Our Academic Director receives the Santa Cruz County Ambassador of the Arts Award
In October Santa Cruz County celebrates the Arts Month. This time, Carolina Iniguez our Academic Director received the Santa Cruz County Ambassador of the Arts Award in recognition of her work with BYTE, promoting art in our different sites.
Tennis For America, Americorps VISTA Blog – Adrian Laudani
As a Tennis for America fellow, I serve with the Border Youth Tennis Exchange, or BYTE. BYTE is unique because it operates in both the San Francisco Bay Area and at the US/Mexico border. Its specialty is providing locked facility programming to vulnerable individuals and families being impacted by migration, child welfare placements, and juvenile and adult incarceration. My interest in BYTE grew from its focus on sport for healing, sport for justice, and sport for humanitarian assistance. I support all BYTE programs by contributing to general operations and program oversight, as well as working directly in its Bay Area operations. Specifically, I create and deliver content for BYTE’s international high school exchange and immersion program, and I support its prison-based work at San Quentin State Prison and San Francisco Juvenile Hall.
SQ TENNIS CLUB IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Consistent with its international objectives, BYTE hopes its sports and job readiness programs can help create spaces for healing and positive engagement for adult and youth populations that have experienced significant trauma and adversity. BYTE’s growing expertise at locked facility program design led it to see prisons and prison populations as another dynamic border opportunity.
Love/Love: Sharing Tennis Across Border With Charlie Cutler
In this conversation, Charlie Cutler, founder and Executive Director of BYTE (Border Youth Tennis Exchange) shares the power of tennis to strengthen resiliency, community and cultural exchange at the US - Mexico border, and in other unexpected areas where borders exist to open conversation, understanding and create connection while combatting divisive stereotypes and making a positive difference.
BYTE Bay to Border Exchange Recap
Happy summer, BYTE friends!
While we normally highlight major initiatives and accomplishments across all BYTE sites, this newsletter will focus on the culmination of our intensive Bay to Border immersion program. Over 5-months, BYTE conducted a multi-state, multinational youth exchange to connect high schoolers from San Francisco California, Nogales Arizona, and Nogales Sonora (MX).
The cross-border service program provided the basics of 10-under tennis instruction, trauma-informed community coaching, and international NGO management, finishing with a group visit to the border to put skills into practice and meet international colleagues in-person.
Anza Park mural could be city’s largest yet
The mural was approved earlier this year after organizers from the Border Youth Tennis Exchange pitched the idea to the Nogales City Council. BYTE, a binational non-profit, already teaches regular tennis and art courses for local children at Anza Park.
Jacksubeli Gonzalez and Carolina Iniguez: BYTE’s arts advocates
Jacksubeli and Carolina were part of the 2023 edition of Shining Stars of Santa Cruz County, an annual publication of the Nogales International that recognizes people who have made a difference in their community.
Speaking of Gonzalez and Iniguez’s contributions so far, and their role in the future development of BYTE’s youth initiatives, Executive Director Charlie Cutler said: “Jack and Caro have been able to internalize the many cross-border relationships we depend on as an organization and they are great at leveraging their knowledge for the community.”
“Together they make a great team, developing curriculum and outreaching to partners. Caro and Jack are humanitarians,” Cutler said, “and I love working with them.”
BYTE Soars through Spring 2023 | March 2023
BYTE has had a very busy spring and we have some exciting new updates to share–including a collaboration with the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, a global health fellowship program, student-athlete participation in the 2023 Paranational Games, a cross-border coach education training, and the exciting approval of BYTE's plan to paint the largest mural in Nogales AZ!
Thank you for your ongoing support of children and communities on the US/Mexico border!
BYTE Starts 2023 | January 2023
Happy New Year, BYTE supporters! This month, we're sharing some exciting new developments, including the kick-off of BYTE trauma-informed dance therapy and psychosocial education, Circles of Peace Teen Mental Health First-Aid Training, and the development of a new cinematography course. We are also highlighting and saying goodbye to our principal teacher, Angel, as he moves on to a new chapter to work on his editorial. You will be missed, Angel!
Here’s to 2022
Happy Holidays BYTE Team, near and far!
We hope you're enjoying time with family and the chance to rest and reflect. In this spirit, we're excited to highlight BYTE's 2022 accomplishments- our most ambitious year of programming to date!
