San Francisco Carnaval and Dr. Rigoberta Menchu Tum

Conversation with Rodrigo Duran, Director of San Francisco Carnaval

Posted on May 13, 2024 by isajubes in Arts, Music, Sports and Entertainment, Radio Show "Atenea Americana", SHOW ENG // 0 Comments

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Today, we conversation with Rodrigo Duran, the Executive Director of Carnaval San Francisco. Rodrigo Ehecatl Durán, a proud San Franciscan and the son of Mexican immigrants, and he had work for years to BIPOC cultures in the city. Armed with a Bachelor’s in Communications from UC San Diego and a Master’s in Public Administration from San Francisco State University, with a focus on Nonprofit Management, Rodrigo leads the charge in making Carnaval San Francisco the biggest and most vibrant multicultural bash in California. He is also a Commissioner for the city for the Human Rights Commission , one of 11 appointed by the Mayor to represent the diverse human rights interests of the City of San Francisco.

Carnaval San Francisco isn’t just big community party; it’s about honoring the rich tapestry of Latinx, Caribbean, and African Diaspora cultures that make San Francisco sparkle. Through dance, music, art, and community education, they create spaces where diversity isn’t just celebrated—it’s cherished. It started as a local representation of the international Carnaval, on fat Tuesday, but with the weather impediments of February in San Francisco, evolved in to a beginning of summer tradition, with its own personality.

Now in its fourth decade, Carnaval San Francisco isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. It’s a melting pot of creativity where cultures collide in a beautiful explosion of expression.

Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Americas (CANA), is the powerhouse behind Carnaval San Francisco. In the last year they have secured funds from the National Institutes of Health Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS). Their project, “Somos Esenciales: Community Revitalization and Health Through Arts and Entrepreneurship,” is a game-changer. By blending CANA’s cultural know-how with UC’s research muscle and the support of community partners like Friendship House and the Mayor’s Office, they’re revolutionizing health equity and community development in the Mission District. To mark the opening of CANA, this year theme for the carnival is to “Honor Indigenous Roots”, and its Grand Marshal is Dr. Rigoberta Munchu Tum.

Dr. Rigoberta Munchu Tum is the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate of 1992, as the Grand Marshal. Menchu is a women activist from the indigenous Quiché Maya group on Guatemala, who fought for the rights of indigenous people, involved in social reform activities, the working conditions of her community, and the environment, where later she became prominent in the women’s rights movement.

Today she has been granted many international peace awards and is part of many committees. The money from her prize founded the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation, which is an indigenous advocacy organization. Menchu is a well-respected figure in Guatemala, Latin America and all around the world. Rigoberta Menchu Tum and her fight for justice is a story everybody should know about, and get inspired by it.

Listen to the show to get more details about this event, its story and the institutions behind it.

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