{"id":231888,"date":"2026-04-02T14:27:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/231888\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:27:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:27:48","slug":"photos-moments-from-changemakers-honoring-women-shaping-el-pasos-arts-scene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/231888\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: Moments from ChangeMakers honoring women shaping El Paso\u2019s arts scene"},"content":{"rendered":"

A standing ovation caught Rosa Ramirez Guerrero by surprise.<\/p>\n

The 91-year-old educator and folkl\u00f3rico instructor \u2014 a key figure in El Paso\u2019s cultural scene \u2014 placed her hand over her heart then blew a kiss to her peers and supporters as they rose to their feet during last week\u2019s ChangeMakers event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was lovely,\u201d Guerrero said afterward about the standing ovation.<\/p>\n

Being honored for her decades of work at the Mexican American Cultural Center \u2014 which opened just a year ago \u2014 felt like a full-circle moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow lovely to get that here in this center, too. I didn\u2019t expect that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Guerrero was one of 29 honorees in this year\u2019s ChangeMakers, a Women\u2019s History Month event put on by El Paso Matters and Progress 321. This year\u2019s event, hosted March 26 at the MACC, honored Borderland Women in the Arts \u2013 celebrating those who shape the region\u2019s cultural and artistic landscape through visual and performing arts. About 250 people attended the event, which featured exhibits, live performances, film screenings and an art mercado.<\/p>\n

Guest speaker Amanda Ekery<\/a>, a native El Pasoan instrumentalist, vocalist and composer who was recently nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Album Notes category, performed a medley of her original songs from her album, \u201c\u00c1rabe.\u201d The album, she said, celebrates the shared Mexican and Syrian history and culture in El Paso.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ekery said she spent five years researching for the album.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd during this process, I really fell in love with El Paso in a different way,\u201d she said, adding that she worked with the archives at the University of Texas at El Paso Library, the El Paso Museum of History and interviewed different people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cArt really is everywhere in the Borderland. It\u2019s in the hand-painted graphics on Alameda, the DIY punk show posters, the design of the spaces you inhabit, the production of our local car commercials,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s on the dance floor at your wedding, the way your food has been prepared and shared, and it\u2019s in the music that scores every memory of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ekery talked about using art as a tool to \u201cmake sense of the world, to process feelings and conflict, to use art as a tool to organize and implement change\u201d and how artificial intelligence risks \u201cremoving all the social, emotional and especially cognitive benefits art can give us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts honorees pose with their awards at the Mexican American Cultural Center Auditorium. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Honorees Candace Printz, left, and Andrea Gates-Ingle await the start of the 2026 ChangeMakers award ceremony honoring Borderland Women in the Arts. Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Attendees at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Attendees at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Rodriga Rockmore, right was among the honorees during the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"From right, Rebecca Ann Mu\u00f1oz and Soila Hern\u00e1ndez Fierro with friends at the 2026 ChangeMakers event. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The Small Things from Sound Stage 9 perform during the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"El Paso Ballet Theatre performs during the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"El Paso Ballet Theatre were among the performers during the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event featured workshops for attendees. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"El Paso area women vendors featured their products at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"El Paso area women vendors featured their products at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event featured workshops for attendees. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Rebecca Ann Mu\u00f1oz, left, director of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center, poses with members of Progress321 during the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts co-chairs Stephanie Hernandez and Michelle Emtre Hollis of Progress 321.
\n(Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Members of Progress321 and El Paso Matters comprising the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts committee. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers honoree Maria Garcia, right, at the event\u2019s VIP reception. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers honoree Adair Margo, center, at the event\u2019s VIP reception. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers honorees Lee Byrd, left, and Rosa Guerrero, right, with Susie Byrd, center, at the event\u2019s VIP reception. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers honoree Bobbie Welch, right, at the event\u2019s VIP reception. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"From left, El Paso Matters board member Cynthia Conroy, development and events director Alyshea Johnson and editor Cindy Ramirez at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"The 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Honoree Christin Apodaca, left, at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts VIP reception in the terrace of the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Honorees Rosa Ramirez Guerrero, left, and Amanda Ekery at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Attendees at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Attendees at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Attendees at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Attendees at the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event at the Mexican American Cultural Center. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"A young stand-in accepts the ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts award for Josey Pickett from Stephanie Hernandez, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"A young stand-in receives the ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts award for Monica Lozano, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Stephanie Hernandez, right, co-chair of the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts event, enthusiastically presents honoree Abeni Jane with her award, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"El Paso cultural icon Rosa Ramirez Guerrero blows the audience a kiss as she receives a standing ovation for her 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts award, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Guests and honorees await the start of the 2026 ChangeMakers award ceremony honoring Borderland Women in the Arts. Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Yvonne Enriquez, left, co-founder of the Texas Culinary Institute, receives her 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts award, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"From left, 2026 ChangeMakers co-chairs Stephanie Hernandez and Michelle Emtre Hollis thank guest speaker and honoree Amanda Ekery during the Borderland Women in the Arts celebration, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers co-chair Michelle Emtre Hollis presents guest speaker and honoree Amanda Ekery with a special gift during the Borderland Women in the Arts celebration, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts guest speaker and honoree Amanda Ekery talks about the arts serving as a voice for communities, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts guest speaker and honoree Amanda Ekery performs at the Mexican American Cultural Center, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"El Paso Matters Editor Cindy Ramirez speaks about the news organization\u2019s role in the arts community during the 2026 ChangeMakers: Borderland Women in the Arts award ceremony, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"From left: Honorees Valeria Contreras, Lee Byrd and Christin Apodaca await the start of the 2026 ChangeMakers award ceremony honoring Borderland Women in the Arts. Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"From left: Honorees Maria Garcia, Soila Hern\u00e1ndez Fierro and Yvonne Enriquez await the start of the 2026 ChangeMakers award ceremony honoring Borderland Women in the Arts. Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)\"\"Honorees Salathia M. Graham, left, and Rosa Ramirez Guerrero await the start of the 2026 ChangeMakers award ceremony honoring Borderland Women in the Arts. Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Photos by Liliana Chavez)<\/p>\n

MEET THE HONOREES: Women in the Arts take center stage at this year\u2019s ChangeMakers event<\/a><\/p>\n

Event sponsors included Franklin Mountain Investments, El Paso Community Foundation, University Medical Center of El Paso, Hunt Companies, Texas Tech Health University Center of El Paso, Creative Kids, Alamo Auto Supply, Rubin Center for the Visual Arts, the Hospitals of Providence, HUB International, Strategic Wealth, La Semilla, El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, Donor Charm. Evolve7 and j&k.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

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