NUESTRA ALIANZA
Based on article written by Susan Baird Kanaan
Born out of necessity, Nuestra Alianza de Willits has been providing essential services to the Latinx community for over 22 years.
The concept for the program grew out of a conversation in a class taught by Dina Hutton, who had been teaching English as a Second Language classes in Willits for several years. In 2000, her class talked about educational services they wanted for their children. The students expressed that, above all, they wanted English coaching and homework support. Dina wrote their wish list on the blackboard and suggested they’d have to make it happen. From this vision, Nuestra Alianza de Willits was born. A group of English language students, all first-generation immigrants, formed a board of directors and started building the nonprofit that has grown into a valued cultural hub and resource center and has already mentored a generation of mostly Latinx Willits residents.
In Nuestra Alianza, people typically learn by doing - together. Its motto cold be, “Si Se Puede—Yes, We Can” Citing her own experience, Dina said, “All my life, I’ve jumped into things I didn’t know how to do.” With her as a catalyst and supporter-in-chief, the Nuestra Alianza board created a summer program, Plan Vacacional, in which, every July, kids celebrate Mexican culture with their families. Taught in Spanish and centering on the history, art, culture, and sports of Mexico, it serves as a vital bridge between kids and their parents as well as with the wider Willits community.
Next, Nuestra Alianza added three bilingual aides to help at the Kids Club after-school program in Willits, to help kids succeed in school.
As they built these core programs and created others, the participants gained skills in organizing, leadership, and technical fields such as computing and bookkeeping. Jackie Eligio is a star example. Having been Dina’s student from age 12 and part of the afterschool and summer programs she said, “I’ve known about Nuestra Alianza my whole life.” Now twenty-seven and the mother of two, she is on the Nuestra Alianza leadership team and, with Dina’s encouragement, is taking on leadership duties.
This self-made organization has become a pillar of strength and support for the community and continues to inspire a new generation of community service leaders.
Graciela Botello
Graciela (Chela) Botella was always devoted to several notions: her family, education, litter children, service to community and her so very colorful culture. Before she arrived in the US 24 years ago, she knew her passion is to teach with a loving heart: she makes everyone around her happy due to this capacity.
Chela always finds ways to serve the community. At 16, she started to teach in her native Mexico; then, soon she found herself writing letters for townspeople who couldn’t write- especially for people whose children had moved to the US, who had no other way to connect with their children. This letter-writing point to Chela’s early ability to discover what people need and to meet the need.
Seeing the teaching methods and equipment at Heard Start when her children were young, captivated Chela and she soon had a job there. From that position, she could clearly see the needs of the Latino community in Willits. As always, she was motived to do what she could for them.
Soon after Nuestra Alianza incorporated, Chela introduced the basic idea of Plan Vacacional to Nuestra Alianza. The curriculum was designed and implemented right away with Chela organizing it. For much of its history, Chela directed the many moveable part of Plan Vacacional in Willits. She continued to manage each event each summer. Chela’s organizational skills and deep love of her colorful culture provide the backbone of Plan Vacacional’s educational experience for children and parents alike.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, Nuestra Alianza was given the opportunity to operate a pilot program of Latino community health workers (Promotores de Salud) whose mandate was to hire grass roots employees who would decide what their community needed to better survive the pandemic. There were seven promotores with Chela at the helm: it was heralded as a huge success. Currently there are three promotores who are offering food bank service with delivery for those who need it and Covid-19 testing for the entire community.
Since Chela’s organizational skills and devotion to education know no boundary, she is, of course, curating this museum exhibit Exploramos Juntos Con Nuestra Alianza where people come to learn about Nuestra Alianza, Plan Vacacional and the community that inspires it all.
