“This is activism,” said Maestra Fe Silva-Robles, the co-founder of Senderos, as she pointed to a lively crowd dancing on Cooper Street in Downtown Santa Cruz. “This is the way that we are active …. This is the way that we show how proud we are.”
Silva-Robles is one of two founders of Senderos, a non-profit organization committed to paving successful pathways and building cross-cultural connections for the Latine community of Santa Cruz.
Senderos, which translates to “pathways,” began 24 years ago as a group of seven family members who sought to cultivate Oaxacan culture through various hands-on programs centering cultural identity. Now, the non-profit has over 150 dancers and 70 musicians.
Senderos celebrated their 20th annual Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza festival at Branciforte Small Schools in three parts, beginning with El Convite on April 23 and ending with the Guelaguetza celebration on April 27.
Guelaguetza is widely celebrated across the state of Oaxaca and can be traced back to the Indigenous Zapotec word “guendalizaá.” The term “guelaguetza” means “a commitment of sharing and cooperation.” The celebration is a symbol of reciprocity that reinforces shared traditions and is also used to commemorate the gods for a bountiful harvest.
Although it was a celebration, it also was a demonstration of the strength of cultural impact in Santa Cruz in the face of an increasingly repressive political moment.
“It’s really important that the community came together because of the fear of [ICE] raids,” said Dr. Nereida Robles-Vasquez, a co-founder of Senderos. “That’s something that we were worried about. However, we are in a school setting, some teachers are here, the superintendent is here, [all] supporting the community.”
El Convite and a Community-Wide Celebration
El Convite consisted of a “calenda,” which translates to procession, where around 150 attendees paraded from North Branciforte Avenue, down Water Street and up Pacific Avenue, ending on Cooper Street for a community-wide fiesta.
Performers parading from North Branciforte Avenue towards Cooper Street. As they marched, volunteers wearing orange safety vests directed performers and kept watch for passing traffic.
The energy of the crowd was contagious as the group marched en route towards the fiesta. Pedestrians danced along to the music from the band and cars honked supportively in passing. 
Performers dance to live music during the fiesta on Cooper Street. For the final performance, attendees were invited to the center dance as Banda del Centro de Integración Social Número 8 performed live music.
Several women wore tlacoyales, Indigenous hair ties embellished with ribbons and other decorative pieces that can be braided into the hair. Others dressed in the traditional attire of Chinas Oaxaqueñas with brightly colored skirts and blouses, balancing garnished baskets atop their heads.
The Guelaguetza Celebration and Cultural Resistance
“It’s been the same story for 20 years. That’s why we need to remember where we came from and where we’re going,” said Charito Martinez, the Guelaguetza emcee, as she swept across the stage. 
Guelaguetza emcee, Charito Martinez, addresses the crowd as performers prepare for a march behind her.
On April 27, Senderos held their 20th Annual Guelaguetza in a celebration of Oaxacan Culture at Branciforte Middle School. The final event of the week began at 10 a.m. and lasted until 5 p.m.
Lining the perimeters of the Branciforte Middle School blacktop were several food vendors, offering delicious morsels like quesadillas de flor de calabaza, translated to squash blossom quesadillas, scrumptious tlayudas and refreshing aguas frescas. A plethora of vendors offered items like pottery, handmade bird whistles, handmade ponchos and ornately beaded jewelry.
By noon, Guelaguetza was in full swing. On the Branciforte Middle School field, dancers performed on a large stage as hundreds of audience members watched in awe. Many sat on picnic blankets or lawn chairs with friends and family, while others mingled and grabbed a bite to eat. Nearby, in the shade of a canopy, sat an accompanying band ensemble, Banda del Centro de Integración Social Número 8 (C.I.S. 8) from Zoogocho, Oaxaca, México. 
Vendors, many of whom are from Oaxaca, México, preparing and serving food for customers. Many of the proceeds went to Senderos to fund operations and scholarships for members.
“Guelaguetza means offering, so giving without expecting anything in return,” said Lindsay Aquino-Robles, a member of Senderos’ Board of Trustees.
In keeping with Oaxacan Guelgaguetza tradition, after every performance, Senderos members would hand out gifts to the crowd, like fruit or clothing. At one point, members of Senderos tossed sombreros high into the air for audience members to catch.
Beyond community organizing, Senderos facilitates a “Plaza Comunitaria” or a community center for families to receive citizenship test preparation, computer literacy training, homework help, scholarships and additional resources free of charge. Performing arts, in particular, are vital to Senderos’ mission, and they host free after-school programs in both music and dance.
“[Senderos is] this really incredible parent organization that serves all the students and all of our schools, particularly supporting our immigrant students,” said Kris Munro, the superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools and major organizing collaborator of the Guelaguetza. “It allows our students to maintain connections to their culture, their values, their families and their traditions.”
Led by músicos from C.I.S. 8, performers parade around the perimeter of Branciforte Small School’s field.
Kicking off the day of festivities, all of the dancers, representing different regions of Oaxaca, paraded along the perimeter of the field. Many dancers held up colorful balloons of different shapes, while two volunteers held up a huge hand crafted paper puppet, or a mono de calenda, of a man and large paper balloon.
Throughout the day, various dance groups took to the stage, reflecting the cultural richness of various Oaxacan traditions.
One crowd favorite was Danza de los Diablos, outfitted with colorful, intricate handmade masks of folktale creatures and loud whips that cracked against the floor of the stage. 
Another dance originated from the La Sandunga, from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, in which colorfully dressed performers, split into traditional pairs of male and female, weaved flirtatiously and joyously across the stage.
“I am proud of where I come from,” Aquino-Robles said. “It’s so rich, and I have been very lucky to have been born and raised in Santa Cruz, where, as you can see today, people of diverse backgrounds actually want to learn about my culture. Unfortunately, during these times, that’s not something you find everywhere.”
In preparation for Guelaguetza, Senderos’ organizing committee considered not holding the festival due to heightened fears of ICE raids in Santa Cruz County.
“This year there were some concerns [in] the air, of course, with the political moment that we are living in,” Silva-Robles said. “We were thinking some days, ‘Should we not do Guelaguetza?’”
Maestra Fe Silva-Robles’ sentiments were echoed by other members of Senderos, like Jose Quevedo, the President of Senderos’ Board of Trustees.
“We do have an executive threat,” said Quevedo, in reference to President Trump’s campaign promise to crackdown on Latine immigrant communities. “After the election, that was the first thing that came to mind.”
In an effort to address community concerns, Senderos board members sent out surveys and held frequent meetings with participants — including those who may have mixed citizenship status.
“The responses we got were, ‘Let’s have it [the Guelaguetza] but consider some type of a safety plan,” Quevedo continued. “Let’s be ready just in case.”
Prior to the event, Senderos held a public “Know Your Rights” workshop with Mandy Tovar, an immigration attorney and member of Senderos’ Board of Trustees. Quevedos hoped that the workshop provided community members with resources should an ICE raid, or other federal crackdown on citizenship, occur on the day of the event.
While the performances and energy of the festival were lighthearted, the gathering sent out a clear message to any in opposition of Latine presence in Santa Cruz County.
“We decided to make [Guelaguetza] happen, because when something shuts [down] your voice, it’s the example you are giving to your kids,” said co-founder Maestra Fe Silva-Robles. “We want it to show that we are here, we are alive, and we are part of this country.”
