User:Anhia/sandbox

In the U.S.
Guelaguetzas have come over to the U.S. with the immigration of Oaxaca natives. However, instead of the Guelaguetzas being held on Mondays like in Oaxaca, in the U.S. the Guelaguetzas are held on Sundays, usually in the  summer months, ranging from late June to early August. Usually there is only one day of celebrations with there occasionally being a party the day before, similar to the calenda in Oaxaca.

The Guelaguetzas in the U.S. similarly consist of traditional dances performed by groups. It also includes stands where companies or individuals can sell goods and food that can be found in Oaxaca. Sometimes the food and goods are imported from Oaxaca to have an authentic feeling. Musical bands are brought from Oaxaca to perform the music that dancers use. Many of the Guelaguetzas can be sponsored in part by TV stations, local newspapers, community organizations, and companies. Some famous TV stations include Telemundo and they often receive coverage from newspapers like the LA Times.

One of the earliest Guelaguetzas to take place in the U.S. happened in Los Angeles, California. It came about through the Organización Regional de Oaxaca (ORO). Like the Populist Guelaguetza, entry to the Guelaguetza is free. In 2012, the Guelaguetza moved locations from a largely Zapotec population to a location that is less known to Oaxaca people so that they will reach a wider audience. This Guelaguetza is also supported by different companies as well. It  even has the support of the restaurant Guelaguetza and there are many different smaller companies that go in order to get public recognition.

Another place where it has taken place is in Santa Cruz, California. It has become an official tradition for the people in Santa Cruz county. This Guelaguetza came about with the help of the organization Senderos: Creating Pathways. The Guelaguetza in Santa Cruz takes place on the third Sunday each May, earlier than most other ones, and has been a festival for around 14 years so far. The Guelaguetza uses their own group of dancers that have been practicing for the Guelaguetza, which is the main event, but also smaller community events. Their musical performances were done by a band from San Jose, California for a while and then they moved on to hiring a more native band that comes directly from Oaxaca. However they are beginning to train musicians that come from Santa Cruz itself in order to increase community involvement.

Additionally, the Guelaguetza can be found in San Jose, California. This is also led by an organization called Lazos Oaxaquenos and includes more modern aspects such as mezcal tasting. It is more representative of a touristy Guelaguetza becoming common as there is a entrance fee. The groups Lazos Oaxaquenos and Senderos often rely on each others support to realize the different Guelaguetzas. The Guelaguetza that happens here got the help of Santa Cruz's organization, Senderos, when it first began. Similar to Santa Cruz, they first used a local band and have now moved on to include a native band from Oaxaca as well.

Although a majority of Guelaguetzas occur on the West Coast, there are also some that can be found on the East Coast. The consulate of Mexico in New York advertises three different Guelaguetzas that take place in: New Brunswick NJ, Brooklyn NY, and in Poughkeepsie NY.

Social Implications in the U.S.
Throughout the U.S., along with the Guelaguetzas, there have been organizations that have been able to provide support for their communities. Many of these groups focus on retaining the culture of people from Oaxaca who have immigrated to the U.S.. In addition to helping the migrants they aim to help the overall families. They do this by providing activities and support to the children of Oaxacan people. However they are not limited to only those of Oaxacan descent, they also include others in their community.The group ORO provides a "scholarship fund that has been awarded to various students to pursue a higher education". The group Senderos also gives scholarships to high school seniors to continue their education, and provides academic tutoring and skill classes to both the youth and adults. Lazos Oaxaquenos also focuses on building a Oaxaca community in Northern California with a focus on making the people aware of different services that are available to them. Specifically they focus on communication between the local government, consulates, media (newspapers, TV, etc.) and the people.