What could possibly bring together the mayor of Imperial Beach, a rain water harvesting expert from Tucson, a Mexican YouTube phenomenon, Tijuana food truck chefs, fashion models, aspiring filmmakers, a high-ranking U.S. Department of Homeland Security official and the head of Mexico’s banking association?
Answer: Tijuana Innovadora, the biennial mega-conference that starts next week. Taking place for the fourth time since 2010, the event aims to stimulate ideas and provide a showcase for an emerging generation of tijuanenses, from budding fashion designers to newly minted chefs to students concerned about protecting the environment shared by Tijuana and San Diego.
“Society pushes and pushes and pushes,” said Tijuana Innovadora president José Galicot, the irrepressible 79-year-old chief cheerleader for the event, known as don Pepe to friends and supporters. “Society wants to do things, even if they have a government that doesn’t function, even if there’s crime.”
This year’s edition, being held at the World Trade Center and adjacent El Trompo children’s museum, is called Tijuana Innovadora 2016 Creativa. With 41 conferences, 18 panels and 19 workshops, the focus will be on entrepreneurship and creative industries, from video games to fashion to cuisine. But there’s more — far more: a boot camp for entrepreneurs, a foodie fest, a foot race, a Cosplay fashion parade, networking events, a TEDx talk, an environmental fair, and a concert courtesy of Mexico’s Federal Police.
It is rare to see an event of such magnitude in Mexico that does not rely on government funding. The initial $5 million Tijuana Innovadora in 2010 was heavily supported by Mexico’s federal government, with some funds from the state, but this year there has been scant government support: the budget has shrunk to $600,000, underwritten primarily through tickets, publicity, and private donations, Galicot said.
But that has not dimmed the organizers’ enthusiasm. Last Wednesday morning’s planning meeting at the city’s Chamber of Commerce led by Galicot had the feel of a pep rally. “Sí se puede, sí se puede, sí se puede,” participants chanted in a crescendo. “Yes we can, yes we can, yes we can.”
Modesty or understatement have no place in Tijuana Innovadora. “It’s Pepe’s style, Pepe is great at hype,” said Gastón Luken Aguilar, a friend of Galicot’s an honorary president of the Mexican environmental group, Pronatura Noroeste. “I tip my hat to him. He’s the guy at the helm of an organization that’s very grass roots. It is slowly creating an environment for change and for civic participation, irrespective of whether the hoi polloi or the civic leaders or the government in power pays attention to it.”
Galicot has long been an ardent defender of Tijuana’s reputation. As president of the city’s image committee in 1998, he led the successful campaign to block a production of a soap opera about a Tijuana drug cartel. He later launched a Paseo de la Fama — a walk of fame that honors border residents.
His biggest project, Tijuana Innovadora, is a celebration of the city that emerged from its darkest days, when drug violence rose to unprecedented levels starting in 2008 and world recession caused the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the city’s maquiladora industry, the city’s largest source of employment. Galicot, who made his fortune in telecommunications and real estate, and a tight-knit circle of friends decided they had to do something to show Tijuana’s positive aspects, and grab the world’s attention through a series of high-profile speakers.
That first event focused heavily on the city’s maquiladora industry, with a parade of celebrity speakers that included the former CNN talk show host Larry King, former vice president Al Gore, Mexico’s richest man, Carlos Slim and Mexican then-president Felipe Calderón.
“Tijuana has always suffered from its black legend,” said Hernando Durán, a former state and city government official who is among this year’s volunteers. “Tijuana Innovadora is an effort to put it in its correct perspective.”
Durán played a key role in organizing the event, pulling together a series of events on the conference’s last day that focus on the environment of the Tijuana-San Diego region.
Tijuana Innovadora is not just an event, but also a non-profit organization with paid staff of ten who work with hundreds of student volunteers to plan and run the conference; this year, there will be 420 of the latter participating in Tijuana Innovadora. The organization also operates the Casa de las Ideas offering courses and workshops that aimed at stimulating social progress in Camino Verde, an area of the city where residents have suffered under high rates of poverty and violence.
