Families and kids of all ages joined their friends and community to celebrate the Easter season at the Little Blue House on Friday in EPA. Children ran around the playground, enjoyed snacks, and explored a variety of activities designed to bring neighbors together through fun, culture, and learning.
First, an Afro-Peruvian dance group, Cunamacue, took the mic, led by teachers Carmen Roman and Pierr Padilla Vasquez. They excitedly welcomed both adults and children, speaking in Spanish and English as they introduced the culture of Afro-Peruvian dancing and drumming. Families gathered around Cajóns, a rectangle drum originated from Peru, and were taught different songs and drumming patterns.
Representatives from the San Mateo County Libraries took the microphone afterwards, explaining tips on promoting English and Spanish literacy in youth. They focused on explaining how to hear and annunciate each syllable of a word by clapping and singing songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle.”
The San Mateo County Libraries also had a station set up where they handed out books to children five and under for free. Families also had the opportunity to join a subscription from the library to get free books monthly. “We want to make sure the community has access to books that are reflective of the community. We’ve got lots of bilingual books here, diverse characters and stories,” Youth Service Librarian Kelly Reinaker explained.
Craft stations were also set up around the grass. One station allowed anyone to draw with markers and crayons on a circle of paper and watch it get turned into a pin that they could put on their clothes, or save for somewhere like their backpack. Another station allowed kids to color on paper and turn it into a mini windmill attached to a straw.
Canopy, an organization that offers free planting in the yards of EPA residents and surrounding areas, put on a fruit tree giveaway and tree tasting activity. The activity had different foods like cookies and guacamole layed out, and people got the chance to taste each food and fill out a whiteboard sheet guessing what tree the food grew from. “I feel like you can see it, just all of these happy faces and people connected over trees and getting to learn more about resources that are available in their community,” Ally Bell, Canopy’s education director, said on how the event brings the community together.
There were also plenty of opportunities for families to learn about a variety of resources. CORA, an organization that offers domestic violence support, provided flyers, branded wristbands, and stress balls. The Ecumenical Hunger Program gave out fliers promoting their services to help the underserved community. “We offer furniture, household items, food, anything that families, elders, or children need,” member Wesley Newman said. “We help wherever we can to make things easier for people.”
The initially-planned egg hunt was altered due to the turnout of the event being higher than expected. Instead, each family was handed a little gift bag and an easter egg on their way out, so that there was enough for everyone.
As families left with Easter eggs, books, new crafts, and big smiles, the event served as a reminder of the power of local connection. With Easter just a week away, the spirit of the holiday is definitely in the air, and in EPA’s own backyard.
