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Exerpted from Colorado
Creed Essay by
Phillip Robert Epstein
March 2006
Carmen Epstein,
my grandmother, my Abuelita, is the matriarch of our
close-knit family. She came from an impoverished family in Mexico and
single handedly made a name for herself as an established entrepreneur,
artist and restaurant owner of Mamacita's Restaurante and Tequila Bar,
located on the University Hill and El Descanso, A Cultural Mixteco
Retreat in Aguas Escondidas, Puebla, Mexico. She opened the family-run
restaurant shortly after her relocation to Boulder twenty years ago. Her
exhibitions and contributions to Boulder and Denver represent and
advocate the Hispanic and Judaic cultural aspects of our roots and
heritage. She has been honored by the Boulder County Community Action
Programs as one of the 7th Annual Multicultural Award
recipients for her extensive contributions to the community.
She always stands strong by her ideals of
pride, honor and integrity. Most recently, she hosted the Dia de los
Muertos Festival at CU Boulder, providing catering and
displaying typical artisan crafts and artwork used in the traditional
celebration of one’s deceased ancestors in Mexico.
My Abuelita has brought
great honor to our family. Under her leadership, as the president for
many years of the Chicano Humanities Arts Council (CHAC) she
successfully accomplished the artistic vision of the Chicano Latino
community. She participated in the commissioned art project in
collaboration with U.L.O.Z.I., Inc., an African American artist’s group,
to design and install the art project entitled “Cultural
Perspectives” on permanent exhibition at the Denver International
Airport. She also sits on the advisory committees for the Cinco de
Mayo Festival in Boulder and the Chili Harvest Festival in
Denver. She has helped the Latino community organize posadas on
University Hill and at Boulder High School. She also has participated in
the Barrio Art Cry Project for Chicano youth. She supports youth
groups, including Todos Somos Raza and Denver’s Gang Rescue
and Support Project and participates in Mi Casa, where she
serves as a role model, mentor and supporter of Latinas.
Through
her example, my grandmother has inspired our family to contribute to our
community. She has always played a tremendous role in my life...
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