Events

Friday, January 24, 5-6:30pm: Borderlands Forum - Arizonenses: Arizona's Latino History Timeline. Arizona's important Latino history is often forgotten in the mainstream history books and hidden in corners of museums; but the leaders and the stories continue to inspire movements. Motivated by our collective past and interactions with living history, Adam López Falk, a fifth generation Arizonan, created Arizonenses: The Arizona Latino History Timeline. The timeline highlights the people, places, and events that have created today's Arizona. Mr. López has presented this timeline to organizations like the Arizona Office of Tourism, First Things First, ASU, the Hispanic Leadership Institute and the Arizona Community Foundation. A project that is constantly evolving and developing, Arizonenses helps to empower, engage and inform communities about the undeniable impact of Latinos on Arizona's history. Mr. López currently serves as Senior Community Impact Officer for the Arizona Community Foundation. In this role, he oversees discretionary grantmaking and focuses in on ACF’s Social Investments in Arts and Culture, Healthcare, Disaster Relief, and a special focus on Latino communities and the borderlands of Arizona and Sonora. Location: Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd Street, Tucson. Funded in part by the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA). FREE event, Donations welcome

Wednesday, January 29: Whitewater Draw Day Tour with Jeff Babson, southern Arizona’s premier winter bird watching site. Winter home to tens of thousands of sandhill cranes and many other water birds; if you haven’t experienced the comings/goings at Whitewater Draw you simply MUST! Jeff Babson is a naturalist and owner of Sky Island Tours. Tour price: $25 BCA members/ $30-nonmembers

Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tours & Forums Series
Friday January 31, 2025: The Turquoise Trail in downtown Tucson, WALKING Tour. Mauro Trejo, 7th generation Tucsonian and historian, delves deep into Tucson’s history going back more than a century. From ancient times to present day, Mauro will walk you through Tucson’s oldest areas and share stories of the people and events that shaped its past. This tour is perfect for history buffs and anyone looking to learn more about this beautiful city. $35/BCA members $40 Non-members; Meet 9:15am at Tucson Presidio.

Thursday, February 6, 5:00pm: Borderlands Forum: “Fronteras del Lenguaje: Understanding Bilingualism in the Borderlands”. This presentation, by Dr. Genesis D. Arizmendi, examines bilingualism in the borderlands, exploring how living in border communities shapes language, identity, and culture. Drawing on research and community perspectives across the US/Mexico Border, this talk highlights the rich linguistic and cultural wealth of border regions, emphasizing the power of bilingualism to bridge worlds and create opportunities for our communities. Together, we’ll celebrate the unique voices of the borderlands and discuss how these findings can inform education, advocacy, and community strength. Dr. Arizmendi is Assistant Professor of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences Assistant/Cognitive Sciences and the Director of the Multicultural Bilingual Certificate Program, at the University of Arizona. Dr. Arizmendi is a fronteriza who grew up in Nogales, Arizona and graduated from Nogales High School in 2007. Location: The Wittner Museum, 204 N. Morley Ave., Nogales, AZ. Free event - donations welcome. Funded in part by the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA)

Stay in this unique, small village and enjoy the atmosphere and culture. Visit the homes of a few primary artists, experiencing how pottery is created in Mata Ortiz. Watch the magic of clay coils being pinched into a graceful form. Observe how the fine lines are painted with a brush made from a child’s hair. Feel the excitement of firing the finished work and watching as it is finally uncovered from the ashes. Explore the fascinating Paquime Ruins at Casas Grandes. The culture of the Paquimé thrived from AD 900 to 1450 and their recovered pottery inspired the revival at Mata Ortiz. Walk through the delightful museum and then tour the massive ruins.
$1,150/Members.  $1250/Non-Members. $200 single supplement. Deposit of $500 due by December 15, 2024. Final payment due by January 2, 2025 
REFUNDS: No refunds unless we can fill your spot. $100 cancellation fee.

Stay in this unique, small village and enjoy the atmosphere and culture. Visit the homes of a few primary artists, experiencing how pottery is created in Mata Ortiz. Watch the magic of clay coils being pinched into a graceful form. Observe how the fine lines are painted with a brush made from a child’s hair. Feel the excitement of firing the finished work and watching as it is finally uncovered from the ashes. Explore the fascinating Paquime Ruins at Casas Grandes. The culture of the Paquimé thrived from AD 900 to 1450 and their recovered pottery inspired the revival at Mata Ortiz. Walk through the delightful museum and then tour the massive ruins.
$1,150/Members.  $1250/Non-Members. $200 single supplement. Deposit of $500 due by December 15, 2024. Final payment due by January 2, 2025 
REFUNDS: No refunds unless we can fill your spot. $100 cancellation fee.

