Program Overview

To access current Program Calendar please click here.

The Women’s Intercultural Center utilizes a programming structure that interweaves leadership development within three (3) major components: Education & Personal Development, Economic Self-Sufficiency, and Consciousness-Raising for Change. Additionally, the Center works with many area organizations and agencies to provide special services, trainings and workshops that help meet the need of the Anthony community and the surrounding rural communities located between Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. Each component reinforces and complements the other to empower Center participants.

Education & Personal Development

The Women’s Intercultural Center fills the need for alternative, non-intimidating, non-traditional learning settings for women who have: imited access to; had bad experiences with formal education; and/or whose life circumstances prevented them from entering fully into society, the work force or traditional schools. To meet this need, the Center employs a holistic approach and utilizes some principles of Popular Education for social change as taught by Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire.

Through its educational programs, the Center serves as a springboard for women to discover their potential to subsequently consider higher education and/or starting/advancing a career field through the following programs:

• English as a Second Language (ESL): The five (5) multi-tiered ESL program (Pre-ESL, Beginning, Intermediate, Advance and El Civics) includes group sessions and individual tutoring. A partnership with Dona Ana Community College provides learning materials and instructor training. Special classes include conversational English, survival skills (doctor visits, communication with schoolteachers, shopping, etc.) inter-generational summer ESL, and others as needed.

• Other Classes Offered Per Semester: A broad range of courses are incorporated into the Center’s semester schedules in the spring, summer and fall. Course offerings vary throughout the year depending on availability and demand. Current year course topics include:

1. Basic computer skills
2. Basic Math
3. Citizenship (Spanish and English)
4. Financial Literacy
5. Health and Fitness classes (HIV-AIDS & domestic violence, dance aerobics, reflexology, Reiki, managing emotions, yoga as available)
6. Job-Hunt Readiness
7. Nutritional cooking
8. Parenting
9. Public speaking (Spanish and English)
10. Values & Life (includes self-image, values clarification, conflict resolution, communication skills)
11. Visual arts & crafts (oil painting, repujado folk art, mosaic art)
12. Special Skills classes (family hair-cutting, sewing, cake-decorating, jewelry-making, floral arranging, knitting)

• Special Workshops/Sessions: Special Workshops/Sessions are provided on Fridays and tend to vary based on need and availability.  Some examples of topics include but are not limited to: managing grief, domestic violence, organic gardening, diabetes, weight control, tai chi, spiritual days of reflection, and much more. Often times, topics covered in these sessions end up being incorporated into our educational programming.

Our Instructors: When appropriate, students themselves are contracted by the Center to teach workshops or classes if they possess a special skill and demonstrate an ability to teach. Otherwise, instructors are community volunteers, paid individuals from the broader community, and in some cases, staff. We also partner with area agencies and organizations who offer courses or workshops in special areas (parenting, health, drug education, etc.).

Economic-Self-Sufficiency for Women (ESS):

In order to assist the needs of the communities we serve, the Center implements economic development program opportunities initially as pilot projects and assist the groups or individuals in their development. This is the Center’s way of providing an opportunity for women to refine their skills, augment their family income, and consider long-range micro-enterprise possibilities. The Center also assists in the marketing and selling of products handcrafted by its program participants. Current economic development projects include:

• Catering and Food Sales: In conjunction with rental of the Center’s Gallery, a team of women have been trained to utilize its commercial kitchen and enhanced their catering skills.  When needed as part of a rental for meetings or other events, the team caters the meals to generate and increment their own income. Participants receive training in nutritional cooking, food handling, menu preparation, presentation, and other skills.

• Sales/Marketing of Items Handcrafted By Center Participants:

1. Frida Kahlo y Mas” group that creates functional pop art products such as earrings and refrigerator magnets using popular Mexican icons or images (currently in the pilot stage)
2. Women who create greeting cards for sale
3. Products produced by students through Center sponsored classes in the areas of art, crafts, jewelry-making and sewing.  The Center receives a 20% consignment fee for displaying and selling the items in its Gift Shop, Gallery, Website, and in organizing participation in craft fairs and conferences.

Supporting Individual Entrepreneurs: Women interested in starting their own business receive educational and technical assistance courses.  Example of participant successes include but are not limited to:

Concepcion Candelas who with the Center’s assistance obtained a loan to study massage therapy and became licensed in Texas and is pending her New Mexico license. She will start her own Massage Therapy practice out of the Center’s healing arts area. 2) “Three Sisters Tiling & Painting”, a woman-owned business was started by three (3) women started who attained their skills through the educational construction project and technical assistance and business training provided by the Center.

Consciousness-Raising for Change:

Border Awareness Experience (BAE) Program: The BAE, an interactive bi-national immersion program, was developed to raise awareness and promote cross-cultural dialogue.  The program provides 8-12 different immersion experiences during a six (6) day period. In collaboration with Center women and area organizations; participants are educated on labor issues, human rights, economic justice, immigration, and life on the U.S.-Mexico border, with an emphasis on linking the local and global implications of each issue. In addition to visiting agencies and individuals who are experts in these topics; participants stay in homes of host families on both sides of the border to interact in intimate settings during their stay. As a result, stereotypes in both directions begin to be disassembled.

Local Outreach: Workshops, forums, speakers, and other events are scheduled throughout the year to address issues impacting the local and regional community that include topics such as: immigration, the environment, drugs and youth, impact of global economics on border communities, and much more. Skits and “street” theater, field trips, participation in community events, and other types of interactive experiences are often utilized.

Leadership Development

Development of leadership potential is incorporated into all programs provided by the Women’s Intercultural Center. Women are continually invited to participate in decision-making through strategic planning sessions, community meetings, and committees where they discuss the Center’s programs, goals and objectives to be incorporated into its Strategic Plan. Women are also provided opportunities to learn meeting facilitation, project planning, public relations, and other business skills. Classes that aid in leadership development provide skills-building in the areas of public speaking, conflict resolution, personal styles, self-confidence, communication skills, and may identify counseling needs for referral.

Other Activities & Special Services

• Mexican Ballet Folkloric Dance Group
• Summer Youth Group for Girls
• Support Group for Grief & Depression

And through partnerships/collaborations with other organizations and agencies, the Center also offers special services such as:

• Free tax-preparation (Community Action Agency)
• Access to counseling referral and information (La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services)
• Health screenings  (various organizations and agencies)
• Food and clothing distribution
  

Contact US

For additional information on our programs please contact us at the 575-882-5556.