On October 16, 2025, Inland Regional Center hosted Colors of Coco: A Fiesta for All Ages, a fun and meaningful celebration of Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This special event brought together families, clients, and community members to learn, create, and celebrate in an inclusive and welcoming space.

A Cultural Lesson in ASL—With English Voiceover

The event began with a historical lesson about Día de los Muertos presented in American Sign Language (ASL) with an English voiceover from Elvia Gullermino, a Deaf Latina who emigrated to the United States when she was fourteen. She also shared her personal story of growing up in Mexican culture and learning about the beloved tradition of honoring and celebrating loved ones who have passed on.

We chose to share the lesson in ASL because many Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals miss out on important cultural traditions—especially when parents or caregivers use a spoken language like Spanish at home. Without everyday “incidental learning”—the small things people pick up just by overhearing conversations or being part of family traditions—some individuals never get the chance to understand the meaning behind holidays like Día de los Muertos. Making this lesson available in ASL helped fill that gap and ensured everyone had access to the same cultural knowledge.

Providing the lesson in ASL made the information accessible, respectful, and empowering for our Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Learning Through Hands-On Activities

After the presentation, families visited four activity stations designed to support learning through creativity:

1. Ofrenda Picture Frames

Families were invited to bring a photo of a loved one who has passed away. We decorated picture frames to place on our community ofrenda, a colorful altar that honors and remembers family members and friends who are no longer with us. The ofrenda is an important part of Día de los Muertos and helps keep their memory alive.

2. Skull Ornament Craft

Participants created bright, decorative skull ornaments—symbols often used to celebrate the beauty of life and remembrance.

3. La Picada Cutouts

Everyone enjoyed making traditional cut-paper banners known as papel picado, which decorate homes and altars with patterns of flowers, skulls, and joyful designs.

4. Sugar Skull Decorating

Sugar skulls are a fun and meaningful part of the holiday. Families decorated them with colorful icing and designs that showed their creativity and style.

Festive Extras for the Whole Family

A talented face painter added festive Day of the Dead–inspired skull designs to the faces of young guests.

To make the celebration even sweeter, we served pan dulce (sweet breads) and warm hot chocolate, creating a cozy and joyful atmosphere.

A Celebration of Culture, Inclusion, and Community

Colors of Coco was more than a party—it was a day of learning, connection, and honoring loved ones. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make this event a meaningful experience for families of all backgrounds and abilities.

We look forward to celebrating with you again next year!

Posted by:

Community Engagement

Inland Regional Center's Community Engagement Unit can be reached at [email protected]