IN 1857 an American named Henry Crabb rode into Caborca, Sonora, with an armed militia, intending to conquer the town and establish a new nation. He failed spectacularly. The citizens of Caborca barricaded themselves inside the local mission. Aided by the local Tohono O’odham people, who smuggled in supplies and fired a flaming arrow into Crabb’s munitions dump, the town defeated the invaders. Crabb’s head was famously sent back in a jar of mezcal as a warning.
A century and a half later, a man from Prescott marched the three-mile route of Caborca’s annual Seis de Abril parade dressed as Henry Crabb. Wearing a sign reading “Perdóname” (‘Forgive me’), he occasionally triggered an air horn and dramatically threw himself into the street to the uproarious cheers of the Mexican crowd.
That man was Bill Makela, past president of the Prescott Sister Cities program. His theatrical apology captures the humor, humility, and profound connection defining one of the oldest continuously operating Sister City programs.
The heart of citizen ambassadorship
The international program, founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, promotes peace through people-to-people diplomacy. Prescott’s chapter launched over 50 years ago with the backing of then-Mayor Taylor Hicks Sr. Today it remains a living, breathing exercise in international relationship-building. Currently Joe Sanchez is the organization’s president.
“We really want to convey the notion of citizen ambassadorship,” Makela explains, “And we do that through cultural exchange and language learning . . ., melding them together. That's our goal.” This exchange takes many forms. Twice a year Prescott members travel south to participate in cultural visits and sometimes language-immersion programs, spending days in the homes of Caborca families to build real-life connections. Twice a year Caborca residents visit us.
A tale of two exchanges
Former Prescott City Councilman Eric Moore helps sharpen the mechanics of this cross-border relationship, noting an inherent asymmetry in the program’s operations.
When Prescott visits Caborca, Moore points out, we often come bearing material gifts. Over the years, the Prescott organization has facilitated the donation of retired fire trucks and three to five Lifeline ambulances to Caborca. Since medical supplies can’t cross the border inside vehicles, members delivered vital equipment like defibrillators separately, while local EMTs provided free training. We also support a local orphanage. In 2022 these enormous philanthropic efforts earned the local chapter a prestigious award from Sister Cities International. In return, Caborca opens its arms, offering a wealth of essential if nonmaterial gifts: hospitality, community connection and a deep, foundational sense of family and community.
Yet as we celebrate this incredible program, Moore poses a vital question: How do we transform a comfortable cultural exchange into a vibrant, multigenerational bridge for the modern era?
Youth, nature and fresh perspective
One path lies in environmental education. Moore recalls guiding visiting Caborca youth on bird walks through the cool, pine-lined waters of Granite Basin. Armed with borrowed binoculars, many of these young visitors experienced a profound shift in perspective. For those coming from a region where daily life is often consumed with basic economic survival, spotting a hepatic tanager or Steller’s jay in the forest becomes a transformative moment of awe. Landscape connection knows no borders, reminding us that we share a single, fragile ecosystem, no matter where political borders lie.
Keeping this fifty-year bridge from fraying requires engaging Prescott’s younger people. While Caborca’s delegation is bursting with youth, the core Prescott volunteers are rapidly aging. To bridge this gap the organization is pivoting. Members moved their monthly meetings at the Prescott Public Library to 11:30am to accommodate working locals on lunch breaks, and are introducing quarterly evening meetings. Following the closure of Northpoint Academy, the board is actively seeking new youth connections through Prescott High School and Yavapai and Prescott Colleges.
Funding and structural evolution
The organization operates on a shoestring budget, purposefully keeping annual dues low ($25 for individuals, $35 for families) to remain accessible. Members pay their own way for travel, ensuring the treasury is reserved entirely for charitable needs in Caborca. Their primary fundraiser perfectly symbolizes the cross-border bond: a humble pickle, soda and water booth stationed on the courthouse plaza during four annual festivals, the pickles, generously donated by Arnold’s Pickles, made from cucumbers grown in the soil of Caborca.
Turning these moments of connection into lasting policy, however, requires structural change. Moore notes that City staff and elected officials have historically taken a hands-off approach, leaving the heavy lifting to nonprofit volunteers. Moving forward he posits that the City should formalize this bond by appointing official City Council and staff liaisons. Makela echoes this sentiment, hoping to see more robust, consistent involvement to keep the spirit of “citizen ambassadorship” publicly visible.
Prescott has also expanded its global footprint by adopting two more sister cities, topics for future exploration. But as the Prescott-Caborca program looks toward its next 50 years, the invitation is open to anyone willing to learn and travel. No dramatic historical reenactments are required, just an open mind and a willingness to extend a hand and say, “¡Hola!”
Get Involved: To learn more about joining the Prescott Sister Cities program, or to view the upcoming meeting schedule and bilingual brochures, visit the City of Prescott’s Special Projects and Initiatives page and select “Sister Cities” from the community dropdown menu.
