Strengthening the local community is the ultimate goal of everything that Ciudad Nueva does. We want our programs and efforts as much as possible to be owned by the community and to be sourced from within the community. We are constantly working toward this goal, learning from past experiences and from other non-profits who are doing work similar to ours. Sometimes we learn from our mistakes, but other times things seem to come together just like they are supposed to. These are a few examples of community-building efforts that have made a difference. Community Development Block Grant … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

In my last post, I explained some of the ways that Ciudad Nueva is involved in the broader Christian community development movement through the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and through Micah Global. This investment in regional, national, and global movements that we wholeheartedly believe in is beneficial to our organization in many tangible ways. Many of our programs have been modeled after excellent examples demonstrated elsewhere. The sharing of information through various conferences is invaluable to solving challenges and keeping us aware of changes and innovation … [Read more...]