Tish Hinojosa Friendraiser/Fundraiser in Patagonia

On December 12th, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we closed the year with another wonderful collaboration. A joint friend-raiser/fundraiser with the Border Community Alliance and the Patagonia Creative Arts Association, the evening began with an open-to-the-public celebration of the Blessed Mother by the local Guadalupanas from St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in the courtyard. A dinner reception featuring an authentic homemade Mexican feast with honored guests Tish Hinojosa and Gary Nabhan followed. The sold-out reception and concert were truly a night to remember.

Hinojosa's parents were Mexican immigrants, and she calls herself a musician of the US/Mexico border with influences of traditional Mexican, folk, Tejano, conjunto, and country music. She has performed at both the White House and Carnegie Hall and is known for singing both traditional Mexican folksongs and her own original songs.

For our event, she chose her songs thoughtfully and provided moving storytelling and background for each. Hinojosa uses music to raise awareness of cultural issues, such as in her original song "Something in the Rain," which critiques agricultural practices that harm the land and the farmworker community. This song explores the resilience, hopes, and dreams of farmworkers despite exposure to toxic pesticides and other hardships. As members of her own family were farmworkers, this song was especially personal. It's safe to say that there weren't many dry eyes in the house.

Hinojosa was joined onstage by local writer and ethnobotanist, Gary Nabhan, who wove in his own colorful borderlands storytelling to round out the experience. The intimate and memorable evening was a poignant way to conclude our 2025 events and activism. We were very honored to host Tish and Gary, and she told us that she would like to return to Patagonia for another performance!

Special thanks to Leana Whitewolf Charlton, Marcela Ezrre, Courtney Hall, and Odell Borg for items donated to the evening's silent auction.