By Don Krim “Participation in sports and art has taught me that my role in San Miguel de Allende is to serve. I am looking for the Jóvenes Adelante scholarship because I know that more than financial support, it is the opportunity to have a mentor to guide me through all the academic challenges that my family probably does not know how to guide me through.” - Male, Laboratory Sciences Finalist 2026 What started last December and January with hundreds of applicants, now comes

By Don Krim “I am supporting my housekeeper’s daughter, preparing to go to college. What does she need…?” “…My gardener’s son is in prepa [high school] and I wish to support him. What do I need to know?” I am asked questions like these all the time. In most of México outside of the larger urban centers, less privileged Mexicans’ transition through high school and to university can be daunting. Kids and their parent(s) may be eager for furthering education, but usually have li

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey When you speak with Carla Cadena, Project Manager for the Campo Economic Development Project of the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende–Midday, the conversation quickly moves beyond infrastructure. Yes, the project builds rainwater harvesting cisterns and dry composting toilets. Yes, it addresses water contamination and rural sanitation. But what Carla sees every day is something deeper: the transformation of families and communities from the ins

By Don Krim "The quiet community of donors and philanthropists whose work through NGO’s makes them the unsung heroes of San Miguel. These are the people who invest not only in real estate and business, but in collective well/being. They are our foundation. The readers we hope to reach. Those who know that real estate is more than building wealth, it builds community." Ulises Huerta Ortiz, Editor/Publisher Avenue It is easy, amongst the rooftop restaurants with their stunning

By Robin Loving “This work has never really been about water,” said 2025 Citizen of the Year Award Honoree Dylan Terrell, founder and executive director of Caminos de Agua. “It’s about community. I arrived in San Miguel (with) no intention of working in water. But … it became very clear, very quickly, that water was the issue,” he continued. He went on to say that solutions do not come from outsiders but from communities understanding their challenges, organizing, and taking

By Lisa Nelligan There is a huge community of dog lovers in San Miguel, owners and fosterers who prize the companionship of our beloved pets and best friends. Nevertheless, space for dogs to run, socialize, and play off leash has been non-existent. The law states that dogs should be leashed anywhere in public in San Miguel, including in Parque Juarez and Parque Zeferino. I volunteer at Control Canino, the city’s dog shelter, helping to provide care and facilitate adoptions. A

By Nikki Miller If you are looking for ways to get more involved in the San Miguel de Allende community and meet new people, 100+ Who Care SMA may be right for you. As a newcomer to San Miguel de Allende, I am impressed with the number of nonprofit organizations, or NGOs, providing important services in and around San Miguel and the engagement of the community as a whole in supporting them; however, like many people I have met, I have found it difficult to learn about the va

By Don Krim As Jóvenes Adelante’s selection team screens hundreds of 2 biographical videos, and other document submissions from eager undergraduate students, there is another quiet process under way: our own graduates seeking specialized Master’s degrees. Some of those requests I expected - one of my own mentees, for instance, applying for a Master’s in criminal law prior to a further specialization in criminal investigation; another I know seeking an advanced degree to suppo

By Staff Writer San Miguel’s streets really start to heat up by late April. It’s a time to remember that emotional and mental benefits come from taking time off the hot streets and sneaking in a visit to The Spa. Treatments like massages can stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones, which can enhance your mood and promote feelings of happiness. Also expect reduced anxiety (and who is not seeking that?) as engaging in self-care at a spa can

By Colleen Sorenson An ancient stream runs through our city. For centuries, its waters sustained people and wildlife, enabling settlement, nourishing orchards and livelihoods, and shaping daily life. To celebrate this ancient stream and our local artists, La Vida de Las Cachinches is a captivating new mural project along the arroyo , promoting respect and the beauty of our urban nature. Twelve San Miguel artists are coming together in April 19 th through 22 nd , partnering wi

