Community

The Sunrise Volunteer Program, presented by Raiz Federal Credit Union, transforms volunteerism into a pathway for connection, access, and cultural participation across El Paso. Ahead of the festival, over a hundred volunteers have already been activated through local nonprofit partners including the Mexican American Cultural Center, El Paso Museum of History, Desert Rescue 915, and Hueco Tanks State Park.

The Mexican American Cultural Center is a new space dedicated to exploring the many dimensions of the borderland’s Mexican American cultural experience. With versatile educational spaces and an interdisciplinary approach, the MACC focuses on sharing, preserving, and celebrating traditions, flavors, and art. They will also be leading the Kid Zone at the festival, offering hands on activities and cultural programming for younger attendees.

The El Paso Museum of History offers strong educational resources to the community, highlighting the rich multicultural and multinational history of the border region known as El Paso del Norte. Through exhibitions and programming, EPMH engages diverse audiences in exploring human experience and encourages reflection on personal connections to history. They will also be leading the Kid Zone at the festival, bringing hands on learning and interactive experiences for younger attendees.

The Borderland Rescue Fund, an initiative of the El Paso Community Foundation, was created in response to the growing strain on the El Paso region’s animal welfare system, where more than 28,000 animals entered local shelters and rescues in 2025 alone. With limited resources and increasing need, the fund works to alleviate this burden by supporting local rescue organizations, providing critical assistance to pet owners in crisis, and operating a network of free pet food pantries to help keep animals in loving homes. Rooted in empathy, collaboration, and action, the Borderland Rescue Fund takes a comprehensive, community-driven approach to strengthening the region’s animal welfare ecosystem—working toward a more humane and sustainable future where no one has to choose between compassion and cost. They will also have a booth on site to connect with attendees and share more about their work.

Appletree Creative Center is a community focused space dedicated to arts education and creative expression for all ages. Through classes, workshops, and programming, they provide a welcoming environment for people to explore music and connect through creativity in El Paso. They will have a booth on site with activities for kids and information about the center.