Dina Hutton
Born in California, Dina Hutton was exposed to many cultures and languages which she found delightful. She and her husband, they met driving taxis in Honolulu, chased that passion to many other countries, in Southeast Asia, South America, Central America, Mexico, Europe, The Soviet Union and Africa to see how other people live. After moving to Willits, Dina encouraged Mendocino College in Willits to offer English classes to adult immigrants because it was good for the potential students to learn English, and it was delightful to teach them. Classes were entertaining! In addition, she became attached to her students.
When the students decided to incorporate to form Nuestra Alianza, everyone jumped in without any idea of what to do or how to do it. This led to a lot of freedom in the organization. As the years passed and Nuestra Alianza grew, Dina’s roles changed. She now tries to keep the various services and programs organized and funded yet still keep a good deal of flexibility in order to meet various community needs as they arise. She’s interested in what merriment the future will bring.
Plan Vacacional
Plan Vacacional, a summer program in Spanish for children, was one of the first programs Nuestra Alianza offered. Over the years, the program evolved into a favorite that strengthens Latinx families. For example, in many families, the children learn to speak and favor English, but the grandparents speak only Spanish. Communication becomes difficult, yet after spending a month in Plan Vacacional, the children use Spanish again and they are familiar with the Mexican cultural traditions their parents and grandparents remember. The program is a high-speed and fun-loving event. The curriculum is filled with lively slices of Mexican culture: singing, cooking, games, crafts - and the most fun of all - Baile Folklórico dancing.
Education
Education is the primary goal of Plan Vacacional, where children use the Spanish language in a school setting that radically changes their experience. Due to the immersion into Spanish during the event, children internalize the value of their native language. Suddenly it is the “cool’ language, the one they are asked to use. They see adults and aides, whom they admire, speaking Spanish in a school setting. They hear the highly respected teacher, who comes from Mexico to teach them activities they find thrilling, speaking Spanish. Language is intentional; it takes priority, and the kids feel proud to speak it as a result.
The use of Spanish is the over-arching educational goal, under which are many other Mexican cultural lessons. During Plan Vacacional, the children go to a formal “Gala,” a dance where they learn about dressing up for special events. Through role playing, they learn about getting married, getting divorced, and having a quinceñera, a very formal and stylized event held in honor of a girl who has turned 15 and presented to her community as a woman. Children ranging in ages 3-12 happily participate in the activities together. All of it is accomplished with high good humor and much laughter.
Dia de Los Muertos
The Altar
At Plan Vacacional, students are introduced to the importance of creating an altar for loved ones who have passed on. Students are invited to make their own altars while learning about what items should be placed on the many steps of an altar. For example, the first step is typically a place for the souls to rest, while the lower steps then hold items that were enjoyed by the loved one when they were alive.
The traditional flower used on altars is the marigold. This altar was created by guest curators Maricela Nieto and Graciela Botello in honor of Frida Kahlo. You can see the hundreds of tissue paper marigold flowers, the portrait of Frida at the top, and all the offerings of things thought to be loved by Frida when she was alive. It is believed that she will return briefly to enjoy once more the things she loved while she was alive. Building the altar and placing the offerings on it is an act of love for the departed one.
La Catrina
The iconic female skeleton commonly seen during celebrations for Día De Los Muertos has a long history. The skeleton version was introduced in 1910 by artist José Guadalupe Posada, a controversial political cartoon artist. His drawings were a reminder that no matter what your social status, everyone ends up a skeleton in the end. Artist Diego Rivera then increased the popular modern image of La Catrina in his iconic mural “Dreams of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park.” The symbol of La Catrina* embodies the traditional Mexican perspective to choose to celebrate the life and memories of a loved one, rather than focus on the loss. While there are many depths to La Catrina, she is the reminder of how close we all are to death and a reminder to live thoughtfully.
*Reference: La Catrina: The dark history of Day of the Dead’s immortal icon. By Simon Ingram National Geographic Oct 18, 2019. Updated Nov 1, 2021
Diana Gomez Martinez
My name is Diana Gomez Martinez, in 1998 I came to live in Mendocino County, for 11 years I was a farm worker in the Ukiah area, I came to Willits in 2010, being the mother of an 11 year old boy and a 10 months, during the first years of living here I dedicated myself to my home and dedicated some of my time to do volunteer work, I found out about Nuestra Alianza de Willits because I attended the triple P classes.
