Cenzontles, a son jaracho band from Vera Cruz, fuses indigenous, Spanish, and African music as the featured entertainment at Jovenes Adelante Guanajuato's inaugural fundraising event.

Thanks to collaboration and goodwill, Mexico’s past will meet Mexico’s future at Guanajuato’s Museo de Cera (Wax Museum) on Sunday, November 22, from 5 to 8 pm.  That night, bright young faces of university students will be among the crowd mingling with enthusiastic new Jóvenes Adelante branch members and familiar figures from Mexico’s past, such as Pipila, Father Hidalgo and Sor Juana de la Cruz. Wine will flow, cheeses will be served, and musicians from Veracruz will provide music and dance. All proceeds from the benefit, dubbed Qué Cera Será, will support  Jóvenes Adelante scholarship recipients from the municipio of Guanajuato.

JA’s new Guanajuato branch, headed up by newly elected VP Enaid Savage, will follow in the footsteps of the established San Miguel de Allende branch, which currently sponsors 75 university students.  To foster student success, JA offers scholarship recipients more than money in the way of support. “Each student is linked with a mentor who acts as friend, advisor and advocate,” said JA President Pat Harding. “We’ve provided additional counseling for students dealing with difficult situations at home or school. And this year, we’ve published a student handbook that offers guidance in making a career choice and selecting a school.”

“Our goal is to fund five Guanajuato students starting Fall, 2010,” said Amanda Ruiz, JA Presidenta Honoraria, “and we already have four full sponsorships. Our next step is to find the students. We'll be meeting soon with local high school directors to help us identify their best scholarship candidates.”

JA is proud of the sense of community that is growing as the program unfolds. Mexicans made up half of the mentors recently paired up with new students, thanks to Mentor Chair Judy Boston’s success at bringing together locals and expats.

In Guanajuato, the Wax Museum venue was offered by owner and new branch member Raymundo Hernandez. “Raymundo is a friendly, generous man. I pass by El Museo de Cera daily, and he’s always there with a greeting,” said JA volunteer Anna Adams. “Raymundo and his wife Ana are delighted to be hosting the JA fundraiser. “Raymundo is also selling tickets for us,” said Amanda Ruiz, “He is sooo generous... we have to hold him down to keep him from trying to do everything!”

“Be sure to put the Museo de Cera on your list of must-sees in Guanajuato,” says Peggy Ball, another JA volunteer. “The eerily life-like figures represent historical, religious and pop icons.”

Music for Que Cera Será is another saga of collaboration and goodwill. Nacho Aquino, who teaches at the prison in Irapuato, is a member of Cenzontles, a son jaracho band from Veracruz, and an enthusiastic supporter of JA's new Guanajuato branch. Son jarocho music is a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and African music, reflecting the population which evolved in the region during Spanish colonial times. Lyrics include humorous verses and subjects such as love, nature, sailors, and cattle breeding that reflect life in colonial Mexico. The raditional zapateada dance, derived from zapato (shoe), is a type of flamenco that creates a rhythmic percussion. In addition to small guitars, the musicians play a quijada, an instrument made of a donkey or horse jawbone. These prized instruments are quite costly as they must have all the teeth, which rattle and vibrate when you strike the side of the jaw.

“Four of the Cenzontles band members are coming all the way from Veracruz by bus, just for our event,” said Amanda Ruiz. “And they have to be back in Veracruz the next day to go to work. They’re doing the performance gratis. They just asked to be reimbursed the cost of transportation, which is being covered by a donation from CIEE Study Abroad in Guanajuato. The Directors, Karen and Lalo Rodriguez, are neighbors, JA members and very wonderful friends.”  

“I’ve heard Cenzontles play,” said Peggy Ball, “and I defy anyone who hears them to keep from tapping their feet and grinning from ear to ear!”

Volunteers from Guanjuato and San Miguel are crucial to the evening’s success. Colleen Cote, owner of Guanjuato’s Donkey Jote English bookstore, and Susan Sargeant, owner of SMA’s La Conexion, are busy selling tickets.  Leigh and Marilyn Stowell, and Ron Ruiz are donating wine, while Lori Wilson is donating cheese. Anna Adams and Hank Noordham are providing food and other supplies.

Come join the fun at Jóvenes Adelante’s inaugural Guanajuato event! Ticket prices are a very reasonable $80p per person, $150p per couple, and $40p for children under 12.  

by Jan and Jerry Rife