Our Mission

The Mariachi Women’s Foundation (MWF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its primary mission is to promote access, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the performing and cultural arts.

It was established in 2014 to reverse the erasure of mariachi women’s performance, history and contributions. It recognizes and empowers mariachi women and girls as important artists in this male-dominated Mexican tradition by providing opportunities in mariachi music performance, education, and community engagement.

MARIACHI MUSIC PERFORMANCE - The MWF launched the world’s first annual International Mariachi Women’s Festival in 2014 and in the same year began traveling with mariachi women’s groups to perform in areas outside of Los Angeles through its Mariachi Women Warriors Tour.

MARIACHI MUSIC EDUCATION - In an effort to keep the mariachi tradition alive, the MWF provides mariachi music education opportunities through two programs. The Mariachi Pathways for Youth program includes: 1) an annual Youth Mariachi Showcase; 2) Mariachi Workshops in collaboration with school districts and community organizations; 3) Mariachi Fenemil for girls; 4) Mentoring & Role Models and 5) the Mariachi Pathways: College and Career Conference. The Mariachi Women’s Institute also provides mariachi education for women of all ages and an opportunity for mariachi women to teach. While mariachi is a male-music tradition, women play an increasingly important role in mariachi performance and cultural maintenance in the U.S. Latinx diaspora.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - Educational Initiatives that promote community engagement in research and understanding of mariachi women’s performances in the male mariachi genre, history, culture and lived experiences are also a central focus of the MWF. They include mariachi women’s performance demonstrations, history presentations, community dialogues, films and cross cultural exchanges. The Trailblazing Women of Mariachi Music Exhibit, researched and curated by our Director Dr. Leonor Xóchitl Pérez who is a leading expert in the field, is also a resource for the community.