BPP Member News (3/7)

Navigating the complexities of US-Mexico trade relations. The NADBank Summit 2024, held on August 29-30 in San Antonio, Texas, gathered thought leaders, policymakers, and business executives to address pressing environmental challenges and explore sustainable infrastructure development for the U.S.-Mexico border region. Over the two-day event, key stakeholders from both sides of the border convened to exchange ideas and experiences on fostering a sustainable economy, strongly emphasizing innovative approaches to environmental preservation. The summit’s tone was set to reflect on past achievements and future challenges in bilateral trade. Gerald Schwebel, Executive Vice President of IBC Bank, moderated the discussions, which featured two notable figures: Antonio Garza, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, and Gerónimo Gutierrez Fernández, former Mexican Ambassador to the United States. This article... (read more)

A sector under threat: Safeguarding civil society starts with data. By Ridgway White. The nonprofit sector is the beating heart of our nation. It plays a vital role in delivering social services, while serving as a major job creator in local economies across the United States. The sector is thought to comprise more than 10% of the U.S. workforce, surpassing manufacturing, construction, finance and insurance in size. In 2022 alone, nonprofits made up 5.6% of GDP and contributed $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy. In spite of its impact, the nonprofit sector is under threat. Nonprofits are experiencing high labor turnover at a time of increased demand for services, while also facing new.... (read more)

Arizona Community Foundation leader recognized at Valle del Sol Community Health 33 rd Annual Profiles of Success. Arizona Community Foundation President and CEO Anna María Chávez was honored to join Valle del Sol for their 33rd Annual Profiles of Success Dinner at the Phoenix Convention Center! This incredible event is the state's largest yearly celebration of Latino leadership, recognizing the outstanding contributions of leaders across Arizona. Anna María Chávez—herself a past recipient of a Profiles of Success award—had the privilege of introducing the winner of the Premio Humanitario award, Fernando Quiroz from Yuma, and also congratulated ACF grantee, Aliento, on receiving the Premio Corazón award. Also during the event, 24 leading professionals in the Latino community were recognized including Arizona Community Foundation’s Amber Ramirez for her exemplary leadership and dedication to the Latino community. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego opened the event by honoring the legacy of the Latino community in the State of Arizona.

San Diego Foundation grants $740K to U.S., Mexico nonprofits building coastal resilience and preserving local watersheds. Grants will support 17 partners working on eight binational projects in Cali-Baja. San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced that it has awarded $740,000 in grants to U.S.- and Mexico-based nonprofits to support climate resilience projects in the Cali-Baja region that extends from Oceanside to Ensenada. Environmental justice and climate resilience don’t recognize the border,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of SDF. “Together, we are identifying binational solutions that will strengthen our Cali-Baja region for future generations.” The grants are part of... (read more)

2024 Piñon Awards go to groups supporting food security, arts, legal rights and families dealing with dementia. A long-running food pantry, an effort to boost Indigenous youth through hoop dancing, a legal service for low-income New Mexicans and a group that supports families affected by dementia and Alzheimer's disease have all been named as winners of the Santa Fe Community Foundation's annual Piñon Awards. The awards, which recognize nonprofits serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba and San Miguel counties, come with a $5,000 general operations grant, a professionally produced marketing video and airtime on the foundation’s monthly radio show on KSFR, 101.1 FM, Community Matters, the... (read more)

Border Report. By Morgan Smith. With elections less than three months away, immigration will remain one of the major issues. What, however, is the reality? Here is a report based on four trips to Juárez, El Paso, Deming and Palomas in the last two months, the most recent on August 15 and 16. One of the main goals was to check with the migrant shelters in these four communities to see how and if the numbers of migrants had changed. The changes have been dramatic. The Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso has a large auditorium across the alley behind it which until recently would house well over 100 migrants. On August 8, however, there were only 12. The woman in charge turned down my offer of clothing and shoes and would only take one bag of beans and one... (read more)

Mexico offering free legal clinics in US. The Mexican government is partnering with U.S. nonprofits and a few law firms to help some immigrants overcome legal hurdles ranging from staving off deportation to forcing employers to shell out hard-earned back wages. The free legal clinics started this week at the Mexican consulate in El Paso and will expand to all 53 of Mexico’s diplomatic sites in the United States, said Felix Herrera, deputy consul general in El Paso. According to research published this year by the University of Texas at El Paso, community activists say undocumented immigrants are the most common victims of wage theft. That includes being paid less than the state-mandated minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, not being compensated for... (read more)

UTEP logo featured on limited edition orange Bud Light cans. It’s one thing to have a beer at a UTEP football game, but it’s quite another to have a "UTEP" beer at a UTEP football game. UTEP Athletics has partnered with L&F Distributors, the area Anheuser-Busch distributor, to have the university’s logo printed on Bud Light cans and sold in El Paso stores. “Last year, we entered into an agreement to become the official beer of UTEP Athletics,” said Lisa Peisen, managing partner at L&F Distributers West. “Bud Light has a history of doing team cans where an NFL or NBA team is prevalent. Over the last couple of years, they’ve extended that to college athletics.” Among the Texas universities with Bud Light team cans are Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at... (read more)

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation seeks LOIs.The Paso del Norte Health Foundation seeks Letters of Intent (LOIs) from eligible organizations to promote the Foundation’s Strategic Plan for the Healthy Kids Initiative. Specifically, the Health Foundation seeks LOIs to increase the number of disconnected youth ages 5-17 who participate in out-of-school time (OST) programs. Connected youth are involved in out-of-school time activity in a safe place with a caring adult. Connected youth also tend to avoid situations and behaviors that compromise health while engaging in activity that promotes health. The priority population is OST programs that serve youth between the ages of 5-17 years old: Focus on disconnected youth as defined in... (read more)

Regional Center for Border Health presents plans for hospital in San Luis, AZ. At last night’s City Council Meeting in San Luis, Arizona,Ms. Amanda Aguirre, President & CEO of Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. and the San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc. presented before the Mayor & City of San Luis, Arizona Council the RCBH's timeline and plans for our newest project, the first ever Hospital in San Luis, AZ! The "Border Health Medical Campus", which will break ground in late October of 2024 adjacent to the RCBH Medical Mall will be a 16-bed community hospital, with plans for future expansion into a 40 bed, as the community and its healthcare needs continue to grow. The Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. established the first full-time... (read more)

Governor Greg Abbott just appointed El Pasoan Linda Troncoso to the Texas Medical Board. Troncoso is the president of TRE and Associates, LLC and is a member of the El Paso Association of Builders and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation. She used to serve on the City of El Paso Zoning Board of Adjustments. Troncoso holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Mater of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from UTEP, according to Governor Abbott's office. Abbott has appointed Troncoso to a term ending on April 13, 2029. The governor's office explained that the Texas Medical Board is tasked with regulating the practice of... (read more)

2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The 35th edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT® Data Book examines the unprecedented declines in student math and reading proficiency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on education. The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals that between 2019 and 2022, fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores plummeted, representing decades of lost progress. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for action to address the growing academic disparities among U.S. students. Today's students, who will comprise America's future workforce, are ill-prepared for the high-level reading, math and problem-solving skills required in a competitive global economy. The failure to adequately prepare our children will... (read more)

W. P. Carey Foundation commits $25M to ASU business school, bolsters real estate education. The W. P. Carey Foundation and Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business are partnering to expand the scope, strength and reach of the school's real estate programs. The foundation committed $25 million to ASU, bringing the W. P. Carey Foundation’s lifetime commitment to more than $100 million. The W. P. Carey Foundation's latest investment catalyzes the launch of an innovative undergraduate real estate degree program in fall 2025, elevates the W. P. Carey Center for Real Estate and Finance through naming and expansion, and introduces an experiential learning lab devoted to real estate. Additionally, it will allocate... (read more)

Here are the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2024. Anna María Chávez, President and CEO of Arizona Community Foundation included in the list. Each year since 2012, Az Business magazine has selected its Most Influential Women in Arizona Business and featured them in the July issue. Based on nominations, women who have been in the news over the past year and recommendations from former Most Influential Women, there were more than 1,900 women under consideration in 2024. From those 1,900 women, the editorial board of Az Business in conjunction with a panel of 12 judges made up of former Most Influential Women, selected the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2024. “We only allow... (read more)

New challenges and opportunities for the Border. By Morgan Smith. Two recent events offer both new challenges and new opportunities for the US-Mexico border. The first is the bizarre story of the arrest of Ismael Zambada García “El Mayo” at an airport near El Paso on July 25. Apparently, he was either tricked into getting into this small plane or actually kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the four sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán who is now serving a life sentence in the federal “supermax” prison in Florence, Colorado. Although there was apparently no direct US involvement, it is obvious that the fear of being arrested and subsequently sentenced to a massive term in a US prison like the “supermax” in Florence was the motivating factor in... (read more)

ASU Lodestar Center welcomes Levi Colton as Director of Programs and Social Impact. The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation welcomes Levi Colton as its Director of Programs and Social Impact. In this new role at the ASU Lodestar Center, Levi will oversee the Center’s suite of programs for nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, drive innovation in the portfolio, develop new offerings to meet the needs of the sector, and help the Center grow its impact globally. Levi joins the ASU Lodestar Center after 17 years with ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, most recently as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation within its Learning Enterprise unit. He led the... (read more)

