IN THE HIGH DESERT of Northern Arizona we often speak of the landscape in terms of its rugged divides — canyons that carve the land and mountains that define the horizon. But in the human landscape of Yavapai County, as elsewhere, the most daunting divides aren’t made of rock. They are built on silence, misunderstandings, and “information gaps” that can leave neighbors living in parallel universes. We’re fortunate to have local sources that help bridge these divides, our own 5enses among them.
For nearly twenty years Rosanna Feyerabend has been a builder of this integrative architecture. As the founder and spirit of Alianza Spanish News she moves seamlessly between publishing and community-building.
When Rosanna began in 2007 the gap was structural, a literal lack of Spanish-language mirrors in which Latinx community members could see their lives reflected. Today the challenge has shifted. In our age of digital confusion, the gap is no longer about a lack of information, but a lack of trust. “Social media have accelerated the spread of rumors,” Rosanna notes, pointing to sensitive topics like immigration and public safety. “The gap now is about clarity, verification, and context.” To meet this, Alianza has evolved to become a multimedia sanctuary of “solutions journalism.”
Rosanna explains her approach: “For example, during the recent surge of immigration- related fear, we partnered with advocates to launch our Comunidad Migrante series. We provided clear, practical guidance — know-your-rights information and legal resources. The goal wasn’t just to describe the problem, but to give families tools to respond calmly and confidently. That’s what ‘solutions journalism’ means to us: pairing truth with tangible action.”
By highlighting the contributions of local entrepreneurs, students and civic leaders, Alianza also showcases Hispanic leadership in the English-speaking community. This valuable content is accessible to those who don’t speak Spanish via the Google Translate button on the website.
I think of these publications as vital cultural looms, weaving our vibrant differences and commonalities into the fabric of regional civic life. Alianza’s testimonios de vida — deeply personal narratives — alongside essential policy updates and civic reporting, ensure that the news touches hearts as well as minds. “Language carries history, memory and community,” Rosanna muses. “Journalism should inform, but it should also reflect. By placing personal stories next to hard news, we show that policies affect real families, and that behind every headline there is a human story.”
When families see high-quality journalism in their native tongue, it sends a signal: Your identity is an asset to democracy. In a nation where the Hispanic population is 16% and a state that boasts 32% of its population as Latinx, these neighbors are not a “demographic trend,” they are the teachers, veterans, entrepreneurs and multi-generation families working alongside us to shape our region’s future.
Rosanna has been a pillar of this community for two decades, working with the Hispanic Business Association through the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce and collaborating with County Health Services. In 2020 Yavapai College honored her for her leadership. Today the Alianza platform also hosts Podcast Camina,with which she is closely aligned.
The grit of the journey: Rita and Camina
This theme of resilience finds poignant expression in Podcast Camina #4, “Children Crossing.” The episode focuses on “Rita,” a young girl whose story of early resilience mirrors the grit Rosanna sees in her community every week.
Rita was thrust into adulthood at age ten, navigating the border from Mexico to lead three younger family members to her mother in Arizona. Her story isn’t a political statement, but a testament to steady determination and courageous action in dangerous settings, without guarantees. Like those featured in Alianza, Rita’s story reminds us that the resilience of our community isn’t loud, it is steady, disciplined and deeply rooted in family and purpose. As Rosanna reflects, “Rita didn’t allow early hardships to define her limits, she used them to build capacity.”
This is the capacity Alianza works to foster in the next generation, with stories of first-generation sacrifice turning into second-generation opportunity. The publication’s role is to make that pathway visible and replicable. “Ultimately Alianza helps the next generation find footing by doing three things: affirming identity, delivering credible information, and opening doors to engagement. When young people can see possibility, understand the system and feel heard, leadership becomes attainable, not abstract,” Rosanna concludes.
As our communities thrive, we move from awareness to relationship. We support the immigrant-owned businesses that anchor our economy, attend multicultural events, and seek out bilingual voices that fill out the picture of our shared reality. Proximity builds understanding faster than headlines ever will.
The strongest communities aren't built through parallel conversations, but through the shared ones exchanged on the bridges Alianza and Camina and 5enses continue to support. Of course, a bridge is only useful when folks from both sides decide to cross it.
