By Kim Mailes, American Red Cross

One of the fundamental principles of the American Red Cross is impartiality, that when disaster strikes decisions must be made on a “needs only” basis, regardless of nationality or citizenship. To make that happen a bridge is required, someone with feet planted in both the world of communities who are underserved and those who can provide assistance.

Recognizing the need for better communication with the large population of Mexican nationals in her state, Lori Arnold, at that time the Executive Director of the Greater Arkansas Chapter of the Red Cross, reached out to the José Aguilar Salazar, Deputy Consul of the Consulate of Mexico in Little Rock.

“We had a great discussion about needing bilingual volunteers, building trust with the Mexican population and how we could assist each other in supporting Mexican immigrants living in Arkansas,” Lori recalls. José agreed to serve on the chapter board of directors, and two consulate staffers became Red Cross volunteers.

Not long after that meeting, José and the consulate joined forces for a Red Cross Sound the Alarm event, raising fire safety awareness in a mobile home community inhabited by Mexican families. “We installed smoke alarms in their homes for free,” José said, “and Spanish communication proved to be extremely useful to create awareness and sound communication.”

The vital assistance of the Mexican consulate became particularly clear in the aftermath of the devastating tornadoes that affected northwest Arkansas in 2024. During the Red Cross disaster relief operation that followed, two consulate staffers who had become Red Cross volunteers were on the frontlines, distributing emergency supplies to those affected and providing translation for the Hispanic community at Multi-Agency Resource Centers.

“Working with José is so easy and enjoyable,” Lori said. “He’s incredibly selfless, knowledgeable and friendly. I’ve learned a lot about Mexican culture through working with him and understanding better how we can improve our interactions with Hispanic communities and undocumented migrants.”

In 2020, the American Red Cross signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Red Cross and the Embassy of Mexico aimed at better assisting the Mexican community across the United States in emergency situations and their disaster recovery. Working together, the national partnership is built on four pillars: 1) the constant exchange of information; 2) creation of rapid response mechanisms during both the emergency and recovery phases; 3) the training of consular staff; and 4) access to other Red Cross programs.

Both the American Red Cross and Cruz Roja Mexicana, the Mexican Red Cross organization, are among the 90 national societies around the world that comprise the International Committee of the Red Cross. Declaring its mission to “take action, not sides,” the ICRC exemplifies impartial Red Cross service delivery.

José said that delivering that mission on a grassroots level has been a top priority. “Sharing with the American Red Cross opportunities of connection with Mexican community pockets in Arkansas and projecting its humanitarian mission that gives top priority to the individual over any priority has been very satisfying.”

José sees even greater cooperation between Mexican consulates and the American Red Cross in the future, noting the participation of a Cruz Roja Mexicana search and rescue team that supported firefighters and Red Cross disaster responders after the recent Los Angeles wildfires. “Mexico currently has 53 consulates in the United States,” he notes,” and there is so much to do together.”

José will soon relinquish his post at the Little Rock consulate and return to Mexico, but Lori expects the strong relational bonds they have established to continue. “I’m going to be sorry to see him go,” she said, “but I’m happy that he’ll get to return to his family and his home. We will continue to work with the consulate, and I expect that we will begin building a similar relationship with José’s successor.”

One of the American Red Cross superpowers is bringing together diverse community organizations to ensure impartial and effective service delivery to those affected by disaster. By working together with José Aguilar Salazaar and the Mexican consulate in Little Rock, Lori Arnold and the Red Cross broke down barriers to build trust and credibility with the Hispanic communities of Greater Arkansas.

José said that he is grateful for the opportunity to cooperate with the American Red Cross. “Our effort to restore faith and hope in humankind to those in need brings an inner satisfaction to those who help.”