Casa Familiar announces major new community project. Casa Familiar held a groundbreaking ceremony today for La Semilla Community Resiliency Center, the first of its kind project marking a significant step forward for environmental justice at the border. Casa Familiar's La Semilla Community Resiliency Center is the only project in the City of San Diego to receive an award from the California Strategic Growth Council. Casa Familiar received a total of $8.5 million for the project. The California Strategic Growth Council this year approved more than $93 million in funding for climate resiliency centers throughout the state. "The selection of La Semilla is a monumental opportunity for Casa Familiar and the San Ysidro community. This grant isn't just about funding. It's about igniting a... (read more)

Con Alma Health Foundation awards grant to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico for wildfire relief. In the wake of the devastating South Fork and Salt Fires by Ruidoso, a significant donation has been made to aid in the recovery and relief efforts for the affected communities. The Con Alma Health Foundation (CAHF) has pledged $7,500 to support those who have been severely impacted by the fires. This contribution will go towards immediate and emerging revitalization efforts, including shelter, necessities, clean-up efforts and providing support for basic needs. CAHF is collaborating with the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico. Linda Candelaria-Dodd, the executive director of the foundation, expressed the organization's commitment to… (read more)

EPA’s report on the 2024 New Mexico South Fork and Salt Fires. On June 17, 2024, the State of New Mexico was approved for Fire Management Assistance Declarations for the South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire burning on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and in Otero and Lincoln Counties. Combined, the fires threatened over 7,000 homes in and around Ruidoso, Alto, and the Village of Ruidoso Downs with a population of over 25,000. A Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the White House on June 20, 2024, that covers Lincoln and Otero counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. The National Weather Service has placed a Flood Watch for the area as showers and thunderstorms are likely. The response may... (read more)

San Diego Foundation makes college a reality for 1,200+ local students with record-breaking $4.9m in scholarships. San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced today that it has awarded a record-breaking $4.9 million in 1,555 college scholarships to expand higher education access for 1,272 local students. Scholarship recipients, the majority of whom are the first in their families to attend college and come from low-middle-income families, were recognized during the SDF annual scholarships celebration on Sunday, July 21.“Through the Community Scholarship Program, San Diego Foundation is ensuring that local students’ preparation for college is matched with the financial support needed to succeed and grow our region’s future workforce,” said Mark Stuart. Among the 2024 – 2025 scholarship recipients, 74% are first-generation... (read more)

The Mighty River. By Morgan Smith. For years now, I have failed to appreciate the Rio Grande river. My principal experience has been from its banks in the Chihuahita area of El Paso. That includes being on the El Paso side and watching migrants wade across to turn themselves in to the Border Patrol with asylum claims and also being on the Juárez side interviewing migrants, mostly Venezuelans, who were living in a tent city while hoping for the lifting of Title 42. The river then seemed like a minor obstacle – shallow enough to wade through without any danger. I frankly didn’t connect Border Patrol reports of increasing drowning deaths with the El Paso area of the river. Then Alvaro Enciso called from Tucson. He is.... (read more)

Fireside chat: Phoenix Business Journal's Nonprofit Business Summit. Arizona Community Foundation’s President & CEO Anna María Chavéz and Phoenix Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Greg Barr opened the Nonprofit Business Summit Thursday, July 18 at the Heard Museum with a Fireside Chat. Speaking with nonprofit leaders from around the state, Anna María highlighted the ways ACF, as a nonprofit, has successfully attracted and retained top talent. She also shared ways ACF is engaging donors and connecting them with community nonprofit organizations to fuel Arizona’s growth in... (read more)

Anchorum Health Foundation unveils plan to pump $25M to Northern N.M. community foundations. The Anchorum Health Foundation tap is officially on. The Santa Fe-based organization, whose leaders have been working for months on a plan for spending part of $500 million flowing in following its predecessor’s divestment from Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, has now unveiled its first step: pumping $25 million into five deeply rooted community foundations in Northern New Mexico over the next five years. Those groups — Santa Fe Community Foundation, Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation, the New Mexico Foundation, Los Alamos Community Foundation and Taos Community Foundation — each will receive a share of $5 million annually, with proportions determined by the groups’ “capacity, size, and... (read more)

Comic-Con Museum® installs activation at Cross Border Xpress. Comic-Con Museum will debut an extension of its bi-national exhibit Border Blitz: Artistas del Cómic de Tijuana through an activation at Cross Border Xpress from July 17 until the end of the year. The exhibit, which opened at Comic-Con Museum in May, is an official Community Initiative of World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, and Comic-Con Museum and the Office of the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego’s second binational collaboration. A Celebration of Border Artistry Border Blitz: Artistas del Cómic de Tijuana, is sponsored by Cross Border Xpress and features the art of Charles Glaubitz, Alejandra Yépiz Portillo, and Urbano Mata. The exhibit highlights the diverse stories and perspectives of these border artists as... (read more)

Catholic Charities’ bold move to train their leaders with business school knowledge. Dr. Laura Deitrick, Executive Director of The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego, was featured in an article by America Magazine for her significant contributions to the Catholic Charities USA program. Few American cities face a more daunting homeless crisis than San Francisco, where on any given day 38,000 people walk the streets and settle into doorways and back alleys without food or shelter. On top of that challenge, the Bay Area is home to a rapidly growing immigrant population from a host of countries, whose members are often in need of day-to-day help simply to survive. At the heart of this city’s burgeoning demand for social services, ranging from housing and meals to legal assistance and education, is Catholic Charities San Francisco. In order to affect the lives of its struggling constituents in a meaningful way, the agency has had to dramatically change the way it manages and delivers a constellation of assistance programs through its... (read more)

Rhetoric or reality. By Morgan Smith. On June 18, I visited two migrant shelters on the border. At the Sacred Heart church in El Paso, there were 25 migrants, far below the usual number of over 100. At Respettrans in Juárez, there were 49; on past visits over the last four years, there would always be between 150 and 250. I then spoke to a representative of Colores United in Deming and Punto Beta in Palomas and was told that both were basically empty. What is going on? What’s happening is that Mexico is further restricting the flow of migrants across its southern border with Guatemala. In other words, Mexico whose president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has never been particularly.... (read more)

Arizona Community Foundation hosts event to convene nonprofit leaders and donors. President and CEO Anna María Chávez hosted the "Nonprofit CEOs and Fundholders Breakfast," where she introduced ACF's strategy, value propositions, and focus areas guiding our work. The dialogue was engaging and insightful, sparking great conversations about shared goals, opportunities, and barriers. The ACF is excited about the future and looks forward to deepening their engagement with nonprofits and fundholders across Arizona. For more than four decades, the Arizona Community Foundation has worked in tandem with generous individuals, families, and organizations to address some of the biggest challenges facing Arizona.

Condolences to the family and friends of Irwin Twist. On behalf of Ms. Amanda Aguirre, President & CEO & the entire staff at RCBH/SLWIC and with the permission of his family, the Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. would respectfully like to pay tribute to Cocopah Tribal Councilmember Irwin Twist. Mr. Twist, a longtime friend of RCBH along with Ms. Aguirre was instrumental in bringing the program “Together With Veterans” to the Cocopah community, the first in the nation to be on a reservation. The RCBH/SLWIC wants to express their deepest condolences to the Twist family during this sad time. In a released statement, Cocopah Chairwoman Sherry Cordova said "This is a shock to The Cocopah Tribe, his family and all who knew him. He was a council member with so many plans for the future, a veteran, a family man but most of all a friend. His passing will leave a great void in our community and to all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this most unexpected senseless loss."

San Diego Foundation launches El Camino Fund to support Latino/a economic mobility, build generational wealth. Fund Grants $500,000 to seven local Latino/a-serving nonprofits. San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced today that it has launched El Camino Fund, an initiative led by local Latino/a leaders that will strengthen economic mobility and generational wealth-building projects led by Latino/a-serving nonprofit organizations in San Diego County. “San Diego is a beautiful and diverse region, but not everyone has access to the same opportunity,” said Miguel Lopez, SDF Manager of Development. “Through the SDF El Camino Fund, we hope to advance the trajectory of our Latino/a neighbors, which will benefit all San Diegans and strengthen our local economy as our growing, vibrant community will undoubtedly shape our region’s economic landscape for generations.” The fund was launched at a celebration hosted June 12 at Puesto in downtown San Diego, where the inaugural grantees were announced. El Camino Fund was seeded with a $2.5 million endowment from the San Diego Foundation (SDF) Board of Governors.

TrueColors LatAm celebrates pride in Mexico City. On June 18th, TrueColors is inviting LGBTQIA+ employees, VC’s, DEI leaders, and corporate allies to join in a celebration of community and support for LGBTQIA+ inclusion. If you are interested in attending, be sure to RSVP. Additionally, if you’d like to stay updated on all things TrueColors be sure to follow on LinkedIn and join the TrueColors community. TrueColors LatAm is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ innovators across the Latin America tech and innovation ecosystem. TrueColors is run by recognized leaders from the Latin American tech economy, and the organization’s community efforts range from hosting panels with leaders in the innovation economy, partnering with leading companies in the region providing mentorship programs, and hosting community events across key Latin American tech hubs.

2024 Northern Health grant cycle is open. Con Alma invites nonprofits working to improve health in Northern New Mexico to apply for a grant. The Foundation provides grants to eligible nonprofits working to improve health and advance health equity. Our aim is to ensure that New Mexico’s diverse communities have fair opportunities to lead healthy lives. The 2024 Northern New Mexico grant cycle opens Monday, June 10th, 2024 and closes Friday, July 12th, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. The Northern New Mexico Health Grants Group awards up to $20,000 to nonprofits addressing the health and wellness of the diverse peoples of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and northern Santa Fe Counties (north of the City of Santa Fe).

Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation seeks Executive Director. Rancho Feliz seeks a dynamic fundraiser and relationship builder to serve as the first paid Executive Director in the organization’s 37-year history. The new ED will build on a successful foundation to ensure the future organizational health and prosperity of Rancho Feliz. Rancho Feliz changes lives on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border through opportunities for service, cultural exchange and education. Motivated by the philosophy that the best way to improve our own circumstances is to serve others, Rancho Feliz has changed thousands of lives on both sides of the border. The organization operates with a small staff of two out of Phoenix, AZ and a team of partners in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. The Executive Director is Rancho Feliz’s... (read more)

Next Steps for Claudia Sheinbaum. By Morgan Smith. Claudia Sheinbaum has now won a staggering victory in Mexico’s June 2 national elections, becoming Mexico’s first woman elected president as well as the first Jew in the nation’s history. She will take office on October 1, and faces a barrage of tough issues, many of which will be of great importance to the United States. It’s essential, therefore, that we build a relationship with her that focuses on some of our common issues. My wife and I were in Mexico City from Friday, May 31 until Monday, June 3, stayed in the Majestic Hotel on the edge of the huge Zócalo or central square, and had the opportunity to interview dozens of... (read more)

World Design Capital Announces Binational Youth Poster Exhibition. World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) announces the selected posters of the Binational Youth Poster Exhibition. A collection of 16 designs created by young people from our region, this exhibition is not only a showcase of creativity, but also a testament to the profound impact young minds can have on our shared future. “We applaud all the inspiring young adults who submitted designs for this exhibition,” said Mai Nguyen, Board Chair of WDC 2024 and Director of UC San Diego Design Lab. “San Diego and Tijuana are blessed with an amazing local art scene, and this process showed us that this will continue for generations to come. The designs selected are a beautiful reflection of cross-border collaboration, something that is at the forefront of... (read more)

Texas Tech Health El Paso, UTEP announce New MedFuture Cohort, part of our region’s next generation of physicians. Adolpho and Debbie Telles announce $100,000 gift to help future health care heroes at Texas Tech Health El Paso. Texas Tech Health El Paso and The University of Texas at El Paso today announced the second cohort for MedFuture, a joint initiative creating pathways for qualified students to be admitted right out of high school to attend college and medical school in their hometown of El Paso. Adolpho and Debbie Telles announced at the event a $50,000 gift for the Adolpho R. and Deborah L. Telles Family Scholarship, which will be matched by the KPMG Foundation to double its impact to $100,000. As a retired partner of accounting firm KPMG, Adolpho Telles benefits from the foundation's matching gift program. The Telles Family scholarships will be awarded both to... (read more)

North American Development Bank meets with stakeholders in Arizona. Yesterday was the first day of the two-day Border 2025 Program Regional Task Force and Environmental Health/Environmental Justice Meetings for the #Arizona and Gobierno del Estado de Sonora Region, being held in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The objectives of the meetings are to facilitate continued dialogue with the community and program partners on #Border2025 activities, as well as to discuss future impact of the program. Participants included the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Procuraduría Ambiental del Estado de Sonora and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

2024 grant cycle is now open! Con Alma Health Foundation invites nonprofits that improve health in New Mexico to apply for grants to support their work. The Foundation provides grants to eligible nonprofits working to improve health and advance health equity to ensure that New Mexico’s diverse communities have fair opportunities to lead healthy lives. This 2024 statewide grant cycle is now open, and will close Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Assistance with grant portal submission is not available after 5pm. This year, Con Alma Health Foundation will award up to $30,000 to nonprofits addressing the health and wellness of the diverse peoples of New Mexico. Click here to join the 2024 Grant Cycle Info Session.

El Paso Community Foundation launches Puente News Collaborative. The Puente News Collaborative is a unique binational news collaboration publishing stories about significant issues facing El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. The Puente News Collaborative is: ABC 7, El Paso Inc., El Paso Times, Univision 26, KTEP public radio and Borderzine.com as part of the multimedia journalism program at UT El Paso. The Puente News Collaborative is a collaboration between the El Paso Community Foundation and Microsoft. Check out the latest stories from this innovative news approach for the border: Poll reveals voters in Mexico expect a lot from likely first woman president. Mexico will likely elect its first female president this week. Here's what that could mean for the country. Histórico voto en México, la política cambiaría poco. Historic threshold: Fears of violence, autocratic rule await Mexico's first woman president.

Mexico’s navy school tall ship Cuauhtémoc arrives in San Diego. Leer en español. The ARM School Tall Ship Cuauhtémoc arrived in San Diego with 261 crew members, including captains, officers, cadets, class, and sailor personnel, as part of the 2024 Tricontinental Training Cruise. Belonging to the Mexican Navy, the vessel docked at 10:00 a.m. at the B Street Pier (next to the cruise terminal of the Port of San Diego), where it was welcomed by naval, civil, and diplomatic authorities- led by the Consul General of Mexico in San Diego- as well as representatives of the Mexican community. Upon the ship's arrival in San Diego, where she will remain for six days, most of its crew took their positions, including on the sail supports, thus saluting the port, naval, and civil authorities, who were... (read more)

Plaza Classic Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. The third annual El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival Screenwriting Competition is accepting entries through July 3 rd . It will award a $500 1st prize, a $250 2nd prize, and Final Draft 13 screenwriting software to the top two finishers. The first prize winner also receives a consultation with El Paso writer-director Lucky McKee (Poker Face, Old Man, The Woman, May), and a table read of their screenplay. The deadline is 11:59 pm July 3. Cost is $30 through June 14, $40 from June 15 through July 3. The competition is sponsored by Final Draft, Coverfly and the El Paso Film and Creative Industries Commission. Plaza Classic Film Festival tickets go on sale in June.

San Antonio Council for International Visitors hires new director. The San Antonio Council for International Visitors, known as SACIV, recently hired Monika Prochazkova (prō-‘HAS-kō-vah) as its new Executive Director. Hailing from the Czech Republic, Prochazkova brings SACIV a wealth of knowledge and experience in international engagement and entrepreneurship, coupled with a robust experience serving as a citizen diplomat. Under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, SACIV plays a pivotal role in promoting San Antonio as a key player on the global stage. SACIV is a key player in the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program which invites emerging leaders from around the world to the United States for professional exchanges to advance U.S. foreign policy goals, combat foreign misinformation campaigns, and enhance mutual understanding across nations. The program also contributes hundreds of thousands of... (read more)

Funds secured to restore historic international suspension bridge in South Texas. A historic international suspension bridge that hasn’t been used for decades has gotten federal and state funding for renovations so it can once again facilitate trade and travel. Texas state Sen. Judith Zaffirini this week announced that the Texas Transportation Commission has approved a nearly $1.7 million low-interest loan with Starr County for the restoration of the Roma-Ciudad Miguel Aleman International Suspension Bridge, which links the South Texas town of Roma with Miguel Aleman, Mexico. The loan comes after U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, in February announced $385,000 in federal grant funding through the North American Development Bank to “assess the... (read more)

New strategy report. Seizing CaliBaja’s Nearshoring Opportunity: A Binational Call to Action. The CaliBaja Nearshoring Opportunity Report has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Malin Burnham and the Burnham Foundation; the Alumbra Innovations Foundation, Steve Williams, and Bill Koman. COVID supply chain disruptions, changing geopolitics, as well as rising labor, logistical, and transportation costs have prompted a growing number of companies once largely reliant on manufacturing in China for the U.S. market to re-shore their production back to the United States or explore other nearshoring options in friendlier locales. Newly enacted industrial policies to promote national security objectives and strong, resilient supply chains –including... (read more)

Comic-Con Museum announces exclusive new exhibits at WonderCon. The Comic-Con Museum announced three upcoming exhibits during the WonderCon panel. These exhibits will feature the famous Betty Boop, award-winning comic creator, and Afrofuturist John Jennings, and a bi-national exhibition as part of the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 community initiative. Scheduled to open in May and June 2024, these exhibits are all world premieres and original to the Museum. Exhibits include:“Border Blitz: Artistas del Cómic de Tijuana.” In celebration of World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, Comic-Con Museum and the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego announce their second binational collaboration: “Border Blitz: Artistas del Cómic de Tijuana.” Featuring the art of Charles Glaubitz, Alejandra Yépiz Portillo, and Urbano Mata, the exhibit will highlight the diverse stories and perspectives of these border artists as told through... (read more)

ASU Lodestar Center hosts 2024 West Coast Nonprofit Data Conference. This weekend the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation hosted the 2024 West Coast Nonprofit Data Conference. This event, now in its 21st year, brought together academics and data professionals in the nonprofit space to network and share research findings, methodology, best practices and more. Represented this year are 17 U.S. states — plus Scotland. The conference started with a panel conversation about funders’ perspectives on nonprofit data, featuring David Martinez III from @vitalysthealthaz, Erin Goodman from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Jon Ehlinger from Garcia Family Foundation, and Kim Covington from Arizona Community Foundation. Presentations continued through Saturday. A key partner and supporter of the conference was the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy at Texas A&M University’s Bush School.