Later I was part of the group of Mujeres Unidas of Willits a group made up of mothers of children who attended Plan Vacacional during the time that my girl participated in Plan Vacacional I offered myself as a volunteer to help with whatever was necessary, sometimes I was carrying food for the mothers who were helping there.
Over time they gave me the opportunity to be part of the team of Nuestra Alianza, forming part of Promotores de Salud in which my job consists of bringing groceries to people in quarantine, high-risk people, we also took farm workers, We do covid-19 tests and for the last two years I had the happiness of being in charge of a group on at Plan Vacacional, I feel happy with my work and grateful that through it I can help the community, a community that is very united and I was very surprised that most people are willing to help when someone needs it.
Maricela Nieto
Maricela Nieto came from her birthplace of Chamacuaro, Guanajuato in order to save enough money to return to Mexico and pursue an education career in biology. Soon she decided to become a citizen, but she needed to learn English first. She started English lessons at San Hedrin, then moved on to Mendocino College where she landed in Dina Hutton’s class that was soon to incorporate into nonprofit. Maricela became a foundling board member and remains one to this day.
Maricela decided to stay in the US, and she continued to learn English. In addition, she took computer classes-without knowing much English. She also married Gerardo Nieto. After having her first child, she was delighted to see the Head Start program, its care for children and the knowledge the teachers had about child development. Maricela saw herself in the job of teacher there. She decided to take the necessary classes to get an AA Degree. There were many general education classes and lots of science.
While working at Head Start, Maricela realized the Latino Community needed help; they needed resources. So she was instrumental in the first Plan Vacacional that was offered in the city park using paper and crayons members of Nuestra Alianza brought from their homes. She was the director of Plan Vacacional for three years.
Jaime Del Aguila
My name is Jaime Del Aguila. After moving from Mexico to Willits, I started working in the sawmill. After I decided to take English class. In this class my classmates and I met a GED teacher and we decided to take the GED class. After I changed to a gas station job and worked there. I could practice more English with the customers and people that delivered the inventory. Later I got the opportunity to work with Nuestra Alianza.
Working with Nuesta Aliaza I learned new skills about how to do data, translating and filling documents, and giving away information about the Mexican consulate and Immigration and doing referrals to these agencies. Also, I leared how to help our community in different situations like now with the pandemic, I feel Happy working with Nuestra Alianza because I have great coworkers that make a great team.
Crafts
Another much loved part of Mexican culture taught at Plan Vacacional are various traditional Mexican crafts. One craft creates mosaics out of foodstuffs such as rice, beans, and seeds. Another makes candles out of cacti.
Still another creates altars to honor those who have passed on; these are structures of any size with mementos and favorite foods for the deceased to enjoy. The altars are a traditional art form in Mexico associated with the Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos) on November 2. Also associated with that day is the figure La Catrina, a dressed skeleton with face paint designs. She reminds us that one day we will all be like her.
In addition to the children’s crafts, mothers with children in the program make “regalitos,” little gifts, for the attendees at the final celebration. Using the traditions of Mexico for inspiration, the mothers create charming tiny gifts. They also create the décor for Plan Vacacional events and other Nuestra Alianza events, including this exhibit.
They make delightful name tags (destintivos), sew dance costumes, and create paper flowers and paper decorative items to flutter above events. The décor is bright, flashy, and evocative of joy.
Pottery
Every year, respected teachers are brought in from Mexico, who in turn bring a new example of pottery or terra cotta piece with them, picked to represent the different states in Mexico. This is a special collection that has been assembled by years of contributions from teachers and participants. The collection is then used to educate and inspire the students, who carefully study and then create objects of their own. Each year, the Plan Vocacional Program focuses on a different state in Mexico and explores the traditions and customs of that state in depth. This collection reflects the multitude of styles and creative influences that exist within the 32 states.
