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Our Mission
Crescent Moon Project provides free classes in the arts to children. Through these expressive and creative experiences, we teach children about the challenges facing our communities and aim to teach, empower and inspire in them the ability to care for others and the environment, to be responsible, to work cooperatively and inclusively, and to celebrate the strength of diversity in our communities. Through this hands-on work, we aspire to create the next generation of compassionate and empathetic leaders.​
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Our History
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The Crescent Moon Project (CMP) was born from a dream that founder Priscilla Duran had for her daughter and the other children in Los Barriles. Growing up in the small town, Duran recognized the limited extracurricular opportunities available to local youth. Driven by a desire to expose them to the arts, she initiated free, easily accessible art programs with the help of volunteers.
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In early 2021, Melissa McDonald and her family arrived in Los Barriles, bringing a wealth of energy and creative ideas to the project. Eager to contribute, Melissa joined Priscilla in expanding CMP's reach. However, funding shortages and the surge of COVID-19 cases forced a temporary halt to in-person classes.
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Undeterred, in June 2021, Priscilla and Melissa organized "Margaritas and Watercolors," CMP's first successful fundraiser. The event generated funds to distribute 100 art kits to children throughout the community. When in-person classes resumed, they quickly became a vital outlet for children, providing both fun and creative expression.
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By October, young artists had created works that were successfully auctioned at a Día de los Muertos event, leading to the establishment of weekly painting classes at Café Maria. In December, the inaugural "Margaritas and Ornaments" night brought together 35 participants to craft festive decorations using donated supplies.
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Weekly classes continued to flourish in local spaces, utilizing donated materials and culminating in the creation of a vibrant community mural. However, challenges related to language, cultural differences, and the intense summer heat underscored the need for more suitable facilities and qualified instructors.
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In October 2022, a significant milestone was reached with the opening of a dedicated art space at Palmas de Cortez Resort. The following year, a generous donation enabled CMP to hire a full-time art teacher, significantly expanding class offerings for children. Concurrently, CMP embarked on the journey of becoming an official Mexican non-profit organization, establishing its first-ever Board of Directors (Priscilla Duran, Betsy Fox, Melissa Fujimoto Kilkenny, Melissa McDonald, and Priscilla Watts).
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CMP actively collaborates with other local organizations, playing a key role in organizing the inaugural Los Barriles Día de los Muertos parade, which has since become an annual community tradition. In 2024, CMP co-sponsored the Curso de Verano summer camp, providing art classes, materials, and invaluable support. That year, over 125 children participated in CMP art projects, accumulating a remarkable 700 hours of creative engagement.
Art helps children develop creativity, emotional expression, thinking, and fine motor skills, while also boosting confidence and mental well-being. Engaging in art from a young age supports overall growth in a fun and meaningful way.
Crescent Moon Project Offerings and Annual Events
Art Studio Classes
Weekly free art classes for children, ages 5 through high school, exploring painting, printmaking, sculpture, and more, often tied to Mexican culture. Classes are led by a passionate local teacher, Yasmin Meraz.
Artist Collective
Local artists donate their time to collaborate with small groups of students, sharing their creative processes over a series of sessions. Student collaborative works and artist donated pieces will be featured in CMP’s Spring Auction.
Community Collaborations
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Community Art:Murals: Have you seen the mural by Restaurante San Miguel de Allende on the bypass road?! Guided by professional muralist, Carla Yannayon, our students, as well as parents and volunteers, were able to participate in what turned out to be a town masterpiece. Be sure to check out their amazing work! Several years ago, our students also helped paint the mural behind the barrels at the town entrance.
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John Gullo Home for Children: Our young artists painted rock markers for the plants in the new garde
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Día del Niño and Dia de Los Muertos: Crescent Moon Project, along with the local Rotary Club, sponsors these traditional Mexican celebrations.
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Special Needs Therapy Center: Weekly sessions are held in Crescent Moon Art Center. While the sessions are fee-based, CMP provides the Art Center free of charge for the community’s benefit.
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Curso de Verano: CMP co-sponsors a summer camp where 100 children receive free art classes and materials. Our older students serve as volunteers strengthening their leadership skills.
Easy ways to support free art classes for the children of Los Barriles:
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Sponsor our ART CENTER rent for a month. As a thank you, you will receive a student painting.
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Donate Art Materials: Choose from this Wish List, select Priscilla Duran’s address, and the gift will be delivered directly to CMP. Click here.
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Donate Funds: Make a US tax-deductible donation: Through L2G at this link.
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Volunteer: Assist with one group in the Artist Collective. No need to be an artist—just an engaged and supportive adult supporting the Artist Teacher. Py volunteer at one of our fun art or fundraising events.​​​
Meet our Board
Easy ways to support free art classes for the children of Los Barriles:
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Sponsor a month of the Art Center rent at $300.
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Donate Supplies: Choose from this Wish List, select Priscilla Duran’s address, and the gift will be delivered directly to CMP. https://www.amazon.com.mx/hz/wishlist/ls/1NCS3GXHFZ1FH...
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Donate Funds: Through L2G at this link (be sure to click Crescent Moon on the menu). https://tinyurl.com/4zf54rae
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Volunteer: Assist with one group in the Artist Collective. No need to be an artist—just an engaged and supportive adult supporting the Artist Teacher
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FUNDRAISING & SIGNATHON 2025-26 SEASON
How Can You Help?
Student Artists in Action
Volunteer Board.
Priscilla Duran
Co-Chair, Founder, Treasurer
A lifelong resident of Los Barriles, Priscilla is the founder and heart of Crescent Moon. She’s also a member of the Rotary Club, a real estate agent with Homes and Land of Baja, and the owner of LosBarriles.Life, a vacation rental and property management company. Priscilla lives in Los Barriles with her husband and daughter, Luna, and is driven by a passion for community, creativity, and giving back.
