Join us on September 22 from 5PM–7PM, Mission Garden invites the community to Waters of the Diaspora, a special Autumnal Equinox gathering in the Africa in the Americas Garden celebrating the relationships among water, land, harvest, food, culture, and community.
The evening begins with live drumming from 5:15-5:45 PM, 
followed by a water libation ceremony from 5:45-6:00 PM. 
Guests will then move to La Placita for tastings featuring some foods grown in the Africa in the Americas Garden, along with presentations and community dialogue exploring African American food traditions and the cultural stories carried through food, land, and generations.
The event brings together ceremony, rhythm, food, history, and conversation as the community marks the autumnal equinox - a moment of seasonal transition and gratitude for the harvest.

Event Schedule
5:00 PM Doors Open
5:15 PM Drumming
5:45 PM Water Libation Ceremony
6:00 PM Garden Food Tasting, Presentations & Community Dialogue
7:00 PM Event Concludes

Come celebrate the equinox, spend time in the garden, and connect with others in community. We hope to see you there!

Come learn from nationally recognized Indigenous leaders who are reclaiming traditional agricultural practices and foodways across North America. Tastings offered.

Alyssa Dixon is an O'odham culinary professional, food entrepreneur, community educator, and founder of Alyssa’s Kosin, established in 2017 in the Gila River Indian Community of Arizona.

Rooted in knowledge passed down through elders, family, friends, and community, Alyssa’s work focuses on reconnecting people with O'odham foods, ancestral cooking knowledge, healthy eating, and the cultural significance of food. Her culinary practice honors traditional ingredients and techniques while creating contemporary experiences that invite people to engage with Indigenous foodways in meaningful and approachable ways.

Alyssa spent five years working with Ramona Farms before founding Alyssa’s Kosin, building a foundation in Indigenous agriculture, traditional foods, and the relationship between farming, food, and community. Today, she provides community catering, culinary education, ancestral food programming, youth instruction, and food-support initiatives, while also developing her signature O'odham Bites concept.

Her culinary work has included high-profile Tribal and public events and serving distinguished guests including First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

For Alyssa, food is a way to preserve knowledge, honor elders, strengthen community, and carry ancestral teachings into the next generation.

Community Raised. Community Taught. Community Served.