The Border Community Alliance is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization 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),
Happy New Year! Warm greetings from BCA’s staff & board and best wishes for a healthy and peaceful new year.
We’re thrilled to offer a full slate of exciting programming for the opening months of 2022 and we hope you’ll join us for many of these events and activities. See further in this newsletter for our full listing of events and you can always go to our website at www.BorderCommunityAlliance.org for more information and to register for any of them.
Here are some highlights coming up in the next two months:
– “Pilgrimage to Magdalena” film showing, at the Tin Shed Theater in Patagonia. “Pilgrimage” is our award-winning film which describes the centuries-old cross-border pilgrimage to Magdalena, Sonora (January 23, 2pm)
– An immigration and asylum update from Alba Jaramillo, of Arizona Justice for our Neighbors. An attorney, Ms. Jaramillo will discuss current immigration/ asylum law and the situation for prospective immigrants and migrants at our southern border (by Zoom) (January 27, 2pm)
– A talk on “Ruby, AZ - Archeology & Immigration” w/ Magda Mankel, PhD, BCA Education & Outreach Specialist. Dr. Mankel will speak about the ongoing Ruby Archaeology Project (RAP). In the summer of 2021, the RAP field school conducted excavations at sites once inhabited by Mexican-Americans and (Mexican) migrant laborers who lived in Ruby, Arizona during the 1930s and 40s. (by Zoom) (January 29, 2pm)
– A three-session class on “Mexico: History, Culture and Context”, with Jerry Haas, former Exec Director & Senior Advisor, BCA. Location: First two sessions at 2pm at Community Performance & Art Center (CPAC), Green Valley, AZ. The third session will be at the Mexican Consulate in Nogales, AZ, at 10:00 am with optional lunch at La Roca to follow. Fee: $60 members; $75 non-members (February 7, 21 & 28)
We’re also pleased to announce that we are holding our monthly tours of Nogales, Sonora starting in February and going through May 2022. Our next tour will be February 16. Our tour includes visits to non-profit organizations in Nogales, Sonora, lunch and coffee at La Roca with the U.S. Consul General. Please join us for a tour! Spaces fill fast!
And lastly, we just put on our calendar an additional tour to Oaxaca, Mexico during October 14-22. This is a very popular tour and we are limiting the group to 12 people. Email info@bordercommunityalliance.org or call (520) 398-3229 to get put on the list to receive info about this tour.
Thank you for your support of BCA and all we do and we look forward to seeing you at a borderlands event soon.
In community,
Celia Bavier
Executive Director
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Profile: Jerry Leggett
BCA Board Member
Jerry is the founder and CEO of the 21st Century Peace Literacy Foundation (est. 2016) based at Casa de Peacebuilder in Tubac and host to the Peace Heroes StoryTrail. Jerry has extensive professional experience in nonprofit fundraising including creating and producing signature community events for local, national and international organizations. For fifty years, as a singer-songwriter, Jerry has performed widely throughout the U.S. to benefit people-placed-at-risk, most recently touring along the U.S. West Coast in connection with the Rotarian Action Group for Peace.
"I am honored to serve on the BCA board. One of BCA’s core values that I find especially compelling is: “We seek to listen and learn from each other, rather than presume we know it all.” There truly is so much to learn--at any age! I am very excited to make new friends and experience new places through the BCA cross border tours. Hope you will make plans to join us.
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Fundación Del Empresariado Sonorense A.C.
Update
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An infant is held by Dad after going through hearing tests and getting fitted for a hearing aid headband. ARSOBO’s hearing clinics are held monthly. |
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ARSOBO volunteer Carmen Yolanda Terrazas is one of ARSOBO’s dedicated volunteers |
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Arizona Sonora Border (ARSOBO) is a nonprofit organization in Nogales, Sonora that provides the local community with affordable medical devices, services, and training. The Border Community Alliance, through our relationship with FESAC, has been providing social investment in the ASOBO program since 2013 and is a true success story of cross-border collaboration.