We know you are bombarded by requests this time of year, but we hope you'll consider making a donation to support our work, especially as we look to expand into prison-based Sports for Healing and new border cities. We are a lean organization and your dollars go a long way. If you care about border issues or transformative justice for incarcerated youth, BYTE is a good investment.
Looking Ahead | December 2022
Happy Winter!
We hope you're enjoying the holiday season. Today, we're sharing BYTE's plans and aspirations for 2023. While our Nogales programs continue to grow in impact and scope we are excited to announce that in 2023 BYTE will be offering tennis- based sport for healing programs to incarcerated youth and adults in the San Francisco Bay Area. This initiative evolved from our work in locked facilities on the US/Mexico border and we are eager for the challenge and opportunity to change lives through positive connection and sport.
In this spirt of connection, BYTE is also excited to highlight the Bay to Border High School Exchange program and plans to scope new projects in Tijuana and other border citi
BYTE Begins Youth Force Development Program | November 2022
Happy Thanksgiving, BYTE supporters! In the season of giving thanks, we want you to know how grateful we are to have such dedicated supporters. This month, we're sharing some exciting new developments, including the kick-off of BYTE Youth Force Development, a grant from the Women's Sport Foundation, and a closer look at a new dynamic Bay Area BYTE site supporting youth through mental health care and social services. We're also highlighting staff member Hugo González Platt who recently began a new role as BYTE Director of Sports Development. Congratulations, Hugo!
Exponen taller intensivo de narrativa digital
Un curso que fue promovido por el Consulado de Estados Unidos en Nogales, Sonora, la asociación binacional ‘BYTE” y la UPN, fue presentada a estudiantes nogalenses en esta ciudad.
BYTE Summer Highlights
Happy Fall, and welcome to BYTE's Summer Recap! We have exciting updates from our summer programs, while looking ahead to Fall. This month we're sharing highlights from our Semilleros Creativos youth photography course, a sneak peak of a major urban art project rolling out this fall, and a brand new Boxing course we've developed for the girls at Casa Hogar Madre Conchita. BYTE is so proud to share that 460 children in Ambos Nogales participated in summer programs. It's amazing that we continue to grow and you can check out our 2022 Summer Evaluation for a deeper look. We're also bidding farewell to VISTA AmeriCorp member Zayra Rivera, while welcoming to 2 new VISTA fellows, Adrian Laudani and Zeena Khazendar.
Contributor Spotlight - BYTE JUNE HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome to BYTE's June Recap! Summer is well under way. This month we're celebrating a new program partnership to deliver adaptive tennis and art to adults with developmental disabilities. We're also excited to highlight a recent interview with a BYTE contributor, Jennifer Risher. Jen has supported BYTE's growth over many years and she shares why she's chosen to invest in grassroots development at the border.
BYTE May Highlights
May has come and gone, check out what we've been up to! Summer is revving up here at BYTE and we are glad to share our fun plans with you! This month we are updating you on our binational arts council and we're also highlighting BYTE's Art Director, Aissa Huerta, whose work has strengthened our year- round programs.This issue also highlights the BYTE Vista Fellowship, which is a great opportunity for exceptional grad and undergrad students!
Spring is Here - BYTE April Recap
April showers bring BYTE flowers! The season is in full bloom here at BYTE and we are glad to share our bouquets of success with you! This month we are showing o our updated reports page and we're also highlighting BYTE athletic trainer Diego Alvarez, whose work has strengthened our athletic programs! This issue also highlights the BYTE Vista Fellowship, which is a great opportunity for exceptional grad and undergrad students!
Fortalecerán economía Binacional mediante impulso de la cultura y artes en ambos Nogales
Con el objetivo de impulsar el desarrollo económico a través del arte y la cultura, el Consejo Binacional de Arte llevó acabo su primera sesión.
Conforman consejo Binacional de Arte
Con el objetivo de promover, difundir y motivar la creación de arte de ambos lados de la frontera, la mañana de este lunes, se dio por conformado el consejo binacional de arte entre Nogales, Sonora y Nogales, Arizona.