Jewelry
This is a collection of beadwork jewelry by artisans from Mexico. Intricate beadwork is commonly sold by artisans of Mexico, and this jewelry represents a high level of creativity and skill. Students can observe the unique designs and then try their hand at fashioning their own jewelry.
Piñatas
Piñatas are a beloved tradition of México. They were originally made with a center of tera cotta and built larger using papier-mâché, then filled with a variety of goods ranging from peanuts, sugar cane, candy, money, and fruit. The piñata in this exhibit is made of papier-mâché and tissue paper. In Mexico, the tradition is commonly associated with Christmas. Nuestra Alianza has introduced piñata making to students at Plan Vacacional; students learn that making piñatas requires a lot of time and work! While instructors keep examples of piñatas to share with future students, they often invite students to “break” them and enjoy the toys and candy inside.
Regalitos
The tradition of giving special handcrafted gifts to visitors has been adopted and adapted by Nuestra Alianza. Each year, leaders of the Plan Vacacional program, along with parents, create beautiful tiny crafts as gifts for all those who attend the final dance performance. The tradition stems from a practice in Mexico where teachers give mementos to honored guests at school events. It has become an important and anticipated part of the Plan Vacacional Clausura or closing ceremony dance performance. This collection shows the variety of regalitos that have been created and saved by Plan Vacacional families over the past 12 years.
Traditional Games
You are looking at a collection of traditional games and toys common in Mexico. Do they look familiar? Many of the toys you see are timeless and have been enjoyed for generations. Some of the games are played with friends, such as Marbles (Mármoles) and Bingo (Lotería), while other toys such as Ball & Cup (Balero), Yo-Yo (pronounced Jo-yo), Spinning tops (Pirinola), Jacob’s Ladder’s (Alegoicul o Tablita), Noise Makers (Matracas), Dominos, and Maracas can be enjoyed independently.
Ana Almanza
Born and raise in México, I went to college and got a degree. Where I worked professionally during 10 years in tourism administration, which gave me the opportunity to work in a very important hotel chain, in the guest’s service area, where I gained positions.
I came to the United States in the year 2007 to learn English and worked to save money. I met Dina in her ESL classes. I returned to México by the end of the year having made new and good friends.
The next time I came to the US I was married, this was in 2012, I would come and go to México with a tourist visa during three years but for immigration problems I had to stay in México for 5 years, this is when my 2 children were born, Pedro Damian and Angelina.
During all this time I stayed in contact with Dina, she would write to me that there was a job waiting for me in Nuestra Alianza.
So when I returned in the year 2020 when covid19 started, I worked for two years because of the world pandemic as a Promotora de Salud.
During this summer I had the opportunity to work as a teacher in Nuestra Alianza’s program,
Plan Vacacional, and it was a great and enrichment experience.
I have a great love and admiration for Dina Hutton whom I call my Gringa Mom
Lizabeth Jackie Eligio
My name is Jackie I was born in Jalisco, Mexico and moved to the United States when I was seven years old. I have two boys, and two dogs and a cat. I’m going to Sonoma State to get my Bachelor’s in Finance. I worked for the City of Ukiah and also at the hospital as a Finance Specialist and data entry.
When I moved to Willits my dad wanted my siblings and I to learn English fast, so he enrolled us into an English class in the afternoons. This is where my connection with Nuestra Alianza begin; Dina Hutton was the instructor and, in her class, I felt comfortable since everyone in there where in the same position as me. When I was in school, I was always too shy to speak, scared my classmates would laugh at me if I mispronounced something, but in Dina’s class it was the opposite, I volunteered to read, and was part of the discussions we had. Nuestra Alianza has been the place where I go to; to do my taxes, as well as where I used to always go to print or use the computer. Many years later and without realizing I would be part of the amazing team. I began working with Nuestra Alianza over a year ago.
