Welcome to the Women's Intercultural Center

tories of our participants

Elva Alarez moved with her twin grandsons to Anthony, NM in November 2008 from Creel, MX.  She received TANF and SNAP benefits to help support her family.

Elva volunteered at the Women’s Intercultural Center to fulfill her TANF work requirements and it was clear that she valued her work with us.  She participated in many classes, including citizenship, English, jewelry making and dance.  Elva especially appreciated the Center's positive role in empowering single mothers like herself to succeed in a new country.

Staff, instructors, participants, supporters and visitors alike took notice of Elva's work ethic, her desire to learn, her initiative, her trustworthiness and her ability to make others feel welcomed at the Center.  What started out as volunteer work evolved to temporary work and eventually into a job.

Because of her skills and abilities, Elva was hired for the position of Hospitality Manager.  She is responsible for setting up logistics for guests, rentals, catering services and on occasion the Border Awareness Experience including - providing meals, ensuring guests participant and staff accommodations are presented in a clean and welcoming condition and maintenance of Center facilities.

We congratulate and welcome Elva as a member of the Women’s Intercultural Center staff.  We hope to be one of the stepping stones towards her success as she works toward her dream of opening a home-based food business or becoming a nurse.  The opportunities for her are endless specially if she takes advantage of enrolling in our Small Business Development Academy and the many other educational/development courses the Center has to offer.

Petra Devora came to the Women’s Intercultural Center four years ago hoping there was a class on how to play guitar.  Since that type of instruction was not available she stayed for the oil painting classes.  "I was embraced by everyone and immediately felt at home.  The receptionist had this ability of getting people interested in participating in the classes provided by the Center." said Petra.  As time passed she learned that in educating a woman, you not only educate and transform her family but her community as well.  "The Women’s Intercultural Center is the place where women transform and learn to be self reliant."

At the Center Petra was given the opportunity to develop her artistic and leadership abilities.  She currently represents the voices of the participants as a member of the Center's Board of Directors.  It is in this capacity that she traveled to New York to the WhyHunger Chapin Awards Dinner to receive the 2009 Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award on behalf of the Center.  "It was quite an experience to be able to meet with other grassroots organizations from across the country and learning about their work.  It made me appreciate the uniqueness of the Women’s Intercultural Center.  The Center provides women the tools necessary to succeed based on the individual learning development plan of each participant." she proudly stated.

Olivia Contreras has two grown children and six grandchildren.  She came to the Women’s Intercultural Center for the first time in May 2007. She always heard that the Center offered many classes but she never came.  She finally came because she wanted to become a U.S. Citizen and when she went to the community college she couldn't enroll because they didn't have citizenship classes in Spanish and she didn't think she could learn citizenship in English.  She was surprised that the Center had English tutors who could also teach citizenship classes in Spanish.  She had been in the United States for 26 years and thought that it was about time she learned English and became a citizen.  Thanks to her tutor, Elizabeth, she passed her citizenship test and became a U.S. citizen on November 6, 2007.  She feels secure now that she is a citizen and it is very important to her to be able to vote.  She would like to tell all women at home to come to the Center and that if she can do it they can too and if they need help to become a citizen she is willing to tutor them.

Toni Jacquez was a participant of the Small Business Development Academy's first cohort.  She felt that fulfilling her dream of business ownership would not only enhance her life but that of her community where she would establish her business.  Since her retirement, her husband had been contemplating opening a cabrito (young goat) restaurant.  She had worked from the age of 12 to the age of 22 at a small business grocery story with her father.  She knew the work a family owned business entailed, so she knew that she did not want to devote 24/7 time again.  But after attending the Academy, she realized that she did not have all the information necessary to successfully develop her business.

Toni is happy that the Center saw the need to educate women on how to develop a small business. She noted that some of the participants attending the Academy had no business experience, different levels of education, and different commands of the English language; however, everyone was equally given the opportunity to learn no matter what their personal situation was.

Toni says, "Attending the Academy was an informative and pleasurable experience. I will always remember and appreciate the support we received from the Center and our instructor and my fellow classmates. " Toni Jacquez is the Chair of the 2009 Board of Directors of the Women’s Intercultural Center.

A friend invited Rosario Renteria to the Women's Intercultural Center. She had been worried about her as she had fallen into a deep depression and had become isolated due to the recent death of her son. Her friend encouraged her to take art classes. She brought her to the Center and introduced her to the painting instructor. As she walked into the building she felt a sense of warmth and the welcoming nature of the participants and staff instantly made her feel at home.

She was given a test to assess her painting skills for her individual learning plan. She soon began attending the painting classes, found the solace and worth she needed and has been painting ever since.

Rosario says, “When I paint, I feel peaceful.  I feel like an artist.”

After that one class she began taking a variety of other classes. The Center helped her advance her skills in paining and exhibited her work, she learned English while taking art classes and has found a source of income through the Center’s Economic Self-Sufficiency program by selling her art work and various other artistic products she learned to produce. She now teaches classes in art, repujado and knitting. Aside from all this, the Center has given her the opportunity to explore her singing skills. She is the official singer of the Center and has brightened many events with her talents. She recently formed a singing group and was commissioned to paint her vision of the downtown area of Anthony, NM upon its incorporation.

She now initiates and hones in her creative talents and encompasses new ideas to the Center. In meeting and sharing with the many women that have come to the Center, she has made this her home.

Rosario says, “It (the Center) is my source of inspiration and a support network for me. In being here it is not only an economic support but it elevates my morale and I feel really happy particularly in sharing my knowledge. Before the Center, I used to feel limited, but now I know that there are various opportunities to achieve your goals and dreams. I have evolved as an individual and as a professional artist. All the women that come to the Center have those opportunities. In the time that I have been here, I have seen many women participate in everything the Center has to offer at all generational levels from 17 to 85. They come searching for a safe place to create their own goals and dreams, there’s an abundance of color, talent and beauty here.”

Reyna Urbina had focused her entire life on her six children and found herself lost after her youngest daughter left home.  Since she didn't know how to drive and there is no means of public transportation in Anthony, NM she felt trapped and alone.  The only things she could concentrate on where her husband who worked very late hours, her home and her sewing machine.

Her youngest daughter, former volunteer at the Women's Intercultural Center, encouraged Reyna to register for classes as it would be the most appropriate venue for her mother to continue her personal development. In spite of her fears and with lots of encouragement from her children, Reyna learned to drive and got her driver's license at age 62 in order to follow her daughter's advice to come to the Center.

"That's how I came to this wonderful Center where I found the most beautiful people." says Reyna.  "I enrolled in computer classes as I knew nothing about computers.  I have learned so much since I first came here."

Armed with a new laptop that was given to her by her children, Reyna continues her computer classes at the Center and practices at home.  "Thanks to the Women's Intercultural Center for thinking about women like me in designing their programming that has taught me so much and all their beautiful smiles that greet me each day I come to class." say Reyna with a smile on her face.

Reyna credits the Women's Intercultural Center and the support of her children for changing her life.  She now realizes that something was missing, a void that was filled by the learning opportunities offered at the Center.

"Thank you for being here for us women and for the opportunity you offer us for our continued personal development."