Arizona Community Foundation hosts Connects Forum; CEO unveils new strategy for the next three years. Connects Forum brought together an extensive network of donors, professional advisors, nonprofit leaders, and community influencers for a day filled with networking, sharing insights, and learning about best practices to empower and fortify our communities. The morning kicked off with a Breakfast Session featuring none other than ACF President & CEO, Anna María Chávez, alongside Aspen Institute President & CEO, Dan Porterfield. Keynote Speaker Van Jones captivated attendees with his thought-provoking dialogue, engaging in an enlightening conversation with Richard Tollefson of the Tollefson + Kellenberger Forum for Social Justice. As the day drew to a close, Anna María Chávez unveiled ACF's new strategic direction, setting the course for the organization's trajectory over the next three years. This pivotal moment marks a commitment to advancing... (read more)

A wheelchair in time. By Morgan Smith. It all began totally by chance on November 30, 2019. I was driving west from the center of Juárez, Mexico where I had delivered food and clothing to a migrant shelter called Respettrans into neighboring Anapra with the goal of eventually reaching several projects that I had been documenting and assisting for almost a decade. These trips are nerve wracking. After all, Juárez still has one of the highest murder rates in the world. But there are also the police, the soldiers, the potholes, the careening drivers, the fatigue of having driven all the way from my home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, some five hours to the north. Photography is my salvation and this time a photo op appeared in the form of a tire repair shop painted a pinkish color. I stopped. A dazed looking man stood in front. His right arm was trembling. I wasn’t able to start a conversation but... (read more)

Longtime TAMIU Partner Garza Robles announces $100,000 gift at International Mariachi Festival. A surprise highlight of the 8th Annual International Mariachi Festival performance this Saturday at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) was the announcement of a $100,000 gift from Eduardo and Juanita Garza. Garza Robles was named the Embajador Internacional del Mariachi during the performance featuring the internationally renowned Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán at TAMIU’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. The performance, “Cultura y Tradición,” capped off the two-day Festival held April 18 – 19 that was attended by over 360 middle and high school mariachi students from across the state. Garza Robles is a longtime supporter of the University’s Mariachi Program and he and his Juanita have created four endowed scholarships at TAMIU and are Silver Society donors. The $100,000 gift will support students focusing on… (read more)

Border-wide Green Loan for SOFOPLUS in Mexico. NADBank has published a proposal for public comment: The proposed project consists of providing a corporate line of credit for up to US$10 million (or its equivalent in Mexican pesos) to SOFOPLUS to fund its lending and leasing operations for green projects in Mexico. Comments regarding the proposal must be received by May 24, 2024. The objective is to support energy efficiency, water savings and emission reductions in the Mexican border region through lending and leasing operations for eligible project types as defined under the NADBank Green Loan Framework. The project is expected to generate environmental and human health benefits related to the following… (read more)

Philanthropy Southwest team travels to Phoenix, Arizona for PSW On the Road. The event featured networking for local funders, a share-out of research on the economic impact of philanthropy in the region, and an insightful presentation on strategies for deepening organizational capacity for listening and feedback. We're inspired by the collective efforts to make a difference. Special thanks to Dr. William Brown of the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy at the Bush School at Texas A&M, and Erin Goodman of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for their invaluable contributions! As always, we are grateful to PNC Institutional Asset Management for their sponsorship of this series. Follow PSW and visit philanthropysouthwest.org to see where PSW On The Road is headed next.

La Jolla Institute for Immunology transforming scientific research by prioritizing a sex-based lens. On April 10th, LJI Professor, President & CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, MBA, joined an esteemed selection of leaders in biomedical research and healthcare at Women's Health Access Matters #3Not30 Initiative dedicated to accelerating women’s health research and investment. In her remarks, Dr. Saphire emphasized the collaboration necessary to establish a blueprint for transforming scientific research by prioritizing a sex-based lens—one that takes into account the dynamic interplay between biology and sex. It is this foundational belief that prompted us to establish the groundbreaking Center for Sex-based Differences in the Immune System, which aims to reshape the landscape of... (read more)

Secure investments in environmental infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the border region. The southern U.S. border is dominating the news cycle, elevating long-held bias about the we share with Mexico – our ally and our largest trading partner. Allowing this negativity to overshadow the success and vitality of the U.S.-Mexico border region may blind us to the opportunities of working together and, more broadly, only hurts America. By strategically in environmental infrastructure, however, both countries can unlock economic opportunities that benefit communities on both sides of the border, improve the environment, and strengthen our bilateral relationship. The border region is a goldmine of economic potential that generates more than $800 billion in... (read more)

Darren Kew, Ph.D. Named New Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. The University of San Diego is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Kew, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Kew holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international relations. He is a professor and former Chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and Executive Director of the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Additionally, Dr. Kew has advised democracy and peace initiatives to the United Nations, USAID, US State Department, and several NGOs, including the Carter Center and the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria. An author and researcher, Dr. Kew's work focuses on... (read more)

Environment report: US steps up watchdog role over Tijuana sewage system. The IBWC will begin monthly inspections of a key wastewater pump that keeps sewage from spilling into the Tijuana River, among other collaborations. Years ago, in a moment of despair over the utter dead-end that solving the Tijuana River sewage crisis seemed to be, I asked U.S. officials why we don’t just cross the border and start fixing broken pipes in Mexico. Nations can’t just cross each other’s borders like that, MacKenzie, the kindly federal official told me. At least, they shouldn’t. It would be a rude mistake. Mexico could consider such federal intrusion without permission as an act of war. But President Joe Biden’s pick to rein in cross-border sewage spills has found a way to leverage her relationships with Mexico to encourage more collaborative U.S. involvement. Maria-Elena Giner announced to reporters during a press conference last week that... (read more)

Supporting families settling on the Mexican side of the border. By Linda Kilburn-Peterson. In Northern Sonora Mexico, only 4 miles from the US border, Esmerelda sweeps the front step of her one room house. The siding has a fresh coat of paint, and native plants grow by the door. While her home lacks plumbing, she recently acquired electricity to power some lights and a small fridge. Her current home is a far cry from the shack built out of found materials (pallets, scrap metal, etc.) that she was raised in and left only 5 years ago. At the mercy of the desert’s extreme temperatures and endless dust, she slept in the one-room hut with her parents and youngest siblings. The older siblings had to sleep outside. Esmeralda’s family migrated to San Luis Rio Colorado when she was a baby, in search of better economic opportunity than they could find in their home state of Oaxaca. In Oaxaca they would grow things to barter and trade and they slept in hammocks in the trees. Esmerelda’s father... (read more)

Honoring excellence in the nonprofit sector. Each year, our Piñon Awards recognize the outstanding work of nonprofit organizations and celebrate their positive impact in northern New Mexico communities. We are thrilled to announce that nominations for our 2024 Piñon Awards are now open through Friday, May 10. Four winning organizations will be honored at our 38th Annual Piñon Awards Ceremony in the fall — and each will receive a general operations grant, a professionally-produced marketing video, and air time on our radio show Community Matters. Browse this year's four award categories and support your favorite nonprofit with a nomination here. Since 1987, the Santa Fe Community Foundation has selected and awarded the Piñon Awards to local nonprofit organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the community.

Tiny gestures at Vision in Action. By Morgan Smith. It seemed like a tiny gesture, my wife, Sherry’s insistence on taking these Walmart 4 X 6 photos of women patients at the mental asylum, Vision in Action in Juárez and putting them in paper frames and then pasting gold stars on the frames. Then we drove to Juárez, a trip that I have been making at least monthly for more than a decade and that Sherry has made a number of times with me since our marriage in 2018. Our first stop was the new dormitory for some 24 women that we had raised the money for several years ago. Probably for the first time in their lives, these 24 women have a decent level of comfort and, more important, physical security. Their lives could get boring, however, so visitors like us are always welcome. When I visit, I always take photos and I always bring prints on the next visit. If done right, I think this is therapeutic. For example, many of these patients feel that they are ugly and abandoned. However, when they see the print, they realize that, in fact, they are... (read more)

Statement of USIBWC Commissioner Dr. Maria-Elena Giner, P.E., on transboundary flow reduction efforts. The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) believes the transboundary pollution that has closed beaches in San Diego County has gone on long enough - and we are doing something about it. During recent meetings with U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler and Governor Gavin Newsom, both of California, I outlined steps my agency is taking, including spending $27 million in two years on urgent repairs to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. The goal is to achieve plant compliance with environmental regulations by August. We expect to award a contract this summer to rehabilitate and expand the plant with the goal of... (read more)

Scope of the Arizona nonprofit sector interactive tool. To better understand Arizona's nonprofit organizations, ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation launched an interactive tool for understanding and researching nonprofit organizations, their workers, and the nonprofit sector’s contribution to the Arizona economy. Interactive charts allow you to explore Arizona's nonprofit organizations by type, county and subsector (from arts to education), with revenue breakdowns and more. Arizona is home to a vibrant nonprofit sector comprising over 28,000 registered tax-exempt organizations. The sector profile includes data on public charities, private foundations and other registered nonprofits. The nonprofit sector is a significant economic force, the sixth largest... (read more)

Arizona nonprofit creates transition center for migrants. The Regional Center for Border Health in Yuma County has helped more than 215,000 migrants since 2021. A group in Arizona is providing a critical resource for the community when it comes to helping prevent street releases when there is a surge in migrant crossings at the border. For the past three years, the Regional Center for Border Health has helped hundreds of thousands of migrants by setting up a transition center to assist migrants on the next leg of their journey once they are released by Border Patrol agents and their asylum requests play out in immigration court. By the busload they arrive — hundreds of migrants, all coming from different places, with different fears, and different circumstances in their lives — but they all have the... (read more)

