Articles & Features
“A Tohono O’odham family integrates Catholic and Native beliefs in the Arizona desert,” by Giovanna Dell’orto, July 2, 2025
“On St. John the Baptist’s feast day in late June, an extended Tohono O’odham family attends Mass out at their desert camp, where they gather to harvest saguaro fruit in a process sacred in their Native spirituality.
“When you’re raised as being a Catholic and raised as being an O’odham, you have both of those within your home, you have both of those within your family,” said Maria Francisco. “So it’s a combination.”
With her cousin, Tanisha Tucker Lohse, and about three dozen other family members and friends, Francisco worshipped at the early morning Mass in a ramada — a canopy topped with saguaro ribs to provide shade, this one decorated with paper flowers. A folding table covered by a white and gold tablecloth served as an altar. A priest visited from Tucson to celebrate the Mass.” Continue reading.
“Student Internship Aims to Dispel Borderlands Myths,” by Emily Bregel, Arizona Daily Star, January 26, 2024
“A service-learning component gives interns hands-on experience volunteering with nonprofits on the border. Last year, interns worked at a migrant-aid shelter in Nogales, Sonora and at Casa Alitas' Welcome Center for migrants in Nogales, Arizona. Interns will also accompany humanitarian workers on desert water drops in southern Arizona.
But the program is about more than immigration issues, said internship supervisor Amy Tice. Interns also visit with public officials, environmentalists and local businesses that work across the international boundary line. They've taken tours of maquiladora factories in Nogales, Sonora, which employ millions in the border regions of Mexico, and met with fruit processors in Nogales, Arizona, she said.
"It’s an incredibly rich and diverse area. We’re just helping them to get that full picture of what’s happening down there," she said.” Continue reading.
“Jerry Haas Selected As One of the 2023 AZ19 Region Most Influential People,” Green Valley News, 2023
“Jerry Haas has been instrumental in building a strong and positive relationship between the people of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. He has volunteered countless hours with Border Community Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the border and fostering community through education, collaboration and cultural exchange. He has also been leading an effort to make the Green Valley area a more dementia-friendly community.” Continue reading.
“A decade of growth for border group,” by Daisy Zavala Mangana, Nogales International, December 20, 2023
“Several columns of embroidered artwork on mantas, made by migrants in Sonoran shelters, hung on the walls of the Border Community Alliance office in early December. The pieces, some made by Wendy Iveth Lopez Aguilar, depicts images ranging from female figures and flowers to cultural symbols represetings the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
The exhibit, which will continue on displace through December, is representative of the Border Community Alliance’s mission, according to Executive Director Celia Bavier. She said the artwork creates cross-cultural connection and welcomes health discourse about the local border region.” Continue reading.