This eclectic approach from the beginning has been the trademark of Tijuana Innovadora as it strives to salvage the city’s image — both from from within and without.
Ticket holders for the finals day’s lecture on Nov. 10 will be able to hear from José Angel Gurría, head of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation, a 35-nation intergovernmental group that promotes globalization and trade. He is expected to talk about the prospects for Mexico’s peso, given political events both in Mexico and the United States.
Those attending Sunday’s InnovaModa fashion show will be able to see the works of upcoming Tijuana designers such as Héctor Silva, a 38-year-old fashion student. His line of clothing for men and women is inspired by the Baja California bighorn sheep, and the stark and rocky landscapes that make up the La Rumorosa mountain pass west of Mexicali.
“For me, it’s the most important platform for designers in Baja California,” Silva said. “They help us become known,” and even after the conclusion of InnovaModa, “they follow through and offer constant support to help us reach our dream.”
One participant in the outdoor Foodie Fest will be Ruffo Ibarra, a 32-year-old graduate of Tijuana’s Culinary Art School and chef at the year-old Onyx Restaurant.
“It’s a very special event, and not just in a gastronomical sense,” Ibarra said. “It was created when everything was going south in Tijuana. To be a part of that event that helped show the world what Tijuana has to offer, it’s a huge honor.”
Some highlights:
Sampling of speakers: Alfonso Arau, the Mexican director of “Like Water for Chocolate.” Former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda, who is preparing to run as an independent candidate in Mexico’s 2018 election. Rika Murunaka, Japanese composer of music for video games. Richard Davis of Cirque du Soleil. Brad Lancaster, expert in rainwater harvesting. Enrique Graue, rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Alan Bersin, assistant secretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Creative Industries: A workshop on filmmaking led by the Mexican film director Amat Escalante. A panel on videoblogging and a talk by Chumel Torres, a Mexican YouTuber known for his program “El Pulso de la Republica.” A panel on technology and entertainment that includes the Mexican animated film director Ricard Arnaiz. A panel on creativity that includes Mexican rapper Alfredo “Danger” Martínez. “The Essence of an Entprepreneur,” Jaime Alonso Gómez, dean of the University of San Diego’s School of Business Administration.
InnovaModa: A series of events on Nov. 4-6. Includes speakers on topics such as story telling and digital marketing, as well as a bootcamp for entrepreneurs and another one for models. On Sunday, There will be a fashion show featuring the winners of the 2016 InnovaModa competition as well as guest designers from Tijuana, Los Angeles and Mexico City.
Environment: Activities are concentrated on the final day of the conference, and stress a bi-national approach. These include: Environmental fair showcasing 35 competing student projects; panel on the Tijuana River watershed; panel on solid waste with participation of Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina and others. Presentation of project mapping the presence of environmental groups on both sides of the border.
Foodie Fest: Staged throughout the conference, featuring stands and food trucks serving the specialties of Tijuana’s newest chefs. Also participating are four craft breweries, two wineries, and three coffee houses. It also includes culinary-oriented conferences, panels, as well a mixology competition. The Nov. 10 finale includes a performance by Mexico’s Orquesta Sinfónica y Mariachi de la Policía Federal.
The event runs from Nov. 3 through Nov. 10 at the Tijuana World Trade Center, with most tickets from 150 to 250 pesos (about $8 to $14) and many events free. For a full schedule and tickets, go to: www.tijuanainnovadora.com
Staged at the World Trade Center and Museo del Trompo, which at times of low traffic volume can be reached in a ten-to-20 minute drive from the border. For San Diego visitors, shuttle service is available from Balboa Park for $25 per round trip for groups of 14 or more; for details and reservations, go to https://ytstransport.com/tijuana-innovadora/