A morning with the Border Patrol. By Morgan Smith. “I know them,” the Border Patrol agent exclaimed as he detained the two young women from Torreon, Mexico. It was just after daybreak and we were west of El Paso and near the border wall that separates Sunland Park, New Mexico from Anapra, Mexico. I was with Border Patrol agents Orlando Marrero-Rubio, Claudio Herrera-Baeza and Landon Hutchens. I’ve been with them before in this high traffic area for illegal border crossings and continue to believe that they do a superb job controlling this area. However, it is obvious that there is a clear need for funding for more agents, a solution to a practical problem that, sadly, has been overwhelmed by election year politics. What this young enthusiastic Agent Covarubias realized was that he had detained these two women the day before. They had been allowed to go back to Mexico but... (read more)

Chicanos Por La Causa Phoenix event to focus on education, cultural identity. Chicanos Por La Causa will host the Latina Leadership Conversation II centered on education, cultural identity, and strategic goals for the community. Latina leaders will focus on education to celebrate Women’s History Month in March. The event will go from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Monday, March 25 inside Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, in Phoenix. Speakers will include Alicia Nunez, Chicanos Por La Causa interim president and CEO; Anna María Chávez, Arizona Community Foundation president and CEO; Stephanie Parra, ALL In Education executive director; Vanessa Ruiz, deputy vice president for outreach within educational outreach and student services at ASU; and... (read more)

Alicia Kerber-Palma begins her duties as the new Consul General of Mexico in San Diego. Ambassador Alicia G. Kerber-Palma officially began her duties today as the new Consul General of Mexico in San Diego, California. The appointment of Kerber-Palma, proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, was unanimously endorsed by Mexico's Senate on December 13, 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Universidad Iberoamericana and completed master's and doctorate studies in International Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, for its acronym in Spanish). She joined the Mexican Foreign Service in 1991, reaching the rank of Ambassador in 2022. Regarding her professional career in Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from June 2019 to June 2023, she served as the Consul General of Mexico in Houston. Amb. Kerber previously served as Head of... (read more)

Unity in Motion: The 6th Run Internacional - The U.S. - Mexico 10K bridges two nations. The 6th Run Internacional – The U.S.-Mexico 10K, an event symbolizing international harmony and cultural unity, successfully brought together almost 2,000 participants this past weekend. Presented by the El Paso Community Foundation (EPCF), the race uniquely spanned the vibrant cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Commencing in the heart of downtown El Paso, the course offered runners a panoramic view of urban life and culture. From the starting line, participants embarked on a journey that not only tested their physical endurance but also connected them with the rich history and community spirit of the border region. The race course strategically crossed into Ciudad Juárez via the Stanton Street International Bridge, allowing participants to experience the... (read more)

Tech-free trips are on the rise — from hotels with no wi-fi to multiday retreats with no phones allowed. Luxury spas including Rancho La Puerta, in Baja California, and Miraval Resorts, which has three resorts in the U.S., discourage phones and laptops in common areas. Would "Eat, Pray, Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert have fallen so deeply in love with Neapolitan pizza if she’d been taking photos of her pie to post on Instagram? What if Steinbeck had traveled with Charley and Waze? These days, iPhones, laptops, and tablets — not to mention fitness trackers and smart watches — are ubiquitous, making it feel all but impossible to truly disconnect. “There used to be a distinction between home and away,” says Trine Syvertsen, whose 2020 book "Digital Detox: The Politics of Disconnecting," examines the dissolution of... (read more)

Border Partners. By Morgan Smith. In November 2008, Border Partners was organized as an effort to alleviate poverty in the Palomas, Mexico area. The initial founders were Peter and Polly Edmunds who had moved to Deming from Minnesota and Helena Myers also from Minnesota. Congratulations to them now for fifteen years of dedication to the people of Palomas area. And congratulations to the fine staff of ten they have put together in Palomas, especially their General Manager, Juan Rascón, Vicki Ibarra, the health coordinator and Joel Carreón, the botanist and garden specialist. The three founders’ first efforts were to listen to the local residents and identify local needs that fell into two categories – jobs and health. Tiny Palomas (pop.4,800 approx.) has no industrial base, just a scattering of main street retail offering... (read more)

New grant funding available for cross-border climate resilience projects. Two local foundations will offer a combined half a million dollars in grants for regional climate resiliency projects. The San Diego Foundation and the International Community Foundation co-manage the Binational Resilience Initiative, a program focusing on the stretch of coastline that runs from Oceanside in San Diego County to Ensenada in Baja California. The foundations will “prioritize funding for projects taking place in and benefiting communities of concern or historically under-resourced communities that could be considered underserved or vulnerable to economic, environmental and social impacts,” a statement from the SDF said. According to the foundations, projects selected for grants will demonstrate effective cross-border collaboration and contribute to coastal preservation or climate resilience in two or more of the following areas: climate relevance, economic prosperity, knowledge sharing, organizational resilience and/or research. Proposed projects should include a U.S.- and a Mexico-based... (read more)

UTEP and Chihuahua collaborating to empower Mexican students via graduate scholarships. The University of Texas at El Paso partnered up with the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, to award scholarships to graduate students from that state. On Thursday, in a ceremony held on campus, UTEP President Heather Wilson joined with the Secretariat for Innovation and Economic Development and the director of Innovation and Competitiveness Institute of Chihuahua presented 15 new scholarships to UTEP graduate students from Chihuahua studying enrolled in postgraduate studies in semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electrified transportation. The new merit-based scholarships consist of a $4,000 stipend for tuition, funded by... (read more)

CECUT inaugurates "La Frontera" jewelry exhibition, a binational collaboration with Mingei International Museum in San Diego. "La Frontera" will showcase part of its artwork at El Cubo and another part will be exhibited at the Mingei International Museum located in Balboa Park. Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) is inviting people from both Californias to its most recent exhibition "La Frontera"; a collaboration that is part of the official program of World Capital Design 2024 and of the first binational designation in the history of WDC, as it was given to the Tijuana-San Diego region. As part of this collaboration, “La Frontera” will showcase its artworks both at CECUT and at Mingei International Museum, located in Balboa Park, San Diego. This art exhibition consists of international contemporary jewelry artists. Some of them are artists who were born, grew, or currently live in the Mexico-US border region and who are presenting a message that shows the... (read more)

Smart Border Coalition honors Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez before departing for Los Angeles. The San Diego Tijuana Smart Border Coalition honored Consul General of Mexico in San Diego, Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez for his extraordinary efforts leading binational diplomacy here in San Diego since 2019. Smart Border Coalition hosted the event at University of California San Diego Park and Market campus in Downtown San Diego with over 500 binational leaders in attendance. Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez has been very effective in promoting U.S.- Mexico ties since arriving here in San Diego, says Joaquin Luken, SBC Executive Director. The Consul General is very skilled at bridging our two communities and finding common ground to advance the ties that bind our countries. This benefits trade, commerce, tourism, and families and communities says Luken. In addition to presenting the Ambassador with a Steven Breen caricature, the Consul General was recognized for his extraordinary leadership during the COVID-19 health pandemic and spearheading the cross-border program of vaccinating people from both sides of the Border at the Border. More than 16,000 people were vaccinated, and it was due in large part to the sophisticated binational diplomacy of Carlos González Gutiérrez. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has named Ambassador González Gutiérrez Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles beginning later this month. The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles is the largest diplomatic post for Mexico outside of the country serving millions of Mexican nationals residing in California.

Farmer-owned cooperatives join, $10 million invested into New Mexico agriculture through Rural Roots Endowment. To manage the endowment, AAC is proud to partner with the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM). The continued strength and growth of New Mexico agriculture is a key focus in the Oct. 1 merger between American AgCredit (AAC) and Farm Credit of New Mexico (FCNM). To keep FCNM capital working for the success of local agriculture, American AgCredit is funding a $10 million Rural Roots Endowment. The endowment is focused on investing in the long-term viability, sustainability, and profitability of agriculture in New Mexico. “Firmly rooted in American AgCredit’s core values is an unwavering commitment to the communities where we work and live,” said Shacey Sullivan, executive head of communications and government relations at American AgCredit. “Our customers — especially young and beginning farmers and... (read more)

John Beckham begins his term as Managing Director of the North American Development Bank. Prior to year-end, NADBank Board of Directors approved his appointment, as well as the Bank’s strategic plan and institutional objectives for the next five years. As of January 1st, John Beckham began his four-year term as Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank). NADBank extends its appreciation to Calixto Mateos Hanel, the former managing director, for his years of service to the institution and wishes him success in his future endeavors. Mr. Beckham, who has served as the Bank’s Deputy Managing Director since January 2021, has a professional career spanning more than 20 years in management positions with vast experience in finance, developing and executing strategic business plans, promoting economic and social development by deploying capital through... (read more)

The San Antonio Area Foundation welcomes new board members. The San Antonio Area Foundation welcomes two new members joining its 2024 Board of Directors: Mari Aguirre Rodriguez and Robert Hernandez. Since graduating from UTSA in 2003, Rodriguez has consistently engaged in community-driven work on behalf of San Antonio – including entrepreneurship, education, nonprofit and public service sectors. In 2013, Rodriguez launched Opt In – a business and consulting service. Previously, she worked with Generation TX, the Rackspace Foundation and served as City of San Antonio District 7 representative. With each new professional role, Rodriguez has made it her mission to create new opportunities for others. Her approach to... (read more)

