2025-03-13T17:46:18-04:00 2024-04-30 943194056 THE HENRY LEVY GROUP 1726 SOLANO AVENUE BERKELEY CA 94707 990EZ 2023-05-01 680475089 WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER WIXA 5104201231 2329 GRANT AVENUE BERKELEY CA 947031715 YVONNE NEGRIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 5104201445 2025-03-10 true BETH ATTEBERY P01466121 5106521000 2025-03-10 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X WWW.WIXARIKA.ORG X X 142959 X 140804 1972 627 1345 183 142332 9665 90025 2500 1775 536 29743 134244 8088 102954 111042 X 40824 56286 62130 54756 102954 111042 102954 111042 X ADVOCACY FOR THE HUICHOL INDIANS IN MEXICO, AND PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF THE HUICHOL CULTURE AND ARTWORK. OUR MISSION AT THE WIXRIKA RESEARCH CENTER IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING A RICH ARCHIVE OF WIXRIKA (HUICHOL) HISTORY, CULTURE AND TERRITORY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF WIXRIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL, ALONGSIDE OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF SELECT INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN WIXRIKA AUTONOMY. OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE REMAINS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND WE DO NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR MEMBERSHIP OR FOR ACCESSING OR DOWNLOADING OUR DOCUMENTS. WE WORK TO GENERATE FUNDING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, APPEALS TO OUR GROUP ON FACEBOOK, THROUGH AMAZON SMILE, IN OUR NEWSLETTERS, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE. WE HAVE ALSO HOSTED ONLINE EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK AND PROJECTS. THESE EVENTS ARE AIMED AT EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE ARCHIVES WE ARE PUBLISHING FOR THE WIXRIKA PEOPLE, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. THE EVENTS A OUR MISSION AT THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING A RICH ARCHIVE OF WIXARIKA (HUICHOL) HISTORY, CULTURE AND TERRITORY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF WIXARIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL, ALONGSIDE OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF SELECT INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN WIXARIKA AUTONOMY. OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE REMAINS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC; WE DO NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR MEMBERSHIP OR FOR ACCESSING OR DOWNLOADING OUR DOCUMENTS. WE WORK TO GENERATE FUNDING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, APPEALS TO OUR TWO GROUPS ON FACEBOOK, AND THROUGH OUR NEWSLETTERS, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE. WE HAVE ALSO HOSTED ONLINE EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK AND PROJECTS. THESE EVENTS ARE AIMED AT EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE ARCHIVES FOR THE WIXARIKA PEOPLE, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. THE EVENTS ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK IN MEXICO IN SUPPORT OF WIXARIKA STUDENTS, AND THEIR LAND AND CULTURE. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE BEGAN CONDUCTING ONLINE EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS AND POSTED VIDEOS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT OUR WORK AND PROJECTS. WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON GENERATING INTEREST AND DONATIONS THROUGH OUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES, OUR NEWSLETTERS, AND PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING OUR FIRST IN PERSON EVENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC IN THE FALL OF 2024, TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OUR WORK AND MEET AND BRING ABOARD NEW DONORS. HERE, IN THIS UPDATE, WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR ACTIVITIES DURING OUR 2023 - 2024 FISCAL YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB AND THE ROTARY CLUB IN PUERTO VALLARTA TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WIXARIKA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM DONORS WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO TWENTY-THREE STUDENTS FOR THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. DUE TO INFLATION, WE RAISED THE AMOUNT OF EACH SCHOLARSHIP TO 8,000 MEXICAN PESOS PER YEAR BEGINNING IN 2023, WHICH AT THE CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE IS 400 USD. