Luis Alejandro Calvo Velasquez carefully wraps silver wire around itself, transforming it into a small calavera. These skeleton figurines honor deceased loved ones during Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. In Pilsen’s Benito Juarez Community Academy, students engage in this process, wrapping wires in tape and papier-mache, drawing facial features, and painting them white.

By October, some calaveras find new homes in shop windows on 18th Street. The Pilsen Chamber of Commerce selects about 25 to 30 figurines for display in local businesses as part of their competition. This tradition honors those who have passed, whether family, famous figures, or pets, and is a staple of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, embraces various cultural holidays like Mexican Independence Day and Día de los Muertos. Alejandro, 17, proudly displays a completed calavera and describes it as “muy bonita” or “very beautiful.” He finds the project fun and natural. “I know the process,” he says. “For me, it’s easy, but for others starting, it’s difficult.”

Visual arts teacher Steve Vidal assists students in the art room. He has taught calavera construction for over 20 years. Recently, they partnered with the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce to display calaveras, leading to the first Día de los Muertos Window Walk last year.

“They held us back from having a stronger presence and families coming out,” Vidal says about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence last year. “This year, however, we feel more positive and comfortable.”

Javier Yañez, the chamber’s co-founder, emphasizes the event’s importance. “Events like these help us stay educated on our heritage and showcase our fight for representation,” he states. “The window displays connect us to the community.”

Ayleen Martinez, 14, creates a calavera resembling Michael Jackson. His music reminds her of childhood bonds with her uncle. “Immortalizing Jackson as a calavera nods to that impact,” she says. “Actions are more important than words.”

For Crystal Garcia, 14, the project is personal. Her calavera honors her late father. “It makes me happy because it shows how the school cares about our traditions and backgrounds,” she says. Her figure depicts her father watching soccer, drinking Coke, and eating a torta. “It’s special to capture those moments.”