The Border Community Alliance is dedicated to bridging the border and fostering community through education, collaboration and cultural exchange. |
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Dear Friends of the Border Community Alliance (BCA),
As we enjoy the beautiful fall weather that is upon us, this is the time of year most of us really appreciate living in the Arizona-Sonora borderlands. Here at BCA, we seek to encourage appreciation of the border region year-round through our tours, Borderlands Forums, and ongoing events for our supporters and the public. We do this by highlighting all the positive forces involved in living in this region including our unique and vibrant cultures, languages, geography, economy, history and much more. We also seek to balance this positive portrayal of the borderlands with the reality on the ground – through forums on threatened biodiversity, climate change’s effects, and the migrant and refugee situation.
Through BCA’s unique mission of creating community and understanding through cross-cultural exchange, education and social investment, we are strengthening our region and helping those from around the country and the world understand the complex dynamics at play where we live.
Please join us for one or more of our events this month – we guarantee that by attending you’ll learn something new about where you live and meet others trying to understand and improve our region. A full listing of our forums, breakfasts, tours, Spanish classes and more can be found at www.BorderCommunityAlliance.org.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
In community,
Celia Bavier
Executive Director
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Fundación Del Empresariado Sonorense A.C.
Update – Fall 2021
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Alma Cota de Yañez, Executive Director, FESAC - Nogales
FESAC has been focusing on strengthening the network of NGO’s in these -almost- post pandemic times: Only 40 % of elementary public schools in Nogales, Sonora have reopened. Many of the special education non-profits are still waiting for their younger students to be vaccinated, all event fundraising has been cancelled, and the arrival of migrants from the south or those that are deported from the U.S. grows by the day.
Education programs are of key interest for FESAC: Supporting the sustainability of the project "Escuelika" at Casa de la Misericordia where migrant children seeking asylum have been in classes since September, just like the rest of the students (during the 2020-21 school year, this group of kids were the only ones attending school in Nogales). The current two groups of children have local teachers who are adapting the curricula to the widely varied backgrounds and current needs of the students. The Ipads purchased for this program have make a great difference in the access to Apps to "update and standardize" the kids' level on reading and math.
40% of the migrants arriving in Nogales or deported from the USA are children. The needs of San Juan Bosco Shelter have increased dramatically, and the emergency funds raised by BCA donors will give the shelter a substantial amount to face the increasing needs. Especially with the start of cold weather, gas expenses for showers are increased dramatically as are food expenses for an ever growing population at the shelter. Most of the time, migrants are tested for COVID-19 when arriving in the shelter. Fewer cases have shown in the last weeks.
FESAC thanks so much BCA supporters for their ongoing support of our work in Sonora.
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Let’s Speak Spanish:
More Coming
in 2022
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Based on comments from our students, this fall’s edition of Let’s Speak Spanish is our best yet! And no doubt this success can be attributed to the outstanding group of facilitators we recruited from the United States and Mexico. In addition to receiving plenty of one-on-one time to practice conversation, our students have deeply enjoyed learning from the diverse backgrounds and unique insights our facilitators bring to the program.
Based on this success, we plan to start several new classes after the first of the year, both to serve the developing needs of existing students and to recruit new students. First, we plan on repeating our current eight-week basic course but with the addition of one week to concentrate on pronunciation. The program would start the week of January 3 and end the week of February 28.
We also plan on offering an eight-week intermediate conversation course. This program would be intended for advanced beginner to intermediate students who would like to improve both their grammar and conversation skills. The program would start the week of January 10 and run through the week of February 28. This program would consist of four conversation topics, with two classes allocated to each topic. One class would consist of grammar drills, and the other class would focus on free-form conversation.
As during the past three editions of Let’s Speak Spanish, all of these classes will be delivered virtually via Zoom. The biggest advantage a virtual program offers is that we are able to recruit many native speakers from across Mexico and experienced teachers throughout the United States to serve as facilitators. However, we hope to supplement the virtual class sessions with several in-person events. If the border remains open, we would like to visit Nogales, Sonora as a group; there may be some special events such as concerts we could also attend. And maybe we can consider rescheduling a one-week intensive program in Sonora that was unfortunately canceled last spring due to COVID.
