OELA hosts Dia de los Muertos event on Nov. 2

The Organización de Estudiantes Latino Americanos, known as OELA, will host a Día de los Muertos celebration at Boise State University on Nov. 2. The event features an ofrenda, or altar, displaying photos of deceased loved ones alongside food offerings.

Avien Ramirez, the organization’s president, described the holiday as an intercultural celebration open to anyone who wishes to attend. “The point is to have a day where you can recognize what they’ve done for you, even though they may not be here,” Ramirez said. “I personally feel like our Day of the Dead event is welcome to anyone that wants to celebrate.”

OELA was established to provide a community for Latin American students at Boise State. The group focuses on both social connection and academic support for its members. Ramirez noted that the club serves as a space for networking and belonging. “It’s not only a place for Latinos to have a sense of community here at BSU,” Ramirez said. “But it’s also a place for us to network and have a sense of community and belonging.”

Diana Otzoy, who serves as OELA’s financial officer and secretary, joined the group in the fall of last year. She said she was searching for new friends and a sense of community. “I started coming to OELA last year in the fall. I was looking for making new friends. I felt like I didn’t have a community yet,” Otzoy said.

Otzoy attended casual study nights organized by the club, which she said helped her relax. “I had finally found a place where I could come and I could relax,” Otzoy said. “I could just spend time with other Latinos who know the hardships of being a first-generation student. Or just the hardships of being a college student in general.”

The organization partners with local advocacy groups to expand its reach. OELA has built relationships with SOMOS Idaho, an advocacy group under the ACLU, and ALAS, a similar student group at the University of Idaho. These partnerships aim to connect the student body with broader Latin community resources in the state.

A key initiative for the group is Dream for Tomorrow, a program that invites high school students from across Idaho to learn about higher education opportunities. Saul Carreon, OELA’s vice president, began working through this program as a team leader during his freshman year. “Dream for Tomorrow is my idea of what OELA represents. Not just BSU, but Boise and Idaho in general,” Carreon said.

Carreon said the program aims to create spaces and opportunities for the future of Latinos in higher education. “We [are] here not only to form a space for who’s here right now, but also create species and opportunities for the future of Latinos in higher education,” he said.

The club continues to organize volunteer opportunities and casual gatherings for students of all ethnic backgrounds. The group seeks to ensure that students feel represented and heard on campus.

OELA’s upcoming event on Nov. 2 invites the Boise community to participate in the tradition. The altar will display photos and food offerings to honor those who have passed away.