Raizado hosts fitness, films, awards show Saturday then a big Sunday community party
Courtesy photo
On Sunday, Latinx House is hosting its second annual Raizado Festival in Aspen’s Rio Grande Park from noon-5 p.m. The whole community is invited to attend.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Mayor Torre will be there as well as a DJ, a fashion show with “sustainable luxury” designer Cindy Castro and Lilian Lara (renowned for her fantastical costume design), and Los Angeles-based Mario De La Torre. There will be a flag-football class taught by World Game Gold Medalist Diana Flores. Vendors, food trucks, and a Beverage Garden will be ready for crowds who want to buy treats and eats.
And the legendary Los Lobos will perform. This year marks the band’s 50th anniversary making music together.
But don’t forget that organizers have scheduled Saturday fitness classes and film screenings, too. Saturday morning’s schedule begins with workplace wellness entrepreneur Ana Sheila Victorino and bootcamp personal training instructor Brenda Gonzalez at Aspen Meadows.
The two experts offer to give attendees a heart-pounding workout as well as yoga and meditation. There will be an hour-long brunch in the Marble Garden that ends at 12:30 p.m., just in time to catch the free shuttle bus to the Isis Theater (406 E. Hopkins Avenue) where for films by Hispanic directors will be screened from 1-4 p.m.
Check the Latinx House website for details: thelatinxhouse.org. Fees may apply in some cases to Saturday events.
Discussions with the films’ producers, backers, or creators are planned after the movies are shown. The movies include “Radical,” which is based on a true story about a teacher in a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence. The teacher tries a radical new method to unlock students’ curiosity, potential, and even their genius.
“With this Light” follows the life and activism of Sister Maria Rosa Leggol who helped over 87,000 Honduran children escape poverty. The film’s two directors, Laura Bermúdez and Nicole Bernardi-Reis, will be there to talk with the audience.
“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” is based on a book set in 1987 El Paso, written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. It’s the tale of two teenage Mexican-American loners who explore their friendship and the difficult road to self-discovery.
Director Aitch Alberto and moderator Cristina Escobar of Latina Media Co. will field audience questions.
“Giving Birth in America: California” tells the story of an immigrant farmworker in Watsonville, California, who is pregnant with her third child. The post-film talkback features Dr. Cristina Gamboa and Katherine Riley, founding member of B.e.s.o for Birth Centers network.
“Through the Night” is a documentary about personal cost of our two working mothers and a child-care provider whose lives intersect at a 24-hour daycare center.
Marina Cruz, Centro Humanitario advocacy and community organizing coordinator, will be there for the post-screening talkback.
From 6-9 p.m., the ICON Awards celebration will be presented at the McNulty Room inside the Doerr-Hosier Center, kicking off with cocktails hosted by master mixologist Lynnette Marreo. She’s the creative force behind film icon Jennifer Lopez’ ready-to-drink Delola cocktails and spritzes.
Actress Judy Reyes, known to TV viewers for “Scrubs” and “One Day at a Time” will present the awards alongside “mom and professional” picketer Jessica Marie Garcia. Among the honorees is actor Wilmer Valderrama (“70s Show,” “NCIS,” “Encanto”) who is known for his activism and philanthropy. He visited U.S. troops in Bagram air base in Afghanistan for the USO and has been spokesman for Voto Latino, the voting-rights non-profit, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Another award will go to community activist Luis A. Miranda, Jr. (father of “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda) has advised Republican and Democratic New York City mayors for decades and championed Hispanic educational and cultural interests on behalf of numerous non-profits. He’s also a political strategist who helped New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton.
Award presenters will also include Christina Kolbjornsen, Senior Vice President of Corporate and External Affairs, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.
There will be safe, comfortable shuttle buses for the Saturday night attendees after all their celebrating is done.
