FALL TOUR REGISTRATION
IS NOW OPEN
Click calendar to view Fall schedule
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LAST MINUTE OPPORTUNITY - AUG 8-10
Two spots have just opened up due to a cancellation.
If you would like to go on our special summer trip to Rio Sonora, register here or contact Shauna - shauna.bcatubac@gmail.com
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THE BORDER LINE
by Jerry Haas
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THE BORDERLINE…I’ve recently been learning about the Tohono O’odham Nation, the people whose huge reservation (about the size of Connecticut) is just west of us. The tribe itself straddles the US-Mexico boundary, a fact encountered every year as they make pilgrimage from Sells and points north to Magdelena de Kino in Sonora, Mexico. The pilgrimage walk, culminating around the Feast of St. Francis (October 4) is described in a new book by Seth Schermerhorn [
Walking to Magdalena: Personhood and Place in Tohono O’odham Songs, Sticks and Stories
(University of Nebraska Press, 2019)]. Dr. Schermerhorn, now an assistant professor at Hamilton College in New York, embedded himself with the tribe on their walk five times while pursuing his doctorate at Arizona State University. His book displays careful scholarship and an empathetic understanding of the O’odham people and their spiritual traditions. While I did not find the book easy to read because of the many references to works by other academics, I loved the sense of peaceful engagement with the land and the people that the author conveys. I found myself longing to join the O’odham on their journey, to follow the ancient path to Magdalena where the bones of Padre Kino are half buried and where homage is paid to San Francisco Xavier. My feet began to burn; I want to walk! Later, still feeling stirred by what I had read, I decided to call the author up and ask if he would be willing to return to Southern Arizona to give a presentation about the O’odham and this spiritual practice. Remarkably, he said yes, and so in collaboration with the National Park Service Office of Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail and the Anthropology Department of the University of Arizona, Dr. Schermerhorn will give two talks: Thursday, September 5 at 2:00 pm at the Haury Building at the U of A and Friday, September 6 at 2:00 pm at the Tubac Presidio. Both presentations are open to the public; registration information is available through our website. Funding is made possible, thanks to the NPS grant we received. This event is part of our effort to help promote the Anza Trail as an historic and living binational reality that transcends current political and fear-laden barriers. We are connected in many ways, and the annual pilgrimage to Magdalena by O’odham, Hispanic American, Anglo American and Mexican people is an example of what it means to “bridge borders” rather than succumb to violence and prejudice. Next month we’ll talk about ways you can join the Walk to Magdalena; meanwhile, join us to hear Seth if you can.
Jerry Haas
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W i n W i n !
ENJOY the CONCERT... and make a donation to BCA
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Our generous friends at the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation are hosting a concert with Dennis Quaid and the Sharks at the Tubac Golf Resort on Saturday, September 14. General admission tickets are $30 and if purchased through this
link
ten dollars out of the thirty-dollar total will go to BCA. We appreciate the support of GGVCF and yours!
Jerry Haas
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General Admission Check-in 2pm
Concert begins 3pm Concert ends 6pm
BRING BLANKET/CHAIR FOR
OUTDOOR CONCERT ON GOLF COURSE
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Nogales, Cross
Border Tour
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February 12-19, 2020
For more information visit our website or contact Shauna at
shauna.bcatubac@gmail.com or (520)398-3229
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Borderland Forums & Events
click the date to register
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Walking to Magdalena @ U of A
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Walking to Magdalena @ Tubac Presido
For reservations please call
the Tubac Presidio at 520-398-2252
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Sonoran Flour Tortilla Workshop
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Sonoran Gallina Pinta Workshop
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The 2015 program began with three applicants. The 2019 intern program began with the screening of nineteen applicants for the five available positions, the most ever, making the selection process more difficult than ever! Thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers, the screening produced five interns, Ryan Gittler from Yale University, CT, Andrew Finkelman from Wesleyan College, CT, Joy Hou from Sciences Po, Reims, France, Kirksey Croft from Maryville College, TN and Rita Chang, recent graduate of Beloit College, WI. Their internship began with a Cross Border Tour and from then on included meetings with a produce distributor, the Kino Border Initiative, the Mexican Consul in Nogales, AZ , the United States Consul General in Nogales, Sonora, the Sierra Club, the Border Patrol, South East Arizona Health Education Council, the Green valley Samaritans, and Circles of Peace in Nogales, AZ. They journeyed to Eloy to visit the detention center, went to Operation Streamline, toured the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, toured a maquila, toured the missions and Tucson, and toured a border ranch in Arivaca. They also explored the region, spent the night in the desert, did water drops and participated in a cross planting ceremony in Douglas, AZ.