Ever since I began working with Nuestra Alianza, I realized the number of clients we have/serve. How important this non-profit is for the community of Willits, and I love the closeness relationship all the employees have. This is truly a family base business where we share the same desire which is helping our Latinos.
Herminia Campuzano
Hello my name is Herminia Campuzano, I came to live in Willits in 2009, and when I arrived I met teacher Graciela Botello, and I started taking my daughters to Plan Vacacional and I really like that program. After that, together with other women we form a group called “Mujeres Unidas” we did it as part of Nuestra Alianza de Willits. Our goal was to form a nonprofit organization to help our community. My daughters were every year in Plan Vacacional program, and we try to help every year.
My daughters just graduated from College, thank God. I have tried to continue helping in the program even though my daughters don’t go anymore. I still get excited when the program is going to start, and I really like to help and put my grain of sand in so that this program can continue and I hope I can keep helping.
Javier & Elvira Sanchez
Javier Sánchez spent most of his youth in Chamacuaro, Guanajuato, until he was almost 20 years old and came in 1989 with the notion that he was going to work picking grapes in Mendocino County and then return to Mexico with enough money for perhaps the rest of the of their life. Maybe I would never have to work again. He soon realized that he would have to work longer before he could retire. Javier worked on different crops in Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina, which made him realize that he really liked being at Willits.
During his visits to Mexico, Javier fell in love with Elvira when he was 27 years old, they grew up in the same town but did not know each other very well as children. Elvira was 22 when they married and moved to Willits.
Elvira realized that life was difficult and boring in the new country, she had no job, no children, no family, no mode of transportation and did not speak the English language, and no plan to change the situation. This made her feel isolated, a disaster for the Elvira who liked to talk. In a few years Elvira had a son and when she took him to school, her life changed. She met the other moms and very quickly became friends with them. He still maintains and cherishes those old friendships to this day. Through other mothers, Elvira learned that she could take English classes.
Javier and Elvira started English classes together, and very soon they stayed in the English classes that remained to incorporate Nuestra Alianza. They were interested in the organization, so they volunteered to help out at many events. They also sent their two children to Plan Vacacional and became members of the board of directors, where they remain after 10 years.
The couple has not yet retired; they work hard at various jobs. But still they remain active as members of our Alliance where they share the desire that the organization stay strong and continue to serve the community. Committed to continue the course of the organization for life.
Dances
The most exhilarating part of Plan Vacacional are the various dances, all of which derive from the traditions of different states in Mexico and are collectively called Baile Folklórico. In just one month, the children, grouped by age, learn three or four dances for each class. At the closing ceremony (Clasura), the children dance all the dances for a large appreciative audience. Each dance has traditional dress and specific steps which are taught by the Mexican teacher. The children are electrified and engaged in their performance; it appears there is nowhere else they would rather be.
The Danze de Los Viejitos (Dance of the Elderly People) stems from pre-Colombian times in the area of Michoacan from the Purepecho people. The male dancers dress as elderly men whose foot stomping represents both man’s eternal fight against death and a way to show that the men still have capabilities. The dance also asks the Old God for a good harvest and to tell the people what will happen in the future.
The Danze de la Iguana (Dance of the Iguana) Is a light-hearted way to relieve stress from the fact that iguanas bite people, especially in the fields. The male dancer moves on the floor in imitation of an iguana while the woman tries to stay away. The fun dance is often performed at weddings.
Dresses
The dresses used in the dance’s performance are a labor of love. Some are made by mothers, while others have been purchased. If a member of the Nuestra Alianza community travels to Mexico, often other members will give them money and request that they bring back a new dress to add to the collection. One year, a mother crafted over twelve skirts, made from white hotel bedsheets. Over the years the collection has grown. Different dresses are used for each unique dance performed at the Baile Folklóricico event. Each unique dance represents the diverse cultures and traditions of Mexico.