The magical world of musical instruments created & played by Zach Farley! Zach grew up in Patagonia where he fell in love with wood, wires, stones,and music. Also his wife Cassina. He began playing guitar at 14 and building instruments from whatever he could find in his thirties. Now he has many memories with pieces of wood he found along the way and plays with all his heart. Come see and hear Zach's one man orchestra by his own creation. You'll be mesmerized!

In the arid Southwest, ranching has dominated agriculture, with historically large ranches and a vibrant cowboy culture. This tour begins with a visit to the Santa Fe Ranch near Nogales, and an introduction to the many challenges of arid ranching by Dean Fish, Ph.D, Ranch Foreman. He will charm you with his humor and in-depth knowledge, with many a tall tale to tell. Next we'll travel to eastern Santa Cruz County to the Sonoita-Elgin wine appelation; where the landscape dramatically changes to vast grasslands with gently rolling hills dotted with oak trees ... and VINEYARDS. In the past 30 years the wine industry has taken a prominent place in Arizona's economy. We will visit Sonoita Vineyards where Arizona's first commercial vineyard and winery began. There you'll learn all about the history of the wine industry in southern Arizona and how it has become internationally renown; all while enjoying a catered authentic "ranchero" lunch. Optional wine tasting $20/person (not included in tour fee). Tour begins at BCA Office in Tubac, 8:15am. We will travel by van for the day, returning by 4:30pm. Parking available at the Tubac Presidio, 1 Burruel Street.

Tour price includes roundtrip transportation from Tubac, catered ranchero lunch at Sonoita Vineyards, and BCA tour guide. Wine tasting available for an additional fee): $95 (members); $105 (nonmembers). Wine tasting is extra ($20 pp)

Nogales, Sonora Day tour. Visit our partner nonprofit organizations in Nogales, eat lunch at Burrito Hass, learn about the city of Nogales, Sonora and have coffee & dessert at La Roca. Tour fee: $95/ members; $105/ non-members

February 27, 8am-10:30am: Breakfast & the Border event for our Borderlands Ambassador Interns.
Breakfast Fee: $50/person $500/Table (up to 8 people)
Location: Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W Pima Mine RD, Sahuarita, AZ

Border Community Alliance and Conect@Oaxaca invite you to explore the true heart of Mexico’s vibrant arts traditions with us in Oaxaca. Oaxaca is a land of tradition, ancient arts, creativity, and change. The villages of the Central Valleys are deeply rooted in ancient Zapotec communities. You’re invited to explore the history, cultural significance, and creative vision with us on this unique week-long journey through Oaxaca.
The price of the tour includes accommodations, group breakfasts and some lunches, ground transportation, entrance fees, and multilingual guides for both city and villages. Tour size limited to 10 people.
$2995/BCA MEMBERS • $3095/NON-MEMBERS (DOUBLE OCCUPANCY) • $600 single supplement
$500 deposit due November 27. Final payment due December 28.

Border Community Alliance and Conect@Oaxaca invite you to explore the true heart of Mexico’s vibrant arts traditions with us in Oaxaca.
Together we will meet the master artists who sustain and illuminate Oaxaca’s creative soul, touching on important issues of authenticity, ingenuity, and innovation. Each day will bring you closer to the creative people whose lives are devoted to mastering art forms that are appreciated around the world. Together, they are the soul of Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is a land of tradition, ancient arts, creativity, and change. The villages of the Central Valleys are deeply rooted in ancient Zapotec communities. You’re invited to explore the history, cultural significance, and creative vision with us on this unique week-long journey through Oaxaca.

The price of the tour includes accommodations, group breakfasts and some lunches, ground transportation, entrance fees, and multilingual guides for both city and villages.
Airfare, dinners, tips, alcoholic beverages and discretionary personal purchases are not included.
People arriving or departing outside of the trip dates will need to pay for their own airport transfers.
Tour size limited to 10 people.

BCA Members: Double room $2995/Single room $3595
NonMembers: Double $3095/Single $3695
$500 deposit due November 27. Final payment due December 28.
To reserve your spot, please submit a $500 hold fee when you register at www.bordercommunityalliance.org or call Suzy at (520) 398-3229.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cancel after the deadlines, we will not be able to refund your money unless there is a waiting list and your place on the trip can be filled by someone else. In this case, there is a $100 administration cancellation fee. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE IN CASE YOU NEED TO CANCEL THIS TRIP.
BCA has the right to cancel the tour at any time based on safety or COVID concerns in the Oaxaca area. If the trip is canceled, a full refund will be made.