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, IT HELPS STUDENTS WITH THE COST OF BOOKS, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND FOOD. SINCE 2018, THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER HAS PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO MORE THAN 60 WIXARIKA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THEY HAVE RECEIVED DEGREES IN LAW, NURSING, NUTRITION, FORESTRY ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, MATHEMATICS, ARCHITECTURE, AND AGRONOMY. MOST OF THE GRADUATES ARE NOW SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES OR WORKING IN THEIR AREA OF UNDERGRADUATE SPECIALIZATION. THERE WILL BE 8 STUDENTS GRADUATING THIS YEAR, AND WE ACCEPTED 8 NEW STUDENTS FOR THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. EACH YEAR WE AIM TO SUSTAIN TWENTY ACTIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH INCLUDES NEW AND CONTINUING STUDENTS. ONCE WE ACCEPT A STUDENT INTO OUR PROGRAM, WE COMMIT TO SUPPORT THEM ON A YEARLY BASIS FROM THE TIME THEY ENTER THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UNTIL THEY FINISH THEIR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, BUT FOR NO MORE THAN THREE YEARS. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, WE HAVE ONLY HAD ONE STUDENT DROP OUT. IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOLARSHIPS, WE COORDINATE ACTIVITIES IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN MEET EACH OTHER ONLINE OR THROUGH OUR AGROFORESTRY ACTIVITIES IN WIRIKUTA THAT WE ARE MANAGING AS PART OF OUR WORK TO ENSURE WIXARIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL. IN JULY 2023, WE HELD OUR THIRD SUMMER PROGRAM DEDICATED TO AGROECOLOGICAL TRAINING IN THE SACRED PILGRIMAGE DESTINATION OF WIRIKUTA. FROM JULY 12TH THROUGH JULY 14TH, 2023, WE HELD A THIRD FACE-TO-FACE MEETING IN THE LAS MARGARITAS EJIDO (COMMUNAL FARM) WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THE ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE ALTIPLANO POTOSI, ALSO KNOWN AS WIRIKUTA TO THE WIXARIKA PEOPLE. THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER OVERSAW GENERAL COORDINATION OF THIS MEETING, WHICH INCLUDED INVITING THE WIXARIKA COMMUNITIES AND INHABITANTS OF THE ALTIPLANO REGION, AS WELL AS SOME DELEGATES FROM SONORA AND JALISCO WHO WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK. THE THREE DAYS OF WORK INCLUDED FREE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS IN THE MORNING AND COLLECTIVE CO-DESIGN SESSIONS IN THE AFTERNOON. DURING OUR FIRST TWO YEARS OF PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS, WE PLANTED DOZENS OF MESQUITES, AGAVES, AND TUNA- PRODUCING CACTI IN A MILPA NEAR THE SACRED PLACE OF TAMATSI KAUYUMARIE (BERNALEJO) AND IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE LOCALITY CALLED LAS MARGARITAS. THIS THIRD YEAR OF WORKSHOPS INCLUDED ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE PRIOR TWO YEARS AND DIALOGUE OVER PROPOSALS THAT SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE REGION WITH A FOCUS ON LOCAL SMALL FARMERS. WIXARITARI FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND CIVIL ASSOCIATIONS FOCUSED ON AGROECOLOGICAL AND BIOCULTURAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. WE FINISHED REBUILDING AND LAUNCHED OUR BI-LINGUAL WEBSITE IN DRUPAL 9 IN NOVEMBER 2023. THE REMAINING WORK IS MOSTLY STYLING AND WRITING TEXT FOR NEW PAGES. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE ONLINE ARCHIVE OF DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS, WHICH IS DRAWING MORE ATTENTION AND ADMIRATION FROM THE WIXARIKA PEOPLE AND FROM SCHOLARS AROUND THE WORLD. AUKWE MIJARES GARCA, A YOUNG WOMAN FROM THE COMMUNITY OF TATEI KIE WHO HOLDS A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PRIVATE JESUIT UNIVERSITY ITESO, IN GUADALAJARA, HAS BEEN WORKING UPLOADING AND BUILDING THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVES. SHE HAS BEEN POSTING TEASERS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES. THIS MATERIAL IS OF GREAT HISTORICAL VALUE TO THE WIXARIKA COMMUNITIES AND TO SCHOLARS INTERESTED IN EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ONCE THE FIRST ROADS PENETRATED THE WIXARIKA SIERRAS. HAVING A NATIVE SPEAKER WORKING WITH THIS MATERIAL IS INVALUABLE. OUR AUDIENCE CONTINUES TO GROW, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND MODERATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. WE REGULARLY RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE FROM BOTH ACADEMICS AND STUDENTS LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE PRIOR TO TRAVELING TO MEXICO TO DO FIELD WORK. