61-year-old, María Quiroz Rameño is an unstoppable woman. Photo: Alma Serrano.
Alma Serrana (San Juan Cosala).- Maybe you didn’t have the childhood or adolescence you would have wished. Life is never as we thought it would be, no matter how much we plan it. From the country to the city, that’s how your life has been, with many inevitable changes and realities that have made you wake up.
Your 61 years have shown you how capable you are. Limits are nothing more than the experiences of others who have not dared to go, out of fear, where you knew you could go. Your determination makes you powerful and you always do the best you can, even if at the time you didn’t know how.
Being a mother has made you see, go, look beyond, be invincible and give it your all. For your children you took off the blindfold, to see that the world is not a loom that you can hold. Sometimes you had to weave your own way, with the fabric of your hands.
You were, are, and will be a daughter, a wife, a mother of four children who had to live in a hurry «with shots and pulls.» Being a mother has led you to be, even when you were widowed, bigger than before, stronger, more you. You never gave up. Nothing stops you.
Since you were a child, you had the desire to break everything you came across. You have learned that this unquestionable attitude only exists in extraordinary people.
Thanks to your innate, relentless will you have managed to achieve what only the brave, those who remain standing, can achieve.
You may not notice everything you have achieved because circumstances have not allowed you the time to contemplate. You have known what to do in the face of adversity, defending yourself from everything, you never lost faith. How courageous you have been.
There is no doubt that it is not necessary to be a mother for us to honor your life like that of millions of mothers. Undoubtedly being a mother has made you an impeccable human being at heart. I know that life has not been perfect neither with you nor with anyone else, but life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.
Translated by Nita Rudy
Bertha Mendoza Díaz professes great fervor to the image of the Lord of Huaje
María del Refugio Reynozo Medina.- Seventy-three-year-old Bertha Mendoza Díaz is originally from Jocotepec. She and her brother Cándido Mendoza Díaz grew up seeing the loving devotion to the Lord of Huaje by their parents. The Lord of Huaje is one of the two sacred images of Christ revered in Jocotopec. The other is the Lord of the Mountain.
Their father, Cirilo Mendoza Valencia, one of Jocotepec’s artisan woodworkers taught the trade to Cándido. Cándido, in addition to being a woodworker, is a musician and has been a high school art teacher for 24 years.
Because of his great devotion, Cirilo Mendoza always wanted to be one of the organizers of the feast of the Lord of Huaje. Around 1970 he heard that it would be the last year that the Lord of Huaje would be celebrated due to lack of economic resources.
Don Cirilo went to the parish of Señor del Monte (Lord of the Mountain) to ask to borrow some banners and candlesticks because the precinct of the Lord of Huaje did not have any.
Don Cirilo asked the priest permission to borrow what he needed. The priest told him, “If any of the things are lost, you will pay for them. Don Cirilo replied, “If it is necessary for me to stay and sleep with him, I will.»
On the evening of the eve of the feast, a group of helpers set out to close the door when the decorating was finished. The door remained stuck open and could not be closed, even with the help of the others. Don Cirilo remembered that he had promised to stay overnight with the Lord. His sympathetic helpers, Ángel Paz, Benito Inés and Catarino Olmedo went to get their personal items to join Don Cirilo for a sleepless night. When they returned, ready to settle in, they tried to close the heavy wooden gate one more time. Before everyone’s eyes, the gate closed. “He was testing us,» said one of the helpers.
The first celebrations that honored this Christ were only two days: Saturday and Sunday occurring the days after the January feast. Then the celebration of a novena (nine-day prayers and celebration) was added.
Mrs. Bertha continued with her love for the image of Lord Huaje and was very close to the activities of the temple. Although in the temple a loving contemplation was not always experienced. She remembers a priest named Emeterio Romo, whose actions were very strange. He was allergic to flowers. He used to say, why are you having so many parties?” When he was asked to authorize a party, he was reluctant.
“They are our images of Christ,» the women would tell him.
On one occasion in 1975 Bertha found out that a meeting was being held to change the date of the feast. She and other people did not agree and tried to prevent it. In the end, the celebration date was changed to the current one in May. But the first year of the change they celebrated in January and May.
That last January celebration has been referred to as the feast of the excommunicated, referring to the people who participated in it. The first time the celebration was held in May, the organizers sent a summons to the organizers of the January celebration, through the presidency, so that they could borrow the platform. Tempers flared and the two groups were fighting for the platform. The platform was shared and that year the Lord of Huaje had two celebrations and many faithful gathered around the image.
