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...]
“Don’t Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young”
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV) If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: We simply could not do the work we do here at Ciudad Nueva without our amazing network of volunteers and community members. They share their gifts and build relationships with one another each and every day. In fact, at its core, Ciudad Nueva is this network of people. And what a diverse network it is! We especially love the fact that Ciudad Nueva is an … [Read more...]
Food Co-Op Members Deepen Commitment to Community with Creation of Microlending Fund
“If she couldn’t get the money, she would be evicted.” It all started this past fall with what seemed like a routine request for financial assistance. Letty*, one of the women from the food co-op, had an emergency. Her son’s car had broken down, so Letty had done what any mother would do — she gave her son the money he needed to get his car fixed. But when it came time for Letty to pay her rent, she realized she would need to ask for help for herself. Letty knew that Ciudad Nueva had helped other people in similar situations, so she came to Tamy Diaz, Launch Pad Coordinator and Community … [Read more...]
It’s the Most Giving Time of the Year
We are so grateful for each and every volunteer who has come through our doors over the years. Each person brings their own unique gifts and experiences to share with our wonderful downtown neighborhood. They might not live here with us, but they become part of our community as we bond together in meeting needs and mentoring young people. Even the best volunteers have to move on from time to time, so we are always looking for new volunteers in El Paso who would like to have an impact on their community and get to know some really great people. Most of our volunteers say they equally enjoy … [Read more...]
Following Up with the Food Co-op
Sharing food and fellowship is the heart of Ciudad Nueva’s food co-op. The neighborhood food co-op has been in operation for a little over a year and a half now, and the program continues to grow strong. In the beginning, the program served about 20-30 families, operating two days per week. We are now serving more than 150 families and opening the doors three days a week! A place for the community to meet their own needs The food co-op is a place for the community to come together to meet their own needs in terms of healthy, nutritious food. It is not food pantry that simply hands out food. … [Read more...]