Shawls
Like the dresses, the collection of shawls grows each year and is also used for education during Plan Vacacional. Shawls are a decorative and functional piece of clothing used for warmth and holding babies, but are also examples of artisanship. This colorful collection is created from contributions of many families and collected from different states of Mexico.
Mariachi Attire
The wide-brimmed hat and colorful clothes form the iconic attire worn by musicians in a Mariachi band. Mariachi music is a special genre that is beloved and commonly performed at festive events.
Services
Imagine filling out a lease or buying a house in another language. Picture going to the oncologist, where everyone speaks a language you don’t understand. You would very quickly feel insecure and confused and need assistance. Many life situations are daunting when you understand what is happening; it is much worse when you are not sure what is expected of you or what will happen to you if you cannot figure out what is needed.
Linguists agree that our emotions are tightly tied to our native language. It is the language of ease, of warmth and security for each of us.
For this reason, language is embedded in and a critical aspect of the services Nuestra Alianza offers to the Spanish-speaking community. All services and programs are offered in Spanish by fellow immigrants who understand the difficulties inherent in negotiating a foreign language and culture. For Spanish-speaking people, walking into Nuestra Alianza’s comfortable, unpretentious office is to step into familiarity.
While in the Nuestra Alianza office, people can receive or enroll in many services:
- Translations
- Covid-19 testing
- Mental health services
- Presentations and assistance
- Plan Vacacional
- Tax preparation
- Math tutoring
- Parenting
- Nutrition
- Health and English classes
- Immigration assistance and referrals
- Food bank
All the services are offered in an environment of safety and comfort by community members. Although the focus of Nuestra Alianza is on the Latinx community, everyone is welcome to use the services. More of the non-Latinx community use the Covid testing and tax services than Latinx. Services are funded through grants and donations, but the delivery and familiar community offered by Nuestra Alianza make them accessible.
Parades
Nuestra Alianza has been a dynamic presence in the Frontier Days parade for the past 15 years. Recent float themes were Disney Pixar’s movie Coco and the migration of the Monarch Butterfly. Nuestra Alianza’s floats frequently are awarded first prize for decoration.
The film Coco explores themes present in Mexican culture. In the movie, a young boy enters the world of the dead and learns the importance of family, culture, and music. It also contains significant connections to the famous La Catrina.
The significance of the Monarch butterfly, or mariposa, is that during Plan Vacacional the students are taught about the large migration the Monarchs undertake each fall. Yet, there is a unique connection to the migration of the butterflies and the migration of people; a shifting view on what may be called home is a common thread among animals and humans.
The parade is another community affair. Parents help decorate the floats and make the costumes. They then come out to support their children, share their culture, and celebrate with the whole Mendocino County community.
Raymundo (Ray) Perez
When he was ten, Raymundo (Ray) Perez worked as a bartender for his uncle in his native Jalisco. Since then, he’s been locally famous for his hard work and quick mind. In his early teens, Ray came to the US with his family – his parents and three siblings. Once here, he settled into understanding the culture and language.
That goal landed him in Mendocino College’s English as a Second Language class that incorporated to become Nuestra Alianza. Soon Ray became an employee of Nuestra Alianza where he proved to be very helpful writing budgets and doing everything else with numbers. The job also worked well with his goal of graduating from Mendocino College and then Sonoma State University.
Ray initiated and is the mainstay of the income tax service at Nuestra Alianza, and he has overseen Plan Vacacional for many summers. In addition, he keeps the computers running, devised the phone system and continues to write all the budgets. He manages all this on top of having a family of his own as well as a demanding, other full-time job. Recently, Ray changed his status at Nuestra Alianza from employee to volunteer.
Belen
In 2013 I started a class of Triple P in Nuestra Alianza. This is where we had the idea of forming a group to help the community, the concept will be womens club to spend time and learn crafts, cook. Spending time together changed our concept of helping our community, of course we loved it. This is when we started to see each other as a family with Nuestra Alianza and working hand and hand for our community and for us until today, contributing and supporting each other.
