In partnership with Councilmember Imelda Padilla and Council District 6, Pacoima Beautiful hosted the annual Día de los Muertos celebration at Casa Esperanza, a vibrant day to honor our loved ones while celebrating art, culture, and music.
This event was made possible by the dedication of countless community members and staff who worked tirelessly to bring it to life. We are especially grateful for our partners, New Economics for Women, San Fernando Valley Partnership, and San Fernando Valley Car & Truck Club Council.
In 2025, our community-led decorations embraced the theme “Monarchs of Migration and Memory.” These community ofrendas and street art installations for Día de los Muertos center on the Monarch butterfly — a symbol of migration, transformation, and resilience. Its annual journey echoes the paths of immigrants seeking safety, opportunity, and belonging.
Inspired by environmental and social justice movements, this project reflects the deep interconnection of our struggles. Through origami Monarch garlands, we honor nature’s cycles and the collective fight for justice — recognizing shared experiences of displacement and survival, from Japanese American internment during World War II to the mass deportations of Latinx immigrants.
Each butterfly, crafted by our Vecinos and community members, carries a story, affirmation, or memory — transforming simple paper into a symbol of hope, remembrance, and resistance. Youth wearing Monarch wings embody innocence and dreams, reminding us that creativity and collective action can transcend borders, honor memory, and inspire change.
“Día de los Muertos is a powerful reminder that remembrance can be joyful, creative, and deeply communal. Pacoima Beautiful is honored to witness the community come together—families, artists, neighbors—to transform memory into vibrant expression. Every altar, every brushstroke, every shared story is a tribute to love that never fades. Through this celebration, we reaffirm the beauty of life, the strength of tradition, and the enduring power of art to connect us across generations.” - Veronica Padilla Campos