In 2011, ARSOBO opened a shop to build wheelchairs for people in the community. Soon after, they expanded to building prosthetics and providing physical therapy for clients. Today, ARSOBO also hosts hearing clinics in collaboration with faculty and students at the University of Arizona. The organization is integral to the community, as it creates opportunities for people with disabilities to receive services and give back.
Carmen Yolanda Terrazas, also known as Yoli, is one of ARSOBO’s dedicated volunteers. She oversees many tasks at ARSOBO, from administration to maintenance. Born and raised in Obregón, Yoli was diagnosed with polio at a very young age, although that did not stop her from exploring the world. She moved to Nogales to attend high school and learn English in Arizona. She has since worked at the Center for Commerce with ARSOBO’s executive director, travelled to Japan 5 times, and proudly watched her family grow. Yoli’s polio symptoms were very mild for much of her life until she was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome more than 10 years ago. Although she has limited mobility in her arms and can no longer walk, Yoli’s upbeat, warm personality is strong as ever. Thanks to people like Yoli, ARSOBO can continue serving Nogales, Sonora as well as the surrounding communities.
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From the beginning BCA has had a close relationship with FESAC, a Nogales, Sonora-based community foundation. This unique arrangement allows us to provide pass through donations to FESAC and to specific NGO community organizations that BCA/FESAC supports. We strongly stand with FESAC in lifting up local community by changing the narrative from charity to social investment. |
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BCA Winter Clothing Drive
for Casa Alitas
Casa Alitas, a short-term aid shelter & resource center for migrant families in Tucson, is in dire need of winter clothes for migrants, many of whom are passing through Tucson and moving on to colder climates in the U.S. They are particularly in need of shoes (all sizes, for men, women, or children), warm clothing of all sizes, and especially coats, hats, and gloves.
These items can be dropped off at the BCA office, 2221 E. Frontage Rd, Bldg F, Suites 201-202 in Tubac during the following days/ times:
Thurs, 1/20 - 10am-2pm
Fri, 1/21 - 10am-2pm
Thurs, 1/27 - 10am-2pm
Fri, 1/28 - 10am-2pm
They can also be dropped off any date at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 3809 E.3rd St. in Tucson, Mon-Thurs from 9-12.
Thank you!
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2022 Borderlands
Internship Program
The Border Community Alliance is proud to announce that we’ll be sponsoring and hosting 4-6 Borderlands Interns in Summer 2022 for a six-week program, running June 20-July 29. This program is open to rising college sophomores through those in graduate school (minimum age is 18).
Housing and a $1,000 stipend are provided. The program includes a service learning placement in a nonprofit organization in Nogales, Arizona or Sonora.
Now in its 10th year, the internship program has provided life-changing experiences for many of our interns over the years. The purpose of the program is to share information about and experiences in the borderlands region with youth and to foster “Borderlands Ambassadors” in the U.S. and abroad. Past interns have come from many states and countries and many have utilized their internship experience to create careers in the borderlands region.
This program is costly to run and BCA needs to raise funds by June 2022 to support these interns throughout their stay. Please consider supporting this valuable program by making a donation here and designating your donation to the summer 2022 internship program. Thank you.
