Q: As someone with deep roots in the Nogales/Santa Cruz County community, what does it mean to be accepting the Roberta Bracker Memorial Civic Leadership Award?
I'm deeply honored to receive this recognition, but I have to say, I feel I am accepting this award on behalf of so many hard working friends who have dedicated themselves to lifting up our community in downtown Nogales. Everything we have been able to accomplish has been thanks to the network of support we have received from everyone involved. This has been one of the greatest lessons I've learned over the last 10 years working with nonprofits; when there is a true collective understanding and guiding mission, everything falls into place.
Q: We know you’ve recently finished your Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship, congratulations on that! Tell us what you’ve been up to since…
Thank you! The ERC Fellowship experience taught me a lot about community-based economic development and it was eye opening to see what other communities around the country are doing to move forward and grow. It was a lot of work and travel as well, so I am just now catching my breath. Recently, I've returned to practicing the piano and last weekend I performed my first concert in over two years. I have another performance in New York later this month and have scheduled more concerts for the future. I continue to coordinate events and exhibitions at La Linea Art Studio and the Wittner Museum as well as serve on the boards of Nogales Community Development, Pimeria Alta Historical Society, and most recently the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. I'm thrilled to continue working with CFSA post-fellowship!
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share, or people/organizations you want to shout out while you’re reflecting on this moment?
I want to give a big shoutout to Enedina Miller for being my host at CFSA for the Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship. The inaugural program consisted of a nationwide cohort of 65 Fellows and Hosts and it was a substantial commitment over the last two and a half years- I'm deeply grateful for all of the time, guidance and support Enedina gave so generously to my project. I also want to recognize several nonprofits working in downtown Nogales: Edgardo Muñoz of 0S3 Movement and We Love Nogales, as well as Chiquis Barron and Miguel Lopez of the Santa Cruz County Justice Project, the Cultural Arts Committee of Nogales and everyone at La Linea and the Wittner. Working together side by side, I know the future of Morley Avenue is bright.
To learn more about the Santa Cruz Community Foundation, go here.
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