More information about these 2022 programs will be available in the December edition of the BCA Newsletter. With classes starting immediately in January 2022, we anticipate that registration will open around December 10, 2021.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the Let’s Speak Spanish program, you can contact the program coordinator, Jim Hoff, at jhoff@tegnos.org
¡Gracias y saludos!
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Using an IRA to Donate to BCA
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Jim Hoff (jhoff@tegnos.org) is a BCA board member and a business consultant in Tubac, AZ.
In 2018, over 90% of Americans no longer claimed itemized deductions on their federal income tax, opting instead for a new and larger standard deduction. Although the new standard deduction may have reduced taxes for some, it also had a significant negative impact on charitable giving. As more and more taxpayers stopped itemizing, the tax value of charitable giving disappeared; and as a result, charitable organizations saw a drop in contributions. In fact, total charitable contributions in 2018 declined nearly 3 billion dollars, according to Giving USA.
However, if you are over age 70½ and have retirement funds invested in an IRA, there is a way you can take advantage of the higher standard deduction and still receive a direct tax benefit for charitable contributions. This can be accomplished by using some of the funds in your IRA to make a Qualified Charitable Contribution (QCD) directly to a qualified charity.
Qualified Charitable Contributions offer a number of advantages. First, QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. In addition, a QCD excludes the amount donated from taxable income, keeping your taxable income lower and reducing your costs for other federal programs, such as Medicare premiums. Finally, QCDs don’t require you to itemize, which means you can take advantage of the higher standard deduction and still use a QCD for charitable giving.
To use a QCD to maximize the value of your charitable contributions, it must conform to several requirements:
· You must be at least 70½ years old or have an inherited IRA from someone who would have been at least 70½ years old.
· The charitable organization must be 501(c)(3) eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (like BCA).
· The IRA account must be a traditional IRA, inherited IRA, or an inactive SEP/SIMPLE IRA.
If you meet these requirements, you can request your IRA custodian to issue a check directly to any charity you select. You can request as many checks as you want to as many charities as you want, as long as the total amount of the checks do not exceed your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. All QCDs must come out of the IRA by the RMD deadline, which is generally December 31st each year.
Checks issued by your IRA custodian are easy to handle. You can instruct the custodian to send the check directly to the designated charity, or the checks can be mailed to you for personal delivery.
Now is a great time to start planning for QCDs during the 2021 tax year. To learn more about QCDs, you can contact your tax advisor or IRA custodian. And please keep BCA and the BCA Endowment in mind when you plan your QCD strategy for 2021.
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Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tour
- Join us on November 13!
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Please join Border Community Alliance on the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tour (North) that is taking place on Saturday, November 13.
The tour will explore the importance of national heritage areas and the many special places that attest to the region’s historic, cultural, and natural significance.
This tour will begin at 9:00 AM at San Xavier Mission and end around 3:00 PM in Barrio Viejo. Throughout the day, we will also visit the San Xavier Coop, Sentinel Peak, Mission Garden, and the Tucson Presidio before ending in Barrio Viejo. Lunch will also be provided.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 12 spots are available and registration is based on a first come first serve basis. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, we ask that you drive your own car, wear a mask, and practice social distancing.
We also ask that you prepare for the immersive experience by wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes, bringing a water bottle, and wearing sun protection (sunblock, hat, glasses, et cetera).
The cost is $55 for BCA members and $65 for non-members (Includes lunch).
Itinerary will be shared after registration.
We will do our best to stick to the itinerary, but it is subject to change.
We look forward to seeing you!