Many stories are shared about this Christ figure. Someone once said that he opened his lips. Some say that sometimes it becomes very heavy to carry him. Or that sometimes the photos taken of him do not come out.
One time a man promised some banners, but he did not pay for them. One afternoon someone came to the man’s house carrying some banners. “Here are the ordered banners,» he said, and he asked for payment.
Mrs. Bertha professes great love for this crucified man and talks closely with him. On one occasion, her granddaughter had a pickup truck stolen. «Why?» she thought and questioned inwardly; «it was the truck or you,» she heard in her heart.
On one occasion, she thought it was all over, she was diagnosed with a tumor, and the need for intervention was urgent. Before leaving for the hospital, Bertha threw herself at the feet of the crucified one begging for her health. When she was in the hospital undergoing clinical examinations, the doctors found nothing malignant. In her heart, she understood that it was Him. “Do I love Him?” she says to me.
“Do I want it?” she says with a faraway look. “Oh, what if I don’t love him!” she says with a frank smile, very close to tears. “I have not only heard about him since I was in my mother’s womb. I have lived and loved him.”
Translated by Nita Rudy
Altar a la Virgen Dolorosa at Carlos Esparza Urzúa’s house, Miguel Martínez street, corner with 5 de Mayo.
Staff. – Mounting altars in honor of the Virgen de los Dolores is a tradition that has been waning over time at Lakeside; however, in the municipal capital of Chapala, a group of neighbors from the neighborhood of La Purísima, led by Carlos Ernesto Esparza Urzúa, keep the flame alive.
For 15 years now, Esparza Urzúa has been motivating his neighbors to make the altars. When it’s time to organize, «I ask and I tell them to do, and if they don’t want to do it, I’ll do it,» he exclaimed. With few or many members, he continues with the customs that his mother instilled in him.
In spite of the fact that other years the tradition was celebrated «in a big way,» with personifications of girls dressed in black and much more cooperation from neighbors from other streets, the participation was reduced during the pandemic.
This year, Esparza Urzua set up the main altar inside his house, on Miguel Martinez Street. The neighbors on 5 de Mayo Street supported him with three more. The group of ten people prayed a rosary at each altar and then, in accord with the tradition, asked, «Has the Virgin already cried?» In response, they received a glass of water, which represents the tears of the Virgin.
Carlos has kept images of the Virgin of Dolores for three generations, placed in the center of the altar, accompanied by a metal cross. His mother taught him to add a ladder representing the moment when Jesus returns to heaven, in addition to placing nails and hammer to represent objects used during the crucifixion.
The dice also symbolize the soldiers fighting for his tunic; the rooster that crowed when Peter, the apostle, denied Jesus three times; and white doves that represent peace.
Carlos Estrada Urzúa uses in his altar the colors purple and blue as a symbol of mourning, and regional plants such as clam, chamomile, birdseed and clover, the latter representing the Trinity.
In previous years the altars were kept up all night. However, security is no longer the same and things are stolen, said one of the neighbors, and as a result they dismantle their altars between 10:00 and midnight.
Finally, Carlos’ neighbors, who have grown as a family, will support him in setting up the Tended Christ outside his house, starting at 8:00 p.m. until the end of the March of Silence on April 15, Good Friday.
Translated by Sandy Britton
María Hilda Robledo Vázquez, opened «Memo» Cenaduría when she was only 20 years old. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- «Memo’s» is one of the most long-lived and emblematic local businesses in Ajijic. At 72 years old, its founder, Mrs. María Hilda Robledo Vázquez, shared the trajectory of her 52-year business.
María Robledo, better known as Mari, opened the diner when she was only 20 years old. She says that she wanted to start a business, so she started with tacos, then added menudo, until she got to what she currently sells, which is a variety of typical Mexican food dishes.
«Before being located where the business is today, we moved from two other places. Before, we were known as «Los Deportes» because we were in a place that was a sports store. Later, my stepfather made a contract with a brewery to put up the billboard, and since his name was Memo, they put it in his name. They said they were going to change it, but in the end they didn’t, and that’s how it stayed’ that’s how we became known,» the Mari related.
Mari Robledo also said that she began to be recognized by the people of Guadalajara when she was visited by some godparents of one of her brothers about six years after starting her business. They told her that they would recommend her to people from Guadalajara, and people from Guadalajara have been coming to visit her ever since.