Today I’m a caregiver, and even though I do not have blood family, I have many friends, and we continue participating and supporting. My children go to Plan Vacacional each summer. It is a program that teaches them our roots and we as volunteers put our grain of sand, this way Hispanic community continues being a United community in Willits. The family of Nuestra Alianza.
Alondra Campuzano
Hello my name is Alondra Campuzano. I have been going since I was about 6 years old. I have always loved going to plan vacacional and I still continue to love it just as much. The environment that is created in the program is just extraordinary. Growing up I learned many different things about mine and other cultures and many different amazing dances from different places in Mexico. This program was like nothing else, the people involved in the program and the staff and helpers were the most amazing people. Every year is always a different theme in the program and they have never disappointed anyone. The creativity that goes behind all the planning is crazy empressive. I will always show my support in any way in this program for as long as I can. I want this current Plan Vacacional generation to have an amazing experience just like I did.
Alvaro Mendoza
My name is Alvaro Alexis Mendoza and I'm 18 years old I started going to Plan Vacacional the 3rd grade and I Improve so much from plan because it help me get better in my spanish skills like my speaking skills and my writing skills and also got to learn a lot about my Mexican culture and the history behind it and how Mexico became what it is today.
When I reached the 8th grade I started to volunteer at Plan helping out and teaching out the new generation of kids that were starting at plan. I was also a P.E teacher because I love to do sports and be active a lot so that was the best part for me because I love to see all the kids having fun and smiling while doing the activities and it also helped me become a better person and help me be more social with other people. I hope that this upcoming year I can be the P.E teacher and do new activities and more sports with the kids.
Thank you
Gerry Gonzalez
I have been a longtime supporter of Plan Vacacional going back to when I was Chief of Police for the City of Willits. Nuestra Alianza of Willits was in need of additional funding. At this time, I was seeking to curb gang violence in the community and seeing that the "Plan" program would instill instructional education involving language and culture to our Mexican Youth who at the time were being bombarded with gang influences, I chose to help fund the program. I saw gang influences were taking away our youth, both Mexican and non-Mexican, but the "Plan" program would educate the youth about the true culture and positive contributions that the Mexican people brought to our community. I was grateful to able to partner with a grass roots program.
John Haschack
“Nuestra Alianza of Willits is truly a grassroots organization of the Hispanic community. It has been an invaluable source of increasing respect and self-determination, greater inclusion in the community, and promoting cultural awareness and education. The Willits community is enhanced by all that NAW has done.” John Haschak
Thank You
The Mendocino County Museum would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants who contributed to the incredible creation of Exploramos Juntos: Nuestra Alianza, including: Our guest curator, Graciela ‘Chela’ Botella, additional members of Nuestra Alianza who contributed their time and personal stories: Ana Almanza, Diana Gomez, Dina Hutton, Jaime Del Aguila, Lizabeth ‘Jackie’ Eligio, and Maricela Nieto, and all other members, participants, and supporters of Nuestra Alianza and its programs.
Additional financial support generously provided by the Community Foundation of Mendocino County.
A tremendous amount of gratitude to both Mathew Caine and Lucia Acero (Instagram @Lucia.aceroo) whose talents captured all aspects of Nuestra Alianza, Plan Vacacional, and the community that surrounds them.
Further appreciation and recognition expressed for the Mendocino County Museum Volunteers: Karen Bishop, Carol Cox, Scott Ferleman, Janey Mitchell, Claudia Prochter, Stephen Prochter, Brent Walker, and Gail Yde
Mendocino County Museum exhibits and programs are made possible through funding provided by County of Mendocino’s General Fund.
Additional contributions produced by Mendocino County Museum Staff: Briana Brooks, Lindsey Dick, Deborah Fader-Samson, Margi Guhde, Karen Mattson, Mary Papadakis
Credits:
Photos courtesy of Mendocino County Museum, Mathew Caine, Luci Acero, and Nuestra Alianza.