Nogales, Sonora Day tour. Visit our partner nonprofit organizations in Nogales, eat lunch at Burrito Hass, learn about the city of Nogales, Sonora and have coffee & dessert at La Roca. Tour fee: $95/ members; $105/ non-members

March 14: Walking Tour: The Renaissance of Nogales, AZ. Come see and learn about the extraordinary cultural arts vibrancy happening in Ambos Nogales. We’ll tour the historic 1914 Santa Cruz County Courthouse, Wittner Museum, La Linea Studio & Gallery, Pimeria Alta Historical Society Museum, and other sites on this walking tour (just less than 1 mile). We encourage you to enjoy lunch afterward at any one of the great eateries in Nogales. Our guides are 3-5th generation Nogalians whose families are the founding families. Half day tour, meeting @ 8:45am in Nogales, AZ; Tour fee - $20.00. Funded in part by the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA)

During this tour, participants will experience the Bahía de Kino region and learn about many different cultural, economic, environmental, and ecological perspectives. This experiential education opportunity focuses on community-based conservation initiatives, species monitoring, indigenous knowledge, and bio-cultural history. Located on the edge of the Sonoran Desert and shores of the Gulf of California, this region contains incredibly rich, diverse, and unique desert, marine, and island ecosystems. This tour is in partnership with the Prescott College Kino Bay Center for Cultural & Ecological Studies.
BCA Members $1500 / NonMembers $1600 Tour price includes: Lodging, round trip transportation from Nogales to Kino Bay; all meals except Lunches first & last day (travel days); and Kino Bay Center guides and itinerary for three days.
$500 Deposit Due January 6, 2025
Final Payment Due February 15, 2025

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cancel after the deadlines, we will not be able to refund your money unless there is a waiting list and your place on the trip can be filled by someone else. In this case, there is a $100 administration cancellation fee. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE IN CASE YOU NEED TO CANCEL THIS TRIP.
BCA has the right to cancel the tour at any time based on safety or COVID concerns in the Oaxaca area. If the trip is canceled, a full refund will be made.

Nogales, Sonora Day tour. Visit our partner nonprofit organizations in Nogales, eat lunch at Burrito Hass, learn about the city of Nogales, Sonora and have coffee & dessert at La Roca. Tour fee: $95/ members; $105/ non-members

Designed for students who have taken Conversation 1 and 2 or the equivalent. Students should have a good understanding of basic grammar and be able to speak in the present, past and future tenses. For the winter of 2025, the class will read and discuss the poem Soy México as narrated by actor Alberto Mayagoitía. Each week, students will be provided with a study guide covering a topic of Mexican culture, and students will discuss various aspects of the study topic. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CLASS IS A REPEAT OF THE FALL 2024 ADVANCED CLASS. The class will be limited to 6 students to provide ample opportunity for discussion. Registration Fee: $120 / $100 BCA Members.

Note: To preview the class and access class materials, please go to the Let's Speak Spanish Website: https://sites.google.com/view/lets-speak-spanish/home

Designed for students who have taken Conversation 1 or are familiar with the Spanish present tense. This class will expand on the previous class by focusing on important ways to talk about the past and the future. Using these additional tenses, you will learn how to 1) describe past events, 2) recall past remembrances, and 3) make plans for the future.

Registration Fee: $120 / $100 BCA Members.

Note: To preview the class and access class materials, please go to the Let's Speak Spanish Website: https://sites.google.com/view/lets-speak-spanish/home

Designed for students with some previous experience with Spanish, even if a little rusty. This class will focus on tested conversation techniques that will help you engage in real conversation. Using mostly the present tense, you will learn how to 1) describe people, places and things, 2) express wants and needs, and 3) ask and respond to questions.
Registration Fee: $120 / $100 BCA Members.

Note: To preview the class and access class materials, please go to the Let's Speak Spanish Website: https://sites.google.com/view/lets-speak-spanish/home

Designed for students with little or no previous experience with Spanish. This class will help you get a head start in learning Spanish by focusing on important everyday activities such as introducing yourself, making reservations, asking for directions, etc. The class also will include music, games, and listening exercises to strengthen the learning experience. Registration Fee: $120 / $100 BCA Members.

Note: To preview the class and access class materials, please go to the Let's Speak Spanish Website: https://sites.google.com/view/lets-speak-spanish/home