(photo credit to Nick Wagner/American Statesman)


UPDATE Friday, Oct 9

Are you available for a couple of hours THIS Saturday (October 30) beginning around 10 AM? Limited work at SJ II will focus on the south section of the cemetery. The aim is to create an unobstructed mulched pathway throughout this section of the cemetery and insure each of the 24 graves are cleaned up. This will be extended for a few hours on Sunday if needed. Your help is needed either day.   Why do this now?

As you may be aware, Monday November 1, people of Mexican heritage will begin to celebrate Dia de los Muertos - which culminates at midnight on November 2. Although under a short time window, there will be a Dia de los Muertos SJ II cemetery event on November 2. The gate will be open at 6:30 pm.

Besides honoring those buried at SJ II on this most important of cultural holidays, this would also be a chance to do something for the somewhat isolated neighborhood that surrounds the cemetery, focusing on them, as well as those who reside in Del Valle. It would also pose an opportunity to educate those living in the area about SJ II, raise awareness and inspire residents to value and respect it. How can this be done?

In collaboration with the non-profit ProyectoTEATRO, who is staging next Tuesday's spectacular Fandango de los Muertos 2021 at SJ I (https://allevents.in/austin/fandango-de-los-muertos-2021/10000194175653607), they are expanding their work to include SJ II.
Although SJ I is about 6 miles away, how else can we attract people to SJ II's rather remote location?
The answer: free music and beverage. 

The adjacent property owner on Posten Road is a musician with a touring canción ranchera/pasodobles band. He has already indicated that he would be willing to contribute and perform. There is also a local Del Valle musician willing to also perform. The property owner who owns the grassy area where we parked for the clean up has agreed to mow and allow attendees to park and for the placement for a makeshift stage in whatever way that could be set up.

Arrangements are being made to find a restaurant entity willing to donate agua fresca/horchata - as well as a source to have toilet facilities available and an entity to donate a generator for lights. Could we have tacos for sale? Pan de Muerte? Mexican hot chocolate? Hot cider? Does anyone have port-a-potty connections? Can we get a few decorations like plastic papel picado, paper flowers, fresh marigolds? flags? Small paper bags, play sand and tea candles for luminaries? We would need to distribute flyers to the neighborhood. There is plenty of room for volunteer contributions other than physical labor. We have a very short time window to make this happen. Is it possible?

For those who can make it on Saturday morning, the gate will be open and you can park up on the hill as was done last weekend. Work will ensue in the south corner. Just walk down the path (Ella Lane). Email with any questions. Check back here for further updates and comments. You can also email with your thoughts, ideas and contributions should you not want to post them here.

It all may seem a bit crazy, but it feels right. Check out this link from two years ago: (https://www.statesman.com/photogallery/TX/20191103/PHOTOGALLERY/110309992/PH/1)