Latin Heritage

Produced by Yesenia Mejia Herrera

Yesenia Mejia Herrera is an interdisciplinary artist, activist, mother, and educator from Oaxaca, Mexico, based in Baltimore, MD since 2008.
Taking after her grandfather,Yesenia developed a love for music that has evolved into an art form of its own by learning to sing in Tacuate language, honoring her grandfather and the Tacuate community.

 Amidst the homogenization of Latine cultures and absences of indigeneity in Baltimore’s Latinx community, it is important to Yesenia to create content that values Indigenous knowledge and wisdom and that allow these traditions to be transmitted to future generations. As a visual artist, her art is committed to build community and enhance the transformative beauty of Latin American culture. She does much of this work through her role as Director of Creative Alliance’s CIELO (Creative Immigrants of Latin America Origins) Department where she co-creates opportunities for growth, education, and a sharing of culture through projects like,  “Artesanas”, “Jovenes en Acción”, “Artesanitos”,“Tianquiztli” among others. She is a current fellow of UMBC’s Public Humanities program Field School 2.0 and received the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award for best Educator and Annual Community Service Award by the Latino Provider’s Network in 2021.