Reflections From My Visit to Mexico City

A group portrait of 16 professional staff members posing in two rows in front of a colorful, vibrant mural in Mexico City. The diverse team is seated and standing together, humanizing Ford’s collaborative work with regional partners.

I recently returned from Mexico City, and I am still thinking about the incredible energy there. Throughout my trip, I met with our partners from Mexico and Central America who are working tirelessly to safeguard democracy. The Ford Foundation has been working in this region for nearly 65 years, and it is a privilege to build on that long history of partnership. I’m deeply grateful to our regional director, Ximena Andión, and her entire team for the warm welcome and for showing me the heart of their work. It was inspiring to hear how the region is reimagining a democracy that is inclusive and responsive to people’s needs.

Twelve diverse staff members stand together behind a large wooden conference table in a meeting room. This high-quality photograph humanizes the foundation’s work, capturing a moment of collaboration and partnership during a regional office visit.
An action-oriented photo of Heather Gerken in glasses and a black blazer smiling while shaking hands with a man. This journalistic image captures a moment of professional collaboration, helping to humanize the foundation’s regional work and partnerships.

The Power of Storytelling in Protecting Civic Space

One of the most moving moments of the trip was a lunch dedicated to “Groundbreaking Stories” with activists, artists, and storytellers from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

A photo of professional staff members gathered around a large white table in a vibrant meeting room with yellow accents. A screen displays the Ford Foundation logo. This journalistic image captures a moment of collaborative dialogue and humanizes the foundation's regional work.

Celebrating Women’s Leadership 

The first day of my visit culminated in a beautiful evening at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Standing among the iconic murals, I was honored to speak alongside trailblazers, including the chairwoman of the board of directors of the world’s second-largest producer of corn masa—who also serves as a key economic development advisor to the president of Mexico—and the president of one of the most prestigious public academic institutions.

A large group of over 40 diverse professional staff members posing together for a formal portrait on a grand, marble staircase with art deco lighting. This high-quality photograph humanizes the foundation’s work by capturing a moment of collective partnership during a regional visit.
Heather Gerken in glasses and a pink scarf speaks at a transparent lectern during an evening event. This high-quality, action-oriented photo captures a moment of leadership and communication, humanizing the foundation’s work in a professional regional setting.

Climate Action and Fair Economies

A theme throughout the trip was that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue; it is an economic and social one. In a panel discussion with grassroots organizations, we discussed how scaling up renewable energy must go hand-in-hand with fostering fair economic activities that protect tropical forests and empower local communities.

A group portrait of 14 professional staff members standing together in a formal meeting room with a large wooden conference table in the foreground. This image humanizes the foundation’s work and highlights collaborative efforts during a regional office visit.

Strengthening a Regional Ecosystem

What stayed with me most is how our team is building a robust regional ecosystem, bringing together civil society, government, academia, and the private sector to create a resilient web of support.