Mexican Consulate in San Diego trying to get more Latino students into universities. The Mexican Consulate in San Diego is organizing a college fair for Latino students in Southern California urging them to meet with recruiters and financial aid planners from universities in the region. The consulate is working with both the U.C. and California State University systems along with community colleges and private schools in San Diego. “We have to boost the numbers of Latino students in U.S. institutions of higher education,” said Gilberto Luna, Mexico’s Deputy Consul General in San Diego. According to Luna, more than half of all K-12 students in California are Latino, but less than half of them end up graduating from... (read more)

It’s official: Mexican Senate confirms new consul general for San Diego. Alicia Kerber is the next consul general in San Diego, and Carlos González Gutiérrez — who has held the job since July 2019 — will be consul general in Los Angeles. The Mexican consulate in San Diego will have new leadership early next year. Mexico’s Senate unanimously confirmed Wednesday the appointments of Alicia Kerber as the next consul general in San Diego, and Carlos González Gutiérrez — who has held the job since July 2019 — as consul general in Los Angeles. “Within Mexico’s foreign policy, perhaps no issue occupies a position of greater importance than the attention of our nationals in North America,” said Sen. Héctor Vasconcelos, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, prior to the Senate’s vote in... (read more)

Susan Guinn, recognized as one of San Diego Business Journal’s 2023 Businesswomen of the Year in the nonprofit category. Susan Guinn, Chief Innovation Officer at the San Diego Foundation and President & CEO of the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center was recognized as one of San Diego Business Journal’s 2023 Businesswomen of the Year in the nonprofit category. Susan is a visionary leader with an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others by seeking new funding opportunities and cross-sector initiatives that allow San Diego Foundation and partners to better address community needs in the San Diego County region. The San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center (PIC) is a partnership between The San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and the world’s leading think tank – The Brookings Institution – to conduct research and policy analysis and help solve the region’s biggest problems.

Opinion: Thousands of migrants in the U.S. are hard-working people who help build prosperity. Let’s honor them. By Carlos González Gutiérrez. González Gutiérrez is the consul general of Mexico in San Diego. Political passion and effervescence are on the rise as we head towards the 2024 presidential elections, both, in Mexico (June 2) and in the United States (Nov. 5). One of the issues that cyclically accompanies the political narrative in both countries is their bilateral relationship, particularly their respective policies on human mobility. It makes sense, since we share one of the busiest borders in the world, through which more than 1 million people and 400,000 vehicles legally cross daily in both directions. For 200 years, Mexico and the United States have, step by step, built a mature, institutional and close bilateral relationship. This year... (read more)

Women in the US Border Patrol. By Morgan Smith. 8.9% of Marines are women, 17.3 % of the US Army and 20% of the US Navy. Why, then, are the numbers so low – 5% - for the US Border Patrol (BP). My goal for this December 7 meeting with two women BP agents was to try to get some answers. Women in law enforcement is not just a Border Patrol issue, however; it’s a national one. For example, on December 5, the New York Times ran a lengthy article about the New Jersey State Patrol and how a number of recently retired women officers have brought a lawsuit in an effort to combat the discrimination they have experienced there. Only 5.6 percent of New Jersey’s troopers are women compared to 10.5 percent in neighboring New York state. At an August 8, 2023 meeting led by Agent Fidel Baca, I met a woman BP agent named Marcia Finnegan who had joined three years ago. She was from Illinois and said that her family members and friends had tried to discourage her from joining but she did anyway and was very much enjoying her work. At the time, Baca referred to her as one of the “Fierce... (read more)

Grants offered for communities to share in World Design Capital 2024 San Diego Tijuana. World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) and San Diego have announced plans to launch the WDC 2024 Community-Driven Design Grants Program. The program will support local organizations and businesses in offering community-driven design activities to engage diverse groups across the city, while aligning with the objectives and outcomes of WDC 2024. The grant guidelines will be available on Dec. 15 and posted online. A calendar listing free workshops and webinars to aid potential applicants also will be offered by WDC organizers. The deadline for submitting application materials online is 5 p.m. Jan. 15, 2024. “We are excited to partner with the city of San Diego as we prepare to launch this grants program to support arts, culture and design in our community,” said Carlos de la Mora, CEO of WDC 2024. “It is a tremendous opportunity to drive enduring regional... (read more)

Immigration as a pro-life issue. Providence Sister Tracey Horan shares frontline insights from Mexican border charity. Straddling the border between Nogales, Mexico, and Nogales, Arizona, Sister Tracey Horan works in the trinitarian trenches of pro-life, eucharistic and justice ministries: aiding desperate migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexican frontier through the Catholic Kino Border Initiative. A member of the Sisters of Divine Providence, Sister Tracey is in her fifth year as associate director of education and advocacy for the Kino nonprofit. The Indiana native spoke about the Church’s charitable labors to care for the stranger during a stop at the Poveda Center of the Teresian Association. She came to Miami at the end of October to visit with some of Florida’s top immigration advocates: students at... (read more)

Announcing LCF’s New CEO. The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) — the nation’s largest Latino-serving foundation—announced today that Julián Castro will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2024. Julián has dedicated his career to public service as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration, as Mayor of San Antonio prior to that, and most recently as a 2020 presidential candidate. Throughout his career, he has worked tirelessly to boost the upward mobility of Latino families, helping to improve educational opportunity, the availability of affordable housing and good-paying jobs to Latino communities. Reflecting on his goals as incoming CEO of the Latino Community Foundation, Julián Castro stated: “America’s destiny and the destiny of Latinos are intertwined like never before. Latinos represent 19% of our nation’s population, the fastest-growing racial and ethnic voting group, and a $2 trillio... (read more )

Director of the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy published a study how beneficiaries of nonprofit services become donors and/or volunteers. Dr. Will Brown, the director of the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy, published a study in Sociological Spectrum with Dr. Hyunseok Hwang from the University of Houston, fellow Bush School Professor Dr. Arnold Vedlitz and R. Patrick Bixler from the RGK Center at UT Austin. The study empirically analyzes how risk awareness and perceived nonprofit responsiveness and satisfaction influence beneficiaries’ donations and volunteering during and after natural hazards. Additionally, the research offers new perspectives to understanding the co-production of nonprofit services and mobilizing community resources to prepare, respond, and recover from climate impacts and informs ongoing conversations in urban sociology and the sociology of disaster. Read the whole article here.

El Paso's iconic star set to shine on Christmas following extensive renovations. After being off for months due to renovations, the iconic El Paso star is set to finally light the way on Christmas. The El Paso Chamber turned off the Star on the Mountain back in September to reinforce the structure and install a new modern system that will make it easier and faster to change the star's color. In October, the Director of Programs and Community Outreach for the chamber, Claudia Rosales said the star was going to shine again by the middle of November, however, in a social media update from Tuesday, Rosales said the renovations continue, saying they're 75% done. As part of the renovations, the new lighting system will make it possible to change the color of the star from afar with "the... (read more)

San Diego Foundation President and CEO Mark Stuart recognized as one of San Diego’s 500 Most Influential People for 2023. Under Mark's leadership, San Diego Foundation, in partnership with donors, has contributed nearly $400 million in grants to nonprofits near and far over the past three years. The San Diego Business Journal's annual SD500 focuses on San Diego County's most influential business leaders, those who make a significant impact on the business community and the San Diego community at large. Each year the San Diego Business Journal editorial team researches and updates this list to feature those San Diego business leaders who raise the standard locally, regionally, and/or nationally and are involved in professional groups, trade groups, and significant local civic groups. Read the full article to learn more about Mark and other honorees.

LJI strengthens ties between U.S. and Mexican scientists. “We’re glad to continue our support for this cross-border partnership and expand our work with young scientists and research leaders just across the border.” Throughout 2023, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) has opened its doors to diplomats, young scientists, and biomedical research leaders visiting from Mexico. These campus visits are an important step in establishing a thriving cross-border partnership, an effort co-organized by the Border Philanthropy Partnership, the Consul General of Mexico in San Diego, and the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at UC San Diego. “LJI has always welcomed international scientists and worked to establish strong collaborations around the world,” says LJI Professor, President, and CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA. “We’re glad to continue our support for this cross-border partnership and... (read more)

San Diego Economic Equity Report. A new report commissioned by San Diego Foundation developed in partnership with the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center on the state of economic equity in San Diego. The San Diego Economic Equity Report found that one in 10 San Diegans live in poverty, including 86,000 children, due to a lack of self-sufficient wages and the high cost of housing, utilities, transportation and food in the region. We analyzed data from national and regional sources to zero in on the region’s greatest disparities, from housing and education to health care and life expectancy. A few key findings: Poverty: Approximately 335,000 San Diegans live below the federal poverty line, including nearly 86,000 children. Wages and Housing Affordability: Nearly 35% of San Diego County residents struggle to make self-sufficient wages and 38% spend more than the recommended maximum of 30% of their income on... (read more)

Heart of Yuma recognizing locals. The Arizona Community Foundation of Yuma celebrated the "Heart of Yuma" and the 30th anniversary of the community foundation in our area. The goal of the event is to recognize those who have done their part to make Yuma a better place, including businesses and individual philanthropists. Alexis Liggett won the "Philanthropist of the Year" award for her collaborations and fund-raising efforts with community shareholders including raising over $200,000 to make Yuma County parks more inclusive. Other awards included Outstanding Leader, Outstanding Youth Leader, and Outstanding Non-profit. “Tonight’s message is to essentially encourage everyone to give where you live so give back to the community whether you volunteer whether you have a few extra dollars the importance is that we take care of each other here in Yuma County,” said Arizona Community Foundation Regional Director Veronica Shorr. Eric Frost, a nominee for the Outstanding Leader Award, was also able to.... (read more)

