Border Community Alliance's mission is dedicated to bridging the border and fostering community through education, collaboration and cultural exchange.
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"Is there anything positive happening at the border?” I asked myself as I sat down to write something for this issue of BCA’s e-newsletter. “Have things ever been worse?” With ever harsher measures taken to restrict legal migration into this country, the closing of crossing by Mexican citizens into the US, and the decision by our government to put all asylum seekers on hold for six weeks, I was feeling overwhelmed by the injustice of it all. It seemed like the coronavirus pandemic was being used as an excuse for draconian policies. The irony of course is that the first known case of coronavirus infection in Sonora was not identified until March 16 and then the identity of the victim was revealed as a US citizen visiting in Hermosillo! US citizens are the ones carrying the disease but Mexicans get the blame. Later, I realized that this news, bad as it is, is not the whole story. Mexican people are incredibly resilient and Americans can be unbelievably generous when given a compelling way to respond. Here are three stories I have to tell:
The Underwear Campaign:
Bob Phillips, founding Executive Director of BCA, decided that the best way to celebrate his birthday on April 26 was to petition friends to donate money so that underwear could be bought and distributed to the hundreds of migrants at the
San Juan Bosco Shelter
. Crazy Bob, I thought, with a chuckle! He sure does have an imagination! Then I watched as the donations came in. To date, more than thirty people have contributed more than $2400! That’s a lot of underwear! And while I have to laugh, I also admire Bob’s recognition that new, clean underwear is a great way to help someone feel like a human being. Call it the “Dignity Campaign” because that’s what Bob and his friends are giving to people who are often forgotten or despised.
Sewing Machines for Self-employment:
Those of you who have been on our cross-border tours in recent years know that there are two locations for a “Sewing Self-employment Workshop”. The Guadalupe room next to the Cathedral has housed such an effort for several years (
“Centro Guadalupano Proyecto de Costura
”). One of the rooms at Deijuven Youth Center has also been set aside for that purpose but needed sewing machines. Several months ago, Program Director Alex La Pierre and FESAC Director Alma Cota de Yanez found out about a nonprofit in Wisconsin called “The Sewing Machine Project.” They applied for a grant and after more months of waiting, twenty-five (25) sewing machines arrived via UPS last week! These machines will make a HUGE difference in the lives of those who use them, providing a viable means of income from home. I felt a great sense of JOY when I heard the news that they were finally on their way. As someone said, “Compassion too is contagious; pass it on.”
Masks and Money:
After sending more than $2000 to the San Juan Bosco Shelter on April 6, we started to think about how the staff and guests at the Shelter do not have masks. Suzy Webber from our staff rallied the troops, and in a few days, 140 homemade masks were ready for distribution; today we have another hundred. Cloth and dollars were also donated, sent together with the sewing machines so that masks could now be made in Mexico. More donations came in for the Shelter so that counting the donations for Bob’s Underwear Campaign and the check I’ll write tomorrow, more than $10,000 will have been sent to the Shelter this month. An amazing effort! You, friends, are bringing hope to border region!
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BCA would love to thank all of the volunteers this season for their selfless energetic assistance.
This year in lieu of a thank you breakfast live (due to COVID 19 social distance protocol) we would like to invite you to a
virtual Cinco de Mayo volunteer celebration.
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“This pandemic affirms the interconnectedness of us all,” [BCA Program Director Alex] La Pierre said. “This really hits home this argument that we've been trying to make that we really need to work together for so many reasons."
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BCA in the Digital Age:
May Borderlands Forum Virtual Programmin
g
BCA has three special programs lined up for you in May. We invite you to register, participate and make a
donation
towards the nonprofit to support our cultural programming efforts!
If you need help registering for these events or if you've never done an online class before and want a little coaching, call Suzy at
520-398-3229
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Cooking Together: Preparing Prickly Pear Cactus
by Magda Mankel
Let's cook something together! If you have some prickly pear in your backyard or neighborhood, then consider joining us for an online learning experience where you will learn how to harvest, prepare, and cook prickly pear cactus. On
May 5
(Cinco de Mayo), you will be emailed a step-by-step guide and video that walks you through the process and gives you a recipe to complete on your own time. We will then meet on
May 8 at 2PM
via an online Zoom meeting (link will be emailed) to share our foraging adventures, learn about the history of the nopal, and share how our recipes turned out.
Instructional video
shared via email
May 5, 2020
Virtual meeting on
(link provided upon registration on our website)
If you're interested in participating please
register by May 4
and note that space is limited. Registration is free, but we suggest a $10 donation to BCA.
