Fools Mission recently participated in a bus tour of San Mateo County organized by Rev. Deborah Lee at CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice). The concept behind the tour was a perfect match for our own mission: to raise consciousness by bringing people together across class, race, language, culture, and immigration status. Over 32 people from nearly all walks of life explored the borders that exist right here on the San Francisco Peninsula and divide immigrant communities from the rest of us.

On Sunday morning, October 26, we were simply blown away when we encountered a sister ministry in Half Moon Bay organized by Belinda Arriago. Her organization is called ALAS (Ayudando Latinos a Soñar), and they do the same kind of accompaniment and advocacy work that we do at Fools Mission . But the real inspiration for us that morning was Belinda’s compelling arts ministry. She provided guitar accompaniment for four children, aged 9 to 11, dressed in traditional Mariachi costume. The full-throated unison and solo singing that the children shared thrilled everyone in the courtyard of the Catholic Worker House! Click the video to hear Mariachi Media Luna for yourself:

Here is a second rendition from Mariachi Media Luna:

Belinda is teaching valuable art and music skills that we also want to offer at Fools Mission . She raised funds to hire Mariachi teachers who help Latino students cultivate music skills and preserve traditional music. Inspired by her approach, Fools Mission has already collaborated with Dr. Astara Marcia at Global Music and Arts to present a 6-session ukelele class. The offering has already proven popular with Latino participants in the Fools Mission community, as you can see in the photo:

Dr. Astara Marcia of Global Music and Arts poses with her ukelele students at the final class of the six-session series at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City.

At the final class, ten parents and kids told us that they wanted to attend Mariachi classes next. Within a couple of weeks, twelve of us had made the trek across the hills to Half Moon Bay High School to hear the children and teachers of ALAS present their annual Mariachi concert. The following rendition by a young prodigy that night tells the story louder than words:

If you would like to help make our dream of organized Mariachi classes a reality, please contact Thomas Atwood at thomas@foolsmission.org.