Cooking in Community: Art, Access, and Nourishment in Yanaguana
This past month, I had the honor of creating the screenprint design for Cooking in Community: A Discada Gathering, a free event hosted by Sana Roots Co, a nonprofit in San Antonio dedicated to culturally rooted foodways and community wellness. As both the artist behind the design and the Vice President of the Board, this project is deeply personal to me. It is where art, culture, and food justice meet.
The design itself is a celebration of togetherness. I wanted to reflect the spirit of our community: intergenerational families gathered around the discada, elders sharing stories, and youth learning how to feed one another with care. Every element in the print represents a connection. The circular form of the discada echoes both the table and the conduit for deep rooting, a reminder that we are nourished not only by what we eat, but by who we share it with.
As an artist, I see my work as a way to visualize belonging and resilience. As a board member, I see how Sana Roots Co embodies that same vision through action. The organization creates programs that champion healing through food sovereignty, movement, and a relationship with the land that models how we can care for one another.
This work feels especially urgent right now. With SNAP benefits being cut across the country, more than 42 million people are feeling the impact of reduced food access. Events like Cooking in Community remind us that nourishment should not depend on privilege, paperwork, or eligibility. Everyone deserves a seat at the table. And as Sana Roots Co reminds us, everyone is welcome around the discada.
If you would like to receive an exclusive screenprinted apron or bandana of my design, RSVP now and join us this Saturday, November 12, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Tamox Talom. This is a free event, but if you are able to sponsor, your contribution goes directly toward the groceries and supplies that make gatherings like this possible and accessible for our San Antonio community.
