Equipping Leaders

What We Do

Equipping leaders is one of Ciudad Nueva’s four key strategies in what we do. We identify, empower, equip, and mobilize student and adult leaders in the community, and whenever possible, hire them to launch, lead, and shape our programs as well as advocate for themselves and their neighbors so that the whole community thrives! Here are some ways we are working to equip leaders in the Rio Grande Neighborhood:

Community Connectors 

Community Connectors are indigenous community residents who have been identified as active leaders in our community and are hired for their community expertise and the trust they carry with the families in the Rio Grande Neighborhood. They are supplementally equipped with training by Ciudad Nueva to work on building relationships, identifying assets, and assessing resource needs within the community. Community Connectors connect their neighbors to Ciudad Nueva programming, services in our greater community, encourage and equip neighbors for leadership development opportunities, and refer residents to vital, local services. 

Meet our amazing Community Connectors by clicking here! 

Catalyst

Catalyst is our college and career readiness training program where our high school students hear from work professionals, meet with college representatives, learn essential life skills, and have an opportunity in the summer to tour universities throughout the state of Texas. 

High School & College Interns

We are deeply committed to youth and young adult leadership development. Ciudad Nueva provides avenues of leadership to our high school student interns, youth program alumni, UTEP work study students, undergraduate exchange programs, and Master of Social Work interns. They are frequently later hired as Ciudad Nueva staff.

Leadership Programming and Service Opportunities Across Youth Programming

Leadership development training is embedded throughout our youth programs. Students are given opportunities to plan special activities and even share talks with their fellow students. Additionally, students participate in service opportunities, both inside and outside of Ciudad Nueva as part of their program curriculum.

Professional Development Opportunities

Our senior staff hold positions on state, national, and international Christian community development boards and routinely host plenary talks, trainings and workshops for a variety of congregations, denominational and para-church organization leadership, community organizations and educational institutions. 

In 2020, we hosted the Border Southwest Christian Community Development Association gathering for more than 80 development practitioners from throughout New Mexico and Arizona. 

Our staff members are encouraged to attend one conference each year that is centered on Christian community development, allowing them to hear other ideas from renowned leaders across the nation who are addressing social justice issues in their own community and bringing them back to El Paso.

How to Get Involved at Ciudad Nueva
To get involved in our programs that focus on equipping leaders, we encourage you to contact us online or call 915-521-2951. To financially support programs at Ciudad Nueva, please visit our donation page where you can securely give online.