At Ciudad Nueva, our team is full of compassionate, understanding people. Keisha Branch, our High School Coordinator, displays a perfect example of the warmth and care we feel for our community. Keisha left her hometown in Virginia to join our Border Fellows program in 2016, after completing a study abroad program at a youth refugee center in Ireland. She became the first in her family to graduate from college, as well as the first to venture from her family’s home. Through her experiences in both of these programs, she developed a passion for connecting with and fostering a … [Read more...]
“Serving Alongside the Community” — Sophie Wozniak Shares How El Paso Has Strengthened The Ministry of Ciudad Nueva
Sophie Wozniak is our incredible Administrative Assistant and co-leader of our High School program! She began volunteering at Ciudad Nueva in 2019 as she completed her Border Fellow program. In Northern Virginia, she earned her Bachelor’s degree and wrote her thesis on border security and U.S./Mexico collaboration. She worked at summer camps and enjoyed her work with children. She was drawn to El Paso through the Border Fellows program, having studied Latin America and Hispanic cultures in college as well. Having now lived in El Paso for almost two years, Sophie appreciates the strength and … [Read more...]
Empowering Leaders Through Border Fellows
“I have greatly enjoyed connecting to the community and understanding the role of Ciudad Nueva in the greater context of El Paso as a borderland city,” shared Sophie Wozniak, a current Border Fellow. Sophie is one of several recent college graduates participating in the Border Fellows program to learn the ins and outs of what it means to live, serve, and lead in a border community. Here at Ciudad Nueva, a key part of our mission is equipping leaders who will help carry on God’s work in our neighborhoods to help communities thrive. In addition to mentoring and empowering local youth, … [Read more...]
Hearts for Service: Two Border Fellows Share Their Experience
Each year, we welcome recent college graduates to work with us through our Border Fellows program. This 10-month leadership development program offers these graduates an opportunity to serve and learn as they transition out of college and prepare for their future calling. They work alongside our team while serving the community to deepen their understanding of service, justice, and reconciliation. Hear from two fellows who are in the middle of their time with us and what they’re learning along the way. From College to Calling “I have learned so much about working in a nonprofit … [Read more...]
Make an Impact Where You Are: A Conversation with Border Fellow Ellen Denzel
“I knew it was perfect for me” When Ellen Denzel graduated from Clemson University with a degree in industrial engineering, she could have gone anywhere. “I was looking at jobs and I had a lot of options,” Ellen says, “but I wasn’t ready to go right into an industrial engineering job.” Ellen had gone on a few international mission trips during college, and she knew that’s where her heart was. “A friend was doing the fellows program in Salt Lake City, Utah,” Ellen says. “I heard about the [Border Fellows] placement in El Paso, and when I went to the Ciudad Nueva website I knew it was perfect … [Read more...]
