When Alma Martinez first joined our food co-op a year and a half ago, she had no idea she’d be running it someday. “I was always there helping,” Alma says. “I got more involved and was going more often, then one day they offered me a job as the manager.” The staff recognized Alma’s unique abilities to organize and connect with people and knew they would benefit the co-op. “I’m fair,” Alma says. “I don’t let people just come in and take their food and leave. This is their co-op. They’re the ones running it. I’m just there to make sure everything runs smoothly.” A commitment to inclusion and … [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...]
Have You Met Joe?
You’ll see him doing all kinds of jobs around Ciudad Nueva. If you haven’t already, you will want to meet Joe. Joe Gavaldon had been working with Young Life for 25 years in south El Paso and had been collaborating with Ciudad Nueva youth programs. Then one day, it became clear that it was time for Joe to move on from Young Life. No one was expecting this — least of all Joe — and immediately Joe came to work at Ciudad Nueva. “I started the next day,” says Joe. “I felt like it was from the Lord because I was leaving one ministry and then coming to another the very next day. I enjoyed Young … [Read more...]