El Paso's La Nube reveals high-tech 'Anything's Possible Climber' in upcoming imagination center. Downtown El Paso's upcoming imagination center La Nube announced Thursday the construction of its signature feature. The feature "Anything's Possible Climber" is described as a high-tech four-floor long pathway of unique challenges, hidden surprises and spectacular views. The $5 million project was funded by a donation from the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, designed by Gyroscope Inc. of Oakland, California, and inspired by community input. La Nube is expected to open its doors in 2024, but don't have to wait to see a version of this signature feature. A scale model of the Anything's Possible Climber created by Fab Lab El Paso is currently on display at the El Paso Community Foundation's Foundation room. La Nube Chief Executive Officer Barry Van Deman said... (read more)

Kroc IPJ's Border Fellows cap off year of work focused on creating sustainable peace in our region. There was a physician, an oceanologist, a human rights lawyer, and more. An eclectic group gathered Tuesday to discuss their work over the past year as fellows of the Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice’s Cross-Border Initiatives program. The 2022-23 fellows make up the program’s second cohort, and they’re being led by one of their own. Rebeca Cazares Adame is the director of Cross-Border Initiatives, and was part of the program’s first cohort. Tuesday at the Kroc School she led a panel discussion where fellows described work spanning several fields, all with an overarching goal: to create sustainable peace in our region by addressing issues that affect people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. “It is very much intentional to have a... (read more)

BPP congratulates Christopher Goett, President and CEO of Santa Fe Community Foundation on his election to Philanthropy Southwest Board of Directors. Today during their 75th Annual Conference held in Austin, TX, the membership of Philanthropy Southwest elected Christopher Goett to their Board of Directors. Christopher currently serves as President and C.E.O. of the Santa Fe Community Foundation in New Mexico, where he leads the strategic direction of the community foundation. Goett is not new to philanthropy. Prior to joining Santa Fe Community Foundation, Christopher was the first Executive Director for the Wescom Foundation based in Los Angeles, CA, and before that he served as Senior Program Officer at California Community Foundation, also based in Los Angeles. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Christopher served as a Senior Executive at Council on Foundations, as well as an executive team member of a non-profit affordable housing developer in the Washington, D.C. area. Goett was elected to a three-year term that begins this January. Philanthropy Southwest believes in a thriving Southwestern United States through the power of philanthropy. Both Philanthropy Southwest and Santa Fe Community Foundation are long-time members of the BPP network. Congratulations and best wishes.

Bush Board Fellows Call for nonprofit organizations. The Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy at the Bush School of Government & Public Service, Texas A&M University, is looking for more nonprofit organizations to partner with them for their Bush Board Fellows program, which allows Bush School students (graduate and upper-level) to serve as non-voting members of your nonprofit board. Bush Board Fellows will serve on your nonprofit board from January 2024 - December 2024 and will attend regular board meetings. Bush Board Fellows serving organizations outside Texas and the Brazos Valley will attend board meetings virtually. Host a Bush School student on your nonprofit board by visiting this link to fill out the interest form. Please submit the form by October 26th if you would like to be a host organization for 2024.

‘Blood, sweat and tears’: Gaspar Enriquez Cultural Center to open in San Elizario. Gaspar Enriquez’s Mi Casa Gallery in San Elizario will soon be a cultural center named after him in a partnership with the Rubin Center at UTEP and the Paso Del Norte Community Foundation. Although eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, renowned El Paso artist Gaspar Enriquez believes they open the door to much more. “I’m inspired by people’s eyes and I try to use them to communicate the heart, soul and spirit of my subjects,” Enriquez said about his acclaimed acrylic, air-brushed portraits and paintings. “I want people to look in their eyes and be curious about understanding their story, their experiences.” At 81, Enriquez has told countless stories through his lifetime of work, which has been displayed nationwide — including the El Paso Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in... (read more)

US-Mexico Border 2025 Program: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. As a Fronteriza (someone who grew up along the border), environmental injustices have shaped my academic path as I finish my master’s in occupational and environmental health. Growing up between two countries, I realized how important it was to have cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico as we share not only the people and culture, but also the land, air, and water sheds. September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the 60 million Hispanics and Latino Americans’ stories, contributions, and achievements. It is important that we not only celebrate Hispanics and Latino Americans, but also recognize the unique public health and environmental issues they may face. The Border 2025 program is the latest environmental program... (read more)

How a university less than a mile from the Mexican border is helping Latinx students thrive. University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson says anti-DEI legislation in Texas won’t affect the institution's efforts to serve a student population that's 84 percent Latinx. “We offer an engaged education that is excellent, accessible and more affordable than many other universities.” In a nutshell, that’s how Heather Wilson, the president of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), describes the appeal of one of the nation’s leading Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). Eighty-four percent of UTEP’s 24,000 students are Hispanic, more than triple the percentage (25 percent) the federal government uses to designate a college an HSI. Unlike historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which first provided higher education to Black students when schools were largely segregated, HSIs are categorized as such because... (read more)

Nominate a Hero of Health! Each year Con Alma Health Foundation honors individuals who are passionate about improving health in New Mexico. We are most interested in hearing about unsung heroes, community members and leaders not often in the spotlight. Nominate someone who is making a great difference in your community — including advocates, volunteers, clinicians, administrators, teachers, policy makers, and others who have contributed to New Mexico’s health and well-being. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, October 31st. Tell us about a Hero of Health in New Mexico. Provide your contact information first, then complete the nomination form to tell us about your Hero’s accomplishments. A selection committee consisting of former Heroes and community members will select the 2023 Heroes (1 traditional Hero and 1 youth Hero will be selected). Con Alma will notify the selected Hero and contribute $1,000 to... (read more)

UTEP faculty members earn Hispanos Triunfadores Award. Recognized with entrepreneurs, artists and public officials for professional achievement, service. Two members of the faculty at The University of Texas at El Paso have been selected as recipients of one of the highest awards in the Paso del Norte region for professional achievement and service to the community. Eva Moya, Ph.D. (left), a professor in the Department of Social Work, and Ivonne Santiago, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, are part of this year’s cohort of McDonald's Hispanos Triunfadores. They were celebrated along with this year’s other honorees at the 22nd annual awards luncheon on Tuesday at the Starlight Event Center in central El Paso. Eva Moya, Ph.D. (left), a professor in the Department of Social Work, and Ivonne Santiago, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, are part of this year’s cohort of... (read more)

NADBank is hiring Head of Human Resources and Facility Management. Job can be located at either one of the two NADBank office locations: San Antonio, Texas USA or Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. As an International Organization governed by the governments of the U.S. and Mexico, staff must be a citizen or permanent resident of either country. Founded on the principles of sustainability, collaboration, and innovation, NADBank is unique binational institution dedicated to developing sustainable infrastructure that protects, preserves and enhances the environment of the U.S.-Mexico border region. The Head of Human Resources and Facility Management is responsible for leading a team in recruiting, developing, and aligning NADBank’s human capital and assuring... (read more)

Ivonne Santiago, Ph.D., 2023 Woman of Impact. With immense admiration, the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso proudly announces the recognition of Associate Professor Ivonne Santiago, Ph.D., being named distinguished recipient of the 2023 Women of Impact Award. This prestigious accolade presented by WestStar through El Paso Inc., celebrates the accomplishments of exceptional women who have made a significant impact on the local community through their dedicated efforts, extensive involvement, diverse projects, and remarkable professional achievements. Santiago has diligently cultivated her career to embody the very essence of this esteemed award. Dr. Santiago's journey is one characterized by a deep commitment to her field, a passion for... (read more)

The Nonprofit Institute presents the 11th Annual State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Summit. This year’s Summit has been designed to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and networking, as well as to share the latest research and training from The Nonprofit Institute. We'll present the latest findings from the 2023 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report and other relevant research on issues of climate change, financial health, public confidence, workforce recruitment and retention, and broader opportunities and challenges for nonprofits and philanthropy across the San Diego region. Friday, October 13, 2023, University of San Diego.

September 21 & 22: Online UMI Seminar 1 - Environmental Supervision for Civil Works. Leer en español. The North American Development Bank (NADBank) presents the first of the 2023 series of online seminars through its Utility Management Institute (UMI). The seminars are presented primarily for employees of water utilities, other public servants, and private companies involved in the public services industry. The program is also open to interested participants from other sectors and industries. UMI mainly focuses on the border region located within 100 km (62 miles) north of the U.S.-Mexico border in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and within 300 km (186 miles) south of the border in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. The online program is also open to interested participants from other geographic regions. All seminars will be transmitted with simultaneous interpretation into English and Spanish.