Betsy Fox
Co-Chair, Secretary
Betsy Fox brings extensive experience to her role as Board Co-Chair and Secretary, with a background as both a school administrator and educational consultant. She has played a key role in developing the organizational structure and art curriculum of Crescent Moon. Betsy spends her winters in Los Barriles and resides in Northern California the rest of the year with her husband and two cats.
Melissa Fujimoto
Social Media Coordinator
Melissa was an executive in the food and beverage industry, with decades of leadership in customer relations, brand development, and operations. She now enjoys retirement and traveling with her husband. Over the past ten years she has been part of multiple charitable organizations, including Nueva Creation Children’s Shelter, Friends Supporting Families, Cortez Rescue, and Crescent Moon Project where she uses her passion as an artist helping the children and serving on the Board of Directors.
Sonia Lunceford
Artist Collective Coordinator
Sonia Lunceford is an educational consultant with a multicultural, multilingual background and a passion for leadership education. A lifelong traveler, she is dedicated to fostering creativity, compassion, and connection across cultures. Now living in Los Barriles, Sonia serves on the Crescent Moon Project Board and volunteers with the East Cape Guild and Cortez Rescue. She is deeply devoted to serving her community and brings compassion, creativity and a global perspective to her work supporting children through the arts.
Alison Shepherd
Volunteer Coordinator
Alison is a former school teacher from Alberta, Canada. After visiting Baja for the past 15 years, she and her husband are now part-time residents of Los Barriles. Alison has a keen interest in developing deeper ties within the community. As a new board member, she is looking forward to helping the children of Los Barriles realize their creative and artistic potential. She is excited to be working alongside the many volunteers who generously donate their time, energy and talents to the Crescent Moon Project.
Melissa McDonald
Co-Chair, Fundraising Chair
Melissa McDonald is a wife and mother to Bauer and Isla. Her family spent nearly 5 years in Los Barriles, where she formed a deep connection to the community. Melissa values artistic expression as a meaningful way to connect with others. She believes art allows everyone to explore creativity, build connections, and find joy in the process. Melissa proudly serves on the Crescent Moon Project board, supporting its mission to inspire creativity and connection through the arts.
Priscilla Watts
Board Member Emeritus
Priscilla Watts has been part of the Los Barriles community for over 40 years and has long supported expanding arts opportunities for local youth. She taught some of the first Crescent Moon Project art classes and continues to volunteer wherever there’s a need for arts education. Today, she serves on the Crescent Moon board, where she enjoys supporting new creative initiatives through fundraising and community involvement. Her lovely home has been the site of the organization’s annual fundraisers.
Monthly Blog
Crescent Moon Project: Art for Children
February, 2026
The 2025-2026 Artists Collective
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Have you heard the buzz around town? Our student artists have been creating alongside adult artist volunteers through our Artists Collective. Artists apply to join the Collective, which welcomes creatives from a wide range of disciplines—painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, collage, and more. With an emphasis on personalized guidance, the Collective offers small-group mentorship for a focused, meaningful, and enriching experience.Each CMP Collective artist mentors one to three children. Mentorship sessions are thoughtfully supported and overseen by Artist Collective Coordinator Sonia Lunceford, Teacher Erika Yasmin Meraz, and dedicated volunteers. Each mentorship culminates in a collaborative art piece that will be auctioned at Art in Bloom: See Them Grow! on March 28. In addition, each artist donates one of their own works to the auction. Watch for ticket sales—this loved event sells out every year before everyone who wants to attend can secure a seat.“Magic” doesn’t quite capture what happens when a caring, talented adult artist works alongside children who rarely have access to experiences like this. What unfolds is connection, confidence, and creativity.The artists selected for the 2025–2026 Artist Collective include:Cristhian Gabriela Rosas Aguilar, Brett Carl, Christene Comstock, Kathrin Exler, Susie Frazier, Tamra McKinney, Laurie Riley, Tanis & Lawrence Rovner, Julie Shipman, Wayne Wagler, Peny Wallace, Diane Wright, and Carla Lizeth Yannayon Garcia. This is what CMP Artist Collective magic looks like:
Crescent Moon Project: Art for Children
January , 2026
“Young Artists Explore the World Through Frida Kahlo and Beyond”
After making festive holiday decorations with donated materials, our young artists jumped into a hands-on art adventure inspired by Frida Kahlo. Each session blended close looking, shared ideas, and creative play as children built new art skills and explored their own identities. While many students knew Frida’s name, they were surprised to learn about her life and physical challenges. This understanding sparked empathy, which showed up in their artwork as comforting details—like teddy bears or special objects—added to care for Frida through art.
Our young artists started with self-portraits. Using graphite pencils, children practiced noticing facial shapes and proportions with the help of a simple crosshair. To make their portraits feel personal, they added three to four symbols that represent who they are—favorite pets, toys, or foods—discovering that art can tell a story about the artist.
Next, the group moved into symbolic nature with watercolor. Children explored how water and paint work together, trying both wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques. They also talked about symbolism and how images like hummingbirds or monkeys can stand for ideas such as freedom, life, or playful mischief.
The following weeks brought hands-on fun with mixed media costumes, using collage materials and India ink to explore pattern, texture, and composition. Everything then came together in a surrealist dream painting using acrylics, where children mixed colors, practiced brush control, and created expressive final pieces. Throughout the program, visual examples, Mexican music, and a relaxed pace helped create a warm, creative space where imagination could thrive.
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Community Collaborators
Special thanks to Club Rotario Los Barriles Cabo de Este, Asociación de Artes, and Leaders to Give who support us in various ongoing ways.
