Mexico City, July 20, 2010 – U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual today announced the release of $450,000 in assistance for the flood victims in Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas affected by Hurricane Alex. These supplies consist of family hygiene kits, kitchen supplies, and cleaning tools and supplies to help families get back into their homes as quickly as possible.

Volunteers delivering donations  [photo 2] [photo 3]

After Hurricane Alex’s wake of destruction in Monterrey and the state of Nuevo Leon, a group of American and Mexican Consulate employees banded together to collect relief supplies and funds to contribute to emergency relief and recovery efforts.  By July 12 the Consulate had collected significant funds to purchase relief supplies, and in addition many officers and staff contributed items such as water, food, and clothing.

ConGen Monterrey's Foreign Commercial Service Approached the local American Chamber of Commerce with an invitation to join our efforts, and the AmCham responded enthusiastically. AmCham staff came up with two vans full of supplies, including sorely needed air mattresses, blankets and other household items.

The United States Consulate General in Monterrey, in coordination with Pronatura Noreste A.C., Whirlpool Mexico, and other sponsors, organized “Viva el Medio Ambiente”, the second annual United States-Mexico 10K race that in this occasion will also include an environmental festival, concert and reforestation project. Originally, the date to hold the race was Sunday, July 4, but due to Hurricane Alex and the city’s initial recovery efforts, the Consulate is now pleased to announce that it has been rescheduled for Sunday, August 15. 

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Digital image of the new Consulate [see in high resolution]

Monterrey, NL June 10, 2010 --- Deputy Chief of Mission, John Feeley; Consul General, Bruce Williamson; Governor of Nuevo Leon Rodrigo Medina; Governor of Coahuila Humberto Moreira; Mayor of Santa Catarina, Gabriel Navarro; the Managing Director for Construction, Facility, and Security Management of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), Rod Evans; and the Vice-President of Yates Desbuild Joint Venture, Jeff Cross broke ground on the New Consulate Compound (NCC) in Monterrey today.

The construction of the NCC reflects the importance of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexico and is a step forward in cooperation and partnership between our nations -- a partnership based on mutual interests, mutual respect, and mutual responsibility.

Pianist Annalee Whitehead

Contemporary Musical Recital Outreach

In celebration of piano week at the Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza in Monterrey, doctoral candidate Annalee Whitehead performed a rousing piano lecture recital of 20th century music which highlighted the different genres of piano music written since 1978.  Whitehead was one of three international guest artists featured.  Her recital featured many pieces by American composers including Samuel Adler, Daniel Pour and Frederic Rzewski.  Her performance was extremely well received by a packed house of students, faculty, and other members of the community.  Whitehead’s performance not only exposed the audience to new composers and music forms but served to cross cultural divides through the universal appreciation of music.