Ciudad Nueva exists to cultivate hope and empowerment for residents in our Rio Grande neighborhood. Our goal is to walk alongside members and help them find the tools they need to make their communities, their families, and their own lives better. There are times when outside help is necessary, particularly in crisis situations. However, we have learned over the years that finding solutions from within the community actually has a deeper, wider impact. And it serves to strengthen the group as a whole. Strengthening the local community is what we strive for in all our programs. Food … [Read more...]
Be Part of the Big Story
Tell us your summer camp story and help send a kid to camp! We all have that one camp story that brings us to tears (whether good or bad), that story we remember like it happened yesterday. It might be something that shaped you into the person you are today. We at Ciudad Nueva build relationships with kids throughout the year during our after-school programs, and in the summer we take 75 kids to camp. We ask you to remember your camp story and join us to give our kids the chance to make their own camp memories. When you give towards our summer camp fundraising campaign, you are helping … [Read more...]
Positive Stories Create New Possibilities
Everyone likes a great story. Even very young children will sit still to hear their favorite story. They even love to hear the same story over and over again. Stories shape our lives. They are a reflection of who we are and express our hopes and our dreams, our failures and our struggles. Most of us can remember many good stories as well as difficult stories from our childhood. For kids living below the poverty line, their stories are often marked by challenge and hardship. They often need to grow up early, taking on adult responsibilities in the home while parents are working extra … [Read more...]
Donor Spotlight
2016 has been a year of changes and growth. We are so grateful for all of our donors and ministry partners, and we wanted to highlight a few stories of how they came to be part of our Ciudad Nueva family and how we are blessed through their giving. Laura’s story About seven years ago, Laura was invited by a close friend of hers to help out with a volunteer opportunity at Ciudad Nueva. That simple invitation has turned into a long friendship with our ministry. “A good friend of mine was teaching a jewelry-making enrichment class once a week at Ciudad Nueva,” says Laura. “She asked if … [Read more...]
The Greatest Gifts
It’s a Wonderful Life is an all-time favorite Christmas movie for many. In this classic tale, the main character, George Bailey, is at the edge of ruin. His guardian angel intervenes and shows George what the world would be like if he were never born. George realizes that despite the hardships he was experiencing, his life truly made a difference in his family and community. I have often thought of the ripple effect that our lives have on those around us. Just a simple act of generosity or kindness can make a difference beyond what we can see, just as George learned in the … [Read more...]