«Sometimes customers come and tell me, I remember when my parents used to bring me here, and you are still running the business after all this time,» added the founder of the restaurant.
«Memo» has approximately 30 years on Hidalgo Street #25, in the center of the town, where there have been hundreds of tourists both local and national, and even international.
Mari shared that she has learned that her clientele comes through word of mouth, and they always let her know that they were satisfied with her dishes, especially with the pozole, one of her best-selling preparations.
Since its founding, the business has remained very family-run. At the beginning, Mari worked with her sisters. Later on she worked with her children, Fernando, Laura, Virginia and Alejandrina, who supported her at some point. The last one helps her still.
In addition, her son-in-law Francisco Romero and her grandchildren Izbia, Alejandro, Romina and Fernanda have joined the team; besides, María Elena Martínez, Corazón de Jesús Cerna and Guadalupe Pulido, are her employees who help her in the kitchen.
Although she finds the cooking business exhausting, María Robledo Vázquez hopes that the restaurant will continue for many years to come.
«The business has always been a support to help my children get ahead and give them an education. My daughter Alejandrina already knows how to do things here, and she told me that she would like to continue. I hope she does.»
Finally, Mari thanked all her customers because they have always been unconditional and come back to the restaurant with pleasure.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
Leonardo Saucedo better known as «El Chiri,» is a dancer by inheritance. From the age of seven his grandfather assigned him to the Lord of Huaje in Jocotepec to whom he offers his dances during the festivities. Photo: María Reynozo.
By: María del Refugio Reynozo Medina
Since he was a child, Leonardo Saucedo learned dance from his father Leobardo Saucedo Valentín, a dancer who performed the representation of the conquest in the town of Nextipac, municipality of Jocotepec.
Leonardo watched the rehearsals with rapt attention. He clearly remembers the characters; La Malinche, Hernán Cortés and Cuauhtémoc.
“-Get up, great monarch, Hernán Cortés is coming….” La Marina began in one of its dialogues in the colloquium that recreated the episode of The Conquest. It lasted more than three hours and up to 60 actors participated among dancers and musicians with guitar, stringed instruments, and drums.
At the age of seven Leonardo suffered a very strange illness. Small wounds appeared on a large part of his body that oozed. His grandfather entrusted him to the Lord of the Huaje, the Christ carved on a huge gourd tree found in the vicinity of San Pedro Tesistan and located in the chapel formerly known as the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the municipal capital of Jocotepec.
She promised him that if he healed him, she would give him her little grandson so that he could praise him through dance. So, they undertook the pilgrimage from Nextipac to the temple of the Lord of the gourd tree, walking, praying, dancing and the seven-year-old boy carrying despite his illness, a heavy wooden drum.
Don Leonardo «El Chiri» is now 86 years old, he remembers that moment and tears come to his eyes.
“I was even hot when I arrived,» he says.
After fifteen days, the boy was completely healed.
His father used to take to the Lord of gourd tree for the festivities of «the dawn» (rockets, cinnamon, bread and ringing of bells).
In addition to his love for dancing, he remembers that he used to help his father in the fields every day. During harvesting the fruits or burying the seeds in the middle of the furrows he would go over the dialogues. Though the official rehearsals were in the afternoon when the days in the fields were over.
As a dancer «El Chiri» went to Zacoalco de Torres, San Luis Soyatlán, Tizapán el Alto, Santa Rosa, Atequiza and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.
Now he says he is sad to see himself getting old, however, as long as he exists he will also live his fervor for the crucifix made from the gourd tree. Every time he goes to Jocotepec, the first thing he does is to visit the image and take a candle to it. Every year he is also present at the feast. “Although I may be crawling, I have to go.”
«El Chiri» they call him in town because one day in a soccer game, ten minutes from the end, he scored an Olympic goal that led his team to victory. “It was a fluke,» he was told.
«El Chiri» learned very well his side as an actor not only as a dancer. He recreated characters with different voices. ‘The Indians did some voices, he says, and the conquistadors did others.”
One day when they were walking up the hill on their way to Cajititlán for a presentation, the woman who was going to play La Malinche fell into a stream. By the time they reached their destination she no longer had a voice. «El Chiri» had no problem representing the female voice and completing the picture. He had a very good memory, although «we had no school,» he says.
In those days they had for school a leafy mango tree, a piece of smoked board and his teacher.
However, he came to learn not only his own dialogues but those of everyone else.
Now his memories are vague, and among them he’s lost some incomplete stanzas of what was the splendor of the colloquies of La Conquista.