It has been an incredible six weeks, thanks to everyone involved. Donors have made it possible for BCA to offer this program, thanks to all of you! These young people will return home and share with their peers and families and neighbors the reality of living on the border. It was difficult to turn down fourteen applicants but with your support we will be able to expand the program to include more opportunities for participation.
Diane Brook~ Coordinator
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Week 4 not published
Joy Hou
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Voices of the Borderlands:
sharing history and culture through audio storytelling
By Angela Gervasi
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In recent decades, journalism has evolved rapidly, sending newsrooms into disarray across the world. But through all the change, radio has remained relevant. In fact, people crave it.
As a journalist, I love listening to the voices of the people I interview. There are nuances: laughter, pauses, exclamations, that can’t be written into an article. Michael Kraus, a social psychologist at Yale, has made the argument that we tend to be more empathetic toward someone by
listening solely to their voice.
During my work with WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR station, the powerful art of audio storytelling became clearer and clearer to me.
I returned to the Nogales area two weeks ago with these ideas floating through my head. For the past few months, I’ve been preparing to work on a podcast interviewing and following different residents of the Ambos Nogales borderlands. There are so many stories of the border that go unheard, and in the controversial political debates about walls, media has largely neglected the voices of the people who live near the border. I hope to produce several podcast episodes telling different stories of Ambos Nogales as a community
,
rather than a “conflict zone.” If you have a story to share about life in the borderlands, I’d love to hear it. The goal is simple: to educate people around the country and hopefully the world about what a border town is actually like, through the voices of the people who actually live it. It’s a simple idea— but sometimes, that’s all you need to tell a good story.
I’m especially thrilled to be returning to work for the Border Community Alliance, where I worked as a 2017 summer intern. Without my time at the BCA, living and learning in Nogales, I most definitely would not be here working on this project!
Angela Gervasi
is a writer, photojournalist, and radio producer currently based in Southern Arizona.
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JOB OPENING: As our members and friends know, BCA continues to grow with more classes, tours and special events. Our intern program attracts more and more interest. In response, BCA’s Board of Directors has approved a position of PROGRAM COORDINATOR. Responsibilities include promoting BCA, leading tours, coordinating the intern program and assisting with program development. We seek a highly motivated person with good communication skills (speaking, writing and social media) and good interpersonal skills. Competence in Spanish required. This is a contract position slightly less than full-time (3/4). The person selected will work alongside our Director of Program Operations Alex La Pierre. Anticipated start date: October 1. Send cover letter and resume to AJ Hernandez at
ajh.bca@gmail.com.
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The new BCA season will be starting soon again in the Fall and we cannot accomplish our work without the dedication of volunteers. Consider filling out a BCA
volunteer application
and email to Board President
Cecilia Quade.
OR mail it to PO Box 1863 Tubac, AZ 86846
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Tubac Office now open!
NEW Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 am -12:00 pm.
Additional hours by appointment.
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Click Here
BCA Calendar
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I-19 2221 E. Frontage Rd.
Bldg H Suite 201-202
PO Box 1863
Tubac, AZ 85646
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Membership / Events 520-398-3229
Office 520-419-1960
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Shauna.bcatubac@gmail.com
AJ: ajh.bca@gmail.com
Jerry: jndhaas@gmail.com
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