Since just prior to the pandemic, CONEXIÓN has essentially been dormant, other than acting as a fundraising arm for other community organizations. In 2024 we are revitalizing and relaunching CONEXIÓN. Executive Director, Bridget Espinosa, plans to re-engage with the current board members, and has hired Suzanne Ball as Non-profit Liaison between Bridget’s businesses Puente Cultural Integration, Experience Puerto Morelos, her non-profit CONEXIÓN, and community programs both in Detroit, MI and Puerto Morelos, MX.
Starting in the fall of 2023, CONEXIÓN assisted with fundraising for the Puerto Morelos Mural Project, working with local muralists who have planned a massive 10m x 12m mural at the entrance of the portside of Puerto Morelos. 10% of funds raised were destined to help the Puerto Morelos reef. In the spring of 2024, that mural portion of the project was put on hold, so now all of the funds raised will be redirected to sponsor reef restoration efforts here in el Parque Nacional del Arrecife Puerto Morelos.
In 2024, CONEXIÓN has also taken on fiduciary roles for several local projects that have received grants from a US-based non-profit called Positive Legacy. Those projects include:
- El Telar PM – cultural community center
- Colegio de Bachilleres de Puerto Morelos – local high school
- Central Vallarta water filtration project – in a small community on the Ruta de los Cenotes just outside Puerto Morelos.
We believe that CONEXIÓN, under the leadership of Bridget and the board of directors, together with Suzanne, will be able to continue the work started by CONEXIÓN as well as take on these projects from Positive Legacy. We wholeheartedly believe in the importance and value of the work already done by the leaders of these projects and organizations. And we very much look forward to meeting and working with the leaders of these projects and organizations in the near future so that we can all ensure that these projects are sustainable for years to come.