is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer originally from Walla Walla, Washington and currently based in Portland, Oregon. Performing under the name, dré elijah, he attributes much of his musical influence to his Guatemalan, Colombian, and Pacific Northwest roots and family heritage cultivated from four generations of musicians. Andrés’ approach to sound is heavily influenced both by the music he grew up with but also his unique experience, being born deaf in one ear. As a deaf musician, he places emphasis on the vibration and rhythm his sounds create, and he is known for dancing on stage when he’s behind a piano, microphone, or playing trumpet.
Beginning his public performances after the height of the pandemic in high school, his trio won first place in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival small combo competition in 2022. Since then, Andrés has worked with numerous groups of varying styles and played at venues across the Pacific Northwest, all while studying a double major in Jazz piano and political science for two years at the University of Portland. After being a recipient of the Milagro Latino Artist Fund, his debut EP “escuchando las estrellas” is set to be live recorded with his band in Portland this summer. The music of dré elijah has elements of Latiné rhythms mixed with groove based Hip Hop and R&B. He currently performs with Pura Vida Orquesta being dubbed “el niño del orquesta” (the kid of the orchestra) because of his mature approach to the complex piano playing patterns of latin music despite his age.

started as a high school club in 1994 at South Medford High School. In 2006, we became a community program, and in 2014 the group was approved as a federally recognized non-profit organization. Today, Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre performs 20-30 times a year in local events, including Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Shows, and Britt Festival. Our Commitment: Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of traditional Mexican folk dance. Our approach is to empower youth through dance, serve as cultural ambassadors, and promote upcoming events that celebrate the vibrant and passionate art of Mexican folk dance. “Our mission is to empower youth through dance, and educate youth who serve as cultural ambassadors in our diverse community.”

 is an accomplished Chicano artist whose work seamlessly weaves together his profound mystical encounters and rich cultural heritage. Originating from San José, California, and shaped by his upbringing both throughout the United States and in Mexico, Ocelocuauhtli is a masterful artist who channels his spiritual essence into evocative and captivating visual expressions.

His art resonates deeply with his spirit, drawing inspiration from the history and imagery of Mesoamerican iconography and his own well of personal imagination and experience. Emerging from a background rooted in graffiti, he has triumphantly risen above a society that often seeks to obscure his cultural legacy. Ocelocuauhtli is the living embodiment of the magnificence, allure, and strength reminiscent of his ancestors, illuminating a profound connection to the past while forging a dynamic vision for the future.

 A Xicana was born and raised in LA and migrated to Portland with family. I love my mom’s home cooking and appreciate sharing those recipes with my two children. As an Oregon State certified dance educator, I specialize in teaching various dance styles, including but not limited to, Latin Jazz, hip-hop with Latin-stylized elements, and musical/movement theatre. My interdisciplinary approach is designed to connect the dance curriculum to students of all levels to engage in community performances and events. As a bilingual and bicultural educator, I create an inclusive environment fostering creativity and self-expression for students from diverse backgrounds.

Paulina Ramírez- aka Lapaushi is an Ecuadorian, Portland based multidisciplinary artist. After she finished her studies in Public Art at Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), she moved to Portland, Oregon where she works as an independent artist, event
producer, music curator and educator.

Her sets are distinguished by the blend of Latinx/Indigenous/Caribbean/African diaspora music. Bringing a explosive cocktail of rhythms from diverse geographies to the dance floor. She is influenced by her latin american roots of Andean, amazonic, and tropical sounds and enjoys to experiment with sounds and noise between old school tracks and the contemporary production of latin house, dembow, cumbia, electronic, techno, latincore ,breakbeat and ballroom music. Lapaushi is a co-founder of Flores y Frutas, a monthly vinyl-only residence at Hey Love, Noche Libre PDX Latin DJ Collective member, and Global Based DJ resident.

IG:@lapaushi
Soundcloud:@lapaushi

is a Mexican filmmaker with nearly two decades of experience in both live-action and stop motion films. His short form work has been recognized in both local and international film festivals, with his most recent accolades won through his contributions as part of the camera/lighting team in the Academy Award-winning film Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and the Annecy-nominated stop motion tv show, In The Know. Iván’s primary objective as an artist is to bring to the fore stories of Latino immigrants to not only provide greater visibility to the lives of people like me, but also to show the universal humanity found within them

 is an award-winning composer, lyricist, writer, and music director. He is a two-time recipient of the National Alliance For Musical Theatre Frank Young Grant, a finalist for Opera America’s Digital Excellence in Opera Award, and has received commissions from TYA/USA, Zach Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera, 24 Hour Plays, Oregon Cabaret, BMG Music, Portland Opera, and more. He is an alumnus of The Orchard Project, The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Austin Latinx New Play Festival, Prospect Theatre’s Musical Theatre Lab in NYC, Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Black Swan Lab, and New York Theatre Barn Core Programs, including the Barn On Fire Festival of New Musicals (mentored by Jerry Mitchell). His work has been performed at the Jimmy Awards on Broadway, Broadway Housing Gala (co-hosted by the Miranda Family Foundation and Latine Musical Theatre Lab), The Green Room 42, Boston Lyric Opera, Long Beach Opera, Zach Theatre, Prospect Theatre Company, Cutting Ball Theatre, 24 Hour Plays, Prop Thtr Small Hours Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Oregon Cabaret, Camelot Theatre, New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, NAMT Festival, Long Wharf Theatre, and more. Jesse’s music can be streamed on all major platforms.

