Workshop: Rooted in Earth—Cacao and Pocket Altars for Connection and Care

In celebration of , hosted annually by the San Francisco Public Library, the Marigold Project and SF Latinas Social Club invite you to an interactive, cultural workshop to connect with the Earth, your creativity, and ancestral/cultural remembrance through cacao and personal altar-making.

This program will begin with a brief, accessible introduction to cacao, exploring its cultural roots in Mesoamerican traditions, its historical significance, and its role as both a nourishing food and a tool for intentional gathering. Participants will be invited to enjoy a warm cacao beverage as a moment of grounding and reflection.

Following this introduction, attendees will be guided through the creation of their own pocket altar, a small, personalized space that can honor loved ones, intentions, memories, or elements of the natural world. Using natural and provided materials, each participant will design an altar that reflects their own story and relationship to the Earth.

Throughout the workshop, facilitators will share cultural context around altar-making practices across traditions, highlighting themes of remembrance, connection, and care.

The act of creating an altar will be framed as an accessible, year-round practice that nurtures mindfulness, creativity, and community connection.

The workshop may also include:

• A short grounding breath exercise to support presence and creativity

• Cultural storytelling and historical context

• A printed or written keepsake reflecting on the meaning and practice of personal

altars

All materials will be provided. This program is designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all ages and backgrounds. Participants are encouraged to bring in pictures or personal items to include in their pocket altar alongside the provided materials. Picture printing for the pocket altar will be available at the workshop.

Cacao will be prepared beforehand and kept warm in a thermos until served. Cups and milk/milk alternatives will be provided.

Connect:

Marigold Project - Instagram | Festival of Altars - Instagram

SF Latinas Social Club - Instagram | SF Latinas Social Club - TikTok

This event is part of : Connect with others to address the climate crisis in ways that are meaningful to you, from poetry and music to science and practical action.