Values

• We believe in social investment to elevate a strong sense of international community, not charity.

• We seek to listen and learn from each other, rather than presume we know it all.

• We respect the cultures and traditions of both Mexico and the United States and advocate for wider public knowledge.

• We value working together with like-minded organizations and individuals on both sides of the border.

• We welcome participation in our programs regardless of one’s viewpoint on divisive issues.

Binational Relationships

Border Community Alliance grew out of relationships with people who wanted to promote binational relationships between non-profit organizations. They sought to encourage a more balanced narrative about Mexico to replace the media’s narrow focus of drugs, violence and immigration.

From the beginning, BCA has had a close relationship with FESAC, a Mexican community foundation. Through this and other partnerships, BCA’s program was created, including the cross border tour program, the Borderlands Forum and student internship program. Classes and events such as Michael Dear’s presentation on his book Why Walls Won’t Work have been offerings of BCA from the beginning.

Bob Phillips is BCA’s founding Executive Director. In the fall of 2015 Bob transitioned into the role of Founding Director and Senior Consultant and in January 2016 Jerry Haas became Executive Director and Co-Chair of the Board with Marty Bronstein.  

In September 2021, Celia Bavier became Executive Director of BCA.  Jerry Haas remains as Senior Advisor to the Board.

New Programming

BCA is continuing to develop new programming. The upcoming season promises to be packed with many opportunities to learn about our neighbor to the south and gain a greater appreciation for the unique history, culture and environment of the borderlands.

BCA’s Sonoran Partner FESAC

Border Community Alliance grew out of relationships with people who wanted to promote binational connections between nonprofit organizations. From the beginning BCA has had a close relationship with FESAC, a Nogales, Sonora based community foundation.  This unique arrangement allows us to provide pass through donations to FESAC and to specific NGO community organizations that BCA/FESAC supports. We strongly stand with FESAC in lifting up local community by changing the narrative from charity to social investment.

Fundación del Empresariado Sonorense A.C.  or FESAC, is an independent community foundation integrated by the Mexican state of Sonora’s business organizations with a council formed by Sonoran businessmen.

As a civil association (A.C.: Asociacion Civil), it is  philanthropic in character, private and autonomous, without political affiliation, religious denomination and non-profit. FESAC is dedicated to meet the most pressing needs of the community,  to generate opportunities for development and improve the quality of life of Sonorans.

Director of FESAC Nogales

Alma Cota de Yanez

Alma Cota de Yanez was born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the Technological Institute of Monterrey (ITESM). Alma began working with NGOs as a part time translator for Save the Children during her university studies.  Since January of 2003, Alma has served as Executive Director for Fundación del Empresariado Sonorense AC (Nogales Chapter). Since taking charge of this position Alma has overseen FESAC becoming the local leader in mobilizing resources and education in philanthropy for donors (individual and corporate), government agencies and NGOs.  FESAC works to promote civil society, philanthropy, culture and a NGO network. As a result of this work, FESAC has helped Nogales, Son. to work towards the objective of improving the quality of community life. FESAC works in close partnership with the Border Community Alliance in Arizona on a variety of cross border programs. Read more about Alma and her work with FESAC in this social investment profile.

BCA Board of Directors

Nonprofit Border Community Alliance is organized and managed by an all-volunteer board of directors.

Jerry Haas

BCA SENIOR ADVISOR

Jerry is a retired United Methodist minister who has worked as a chaplain, pastor and denominational executive in multi-cultural and international contexts. He values the importance of non-profit organizations and loves BCA’s inclusive focus.

“I have lived in Arizona for twenty-five years but while I knew the challenge of the border, it was only through BCA that I began to hear what Mexicans are thinking and doing and how we can work together. For that I am very grateful.” - Jerry

Read Jerry’s “The People of BCA” Interview here.

José A. López

BOARD PRESIDENT

José was born and raised on the Mexican border in Laredo, Texas; the son of a Mexican immigrant father and Mexican American mother.  He served in the US Army after graduating from the University of North Texas and is the father of three children and four grandkids. 
His life's profession has been in education, starting as a teacher in Texas and eventually became a K12 administrator. Holding leadership positions as principal and subsequently as Superintendent of schools, José later moved to California in 1994 and started teaching Educational Leadership at the California State University, East Bay. He moved to Tubac in June 2019 and taught online classes and fully retired in 2021. 
José joined the BCA Board of Directors in 2021.  He served as Treasurer for 2 years and was elected President effective 2024. He seeks to broaden the reach of BCA into Tucson and Nogales. 