Mayor’s chief of staff to serve on the United States-Mexico Foundation for Science board. Estrella Escobar, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser’s chief of staff, was appointed to the board of the United States-Mexico Foundation for Science, a binational nonprofit that promotes and supports innovation and collaboration in science and technology, as well as economic and social development between the U.S. and Mexico. Escobar has more than 25 years of experience in public policy, crisis management, local and state government, public affairs, higher education and corporate relations. She serves on the board of The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus, as well as the Children at Risk Regional Advisory Board and the Centro Cultural Mexicano Paso del Norte board. Previously, Escobar was the senior advisor to the president at the... (read more)

U.S. and Mexican leaders say providing water is border region’s most important challenge. A two-day binational conference began on Wednesday with leaders from the United States and Mexico earmarking future projects to spur economic development on the border, and trying to solve a water crisis that is plaguing both countries. About 200 people attended the NADBank Summit 2023 hosted by the North American Development Bank — a bank that is owned by both the U.S. and Mexico. It finances green projects for economic development in communities on both sides of the Southwest border. Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Esteban Moctezuma gave the opening keynote address and said both countries must collaborate as a region to promote industry and more jobs. “Trade and integration supports millions of jobs and supports social development on both sides of the border, but trade has not only an economic impact but a... (read more)

Q&A: UTEP President Wilson goes deep on the new academic year, plans for expansion. University of Texas at El Paso students bustled through Centennial Plaza on the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 28, emblematic of a campus revived after a long, hot summer and a dramatic recovery in enrollment after the pandemic. As Miners rushed to class, UTEP President Heather Wilson sat down with the El Paso Times at a picnic table in the shade just off Centennial Plaza to discuss the beginning of the academic year and check in on projects and progress at the university. Wilson is entering her fourth year as president of UTEP, prior to which she served as the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force during the Trump administration and as a member of Congress from... (read more)

SDSU, UC San Diego both named to Forbes' elite Top 25 list of Top Public Colleges in US. Each year around this time, when the leaves back east think of turning color, when kids return to school and when San Diegans finally get the beaches to themselves, the folks at Forbes drop their annual lists of the higher-ed hits, including the Top 25 Public Colleges. So how does this grouping distinguish itself from, say, Forbes’ 2023 rankings of the best 500 colleges? Simple: Top 25 Public Colleges "offer residents of their home states an elite education for thousands of dollars less than they would pay at a comparable private college," according to Forbes. Now, we've seen this list, and among other things, it's worth pointing out that 7 of the Top 25 — more than 25% of — are from the Golden State. Six of those are part of the UC system, and two of them are both in the city of San Diego. So... (read more)

North American Development Bank to host NADBank SUMMIT 2023 in San Antonio, Texas, August 30 and 31, 2023. The North American Development Bank (NADBank) will host NADBANK SUMMIT 2023 with the theme "Sustainable Regional Economic Integration: U.S.-Mexico," on August 30 and 31, 2023, at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. The event will serve as a binational platform to foster analysis, dialogue and synergies on topics related to the economic integration of the region, nearshoring with an emphasis on sustainability, water challenges and innovative actions to address stressed water resources, the importance of energy transition on the border, green manufacturing and industrial parks, and the role of mobility in economic integration. Additionally, there will be two specific panels where the officials from some border states will discuss their programs, investment plans and sustainable infrastructure projects, as well as investment opportunities in... (read more)

EPA Border 2025 Waste Policy Workgroup public meeting. In the second meeting of the Waste Policy Workgroup, the US and Mexican Federal Co-Chairs will provide an overview of its role in supporting and advancing the Border 2025’s goal and supporting objectives for promoting sustainable materials management, waste management and clean sites. This meeting is open to the public and includes time for comments and questions. Simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish will be provided. Participants must register for the meeting to receive a Zoom link. Once registered, participants will receive a Zoom link and will be able to add the event to their calendars. This meeting announcement can be forwarded to interested parties. Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 9:00 (US Pacific Daylight Time), 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (US Eastern Daylight Time).

Binational Education Week at TAMIU sees laptop gifts to IME-Becas students. This week, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) celebrates the observance of Binational Education Week, launched last year by the Consulate of México in Laredo. This year, a select group of TAMIU students have something special to celebrate. The members of this Fall’s Institute of Mexicans in the Exterior (IME) Becas Scholarship Program at TAMIU received new laptop computers donated through a generous partnership with the Consulado General de México and Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest. The students, selected from TAMIU IME-Becas Scholars, received their laptops in a ceremony held in TAMIU’s Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library with Consul General of México in Laredo Juan Carlos Mendoza Sánchez and Hugo Audiffred, Laredo General Manager, Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest. The students receiving the computers are... (read more)

Announcing 2023 Piñon Awards recipients. Honoring excellence in northern New Mexico's nonprofit sector. The Santa Fe Community Foundation is delighted to announce the winners of its 2023 Piñon Awards: Institute of American Indian Arts, New Mexico Acequia Association, Searchlight New Mexico, and Scott’s House. The awards, presented annually by the Foundation since 1987, are a prestigious recognition of excellence within northern New Mexico’s nonprofit sector. This year's honorees were selected in four categories from an extraordinary pool of nominations. Over 90 people wrote heartfelt letters of support for 60+ nonprofit organizations serving Mora, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, and San Miguel counties — a remarkable turnout more than double that of... (read more)

Heat, water, and the coming surge. By Morgan Smith. Driving south from Santa Fe to Juárez or Palomas, Mexico has become like descending into a cauldron. It was 81 degrees on July 26 when we left Santa Fe, 90 when we stopped in Placitas to pick up beans and rice from the Dignity Mission but 109 at the border at Santa Teresa. We’ve made four trips in the last month and the heat has become the dominant issue. If this heat continues, I predict another migrant surge, built on heat and climate change-related crop failures and increasingly unendurable living conditions. Cities like Phoenix may have consistently hotter temperatures but we Americans have relief from this heat. Here are some examples from our recent trips that show the situation in Juárez and... (read more)

Ken Bridges: UTEP's origins as West Texas mining school. As schools and universities across Texas begin their school years, teachers and administrators continue their work to educate students and improve lives. The University of Texas at El Paso has long been such an institution, serving as one of the pioneers for education in West Texas. At the turn of the century, El Paso leaders were looking to escape the image of the lawless frontier town. By 1910, the city’s population had reached 39,000. Mining was a strong component of its economy. Copper mining in the area and especially copper, silver, gold, and lead ores mined across the border in Mexico were smelted within the city, creating a multi-million dollar economic boon for El Paso. Given the city’s unique needs and its location more than 500 miles from the state’s flagship university, the importance of a college devoted to... (read more)

Helen Hunt gets great reception at Plaza Classic Film Festival. Academy- and Emmy Award-winning actor, director and Astros fan, Helen Hunt received a warm El Paso welcome Saturday night at the El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival. About 900 El Paso fans, including one overzealous fan who shouted his affection for Hunt, filled the Plaza Theatre to see Hunt at a pre-movie screening interview with program director Doug Pullen at the beautiful Plaza Theatre. Pullen bestowed Hunt with a Plaza Classic Lifetime Achievement Award. Hunt then proceeded to talk about her career and working with Jack Nicholson in one of her biggest hits, "As Good as It Gets." She will appear for another pre-screening interview Sunday, July 30, at 1 p.m. for the 1996 blockbuster movie, "Twister" at the Plaza Theatre. Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in... (read more)

Abuses at the U.S.- Mexico Border: How to address failures and protect rights. A U.S.-Mexico border that is well governed and that also treats migrants and asylum seekers humanely can go hand in hand and should not be seen as an unattainable aspiration. For this to happen, U.S. government personnel who abuse human rights or violate professional standards, must be held to account within a reasonable amount of time and victims must receive justice. Right now, at the U.S.-Mexico border, this rarely happens. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the federal government’s largest civilian law enforcement agency, has a persistent problem of human rights abuse without accountability. Many, if not most, CBP officers, and agents in CBP’s Border Patrol agency are professionals who seek to follow best practices. However, the frequency and severity of abuse allegations indicate that a substantial number of officers and agents don’t meet that standard. Further, the record suggests that existing... (read more)

August 30, NADBank Summit 2023, San Antonio, TX. The NADBank Summit 2023 "Sustainable Regional Economic Integration: U.S.-Mexico" presents an agenda with a broad range of environmental topics and project financing that fosters the exchange of experiences and ideas with an innovative approach for infrastructure development aimed at promoting sustainable regional economic integration and preserving the environment of the U.S.-Mexico border region. Opening Keynote: U.S.-Mexico Economic Integration by the Honorable Esteban Moctezuma, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States. Event Cost: $350.00 USD. Ask us about the special rate for academia, students and NGOs and take advantage of the special rate at The Westin Riverwalk until July 31st.

Asymptomatic infections may underlie recent rise in whooping cough. Surprising insights on pertussis vaccines pave the way for next-gen protection. In a new study published in Cell Host & Microbe, scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) compared the immune response of individuals who received older versus newer versions of the whooping cough vaccine. The unexpected findings may help explain the recent rise in whooping cough cases and point to potential targets for the next generation of vaccines. Whooping cough is a serious and sometimes life-threatening infectious disease caused by the highly contagious bacterium Bordetella pertussis. In 1948, the first whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine was made widely available, in which recipients were treated with an inactivated version of the entire bacterium. While extremely effective in producing immunity, the potent vaccine sometimes caused... (read more)

University of San Diego to host Festival of Books on Saturday, Aug. 19. The University of San Diego, including the College of Arts and Sciences and the Humanities Center, announces its continued partnership with The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Festival of Books. The SDUT Festival of Books will be held on the USD campus for the second year on Saturday, August 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This exciting and free event will bring together renowned authors, avid readers and book enthusiasts from across the country. The Festival of Books is a celebration of the written word. Book lovers of all ages in attendance will enjoy workshops, discussions with award-winning authors, activities... (read more)

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