As a music director, he has worked in theaters and organizations across the country including South Coast Repertory, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, Denver Center, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, American Conservatory Theater, Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Arizona Theatre Company, Alley Theatre, Round House Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, O’Neill Music Theatre Conference, New World Stages, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and many more.

Early in Jesse’s career, he served as music assistant on the first national tour of Hamilton and the world premiere of The Prince of Egypt (Theatreworks SV). In these and other positions, he has worked with Stephen Schwartz, Alex Lacamoire, Greg Anthony Rassen, Paul Scott Goodman, AnnMarie Milazzo, Michael Starobin, Dominick Ammendum, and countless other Broadway veterans.

Jesse serves on award and reading panels for Opera America and the National Alliance for Musical Theater. Jesse is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild of America and National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures. Jesse is on the Board of Directors for new Southern Oregon based opera company, Outsider Opera. He is represented by Katie Gamelli and Paladin Artists.

is from Mexico City, where she worked as a journalist at several publications including Reforma Newspaper, one of the biggest and most influential newspapers in Mexico (www.reforma.com.mx). At Reforma, one of her responsibilities was interviewing international businessmen, and writing special economic reports.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in communication science from Universidad del Valle de Mexico and also has studied economics and finance. Maria moved to Portland in 2005. She studied at Portland Community College in order to improve her skills in English. She concluded the ENNL Program (English as a Non-Native Language.) She also has taken journalism, writing and Public Speaking classes.
In 2007, she founded the Portland Latin American Film Festival, a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to showcasing perspectives of Latin American culture through an annual exploration of Latin American films.
Maria believes that a good film, artfully told, is a great platform and subtle strategy for bringing about social change. She is the mother of a eleven-year-old son who she is raising to be bilingual.
In addition to the PDXLAFF, Maria has worked as a freelance interpreter for Hecht & Norman, LLP. She also has worked as a freelance reporter and translator for the bilingual newspapers, El Hispanic News, El Latino de Hoy and El Centinela Católico in Portland, Oregon.

, Quintero Cisneros, Mesoamerican, Yaqui Indigenous from Mexico, mix-media artist known for vibrant paintings, paper mache creations, pinatas, and innovative recycled art. Marilyn’s art is under Jazzy’s Design, in which she developed a passion for art from an early age, finding inspiration in her family traditions. Growing up, she witnessed her mother and abuela make pinatas en casa, weave intricate baskets and repurpose basura into functional art. Marilyn continues to advance her education and is in her last year of  M.S. Communication program. Marilyn’s portfolio includes a diverse range of pieces, working with local non-profit organizations, preaching educational equity, assisting with teacher programs, developing training sessions, and curriculum development. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Jazzy’s Design is committed to education in the classroom and craft workshops with Ideal PDX, Studio Latin(e). Today, Marilyn continues to create thought-provoking and visually stunning pieces from her small studio in Portland, Oregon. She remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of her craft and sharing her passion for art with the world. Marilyn carries forward the tradition, cherishing those memories and passing them along to her children and her students in the classroom. Marilyn is committed to continue life-long learning and professional growth with the diversity community to advocate for equality, social justice and for the opportunity for all people to thrive to have a safe and rewarding life.

(they/she) is a multi-media storyteller, educator, and recorder of history. A Queer Chingona and second-generation Mexican American, Mika is the owner M.Martinez Photo, the founder of No Box Pictures, and has created more than 20 photographic essays connecting to gender, identity, restorative justice movements, and historical documentation. As a member of Photographers Without Borders, and an Up And Coming Member of Diversify Photo, Mika is part of a global community of storytellers who are working to break the predominantly colonial and patriarchal eye through which history and the media record the images of our time by practicing revolutionary, ethical, and decolonized storytelling. She is a member of the Arts Administrators of Color, and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.

Mika believes that by sharing authentic representations of people and providing a broader narrative around ideas, concepts, and people her work will invite viewers to see themselves as valued and reflected in mainstream media. That the work will inspire a more inclusive world. Her approach as a trauma-aware storyteller has led Mika to create works that challenge social expectations around gender, identity, beauty, and acceptance. This passion has led to community-focused projects including an award-winning short film, “Portland-Catrinas” and photographic works that have been nationally recognized and archived in the Library of Congress and the City of Portland. Mika uses visual storytelling to change the world one story at a time.

 is a Salvadoran-American textile artist. Growing up in a dirt-floored farmhouse in Central America, she remembers the embroidered pink dress her mother sent her from the US. Orquidia crossed the US border as a six-year-old refugee and went on to earn an Associate of the Arts degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Exposure to labor exploitation in the garment industry led her to co-found LaborFruit — a prominent artist-cooperative storefront and gallery in Los Angeles specializing in clothing as artform. Living in Portland Oregon, Orquidia continues to challenge herself as a textile artist, exploring new methods and mediums, such as machine and hand embroidery, knitting, weaving, appliqué, beadwork, fabric dyeing, soft sculpture, painting and drawing.