“Silence and little morulla, if you want to see this dance.
Listen to me, so many women, which one is the most murmuring,
is she braided or is she hairy.
Adorned with little rags shut those little lips.
Don’t disturb Juan Guarín epa maistro of the violin
Touch me the dwarfs to dance them here …”
Translated by Sydney Metrick
Durante la madrugada del jueves 7 de abril, el Congreso de Jalisco aprobó tres iniciativas en pro de la diversidad sexual. Foto: Twitter.
Redacción.- Bajo las consignas de “Ya es hora Jalisco”, “Nada que Curar” y “Jalisco de Iguales”, el Congreso del Estado reconoció el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo, la identidad de género y sancionar las terapias de conversión.
En una maratónica sesión del Pleno que se extendió hasta la madrugada del 7 de abril, los diputados locales legislaron en favor de la lucha por el reconocimiento de los derechos de la comunidad LGTBTTIQ+.
Con 26 votos a favor, ocho en contra y tres abstenciones, se aprobó la modificación al Código Civil de Jalisco para que el matrimonio sea igualitario, es decir, entre personas independientemente de su identidad de género y no entre un hombre y una mujer como se tenía establecido.
Otra de las iniciativas votadas, fue la prohibición de los Esfuerzos para Corregir la Orientación Sexual y la Identidad de Género (ECOSIG) también conocidas como terapias de conversión.
Esta modificación fue aprobada con 32 votos a favor, cinco en contra y cero abstenciones, en la que se reformará el Código Penal de Jalisco para que quienes promuevan, apliquen o financien terapias de conversión sean multadas desde 50 a 300 veces del valor diario de la unidad de medida y actualización (actualmente de cuatro mil 811 a 28 mil 866 pesos), o con 30 a 100 jornadas de trabajo a favor de la comunidad.
La tercera reforma aprobada por los legisladores fue la iniciativa para reconocer la prerrogativa que tienen las personas transexuales a la identidad de género, misma que recibió 26 votos a favor, diez en contra y cero abstenciones.
Las tres iniciativas fueron sometidas a aprobación durante la 38 sesión extraordinaria del Congreso local que comenzó alrededor de las 23:00 horas y concluyó al filo de las 02:00 horas de la madrugada, bajo el método de votación por cédula, es decir, con voto secreto mediante papeletas.
A las afueras del recinto, colectivos de la diversidad sexual celebraron la aprobación de las reformas legislativas como un hecho histórico para el reconocimiento de los derechos humanos y la promoción de un “Jalisco de Iguales”.
The president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, and local deputy, María Dolores López Jara offered a floral arrangement at the “Benemérito de las Américas” Credit: Jazmín Stengel
Editor (Chapala).– Chapala President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curie called for citizens to unify in the municipality and leave divisions behind during the commemoration of the 216th anniversary of Benito Juárez’s birthday
«May the framework of this celebration for the 216th anniversary of the birth of Benito Juarez, be the perfect reason to overcome harsh divisions, and unite in favor of Chapala and Chapala residents.» Aguirre told the citizens, adding that, «The example of Benito Juarez should remind us of the principles of democracy, equality, tolerance, and respect – indispensable foundations of the rule of law of any nation.» At the event, students from the Eugenio Zúñiga elementary school provided a short history of the life of Benito Juarez, also known as “Benemérito de las Américas” or “deserving of the Americas’ praise.” Valentín Gómez Farías highlighted Juarez’s history of public service including: the governorship of Oaxaca, magistrate of the Supreme Court of the Nation. As president of Mexico, he is credited with major legal reforms.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
Caldo Michi often has potato and carrot
Sofia Medeles (Ajijic).– “Caldo Michi” or Michi Soup is a very traditional dish for many of the towns around Lake Chapala, and Ajijic is no exception. The former Director of the Historical Archive of Chapala and researcher, Eduardo Ramos Cordero, shares his memories of this traditional dish. According to his grandfather’s memories, the broth was prepared by fishermen after their day’s work. Back in the 1950s and even before, Ramos Cordero recalled that he observed this custom, not only during Lent, but on a daily basis, «Before, the shores of the lake were full of crops: peanuts, watermelons, melons, chili peppers, cucumbers, papaya, jicama, even marijuana and poppy. Some of the owners of these orchards did not pay with money, but in trade. The fishermen would agree that one or two would go to the shore of the lake to start preparing the soup, so that by 2-3 pm, everyone would be eating.»