--Magda Mankel, Tour Guide
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Upcoming Events
Mark your Calendar for these Events
& register at the links below:
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November 10, 2021, 9 am: Breakfast and the Border w/ Cónsul Rafael Barceló Durazo of the Consulado de México in Tucson, Speaker: “Administrative Recovery of Common Cultural Heritage between Sonora and Arizona” at Grill on the Green, Canoa Ranch Golf Club, Green Valley, AZ
November 11, 2pm*: Borderlands Literature & Film Circle - Arizona's Sky Islands with Jeff Babson, Owner of Sky Island Tours and Naturalist with Pima County (ZOOM) --*THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING DATE/TIME: NOV. 11 ONLY-- REGISTER
November 13, Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tour, North REGISTER
November 17, 6pm "Pilgrimage to Magdalena" documentary screening at St. Marks United Methodist Church, Tucson. REGISTER
November 20, 2pm: “Ruby, AZ – Archaeology & Immigration” by Magda Mankel, Education & Research Specialist, BCA (ZOOM) REGISTER
December 7, 2pm: Readings & Discussion from "Voices of the Border: Testimonios of Migration, Deportation, and Asylum” with authors Tobin Hansen and María Engracia Robles (ZOOM). REGISTER
December 11, Santa Cruz Heritage Tour, South REGISTER
January 8, 2022, Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tour, South REGISTER
January 27, 2022, 2pm: “Immigration/ Asylum Update with Alba Jaramillo”, Arizona Justice for our Neighbors (ZOOM) REGISTER
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BCA Profile:
Sara Martin
BCA Board Member
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¡POR FAVOR! GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE BORDER COMMUNITY ALLIANCE! |
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Image: La Calavera Catrina/Ricardo Soltero/Tucson Botanical Gardens
La catrina—una figura que trascienda las fronteras!
There’s not much to say about me. I am of the Southwest, and I love it—the multiple cultures that occupy our landscape, our shared histories, the wonderful food, la música, and the incredible art from our past and present. Red chile, green chile, add posole and pork, and cook it up for family and friends. And, if you’re in the mood, pour a little mescal!
¿Porque BCA?
The BCA’s Cross Border Tours are terrific learning adventures, whether you’re learning about the neighborhoods of Nogales, Sonora, tracing the footsteps of Father Kino into Magdalena, or exploring the beauty of Banámichi. Parts of some trips are even relaxing. But, even if you aren’t on the move every minute, your brain is engaged, you are learning about history and current events, and you are enjoying new experiences and meeting new people. And you realize that, despite many differences, we are all just people, individuals, families, friends, and associates working to accomplish what needs to be done every day to make life work. That’s why I’m in BCA, to encourage acquaintances with our Mexican neighbors and to enjoy and appreciate that experience. And to figure out how we can work better together.
Then there are the Forums and the Borderlands Literature & Film Circle: en serio (seriously), there are many issues we could all understand and manage better. Sometimes discussing the history will help us understand the how and why of things today. Border Community Alliance isn’t afraid of presenting and talking about difficult topics, and we expect there will be differences of opinion. Our goal is that we’ll continue to talk and work among ourselves toward understanding and resolution of the hard issues that confront us.
Hay más … there’s more!
Let’s Speak Spanish is a resounding success; language classes with native speakers facilitating have brought together Zoom learners from across the United States. Border Community Alliance is just starting to share the amazing, award-winning film, Pilgrimage to Magdalena. We’re planning north-of-the-border tours. Border Community Alliance’s close partnership with FESAC flourishes. Pay attention, or you might miss something!
Mis metas—my goals
My goal is to grow the awareness and influence of the Border Community Alliance in Southern Arizona.
Please, can we talk? If you love the borderlands where you live, work, and play, you belong with BCA. It would be an honor for me to speak with you about the value of being part of the Border Community Alliance.
Be well,
Sara
Sara Martin
Border Community Alliance, Board of Directors
719.231.1900 smartin@bordercommunityalliance.org
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BCA is looking for a few folks to join our
Finance Committee
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We're looking for individuals with budgeting, investment, and/ or accounting experience, particularly with non-profits. If interested, please contact Jose Lopez, BCA Treasurer, at jlopez@bordercommunityalliance.org.
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Interested in joining BCA’s Board?
Border Community Alliance is seeking new Board members.
Board members serve a 3-year term and are expected to participate in monthly board meetings (in-person or online), help out at BCA events when available, and contribute an area of expertise to the organization (i.e., fundraising, graphic design, writing, finance, volunteer management, etc.).
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The Border Community Alliance
was hit hard by the pandemic.
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The cancellation of cross-border tours and reduction of other income streams has put a strain on our budget. However, we are maintaining a robust program lineup this fall/ winter and hope to start our cross-border tours again in early 2022. If you're able, please give a generous gift to help us continue providing strong programming throughout the southern Arizona region and to work with our non-profit partners in Sonora. Thank you for your continued support. |
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Office Hours: 10-1
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
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Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1863
Tubac, AZ 85646
Physical Address (no mail):
I-19 2221 E. Frontage Rd.
Bldg F201
Tubac, AZ 85646
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