In 2024 the Beyond Fronteras project offered many student engagement programs to support K-12 humanities education. As part of the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent’s “Invest in our Youth” initiative, these programs were made possible by an Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant. ESSER grants were created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and distributed to our county via the Arizona Department of Education.
Archaeology of Ambos Nogales
In the “Archaeology of Ambos Nogales” (2024), high school students examined the Hohokam settlement at the Nogales Wash Site with archaeologist Hunter Claypatch. Independent archaeologist Felipe Jácome, the principal researcher behind the 1982-1983 dig at the Nogales Wash Site by Nogales High School students, taught our youth why this history is important. The youths’ archaeological work is helping save this ancient site as well as to remind our elders of the importance of engaging our young people in order to protect our cultural heritage.
Murals on Morley
Rio Rico High School teacher Miguel Grijalva led teens in painting an iconic mural at the Nogales Public Library. Dedicated on August 1, 2024, “The Present Meets the Past” colorfully represents key and often unrecognized moments in our community’s history. Grijalva’s paintings for Beyond Fronteras also provided the first-ever visual representation of many Santa Cruz County history topics for the benefit of educators and students across our community.
“The Present Meets the Past” is open during regular business hours at the Nogales Public Library located at 518 N. Grand Avenue, Nogales, AZ.
Arts History Academy
Retired bullfighter Armando Moreno’s Arts History Academy taught painting skills to younger teens as a way of enjoying art and learning emotional self-regulation and pride. Maestro Moreno’s collaborations with his students greatly enrich our Beyond Fronteras journey with the stunning illustration they created together to depict different aspects of Santa Cruz County history and culture.
Pierson High School Printshop Students, Nogales Unified School District #1
Although not funded by the Beyond Fronteras/Invest in Our Youth grants, students at the Nogales Unified School District #1 Printshop were instrumental in pushing the Beyond Fronteras museum project to the finish line in early fall 2024. Led by teacher Javier Campos, Pierson High School youth working in the NUSD #1 printshop printed several posters and banners required by the Beyond Fronteras project, including the poetry by area youth which is on display at our museum space. Visitors to the Beyond Fronteras exhibition’s October 25, 2024, grand opening were welcomed by stunning hanging banners carefully printed, cut, and assembled by the Pierson High School youth. Our profound gratitude goes to Mr. Campos, his students, and Pierson H.S. principal Jigar Mehta for their support in launching the Beyond Fronteras project.
By investing themselves in actively learning humanities skills, Youth are Saving Our Past! Investing in our Youth is to invest in our future as a community.
The “Beyond Fronteras” exhibition and multimedia project was curated and coordinated by Carlos Francisco Parra, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Arizona and a born-and-raised native of Ambos (both) Nogales. All photographs on this page are by Parra.