“It is important for me to contribute to the BCA community given my lived experiences as a son of a Mexican immigrant and as Mexican American.” – José

Read Jose’s “The People of BCA” Interview here.

Dan Anderson

Board of Directors

ViCE PRESIDENT

Dan is a native of southern Arizona, with a lifelong interest in Latin American culture, people, and language.  He lived for a couple of years in northern Mexico, and currently lives and works in Tucson, where he represents mostly Spanish-speaking clients in Tucson Federal District Court.  He was a member of the original BCA board of directors, and has recently returned to help continue the work BCA is doing so well.

“I have always believed in BCA's mission of fostering cross-border education and fellowship.  I've been delighted to see how BCA has blossomed into such respected organization, spreading the word about the rich culture and fascinating history of our shared border region.” – Dan

Susan Scott

Board of Directors

BCA treasurer

Susan moved to Sonoita, AZ 16 years ago after a long career in the human resources field in San Francisco and Seattle. According to her, part of the enjoyment of retirement is giving back to the community and she participates in several local non-profit organizations. Having had the opportunity of travelling throughout Mexico she believes experiences and education help us to bridge our differences and find commonality.

“BCA is a perfect fit for me.  Its mission aligns with my own values. Through them I look forward to the opportunity to give others the experience of getting to know and understand our southern neighbors better.”  - Susan   

Read Susan’s “The People of BCA” Interview here.

Sara Martin

Board of Directors

Sara retired to Green Valley after a 40+ year business career in Colorado.  A native of the New Mexico borderlands, she has always been interested in the language, history and culture of Mexico and Latin America. Her involvement in BCA stems from a day trip to Magdalena in the spring of 2017, quickly followed by a Nogales tour, and she soon became an active volunteer at BCA.

“The value and importance of BCA to the Borderlands became clear to me when I had the opportunity to review the comments of people who’d experienced BCA Cross Border visits or enjoyed a Borderlands Forum program. BCA makes a positive difference as a unique resource for people to become more aware of our rich shared heritage with Mexico, to participate in social investment with our neighbor, and learn more about the life in the Sonoran Desert on both sides of the border. I want to help make that difference!.” – Sara

Jim Hoff

Board of Directors

SPANISH PROGRAM Coordinator

Jim is a retired business executive and researcher currently residing in Tubac. He holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and architectural design as well as a Masters and Doctorate in Management Science. Through his company, TEGNOS Research, Jim provides consulting services to a wide variety of non-profit and for-profit organizations. 

“I became involved with BCA after deciding to live year-round in Southern Arizona, and I was impressed from the start. BCA is instrumental in educating both part-time and full-time residents about the unique contribution of our bi-national community to the culture and economy of both the U.S. and Mexico; and I strongly believe in its long-term mission to promote learning, communication, and mutual respect within this unique community.” – Jim

Read Jim’s “The People of BCA” Interview here.

Rita Cantu

Board of Directors

Rita grew up in Tucson, roaming the desert lowlands and “sky island” mountains of southern Arizona.  She has pursued deeper understandings of her Mexican immigrant roots with an ever-branching appreciation of the culture and history they anchor. Her interpretive career as a ranger in national parks and forests further enriches a lifetime of “ah-ha’s” that encompasses her avocation as singer/ songwriter/ storyteller of The People (as nearly every indigenous group calls itself in its own language). Calling places like Spain, Australia, Scotland, Maui and Alaska “home” at times, she nonetheless considers herself first and always a bona-fide Desert Rat, and no place holds her heart like the verdant Sonoran.

“Why BCA? Even though my farm is north of Prescott, being part of this community feeds my constant hunger for the land and people of the Borderlands; and if I’m fed, I must also feed.  Here I can nourish these deepest roots in myself and others: a sense of Place, a sense of Self, a sense of Purpose.  And did I mention joy, delight, fun? SI, SE PUEDE!”

Jerry Leggett

Board of Directors

Jerry is the founder and CEO of the 21st Century Peace Literacy Foundation (est. 2016) based at Casa de Peacebuilder in Tubac and host to the Peace Heroes StoryTrail. Jerry has extensive professional experience in nonprofit fundraising including creating and producing signature community events for local, national and international organizations. For fifty years, as a singer-songwriter, Jerry has performed widely throughout the U.S. to benefit people-placed-at-risk, most recently touring along the U.S. West Coast in connection with the Rotarian Action Group for Peace.

