Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the many people who have supported me throughout this experience.

I am deeply grateful to the generous and patient musicians, who shared their time and trusted me with their stories. While time constraints prevented me from interviewing and photographing all of the more than fifty musicians who committed to participating, their enthusiasm to participate and the guidance they provided when I was uncertain where to go next proved invaluable. Their belief in the project sustained me throughout the process. In addition to the musicians, who frequently connected me with others and pointed me toward new resources, I would like to thank everyone I encountered in the communities I visited for their support and direction. Among them are César Careaga, Gabriel García, Socorro González, Adrian Guzman, Steven Hennig, Mario López, Brenli Navarro, Brad Pease, Nivardo Peña, Manny Ponce, and Juan Torres.

I would also like to thank Ken Godat and Cheryl Graham for their assistance with graphics and for providing practical visual direction (and heavy lifting) when I needed it most.

I am grateful to the administrative staff at the University of Arizona Journalism School for their ongoing support and to my professors for their commitment to their students. They have all demonstrated their belief in our abilities and in our work through their consistent guidance and availability. Among them, I am especially thankful to Kendal Blust and Jessica Retis for their patience, counsel, and thoughtful expectations, both in their courses and in their roles as my program advisors.

Beverly Secklinger’s direction and encouragement in her Human Rights Through Documentary Media course provided the inspiration and push to create this project.

Mary Feeney’s help at the University of Arizona Libraries was essential when I wasn’t sure how to approach this project with academic justification.

Monica Chadha expanded my understanding of research methods, data collection, and ethical aspects, which I was able to apply immediately. I left her classes energized and excited about research and journalism.

I am especially grateful to Ruxandra Guidi for encouraging me to enroll in the Bilingual Journalism Program and for teaching the first course I took within it. Her audio production class helped connect journalism and my lasting fascination with using technology to tell stories. More importantly, her belief in her students has stayed with me throughout the program. At times of doubt or uncertainty, her voice, louder than the chorus of inner critics, has echoed a simple and enduring message: “You’ve got this.”

And, of course, thank you, Hiram, for your encouragement, patience, belief, and the many wake-up calls and breakfasts along the way.

Richard Whitmer, Tucson, Arizona, April 2026