By Don Krim It is only 48 hours before we hit the deadline for applications and the numbers are making me nervous: only 45 high school - prepa - applicants, only 35 university (those already attending.) “Where is everybody?” I know the goal of any non-profit (NGO) should be obsolescence, to be no longer needed. But the question runs through my mind: “Are more and more local Mexican youth abandoning bachelor’s study (licenciatura) in favor of technical degrees(TSU) or just vo

By Don Krim Checking final details of Jóvenes Adelante’s Congress 3.0 - expecting 182 prospective applicants, 92 of their parents, 150 current JA students and graduates, and over 145 supporters - the level of responsibility weighs on me. Prospective applicants are filled with hope, nervousness, uncertainty. Those graduating high school have a leg up - they’ve already had short interviews in December. They know us - a little. They also know there is more. University applican

By Mae Hart A new free English language school is opening. The project began after careful planning with Coco and Nancy Hoch (owners of Geek&Coffee ), who helped set up the program and are hosting the school. The goal is to provide free English classes for local children and to create a space where learning is accessible to families from different backgrounds. With their support, the program now has an accredited English teacher who is officially trained and also paid for th

By Staff Writer On Sunday, January 18 th , San Miguel de Allende was honored by the visit of Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo . She came to visit the site where the new Centro de Excelencia de Parteria y Bienestar—Center of Excellence in Midwifery and Wellness will open. The project, promoted by IMSS Bienestar Health Services , embraces the 'CASA' project, which was launched more than 30 years ago by Alejandro González and Nadine Goodman , together with dozens of

By Donna Lynes Miller Rosey’s Wish, El Deseo de Rosey is an NGO currently operating in San Miguel de Allende with the mission to end animal suffering through their free mobile sterilization clinics. Their story is below. Have you ever thought about the relationship between humans and animals? Did we shape them or did they shape us? The answer is most likely both; a symbiotic relationship that began at least 15,000 years ago. Whether you consider yourself a “dog person” or

By Susan Knight York There is no chef that’s left more of an impact on the culinary profile of San Miguel de Allende than Chef Donnie Masterton of The Restaurant . He has influenced so many people, including young people zwho are working in culinary careers in San Miguel. The level of respect for him runs deep. In the 14 years I’ve been writing about the culinary scene in San Miguel, I’ve learned one thing: it’s hard to miss how many aspiring young cooks have passed through

By Natalie Taylor Nadine Goodman came to San Miguel from New York in the 1970s. A friend owned a house here and suggested she visit so that she could study Spanish. It was not intended to be a permanent move, but in 1981, Nadine met her future husband, Alejandro González Rullán , and settled here. Alejandro was an actuary who had studied at UNAM. But he was also an activist, and his concern with social justice was in sync with Nadine’s beliefs. In the US, Nadine was always

By Stan Allen, 8-year volunteer On November 20, 2015, ABBA House opened its doors for the first time. Pastor Ignacio and his young family realized that migrant need and care required more than hot meals and warm clothing delivered daily from the trunk of the family car. Pastor Ignacio had a humanitarian and ambitious vision 10 years ago! The initial mission of ABBA House was to offer migrants fleeing violence, poverty, and oppression in their Central American countries, a pl

By Sharon Doherty Most of us can remember a teacher who made a real difference in our lives, someone whose warmth, patience, and sense of humor helped us discover a love of learning. But imagine how much more powerful that connection can be when you are a Deaf child meeting a teacher who is also Deaf, who understands your world and your language completely. Laura is one such teacher. Her story begins when her parents enrolled her at EEESMA School for the Deaf in 2013, at th

By Natalie Taylor María Luisa, Pakina , Langenscheidt was born in México City to a Mexican-German heritage. Her great-grandfather, came to México from Germany in the late 1800s and married into a family connected to the Obregons, a distinguished Mexican family. She grew up in México City but at the age of eight the family moved to San Miguel de Allende, where she did her primary schooling. Right after high school she married Jaime Fernandez, and as young housewife and mother