The sweet sounds of mariachi music resonated from the cafeteria at Napa Valley College Sunday afternoon in anticipation of a rare visit from the governor of Michoacan, Mexico. Hundreds of Michoacanos gathered at the college to meet Gov. Lazaro Cardenas Batel and display their love and pride for Michoacan.

Batel, who will be replaced by newly elected Gov. Leonel Godoy in early 2008, came to Napa Sunday to meet with his countrymen and show support for the newly formed Federation of Michoacanos of Northern California.

The Federation is comprised of 15 clubs whose members hail from Michoacan and have formed them to give back to their hometowns.

"It's a privilege to be a part of this event that kicks off the work of the Federation of Michoacanos of Northern California," Batel said.

Unity, both here and in Michoacan, seemed to be the dominant theme of Sunday's visit from the governor. Several prominent members of the Latino community, including American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia and Napa Mayor Jill Techel, who attended the event on her birthday and was serenaded by Mariachi Tarasco, joined Batel to promote unity.

Mayors Techel and Garcia opened a dialogue with Batel about establishing Napa, American Canyon and Michoacan as sister cities.

"I was invited today to speak with the governor of Michoacan and we have a great conversation about how to partner in the future," Techel said.

"I look forward to continue the dialogue," Garcia added. "We are a bi-national culture."

Although the bulk of Batel's visit to Napa was dedicated to meeting with Federation members, Batel also took the time to meet with Napa Valley College students.

"We want to have an exchange (program at NVC)," said Graciela Rodriguez, who presented her ideas to Batel Sunday.

Rodriguez said the exchange program would allow students from Napa to study abroad in Michoacan, and learn a bit about the culture, geography and traditions of the territory, as well as allow students from Michoacan to study in Napa.

"This can make us stronger (as students)," said Graciela, 21, who arrived in Napa four years ago and is pursuing a degree in social work at NVC.

Sunday's visit from the governor was made possible through connections made by Rigo Castillo, president of Federation of Michoacanos of Northern California, through the Mexican Consulate.

"We formed the Federation of Michoacanos on Oct. 14," Castillo said. "We went to the Mexican Consulate and issued an invitation (to the governor). He accepted and decided to come speak with us. This is very important for us Michoacanos because we want everyone to take notice that we are uniting ourselves (and) we are working to combine Napa and Sonoma with the state of Michoacan. To open the market, to open tourism."

Castillo is a founding member and president of Club Patzimaro -- comprised of residents of Patzimaro, Michoacan, who routinely send money to the town to upgrade infrastructure. Through a Mexican program, Three For One, that matches three pesos for every peso donated toward infrastructure upgrades, Club Patzimaro and its Federation partners have donated thousands of dollars for projects ranging from road and church improvements to scholarship programs for students.

"We are trying to accomplish many things: we want to stimulate tourism, education and develop a sister city with Napa, Sonoma and Michoacan," Castillo said. "We would also like to promote art fairs, music festivals and stimulate good communication and relations between Napa locals (and Michoacan)."

The Three for One program is one way that Michoacanos living in Napa improve living conditions of loved ones in Michoacan. Governor Batel openly pledged support for the Federation and similar federations popping up throughout the country.

"The more organized our community is over on this side, the more the authorities will have to take account of us and will have to respect our rights in a much better way," he said.

Although Batel said the migration of Michoacanos to Napa and other parts of the country has had positive effects on the economy of Michoacan -- residents often send large amounts of remittances to family members in Michoacan and form clubs in America to benefit Michoacan -- Batel said it also has its negative aspects.

"What we don't like is the notion that opportunities don't exist in our home country," he said. "We want to transform that stigma."