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO CONNECT THEM TO WIXARIKA PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE, CONTINUOUS, AND BONA FIDE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ATTRACT NEW AND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT. TO GENERATE PUBLIC SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZATION SENDS OUT NEWSLETTERS TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE THE ORGANIZATION'S ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, AND THIS YEAR WE HELD TWO LIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH WIXARIKA STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS VIA ZOOM, WHICH WERE ALSO LIVE ON FACEBOOK. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS AN INSTAGRAM PAGE WITH 561 FOLLOWERS, AND TWO FACEBOOK GROUPS, "WIXARIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL" WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY 5,300 PEOPLE, AND "WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER" WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY 2,200 PEOPLE. ON ALL THREE PAGES, WE ARE FOLLOWED BY MANY PEOPLE FROM THE WIXARIKA COMMUNITIES. WE REGULARLY POST NEWS ARTICLES, VIDEOS, UPCOMING EVENTS, AND SHORT FILMS OF INTEREST. OUR POSTS ARE COMMENTED ON AND FREQUENTLY SHARED, WHICH IN TURN BRINGS NEW PEOPLE TO OUR GROUPS. FUND RAISING EVENTS ON FACEBOOK ARE SOMETIMES INITIATED BY PEOPLE WHO PUT UP A BIRTHDAY FUND RAISER IN SUPPORT OF THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER. FINALLY, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE OFFERS BOOKS, GREETING CARDS, AND T-SHIRTS TO GENERATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK. THE ORGANIZATION COUNTS ON A GREAT DEAL OF NON-MONETARY SUPPORT IN THE WAY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COMPUTER MAINTENANCE, LEGAL ADVICE, AND HELP WITH TRANSLATING AND EDITING. REPORTS FROM NGOS IN THE FIELD, WIXARIKA PROFESSIONALS, AND ELECTED WIXARIKA AUTHORITIES KEEP THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER CURRENT ON EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN MEXICO. ASIDE FROM A FEW LARGE DONORS, WE HAVE MANY SMALLER DONORS, INCLUDING SOME WHO DONATE MONTHLY. THE ORGANIZATION'S BASE OF YEARLY DONORS CONTINUES TO GROW; HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION AND NEWS, DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO DONATE, WHICH IS WHY WE AIM TO KEEP ACCESS TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOCUMENTS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 9665 X 134244 134244 YVONNE NEGRIN EXECUTIVE DI 45.00 72000 2486 DIANA NEGRIN ASSOCIATE DI 20.00 7200 MARIA E CRUZ PRESIDENT 1.00 0 CATARINA NEGRIN SECRETARY 2.00 0 ANTHONY SOMKIN TREASURER 1.00 0 DAVID TUSSMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0 VANESSA SEQUEIRA-GARZA BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0 false false false false false false false false false CA YVONNE NEGRIN 2329 GRANT STREET BERKELEY CA 947031715 5104201231 false false false false false false false false false false false NONE NONE true X 148260 85037 128687 129743 140804 632531 148260 85037 128687 129743 140804 632531 466917 165614 72 50 71 143 183 519 633050 15165 0.26160 0.28920 X PART II, LINE 10 OTHER INCOME 336 PART II, LINE 17B THE WIXRIKA RESEARCH CENTER MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE, CONTINUOUS, AND BONA FIDE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ATTRACT NEW AND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT. TO GENERATE PUBLIC SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZATION SENDS OUT A BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE THE ORGANIZATION'S ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, AND THIS YEAR WE HELD 2 LIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH WIXRIKA STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS VIA ZOOM, AND WHICH WERE ALSO LIVE ON FACEBOOK. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS AN INSTAGRAM PAGE AND TWO FACEBOOK GROUPS, "WIXRIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL" WHICH IS NOW FOLLOWED BY 5,200 PEOPLE, AND "WIXRIKA RESEARCH CENTER" WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY 2,000 PEOPLE. ON BOTH PAGES, WE ARE FOLLOWED BY MANY PEOPLE FROM THE WIXRIKA COMMUNITIES. WE REGULARLY POST NEWS ARTICLES, VIDEOS, UPCOMING EVENTS, AND SHORT FILMS OF INTEREST. OUR POSTS ARE OFTEN COMMENTED ON AND FREQUENTLY SHARED, WHICH IN TURN BRINGS NEW PEOPLE TO THE GROUP. FUND RAISING EVENTS ON FACEBOOK ARE OFTEN INITIATED BY PEOPLE WHO PUT UP A BIRTHDAY FUND RAISER IN SUPPORT OF THE WRC. FINALLY, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE OFFERS BOOKS, GREETING CARDS, AND T-SHIRTS TO GENERATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK. THE ORGANIZATION COUNTS ON A GREAT DEAL OF NON-MONETARY SUPPORT IN THE WAY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COMPUTER MAINTENANCE, LEGAL ADVICE, HELP WITH TRANSLATING AND EDITING, REPORTING FROM NGOS IN THE FIELD, WIXRIKA PROFESSIONALS, AND ELECTED WIXRIKA AUTHORITIES WHO KEEP THE ORGANIZATION CURRENT ON EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN MEXICO. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORT CAME FROM ONE VERY GENEROUS INDIVIDUAL, WE ALSO HAVE MANY OTHER SMALLER DONORS, WITH A FEW WHO DONATE MONTHLY. THE ORGANIZATION'S BASE OF YEARLY DONORS CONTINUES TO GROW; HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION AND NEWS, DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO MAKE A DONATION AND THAT IS WHY WE AIM TO KEEP ACCESS TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOCUMENTS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 8 OTHER 183 TOTAL 183 FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 10 CLASS OF ACTIVITY: EDUCATION CASH CONTRIBUTION: 9,665 RELATIONSHIP: NONE FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 16 EXPENSES OFFICE SUPPLIES 755 ADOBE 310 DROPBOX 260 HOSTING SERVICES 324 MAILCHIMP 304 MICROSOFT OFFICE 200 QUICKEN 60 SHOPIFY 486 WEBSITE 9,261 TRAVEL 910 AGROFORESTRY PROJECT 8,902 BANK & CREDIT CARD FEES 103 CA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 175 DINING 290 EXHIBITION 237 PAYROLL SERVICES 300 NON-INVESTMENT DEPRECIATION 6,866 TOTAL 29,743 FORM 990-EZ, PART II, LINE 24 INVENTORIES FOR SALE OR USE 6,986 6,478 OTHER DEPRECIABLE ASSET 77,488 77,488 LESS ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION 63,114 69,980 FILM MATERIALS 28,510 28,510 YARN PAINTINGS BY JOSE BENITEZ SANCH 12,260 12,260 TOTAL 62,130 54,756 FORM 990-EZ, PART III ADVOCACY FOR THE HUICHOL INDIANS IN MEXICO, AND PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF THE HUICHOL CULTURE AND ARTWORK. OUR MISSION AT THE WIXRIKA RESEARCH CENTER IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING A RICH ARCHIVE OF WIXRIKA (HUICHOL) HISTORY, CULTURE AND TERRITORY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF WIXRIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL, ALONGSIDE OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF SELECT INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN WIXRIKA AUTONOMY. OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE REMAINS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND WE DO NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR MEMBERSHIP OR FOR ACCESSING OR DOWNLOADING OUR DOCUMENTS. WE WORK TO GENERATE FUNDING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, APPEALS TO OUR GROUP ON FACEBOOK, THROUGH AMAZON SMILE, IN OUR NEWSLETTERS, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE. WE HAVE ALSO HOSTED ONLINE EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK AND PROJECTS. THESE EVENTS ARE AIMED AT EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE ARCHIVES WE ARE PUBLISHING FOR THE WIXRIKA PEOPLE, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. THE EVENTS ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK IN MEXICO IN SUPPORT OF THE WIXRIKA PEOPLE AND THEIR CULTURE. FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 28 OUR MISSION AT THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING A RICH ARCHIVE OF WIXARIKA (HUICHOL) HISTORY, CULTURE AND TERRITORY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF WIXARIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL, ALONGSIDE OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF SELECT INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN WIXARIKA AUTONOMY. OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE REMAINS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC; WE DO NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR MEMBERSHIP OR FOR ACCESSING OR DOWNLOADING OUR DOCUMENTS. WE WORK TO GENERATE FUNDING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, APPEALS TO OUR TWO GROUPS ON FACEBOOK, AND THROUGH OUR NEWSLETTERS, PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE. WE HAVE ALSO HOSTED ONLINE EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK AND PROJECTS. THESE EVENTS ARE AIMED AT EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE ARCHIVES FOR THE WIXARIKA PEOPLE, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. THE EVENTS ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK IN MEXICO IN SUPPORT OF WIXARIKA STUDENTS, AND THEIR LAND AND CULTURE. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE BEGAN CONDUCTING ONLINE EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS AND POSTED VIDEOS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT OUR WORK AND PROJECTS. WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON GENERATING INTEREST AND DONATIONS THROUGH OUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES, OUR NEWSLETTERS, AND PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING OUR FIRST IN PERSON EVENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC IN THE FALL OF 2024, TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OUR WORK AND MEET AND BRING ABOARD NEW DONORS. HERE, IN THIS UPDATE, WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR ACTIVITIES DURING OUR 2023 - 2024 FISCAL YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB AND THE ROTARY CLUB IN PUERTO VALLARTA TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WIXARIKA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM DONORS WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO TWENTY-THREE STUDENTS FOR THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. DUE TO INFLATION, WE RAISED THE AMOUNT OF EACH SCHOLARSHIP TO 8,000 MEXICAN PESOS PER YEAR BEGINNING IN 2023, WHICH AT THE CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE IS 400 USD. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, IT HELPS STUDENTS WITH THE COST OF BOOKS, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND FOOD. SINCE 2018, THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER HAS PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO MORE THAN 60 WIXARIKA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THEY HAVE RECEIVED DEGREES IN LAW, NURSING, NUTRITION, FORESTRY ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, MATHEMATICS, ARCHITECTURE, AND AGRONOMY. MOST OF THE GRADUATES ARE NOW SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES OR WORKING IN THEIR AREA OF UNDERGRADUATE SPECIALIZATION. THERE WILL BE 8 STUDENTS GRADUATING THIS YEAR, AND WE ACCEPTED 8 NEW STUDENTS FOR THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. EACH YEAR WE AIM TO SUSTAIN TWENTY ACTIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH INCLUDES NEW AND CONTINUING STUDENTS. ONCE WE ACCEPT A STUDENT INTO OUR PROGRAM, WE COMMIT TO SUPPORT THEM ON A YEARLY BASIS FROM THE TIME THEY ENTER THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UNTIL THEY FINISH THEIR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, BUT FOR NO MORE THAN THREE YEARS. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, WE HAVE ONLY HAD ONE STUDENT DROP OUT. IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOLARSHIPS, WE COORDINATE ACTIVITIES IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN MEET EACH OTHER ONLINE OR THROUGH OUR AGROFORESTRY ACTIVITIES IN WIRIKUTA THAT WE ARE MANAGING AS PART OF OUR WORK TO ENSURE WIXARIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL. IN JULY 2023, WE HELD OUR THIRD SUMMER PROGRAM DEDICATED TO AGROECOLOGICAL TRAINING IN THE SACRED PILGRIMAGE DESTINATION OF WIRIKUTA. FROM JULY 12TH THROUGH JULY 14TH, 2023, WE HELD A THIRD FACE-TO-FACE MEETING IN THE LAS MARGARITAS EJIDO (COMMUNAL FARM) WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THE ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE ALTIPLANO POTOSI, ALSO KNOWN AS WIRIKUTA TO THE WIXARIKA PEOPLE. THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER OVERSAW GENERAL COORDINATION OF THIS MEETING, WHICH INCLUDED INVITING THE WIXARIKA COMMUNITIES AND INHABITANTS OF THE ALTIPLANO REGION, AS WELL AS SOME DELEGATES FROM SONORA AND JALISCO WHO WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK. THE THREE DAYS OF WORK INCLUDED FREE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS IN THE MORNING AND COLLECTIVE CO-DESIGN SESSIONS IN THE AFTERNOON. DURING OUR FIRST TWO YEARS OF PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS, WE PLANTED DOZENS OF MESQUITES, AGAVES, AND