A collaborative partnership between 3 local community organizations produces the first Talent community Dia De La Independencia celebration since 2019 on Saturday, September 16, 2023 from 3 to 8 pm in downtown City of Talent.

“We lost a lot of these community celebrations during the pandemic - and they are important. As a kid, Mexican Independence Day was a celebration that made me feel seen, and was a way for people to celebrate and learn about what was happening in the community.” - Araceli Jimenez. Cultural Leadership Organizer, Coalición Fortaleza.

Produced by Talent Business Alliance, Coalición Fortaleza, Rogue Action Center, and Rogue World Music, this FREE community event features:

• El Mercadito showcasing an opportunity to shop, connect, & take action. (Learn more about the importance of community events like El Mercadito here.)

• FREE Music on the Commons concert featuring San Francisco-based rising music star, La Doña.

• A resource & activity fair organized and hosted by Rogue Action Center.

Featuring folkloric dancing from regions throughout Mexico by Luiza and Hector Zaragoza, a mural-in-a-day open to public participation by Gabriel Barrara of Scenic G studios, food trucks, music provided throughout the day by DJ Fresa, this celebration promises a FREE, family-friendly day of connection, play, discovery, and fun for the 2,000 anticipated attendees at this culturally-significant event. 

“Shared music, food, art - those are the things that create a deep sense of place, connection, and belonging. Showcasing music that simultaneously highlights the historic roots of a specific type of cultural art AND the current experience of life through a specific cultural lens is a powerful way to honor the richness of identity now.” -Ana Byers. Executive Director, Rogue World Music.

El Mercadito details:

• Location: Outside Historic Town Hall

• Time: 3- 8 pm 

• 25+ art, clothing, food, jewelry vendors

• Mural painting, Folkloric dancers, drag show, activities for kids by Talent Maker City. 

Music On The Commons details:

• FREE

• Location: Commons Stage at Commons Library Park (between Talent City Hall & Library)

• Time: 6 - 7:30-ish pm

• La Doña is a reggaeton singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She combines her deep roots in Latin folk traditions like corridos and rumba with the modern sounds of reggaeton, cumbia, and hip hop. 

• Bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Kids are welcome to play on the playground at the park during the event. Picnic dinners from home, local restaurants, or food trucks at the event are encouraged. No alcohol allowed in the public park. 

• Music on the Commons is a summer concert series that brings people to Talent for free live music once a month in an effort to build community and promote support for Talent's businesses.

“We began the Music on the Commons program in response to two community needs - our community was asking for more events and more opportunities to gather AND to drive more foot traffic to local businesses. We were inspired to work on this bigger collaborative effort, because we view it as part of our larger efforts to not just bring all of our community members home - but for it to feel like home too.”- Darby Ayers-Flood. Board President, Talent Business Alliance. president@talentbusinessalliance.org.

SEPTEMBER 18TH UPDATE

Over 500 Rogue Valley community members turned out for this incredible community event centering local Latinx leadership, voices, and cultural practices!

“What a fun opportunity to highlight my mother, Luisa Zaragoza, sharing her beautiful representations of Mexican Ballet Folklorico. And Myself and Lady Villain LaVicious premiering the Drag House of LaVicious. We got to produce our first drag show here in Talent, Oregon!” - Hector Zaragoza Valentin.

“This was a beautiful event that represented the heart of our Talent community. Thank you to all the organizations and leadership that made this possible.” Jason Clark, Talent City Councilor.

Founded in 2005 as the Talent Chamber of Commerce, and rebooted as the Talent Business Alliance in 2022, the TBA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports local Talent, OR- based businesses at every stage of development. They offer technical assistance, networking, marketing, and advocacy to create social and economic opportunities that expand the vitality of the community of Talent. Learn more at www.talentbusinessalliance.org. 

Coalición Fortaleza is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting a thriving Latinx & Indigenous community in the Rogue Valley. Their work envisions a future where the Latinx and Indigenous families in our community can actualize their collective power to shape their destiny. Learn more at www.coalicionfortaleza.org. 

Rogue Action Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds organizing infrastructure, leaders, and community power for a just, inclusive, and sustainable Southern Oregon for everyone. Learn more at www.rogueactioncenter.org.

Additional event support was generously provided by Travel Southern Oregon, Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites, the Oregon Community Foundation Latino Partnership Program, and Caminos Revista.