What varied in the broth was mainly the type of fish used. The fishermen used everything from catfish, tilapia, carp, white fish, charales (chirostoma), to acociles (a tiny crayfish), red crab, small crabs, eels or lamprey fish and turtles. The original preparation includes a bit of lard, tomatillos, onion, plums or green mango (depending on the season), and chiles güeros or banana peppers. The veggies are sautéed, and then the water, fish, salt are added. It’s garnished with a few sprigs of flowered cilantro.
«I had nutrients from many fish,” said Eduardo Ramos Cordero. Known also as Lalo. “When the broth was made, everyone ate: the fishermen, their wives (who brought tortillas), and sometimes their children. Although it was originally made by fishermen, lots of others made it, especially during Lent,» Lalo finished.
Some sources say that this dish originated in the town of Atotonilco, Jalisco, however, for the most part, researchers have found a broth being prepared in a similar way throughout the Lake Chapala area. Its name comes from the Nahuatl word, Michi, which means fish, although others claim it’s because it comes from Michoacán.
Caldo Michi Recipe
Ingredients:
2T lard
4 tomatillos, cut in large wedges
1 onion cut into quarters
6 banana peppers, without tip
A sprig of flowered cilantro
4 medium catfish
Water
Salt, to taste
Optional: Depending on the season, ¼ of green plums, or 4 green mangoes peeled and split and pitted.
Directions
Translated by Amy Esperanto
Seño Cata doesn’t like pictures. ‘I am ugly,» she tells me. But her photograph contradicts her. Photo: María Reynozo.
María del Refugio Reynozo Medina
At 93 years old, Catalina Valencia Navarro walks around the house alone, leaning on a walker with an impeccable face. “I am very happy,» she says with a deep sigh.
She doesn’t need to say it, it is announced by her slow but sure steps, her beautiful luminous eyes and the gentle smile framed by her burnished hair. She wears black shoes that reveal her perfect toes, a long khaki A-line skirt and a soft almond-colored blouse.
Catalina Valencia retired at the age of 82 after 62 years as a teacher. “It’s a mistake to be in teaching if we don’t like it,» she said. In addition to being an elementary school teacher, she co-founded the Magdalena Cueva High School project in 1963 with the principal Antonia Palomares Peña. There she taught English and geography.
The first complete elementary school was started by Palomares because at that time in Jocotepec, elementary school was only up to fourth grade.
“The principal trusted me a lot, she was energetic and very prepared.”
“Cata» as her pupils called her, tells of her experiences with facts and names as if it were yesterday.
«The principal commissioned us to go all over town inviting the children house by house.” They also went to invite children in the towns of San Cristóbal, Zapotitán, Huejotitán and El Molino.
The first high school began in a borrowed building, the José Santana Elementary School. In the afternoon, after the elementary school children had finished their day, the older students attended school.
Mario González Barba taught biology and was the godfather of the first generation of students.
Priest Santiago Ramirez taught drawing and Engineer Jorge Ibarra Galvez taught chemistry.
It was a cooperative high school and the students paid 30 pesos a month. The teachers earned 15 pesos an hour if there was enough money to pay them. A board of trustees made up of people from the community managed the school and was transparent about the resources.
In 1970 the board of trustees managed to build a separate school with contributions from the efforts of the parents, the teachers, and the community, even the masons contributed their labor. The high school was a milestone in the history of Jocotepec. For many, there is a Jocotepec before the high school and Jocotepec after the high school.
In 1982, under the premise of the President of the Republic that there should be secondary schools all over the country, an authority came to Jocotepec to offer a secondary school. The municipal president at that time, responded that there was already a secondary school and allowed its appropriation for the creation of the official secondary school. That action stripped the school from the founding teachers. The teachers were fired. For Valencia Navarro and her colleagues, it was a repudiatory act. “I don’t even want to say the name of that authority because it still hurts me.»
As a high school teacher, something that always filled her with satisfaction was to see those children who, with so many difficulties, achieved their goal. Some students came from other communities, walking across the hill to get to school. The teachers adjusted the classes to the students’ schedules and even taught on Saturdays. Valencia Navarro recalls that a boy from Potrerillos would sleep in his friend’s garage so he could attend school.
«I loved the children from San Cristóbal very much because they were very noble, they left a beautiful mark on me.»
When Valencia Navarro retired, the high school had 300 students. She still remembers them.
“I don’t know if they loved me,» she says, «but many still visit me, and I love them.”