/ Pedro World Citizen encourages people of all cultures to collaborate for the greater good of humanity. Pedro, with a soulful message and a world reggae sound, calls on all people of all cultures to work together for the greater good of humanity. Planet Earth, “our common home,” should transcend geographical boundaries and borders under a single banner: World Citizen, our human right.

Throughout his life, Pedro has traveled to 44 countries enriching his perspective of the cultures, places and people. He now shares and incorporates different continent world-views sharing our unity in coexistence through the power of music.

Pedro uses music as a means to deepen spirituality and inspire social change as a World Citizen. Through his music he advocates for a better understanding of our diverse humanity on religious, racial, gender and political levels. Using Art and Visual Media he is a story-teller of history, religion and mythology to give voice to our ancestral voices and shine light in the journey towards our future humanity.

 has taught pre-k, kindergarten and first grade during her 28 years of working in education. Currently, she teaches at Nellie Muir Elementary School in Woodburn, Oregon. For the past 23 years, she has run a Danza Folclórico program which has been the subject of published research articles due to its impact on community empowerment. She was instrumental in starting the first pre-school in Woodburn, Oregon. Rosa believes that educación is crucial to lift up and empower communities that have been historically marginalized. She views students’ languages and background as assets and not barriers to success.

Floyd was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. She received her diploma in folkloric dance and Master’s degree in architecture and interior design from the University of Guadalajara. Floyd continued studies in Madrid, Spain at the Universidad de Complutense language and literature in Spain. She worked in the audiovisual department at the Universidad de Guadalajara designing secondary instructional materials for a state educational program. When Floyd first moved to the United States, she worked as an instructional assistant at a migrant summer school and high school in Hillsboro. Seeing the needs of Spanish speaking students at the high school enacted a career change in Floyd’s life that brought her to pursue a teaching license. Floyd taught at an immersion Spanish program at the International School in Portland, Oregon for six years before she was recruited by a Title 1 school district where she currently teaches Dual Immersion Kindergarten. During this transition, Floyd attended Portland State University and completed her masters degree in Bilingual Education (Bilingual Teaching Pathway), along with her ESOL endorsement. Floyd works with students and colleagues to connect school to the community and create opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom.

is a Chicana collage artist who seamlessly melds vintage magazines, found images, and vibrant colors to explore the intricate layers of her identity. With masterful skill, she transforms forgotten fragments into contemporary expressions of Mexican culture, infusing each piece with a palpable energy that resonates on a visceral level. Savina’s collages serve as a visual metaphor for the resilience of Chicana identity, where bright pops of color breathe new life into aged narratives. Through intentional juxtaposition and a dance between the traditional and the modern, her artworks invite viewers to reconsider and reinterpret the stories embedded in each composition.

 I grew up in Provo, Utah, born to an immigrant father and devout Mormon mother. I struggled to find community as a queer, mixed kid in a conservative area, which deeply affected my desire for community. After moving to Portland in 2015 I pursued a bachelors in Film at PSU. While in college and away from my Mormon hometown, I was radicalized. It wasn’t until my senior year in film school that I leaned into more film-focused, radical feminist methodologies inspired by texts such as La Frontera and the MOTO by Chela Sandoval. My attitude on being mixed was transformed by Gloria Anzaldua’s writing on Mestizaje and Donna Haraway’s theories on “cyborg consciousness” and today I work to critique mixed-peoples place in Latino culture and how to work toward a future where Latinos are equitable and successful. I love film and I feel lucky to get to share with my collaborators the support Latino filmmakers rarely get but more than anything I look forward to foster community outside of the film and showcase how incredible the Latino community in Portland is and can be. I don’t fear the future and believe there are a lot of things to look forward to as a Latin community, capable of revolutionary collaboration. My collaborators are equally as enthusiastic and our intersections afford communal sharing in resources for the benefit of us all. Building community is the main goal of our project and my art.

Yannie Álvarez is a bilingual Mexican-American artist based in Oregon, USA. She is currently studying Art and Design at Western Oregon University and anticipates graduating this June.
The majority of her work consists of semi-abstract colorful paintings. She’s refined her style over the past few years, since she first developed it during the pandemic quarantine in 2020. In the past year, she has been exploring what identity means to her as she never felt pride with being Mexican-American. She always felt out of place, and continuously relating to the quote “too American for the Mexicans, too Mexican for the Americans”.
In 2023, she participated in the Hostile Terrain 94 exhibit held at Linn Benton Community College which highlights the deaths of migrants crossing the US-MX border. Having been involved in curating and commemorating the exhibit, her perspective has shifted and inspired her to find pride in being Latina. Her biggest hope is to be able to paint the stories of the immigrant experience that are forced to be forgotten. Many of which are ridden with pain and trauma that trickles down into the next generation.