The entire staff at Ciudad Nueva are committed to their community and highly invested in their work. Our team is truly what makes Ciudad Nueva thrive. This month we wanted to shine a light on Claudia Chavez, our Immigration Legal Services Director.
A passion for people
An El Paso native, Claudia combines her passion for helping people in vulnerable situations and her passion for art to provide life-impacting services for families.
As an adult, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she got her BA in Psychology and a Minor in Art. During her time in university, she was involved with many volunteer efforts including The Visitation House, a non-profit organization that helps vulnerable women and children, and Proyecto Hospitalidad, an organization that provides housing, food, and legal assistance for immigrants. She also participated in an independent study working with students who were at-risk due to their family’s economic or social stressors.
Claudia received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University and then spent six years working with children with the organization Communities In Schools.
Claudia has previously worked for Buckner South Texas Children’s Home as a child care worker and then as Therapeutic Art Program Director in a private counseling practice.
Investing in the community
Today, Claudia is the director of our Esperanza Nueva Immigration Legal Services Program, where she helps families get the legal services they need. She also leads our community art programs.
Claudia says that she is passionate about serving her community because they are lovely people who have enriched her life as much as she has worked to enrich theirs. She is also passionate about working with our Ciudad Nueva Staff.
In the past, Claudia has had great coworkers, but the staff at Ciudad Nueva takes it to the next level. She’s impressed with the way the entire staff allows God to work through them. They are all sincere in their work and intentional in walking alongside each member of our community family to help meet their needs.
“What I love most about my community is that they are generous with us and each other. They are funny. They share their wisdom and strength and they recognize us as a family… What a gift!” says Claudia.
In her free time, Claudia enjoys spending time with her family. They love laughing together, going to the park, engaging in art and music projects, and traveling whenever the opportunity arises. Claudia also serves her community by leading art programs and working with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services clients.
Learn more
Would you like to get involved in a community that loves and cares for one another? We would love to have you as part of ours. Call us today at 915-521-2951 or contact us online.