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How Communities are Leading on Conservation and Recreation
by Adam Milnor
Join Adam Milnor of the
National Park Service's Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance
(RTCA) division for this fascinating look into NPS work in the borderlands with a special focus on partner programs and protected sites. This video presentation will overview the work of the RTCA while highlighting three recent collaborations with local partners in the southern Arizona localities of Nogales, Ajo and Redington Pass. Opportunities for assistance from the RTCA and NPS for working on river, trail or conservation projects within your communities will also be discussed.
Video presentation upload on
Virtual live Q&A session on
(link provided upon registration on our website)
$10 Suggested Donation
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Sonoran Pozole de Trigo
by Minerva Orduño Rincón
In celebration of
Dia de San Isidro Labrador
(Saint Isidore's feast day), join chef Minerva Orduño Rincón for this special video workshop centered around cooking a unique regional dish of Sonora, Pozole de Trigo. While many think of hominy when we hear pozole, this Sonoran variation has instead a base of wheat berries, an important crop with an agricultural legacy stretching back to the 17th century arrival of Jesuit blackrobes. Coinciding with the winter wheat harvest, in communities like
San Ignacio de Caborica
, it is a tradition on
May 15th
to honor the patron saint of agriculturalist (and of the Spanish capital of Madrid) Isidro, by cooking a big pot of the delicious melange of freshly harvested wheat berries, vegetables and meat to be shared with neighbors and friends.
Video presentation upload on
Virtual live Q&A session on
(link provided upon registration on our website)
$10 Suggested Donation
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Support the Comcáac (Seri) Community of Sonora as they Mitigate the Impacts of Covid19
Join us in supporting a
Comcáac
(Seri) women’s Co-Op from El Desemboque and Punta Chueca, Sonora. They, like many other communities, have been impacted by Covid19. Patti (pictured) and 15 other women are expert artisans who belong to the Comcáac
Co-Op
that makes and sells the traditional works pictured here. When Magda (BCA Education & Research Specialist) spoke with Patti, Patti explained that the
Co-Op
usually sells the items at the Amerind Museum, Native Seeds, and other markets in Arizona and the US Southwest. However, all of their scheduled markets were canceled due to Covid19. Additionally, many men in the community are out of work as the Comcáac fishery cannot sell its fish. The situation is also complicated by the tribe’s precautionary closure of its territories. Such restrictions have limited what and who comes in and out of their lands. Together, these events have significantly impacted the financial security and health of the entire community. The Consejo de Ancianos Comcáac (Comcáac Council of Elders) recently described the current state of things to Proyecto Puente (Mexican news outlet) and asked for humanitarian assistance.
What can you do?
Purchase an item made by Patti and her compañeras. Several works are being stored in the US and they are for sale. If you would like to know more about these items, please contact Mike at
mikegray@att.net
-or- 520.907.6321
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All purchases are a significant investment that will help this community survive and continue to preserve and share their traditions and lifeways into the future. Thank you!
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From our Supporters:
Many of you have appreciated the photography of
BCA friend Robert Castagna
that is featured on the website. Robert has a real talent for his trade and particularly so in capturing the spirit of our region, the Arizona-Sonora Borderlands, whenever we are fortunate to have him visit from New England. Robert first learned about BCA in the NY Times special Travel Edition on Mexican border towns (Read it here:
"Two Cities, Two Countries, Common Ground"
) that included the work of BCA. We are pleased to share with you that through his thoughtful and creative generosity, Robert has offered to donate 50% of the proceeds generated from the sale of his gorgeous fine art cards and prints. They are available for purchase on his website
here
. A sincere thank you to Robert for your continued thoughtfulness and solidarity with BCA during these times!
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Did you know that BCA has a
YouTube Channel
where we feature all of our videos?
We have a goal of reaching 100 subscribers! If we may ask you the favor of going to
that link
provided above to the BCA YouTube Channel and clicking the
"SUBSCRIBE"
button that would help us out very much. If you prefer the Vimeo platform, you can also find us on there at
our Vimeo Channel
.
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Would you like to help nonprofit from the safety and comfort of home?
Write us a review!
There are two main platforms you can write a review of BCA on:
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Office Hours:
Office is currently closed until further notice
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I-19 2221 E. Frontage Rd.
Bldg F Suite 201-202
P.O. Box 1863
Tubac, AZ 85646
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Membership/Events:
520-398-3229
Office:
520-419-1960
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