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Winter 2022
Upcoming Events
Mark your Calendar for these Events
& register at the links below:
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January 23, 2pm: “Pilgrimage to Magdalena” film showing & discussion. “Pilgrimage” is a documentary showing the centuries-old cross-border pilgrimage to Magdalena, Sonora from the U.S. and Mexico. Location: Tin Shed Theater, Patagonia. REGISTER
January 27, 2pm: “Immigration/ Asylum Update with Alba Jaramillo”, Arizona Justice for our Neighbors. An attorney, Ms. Jaramillo will discuss current immigration/ asylum law and the situation for prospective immigrants and migrants at our southern border Co-sponsored with the AZ Immigration Alliance (On Zoom) REGISTER
January 29, 2pm: “Ruby, AZ - Archeology & Immigration” w/ Magda Mankel, PhD, BCA Education & Outreach Specialist. Dr. Mankel will speak about the ongoing Ruby Archaeology Project (RAP) that is being led by Dr. Haeden Stewart in conjunction with the Undocumented Migration Project. In the summer of 2021, the RAP field school conducted excavations at sites once inhabited by Mexican-Americans and (Mexican) migrant laborers who lived in Ruby, Arizona during the 1930s and 40s. This presentation will review preliminary findings and demonstrate how the patterns seen in historical archaeology can be joined in conversation with contemporary debates regarding labor migration and border enforcement in the Arizona-Sonora borderlands. (On Zoom). REGISTER
February 5, Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tours, North. Visit sites including San Xavier Mission, Mission Gardens, Tucson Presidio, Barrio Viejo and lunch in Tucson (all day tour). Fee: $55 members/ $65 non-members REGISTER
February 7, 21 & 28: “Mexico: History, Culture and Context”, a three-session class with Jerry Haas, former Exec Director & Senior Advisor, BCA. Location: First two sessions at 2pm at Community Performance & Art Center (CPAC), Green Valley, AZ. The third session will be at the Mexican Consulate in Nogales, AZ, at 10:00 am with optional lunch at La Roca to follow. Fee: $60 members; $75 non-members REGISTER
February 15, 2022, 8am-Noon: Day trip to Whitewater Draw. Whitewater Draw is one of the premier winter birding sites in southern Arizona, home to tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes, ducks, raptors, sparrows, and more. Many of these birds have travelled great distances to reach our borderlands area. Tour led by Jeff Babson of Sky Island Tours. Directions to be provided upon registration. Fee: $15 members; $20 non-members REGISTER
February 16, 2022: Nogales Cross-Border tour: Visit our partner nonprofit organizations in Nogales, Sonora, lunch & afternoon coffee (all day tour). Fee: $75 members; $95
non-members. (Proof of COVID vaccine and masking required.) REGISTER
February 18, 2022, 10am-1pm: Presidio San Agustín del Tucson tour. Presidio San Agustín del Tucson was founded in 1775 by the Spanish military. The fort was located along the banks of the Santa Cruz River across from the Native American village of “Chuk-shon.” This tour will take place at the museum grounds located on the site of the original Presidio and will also include a portion of the “Turquoise Trail”. Lunch at a local restaurant included in the tour price. Fee: $35 members; $40 non-members (Tour is 90 minutes with some walking) REGISTER
February 24, 2022, 2pm: “Economics & the Border”, with Cónsul-General Victor Martinez Jimenez, Mexican Consulate in Nogales,AZ Consul-General Laura Biedebach, U.S. Consulate in Nogales, Sonora and Jaime Chamberlain, President, Chamberlain Distributing, Nogales, AZ. Location: Community Performance & Art Center (CPAC), Green Valley, AZ (Co-sponsored with the Tucson-Mexico Sister Cities Association) REGISTER
A donation of $10 is requested for events, unless a fee is required as shown on the event registration page.
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To register for any of these events go to www.bordercommunityalliance.org
or call Suzy at (520)398-3229.
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Thank you for your 2021 support of the
Border Community Alliance!!
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Your donations are the only way that we're able to run our programs and meet our mission of bridging the border and creating community in the southern Arizona/ Mexico borderlands.
A special thank you to all of you who gave during our 2021 Year-End campaign. We're grateful for each gift, big and small.
We'll use these funds in 2022 to expand our educational programming, - both online and in-person, re-start our cross-border tours into Mexico, and increase our long-term social investment in over 20 nonprofits in Sonora, Mexico.
If you didn't have a chance to make a year-end gift, you can still start the new year off to an excellent start with a gift to support our unique borderlands mission and programming today. Thank you!
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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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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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