Via International, in partnership with Philadelphia-based nonprofit Juntos and professional music collective Guachinangos, is raising funds to support a cohort of Philadelphia youth to participate in a cultural exchange in San Diego. The youth cohort has been invited to perform alongside their dedicated teaching artists and fellow Latinx and Chicano youth in San Diego, at the San Diego Barrio Logan Dia de Muertos festival on Sunday 10/27.

This will be a life-changing experience for Lili, Byron, Edwin, Luis, and Alex, many of whom have never traveled out of the Northeast.

We need to raise $4,000 to fund travel expenses for the youth to participate in this exchange. Will you help us? Every dollar counts.

In addition to performing at the Dia de Muertos festival, they will

participate in combined music workshops with Via's Somos La Voz youth cohort
tour historic landmark Chicano Park
dip their toes in the Pacific Ocean
learn about the unique cultural heritage of the San Diego/Tijuana border region
engage in identity dialogues with the local Chicano community
and more...

About the Partnership

Somos La Voz is Via International's flagship emergent cultural heritage program that works to connect Mexican and Chicano youth with their unique cultural heritage through art programming and performances that bring their art to the general public. Somos La Voz empowers participating youth to own their unique heritage and use it as a tool to access and express inner creativity and leadership.

Guachinangos Youth Music Academy is a program of Juntos in partnership with the professional music collective Guachinangos. Launched in July 2023, Guachinangos Youth Music Academy (GYMA) has provided Latin fusion music education to five youth members of South Philadelphia's Mexican community. Participants have learned guitar, percussion, and violin, and performed live in various public events in the city- including Philadelphia's 2023 Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Most importantly, it has offered a safe and supportive space for music-minded youth to develop their creative talents and connect with each other and their unique cultural heritage.

Somos La Voz: Dia de Muertos Youth Exchange with the Guachinanguitos

Team Members