This week, Terra Advocati’s Director of Artistic and Transformative Practice, Marissa Ramirez, hosted a beautiful Día de los Niños celebration at St. Philip’s College, welcoming children from local elementary schools. The event centered around a reading of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox”, a nature-inspired children’s book that introduces young readers to the personalities of animals across different ecosystems.
Through these stories, children are encouraged to see their own traits reflected in the animals, fostering a deep and personal connection to the natural world.
In honor of the sacred lands of Yanaguana, the land of living waters, students were led in joyful song and dance to express gratitude for the earth. As part of this sacred ritual, each child whispered their love and intentions for the environment into a flower. These offerings were later cast into the Blue Hole, a site that holds deep spiritual significance. The Blue Hole, an ancient spring that feeds the San Antonio River, is cherished by local Indigenous cultures as the birthplace of Yanaguana, a symbol of life and abundance.
Through this act, the children honored the ancient waters and called for healing and regenerative abundance for future generations.
Marissa’s transformative work, both as a professor at St. Philip’s College and through the SPC Mexican American Studies Program, continues to cultivate a deep appreciation for cultural and environmental heritage. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom through her collaborations with the CREA program and partnerships at UTSA and in Mexico, promoting a deeper connection to the land and the ancestral wisdom it holds.
Through these programs, a new generation learns to cherish, protect, and honor the sacred waters of Yanaguana, and the life that it gives birth to.
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