Literally translated, the word “bocón” means “big mouth” in Spanish, but the local community arts organization of the same name chooses to use it a little differently. “While it traditionally carries a negative connotation, we chose it intentionally to reclaim and redefine what it means to have a big voice and loudmouth. At Bocón , being a ‘big mouth’ means having the courage to speak up, to tell our community’s stories before someone else does, and to ensure that those stories are heard loud and clear,” says Crystal Mercado Rosure, founder and artistic director of Bocón.
“This mission is the foundation of everything we do. Outside of school hours, we continue to create original work with our youth ensembles, we provide free global arts summer camps, and offer after-school arts enrichment programs.” The organization, which officially began in 2010 as a free youth theater program in National City for fourth- through sixth-graders, has grown into providing arts education workshops to more than 5,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade in San Diego’s most underserved areas.
Mercado Rosure, who has degrees in children’s theater from San Diego State University and in theater for youth from Arizona State University, produces and develops plays by artists of color and those of marginalized genders. She’s taught in classroom spaces in San Diego County (including year-long cultural arts residencies at Balboa Elementary for the past nine years).