TUNA- PRODUCING CACTI IN A MILPA NEAR THE SACRED PLACE OF TAMATSI KAUYUMARIE (BERNALEJO) AND IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE LOCALITY CALLED LAS MARGARITAS. THIS THIRD YEAR OF WORKSHOPS INCLUDED ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE PRIOR TWO YEARS AND DIALOGUE OVER PROPOSALS THAT SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE REGION WITH A FOCUS ON LOCAL SMALL FARMERS. WIXARITARI FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND CIVIL ASSOCIATIONS FOCUSED ON AGROECOLOGICAL AND BIOCULTURAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. WE FINISHED REBUILDING AND LAUNCHED OUR BI-LINGUAL WEBSITE IN DRUPAL 9 IN NOVEMBER 2023. THE REMAINING WORK IS MOSTLY STYLING AND WRITING TEXT FOR NEW PAGES. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE ONLINE ARCHIVE OF DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS, WHICH IS DRAWING MORE ATTENTION AND ADMIRATION FROM THE WIXARIKA PEOPLE AND FROM SCHOLARS AROUND THE WORLD. AUKWE MIJARES GARCA, A YOUNG WOMAN FROM THE COMMUNITY OF TATEI KIE WHO HOLDS A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PRIVATE JESUIT UNIVERSITY ITESO, IN GUADALAJARA, HAS BEEN WORKING UPLOADING AND BUILDING THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVES. SHE HAS BEEN POSTING TEASERS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES. THIS MATERIAL IS OF GREAT HISTORICAL VALUE TO THE WIXARIKA COMMUNITIES AND TO SCHOLARS INTERESTED IN EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ONCE THE FIRST ROADS PENETRATED THE WIXARIKA SIERRAS. HAVING A NATIVE SPEAKER WORKING WITH THIS MATERIAL IS INVALUABLE. OUR AUDIENCE CONTINUES TO GROW, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND MODERATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. WE REGULARLY RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE FROM BOTH ACADEMICS AND STUDENTS LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE PRIOR TO TRAVELING TO MEXICO TO DO FIELD WORK. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO CONNECT THEM TO WIXARIKA PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE, CONTINUOUS, AND BONA FIDE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ATTRACT NEW AND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT. TO GENERATE PUBLIC SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZATION SENDS OUT NEWSLETTERS TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE THE ORGANIZATION'S ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, AND THIS YEAR WE HELD TWO LIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH WIXARIKA STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS VIA ZOOM, WHICH WERE ALSO LIVE ON FACEBOOK. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS AN INSTAGRAM PAGE WITH 561 FOLLOWERS, AND TWO FACEBOOK GROUPS, "WIXARIKA CULTURAL SURVIVAL" WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY 5,300 PEOPLE, AND "WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER" WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY 2,200 PEOPLE. ON ALL THREE PAGES, WE ARE FOLLOWED BY MANY PEOPLE FROM THE WIXARIKA COMMUNITIES. WE REGULARLY POST NEWS ARTICLES, VIDEOS, UPCOMING EVENTS, AND SHORT FILMS OF INTEREST. OUR POSTS ARE COMMENTED ON AND FREQUENTLY SHARED, WHICH IN TURN BRINGS NEW PEOPLE TO OUR GROUPS. FUND RAISING EVENTS ON FACEBOOK ARE SOMETIMES INITIATED BY PEOPLE WHO PUT UP A BIRTHDAY FUND RAISER IN SUPPORT OF THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER. FINALLY, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE OFFERS BOOKS, GREETING CARDS, AND T-SHIRTS TO GENERATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK. THE ORGANIZATION COUNTS ON A GREAT DEAL OF NON-MONETARY SUPPORT IN THE WAY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COMPUTER MAINTENANCE, LEGAL ADVICE, AND HELP WITH TRANSLATING AND EDITING. REPORTS FROM NGOS IN THE FIELD, WIXARIKA PROFESSIONALS, AND ELECTED WIXARIKA AUTHORITIES KEEP THE WIXARIKA RESEARCH CENTER CURRENT ON EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN MEXICO. ASIDE FROM A FEW LARGE DONORS, WE HAVE MANY SMALLER DONORS, INCLUDING SOME WHO DONATE MONTHLY. THE ORGANIZATION'S BASE OF YEARLY DONORS CONTINUES TO GROW; HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION AND NEWS, DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO DONATE, WHICH IS WHY WE AIM TO KEEP ACCESS TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOCUMENTS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.