El evento organizado por la asociación Border Youth Tennis Exchange (BYTE), reunió a los representantes de proyectos artísticos de México y Estados Unidos, dentro de los cuales se cuentan el Instituto Municipal de Fomento a la Cultura y las Artes (Imfoculta), Confluecenter for creative inquirí de la Universidad de Arizona, La Linea Art Studio, Patagonia Creative Arts Association, entre otros.
BYTE March Maddness
Welcome to BYTE's March highlight reel, basketball isn't the only program heating up this season! The big news this month is BYTE has been selected for a 3-year mental health grant, to design and pilot our bilingual trauma-informed community coaching course. This investment by the Vitalyst Health Foundation will ensure BYTE's work has a national investment and solidifies BYTE's work as a public health service. We're also highlighting BYTE Yoga instructor, Andrea Gomez Machi , whose work has greatly enhanced BYTE's Mexico programs.
BYTE Highlight Reel February | 2022
Welcome to our February highlight newsletter! Its been an eventful month and we're excited to share it with you. This newsletter highlights our February accomplishments, our YouTube Channel, and another great staff spotlight.
January Highlights | 2022
Now that the year has begun, things are up and running at lightning speed here at BYTE. This newsletter will highlight our best January accomplishments along with a great staff spotlight!
BYTE 2021 Recap | Dec 2021
As the year comes to an end, it is important to take time and reflect on the accomplishments that meant the most to us. This final newsletter of 2021 highlights the year's 2021 achievements and our goals for 2022! It also showcases the most recent BYTE Mini-Documenatary, the "BYTE Refugee Program | Nogales, Sonora."
Migrant children receive formal education, extracurricular opportunities | Sept 2021
Charlie Cutler, the founder and executive director of Ambos Nogales-based BYTE, said his organization began hosting the fun activities at a few shelters in Nogales, Sonora before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the area. Those activities were put on pause amid the unknowns of the pandemic and the surges in infections on both sides of the border.
Youth tennis players travel to New York | Sept 2019
Three young student-athletes from Ambos Nogales recently traveled to New York City to participate in the national Arthur Ashe Kids Day celebration as part of the lead-up to the U.S. Open professional tennis tournament.
Marilu Portillo, 13, and Pamela Carbajal, 11, both of Nogales, Ariz., and Tyrone Alberto Cortez Lecona, 13, of Nogales, Sonora, made the trip as part of the Border Youth Tennis Exchange (BYTE), an after-school youth development program that offers free tennis and academic instruction to children at sites on both sides of the border.
2019 US Open, Arthur Ashe Kids Day | Aug 2019
A delegation of three BYTE student-athletes were selected by their instructors and respective city Mayors to attend the 2019 US Open kick-off celebrations. Each was chosen as MVP from their respective BYTE cohorts, recognizing their dedication to the program and discipline in their pursuit of tennis. During the trip the group were invited guests in the USTA Presidents’ Suite in Arthur Ashe Stadium. They also toured the city, taking in sights such as the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Blue Man Group off-broadway show.
Spring Showcase | May 2019
BYTE celebrated the end of its 2019 Spring programming, including the first full cycle of classes at Anza Park, its new home in Nogales Arizona. Kids and families watched their digital stories, as well as those from their friends across the line.
University of Arizona Campus Kids Day | Apr 2019
For the third year in a row BYTE brought its student-athletes from both sides of the border to Tucson to take part in a tennis festival at the University of Arizona. BYTE coordinated with Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Port Authority to secure thirty-three 1-day humanitarian paroles for children and families that did not have visas to cross the border. In total over 100 people participated, including student-athletes from each of BYTE’s five cohorts. While in Tucson, the BYTE team watched an NCAA Mens’ tennis match, played in a junior tennis festival on the UA courts, and visited the campus art museum and photography studio.
BYTE Rally for Border Youth | Dec 2018
BYTE’s fall programming centered around guiding its student-athletes on each side through the design, construction, and painting of 10’x10’ custom tennis backboards. Each BYTE cohort built a backboard and worked with professional local artists to paint a mural that represents their experience living in a border community as well as the impact of being a part of a binational organization. BYTE then celebrated the culmination of the mural project by hosting a public tennis & art festival in the street at the US/Mexico border wall. The Rally for Border Youth festival was attended by the Mayors from both sides of the border as well as the US Consul General to Nogales Sonora. Two-hundred and fifty people enjoyed playing tennis as well as participating in various art projects.