Memorias del Silencio Footprints of the Borderland

Amit Ghosh

Note from the Publisher’s desk

BorderSenses (est. Fall 2000), based in El Paso, TX, is a community-based, bi-annual, bilingual literary magazine. It began with the aspiration to provide a platform for all aspiring artists, both established and emerging of our frontera. In 2003, it expanded to include the greater region of Southwestern US and Northern Mexico. We have published nine issues so far, and are about to publish the tenth issue this Fall.

We have been well received in our community and we deeply appreciate public participation in our workshops, launch events, and our readings. We humbly accept our place in the literary landscape of the region. Our efforts have been acknowledged by the El Paso Community Foundation and the City of El Paso’s Arts and Culture Department. We have been the recipient of several grants from both these elite agencies which has allowed us to establish the magazine and perform several literary programs.

BorderSenses is also committed to the state of literary achievement of the El Paso region. This has prompted us to team with The El Paso Community College’s Community Education Program (CEP) directed by Mr. Andres Muro and his competent staff. By working with students in Adult Basic Literacy classes where all the students are either migrant farm workers or their families, we have contributed to the literacy of the region.

While we appreciate the efforts of the migrant workers in the field, we believe that good citizenry cannot be achieved without providing a helping hand to these hard-working folks so that they can embark on the road to growth and prosperity. While there are citizens and politicians who look down in disdain and question the presence of these workers, their positive influence in our social structure can hardly be questioned.

This specific project, funded by Arts and Culture Department, permitted us to work with these students who are enrolled in the Spanish GED at EPCC. We added a component to the program that explored their creativity in narratives—prose or poetry. Our instructor, Ms. Minerva Laveaga has been outstanding in being able to work with these students to help them reach their creativity. Her disciplined visits to the classrooms and her motivation to work with this novice student body have produced rich dividends.

We at BorderSenses are thrilled at the outcome of this project. With little formal training, the ability of these students to relive their experiences artistically gave this project a special meaning. Even in the art world, degrees and credentials are often overvalued. This project has demonstrated without a doubt that the ability to be emotionally expressive has no boundaries; it only requires the right stimulus and context.

Writing channels our thoughts and souls. It can vastly advance the cause of learning. Widening opportunities for minority voices can vastly improve literacy and better our community.

We ask you to join us in celebrating the outcome of this project at the release of thebook amongst to the El Paso community. The publication of “Memorias del Silencio: Footprints of the Borderland” is a testimony to the writers and the instructor. The selections were all composed in Spanish, but in order to reach a wider audience the Instructor, who is also the Editor, chose to create a special “Translation” section representing all the works.

Local artist Fernando Ramirez has been instrumental in illustrating these works using his rich imagination. Special thanks to web designer Alex Hernandez for his design and rendition. The efforts of other staff members (administrative and technical), Edevaldo Orozco, Dalila Salazar, Javier Sanchez, Ernesto Flores, and Carmen Seda are deeply appreciated.

If you want to know more about this project, please visit us at: http://www.bordersenses.com/memorias or you can email us at info@bordersenses.com.