Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Missouri State University
Kerri and Matt Miller
Tom and Nancy Anderson
Mother’s Brewing
Community Foundation of the Ozarks
Springfield Regional Arts Council
John and Nancy Price
Richard and Teresa Ollis
If you are interested in learning more about Mexican culture, please consider joining us for one of our trips to Tlaquepaque! We have three coming up in January and February of 2018. Please contact Cindy Jobe, Executive Director, for more information: cjobe@springfieldmo.gov.