"I am honored to serve on the BCA board. One of BCA’s core values that I find especially compelling is: “We seek to listen and learn from each other, rather than presume we know it all.” There truly is so much to learn--at any age! I am very excited to make new friends and experience new places through the BCA cross border tours. Hope you will make plans to join us.

Seth Schermerhorn

Board of Directors

Seth is Associate Professor & Director of American Studies at Hamilton College. He is the author of Walking to Magdalena: Personhood and Place in Tohono O’odham Songs, Sticks, and Stories, which was co-published by the University of Nebraska Press and the American Philosophical Society in 2019. He is also the co-editor of Movement and Indigenous Religions, which was published by Routledge in 2024. He is the founding editor of Indigenous Religious Traditions.

“I started working with BCA in 2019 as a consultant as BCA was making Pilgrimage to Magdalena, an award-winning film that is, hands down, the best and single most accessible introduction to the Magdalena pilgrimage. It’s been a wonderful experience and I’m honored to become more deeply involved in BCA’s work as a board member.

Celia Bavier

Executive Director

Celia has worked in program management, fundraising, communications and advocacy within the nonprofit world for much of her career. For the past several years, she worked on borderlands issues for area nonprofits, including No More Deaths/ No Más Muertes and the Center for Biological Diversity, both based in Tucson, AZ. She enjoys bringing people together through common interests and values and through a love of learning and community. 

"I am thrilled to work with the committed staff, Board and volunteers at Border Community Alliance to promote the positive nature of the border region and all that it has to offer.  Through the arts, history, language, social investment and advocacy, BCA works to foster a sense of shared culture and community that transcends human-made borders, politics and public policy.  The work of BCA is ambitious, but yet practical, and I look forward to working towards its mission, engaging with residents of southern Arizona and as well as visitors curious about the region."

Suzy Webber

office & events coordinator

Suzy is an artist, musician and Spanish teacher who recently moved to Arizona for the sunshine and in hopes of getting involved in a positive way with the border situation.

“I love BCA’s mission to bring about change through understanding and compassionate action instead of confrontation.” - Suzy

Anne Gibson

Tours & Forums Coordinator

Anne is a 3rd generation Southern Arizona native, living on her family's historic Mexican Land Grant ranch in Elgin, AZ.  Having spent her lifetime traversing the border and being raised in the cross-border culture she's a true advocate of the mission of the Border Community Alliance. 

"Our Mexican neighbors have enriched our lives and contribute so much to our lifestyle; we need to spread the word of respect and compassion. My experiences from the many (7+) BCA tours I attended before being awarded this position inspire and generate my enthusiasm. I can't wait to share all of this with you!" I welcome your suggestions for potential tours.

Pam McNutt

financial manager

Pam started her career in medical clinic management and then shifted to concentrate on financial management and accounting. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over 10 years. She has lived in the borderlands for close to 30 years and has gained a great appreciation for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and history. She has realized her passion lies in being involved in wonderful organizations doing great things in the world. “I love working with Border Community Alliance, everyone involved is passionate about the organization and it shows. Their sense of kindness and commitment comes through in all that they do – working with them is truly a joy.”

Amy Tice

borderlands ambassador program supervisor

Amy is a resident of Searsmont, ME, though recently she has been spending 4-6 months a year in the Borderlands. In addition to being an instructor in the Writing Program at Husson University, Amy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She studies the events in the Arizona borderlands through a social work lens, working towards creating understanding and contributing to an accurate narrative for the people impacted on both sides of the border.

“When my partner and I stumbled upon the BCA office while exploring Tubac, I was immediately drawn to be a part of the organization, as the mission and values are strongly aligned with my own. I am so grateful to be involved with BCA and am thrilled to be coordinating the BCA Borderlands Ambassador Internship Program. It is an honor each summer to accompany young people on a journey of discovery as they experience the vibrance of the region, notice and contribute to the collaboration across borders and walls, and foster community through all of their experiences.”

Founders

Bill Neubauer, Robert Phillips, Dan Anderson, Sherry Mullins, Steve Teichner, Russ and Blyth Carpenter, David and Janet Little, Marilyn Townley, Terry Wisner, and Wendy Knox

Advisors

Russ Carpenter, Blyth Carpenter, Zulma Barrios, Alma Cota de Yanez, Luis Torres, Michael Dear and Nancy Montoya