Above all, Mari Juarez and Jesse Gonzalez wanted the first Día de los Muertos celebration in downtown Decatur to be authentic: street vendors selling mole and elotes, Mexican music and dance, papel picado, and the altar with its essentials: certain colors, salt, water, fruit, marigolds, Pan de Muerto, and copal. Mari and Jesse explain the meaning of Day of the Dead, and how it showcased Latino culture and pride, generated healing, and fostered unity for the Decatur community.