In 1987, «Seño Cata» (short for «Señorita» similar to «Ms.» or Missus) retired with 36 years of service in education. Her mission did not end there. A Zacatecan priest in San Juan Cosalá sought her out, Alberto Macías Llamas, who ran a boarding school. Valencia Navarro went for six months and stayed for 21 years serving the 200 children from rural communities.
Although Catalina was director, for her the most beautiful thing was not the important position, but the closeness with the children in the classroom as a teacher. «I always liked my students to be the first, never the last, and I would get the first places in the achievement contests.»
When I ask her to show me her awards, she agrees, but first says, “Wouldn’t it be a chocantería (impertinent)?”
We walk to the hallway where her degrees and awards hang. Those decorations and the recognition of her students are the most valuable things for her, although they are not proportional to the amount of the pension she receives.
«When I was a child, I saw my mother die. I stuttered and it wasn’t until I was nine years old that I overcame it and was accepted in elementary school.» The classroom was in what is now the Jocotepec municipal marketplace. «We were so poor in the town that we didn’t even have a school. One of the classrooms only had walls and no roof. Some teachers would take the children home and teach them there.» She remembers her teacher Felicitas Palomares with love; she was very important in her childhood. Perhaps that is why «seño Cata» is also a very dear teacher for her students.
If she were born again, she would be a teacher again.
Translated Nita Rudy
By Patrick O’Heffernan
While attending the LCS Annual Membership Meeting this week (by Zoom from the Semanario Laguna offices) I could not help being impressed by the almost unbelievable amount of activity the organization generates with its 300 volunteers, small staff and very energetic board. It operates or hosts over a 100 programs, including the Todos English program of expat volunteers here at Semanario Laguna who translate all of our Spanish stories into English each week.
Of course, LCS is only one of the many NPO’s (non-profits) in Lakeside. Lakeside Foodbank, Lakeside Little Theater, Niños Incapacitados , Cruz Roja, SOS Chapala DOG Rescue, Bare Stage and Bravo Theater, and many more. The Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities list 25 affiliated non profit organizations, but of course, there are many more that are not affiliated, and even some that are not registered as NPO’s, but still do great work without the imprimatur.
Nationally, the Mexican government reported 5,339 NPOs in the country 2003, but the Inter Press Service (IPS) has suggested that 10,000 NGOs actually exist in México. Mexican non-profits do everything from provide emergency food to families, to rescue dogs and horses, to provide shelter for battered women, to fight for human rights, to help poor families with medical care. In other words, they do everything needed in the country
That is what I call el espíritu de puedo ayudarte – ”the spirit of can I help you”. It is built into the culture.
But organized non-profits on a large scale are not built into Mexico’s history. A 2015 study by the Hauser Institute at the Harvard Kennedy School pointed out that the history of nonprofits in Mexico is relatively recent. Up until the 1880’s philanthropy was almost unknown outside of the Catholic Church. In the early 20th century secular organizations emerged to provide aid to the poor. These civil society organizations grew rapidly under the PRI, becoming almost synonymous with the political party.
But in the 1960s through the 1980’s, the independent non profit sector exploded, propelled by the 1968 student revolution, growing calls for social movements that addressed public needs, and finally the Mexico city earthquake in 1985. The ascent of the PAN party in 2000 opened up new space for nonprofits and they rushed into it.
Here in Lakeside, old timers tell me (since there is no Harvard study)that Neil James and the influx of Expats from the US with 501 (c)(3) (US nonprofit tax exemption) experience kicked off what has become a dense ecosystem of NPOs here.
One aspect of the NPO ecosystem in Lakeside that is important and possible somewhat unique is that it is a force that brings the Mexican and Extrañero communities together. At one level it is Expats working within Mexican communities to help, but at another, very wide level, it is joint Mexican-Expat boards and staffs solving problems together. And the nonprofit sector encourages conscious efforts to reach out, like the Mexican Advisory Board at LCS or Laguna’s Todos English translation team of Expats ( not a non-profit, we hope, but wonderful outreach).
I worked for many decades in and through non profits in the US and even founded a couple. In my experience, the presence of NPO’s in a community is a sign of economic strength, a healthy society, and the kind of heart that makes us good human beings. If you are part of a NPO, thank you; if not; join one. It will make you feel better and help us all. And you will love being part of the ecosystem of el espíritu de puedo ayudarte
© 2016. Todos los derechos reservados. Semanario de la Ribera de Chapala