Mission Statement

Our Story

In 2011, the Tonantzin Society was founded and from the beginning has been all volunteer dedicated to our community in Topeka, Kansas - and beyond.

We started in 2011 and hit the ground running. For five years we coordinated and delivered a month-long citywide Dia de los Muertos Festival. The culmination of the events was our annual one day Dia de los Muertos Street Fair in the NOTO Arts District. Over 95% of all our programming has been and remains FREE.

By 2013 we knew our mission had to be broader and were committed to educating not only ourselves, but communities around us. We co-sponsored and co-planned art exhibits, movie showings including panel discussions, poetry readings, brought in Aztec dancers, had the first ever in Kansas - Chicana Symposium, held multiple educational workshops across USD 501 schools and mush MORE!

As of 2023 we have increasingly been vocal and engaged in climate justice, the rights of nature, human rights and mental health. We view the world and all within, deeply woven together and interconnected. We continue to plan events that build awareness on Chican@/Indigenous/Xicanx/Latinx culture AND works in a myriad of ways to be a vested partner in Topeka.

Since its inception, we have branched out across the country. Not only do our initiatives and platforms invite activists, educators and artists from around the state, but our partners now reside outside of across the world. We hope to connect with you and consider being a part of this powerful tapestry.