Homepage

 

Letter from the Editor

Here at the Women’s Intercultural Center, birthdays are moments that show how deeply we value one another.

There is a special kind of warmth that fills our rooms when we gather to celebrate someone in our community. Genuine smiles, kind words, and shared joy create an atmosphere that reflects the bonds we build every day. These celebrations make participants feel seen, appreciated, and loved.

During her recent birthday celebration with our ESL class, Juanita captured that feeling perfectly:

“I felt pampered, loved, and blessed.”

Her words reflect exactly what we hope every person experiences when they walk through our doors. Whether we are sharing stories, offering encouragement, or simply enjoying a moment together, we want each celebration to make our participants feel how important they are to our community.

Thank you to everyone who brings kindness, joy, and heart to these gatherings. Each milestone becomes a shared blessing and a beautiful reminder of the journey we are walking together.

Mary Carter
Editor & Executive Director
Women’s Intercultural Center

 

Supporting St. Anthony Church and Our Volunteers

This past Sunday offered a simple yet meaningful moment of connection as we stopped by the St. Anthony Church food sale to pick up steaming cups of menudo. Bringing those comforting cups back to the Women’s Intercultural Center became a small act of gratitude for our dedicated weekend volunteers, a way to start their morning with warmth and let them know how deeply we appreciate the time and heart they pour into our mission.

The visit to the parish hall fueled our hardworking team with an incredible meal and allowed us to support a local fundraiser and stand alongside another organization that serves our community with care. WInC’s strength grows every time we lift-up our neighbors, share a meal, and choose connection.

 

Seamstress by day. Master spy by night.

At just 22 years old, Policarpa Salavarrieta, known across Colombia as La Pola carried an entire revolution in plain sight. While stitching and mending garments for the Spanish elite in 1817 Bogotá, she quietly memorized troop movements, forged travel documents, and recruited new members into the underground resistance. Every thread she pulled was part of a larger fight for independence.

When she was eventually captured and sentenced to death, La Pola refused the customary kneeling position reserved for traitors. Instead, she stood tall, facing the firing squad with unwavering resolve. Her final words echoed the courage she had shown throughout her short life: “I have more than enough courage to suffer this death and a thousand more.”

Her bravery continues to inspire generations.

This story is part of our WInC series honoring women whose courage and conviction helped shape their communities, their regions, and the world.

 

Where Creativity Shines

The Women’s Intercultural Center has long been a place where creativity flourishes, and this week we’re celebrating one of the artists who continues to brighten our community. Judith, our former volunteer cake‑decorating instructor, is still sharing her remarkable talent in ways that reflect both skill and heart. She recently completed a beautiful diamond painting as a gift for her sister. It was a shimmering piece created with patience, precision, and the kind of love that shows in every detail.

At WInC, art has always been more than a pastime. It is something shared, something offered, something that carries a piece of the creator to someone they care about. Judith has embodied that spirit for years, through her classes, her kindness, and now through this thoughtful creation.

Our Center remains a home where artists grow, inspire, and uplift one another. Judith’s latest work shows how deeply creativity continues to thrive within our WInC family.

 

Sweetness, Freshness, and Community

Our ESL class at the Women’s Intercultural Center has a way of turning an ordinary day into something joyful, and this past Monday was a perfect example. The classroom filled with refreshing slices of juicy watermelon, delicious coffee cupcakes, and a special surprise from Alicia, who brought her homemade apple empanadas to share. With every bite, the room felt brighter and the sense of community grew stronger.

At WInC, food is a gesture of care, a connection to culture, and a simple way to bring people together. What began as a language class has quickly become a gathering of friends, laughter, and shared traditions. WInC is the place where learning thrives with kindness and community.

 

A Masterclass in Patience and Personality

There is something special about watching a simple strand of yarn become a piece of art, and this week Priscilla showed us just how much beauty can come from patience, skill, and imagination. She shared two of her handcrafted creations with our WInC community, and each one showcased the depth of her talent.

Her first piece, a 3D geometric hanging mobile, immediately caught our attention. The clean lines, thoughtful color choices, and careful construction come together in a way that feels both modern and soothing. Every wrap and knot reflects hours of focused work, resulting in a sculpture that seems to move gracefully with the air around it.

Priscilla also brought an expressive little bird made entirely from yarn, a creation full of charm and personality. The delicate feather accents give it a lifelike touch, showing how texture can bring character and emotion into fiber art. It’s a small piece with a big presence, and it left everyone smiling.

We are grateful to Priscilla for sharing her work with us. WInC is a place where creativity thrives and inspiration grows when participants share their gifts with one another.

Thank you, Priscilla, for continuing to brighten our community with your beautiful creations.

 

A Perspective from Below, Pointing Towards New Horizons

On October 10, we will welcome 12 students from Creighton University for a week of living, learning, and connecting here in the heart of our community. Instead of studying the borderland from a distance, they’ll spend their days alongside the people who shape it like neighbors, leaders, and everyday changemakers who strengthen this region through compassion and collaboration. Their week will be grounded in shared meals, honest conversations, and firsthand experiences of what it looks like when a community truly cares for its own.

And when the day’s activities wind down, our rooftop will be waiting. Those familiar red stairs lead to a quiet space where conversations deepen, reflection comes naturally, and the morning skies and evening horizons offer a moment of calm.

Reflecting on her own visit, past BAE participant Allison Wood shared, “This experience meant the world to me, and I loved those sunsets on the rooftop.”

We look forward to welcoming the students into our home once again and sharing the meaningful moments that make this experience unforgettable.

 

Finding Harmony Together

At the Women’s Intercultural Center, our participants bring a wonderful sense of unity, filling our space with music and shared learning. Around the music stands, students gather to listen, practice, and find their rhythm together, turning each lesson into a moment of connection. One chord at a time, confidence grows as hands move across the strings and notes begin to take shape.

With patience and encouragement guiding every session, the classroom becomes a welcoming place where different experiences meet in harmony. Each instrument and each player adds something unique, yet the goal remains beautifully shared: to listen, to learn, and to play as a community.

WInC is a place where music feels even richer when we do it together.

 

A Delicious Week in ICAN Class

Our ICAN class prepared a vibrant, refreshing pasta salad this week that brought a burst of color and nutrition straight to the table. With curly rotini, crisp cucumbers, sweet peas, crunchy red onions, and bright bell peppers, each step of the recipe became a hands‑on lesson in balancing flavor, texture, and fresh ingredients.

Cooking together continues to be one of the most meaningful ways our community explores healthy eating. A simple dish becomes an opportunity to learn, connect, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something wholesome and delicious from scratch.

 

Celebrating the Heart of Our Volunteers

Rain or shine, our volunteers show up with the same steady commitment that keeps our community moving forward. Whether they’re lifting heavy boxes, preparing spaces for upcoming events, or taking care of the quiet behind‑the‑scenes tasks that make everything run smoothly, their dedication never falters.

At the Women’s Intercultural Center, we know that every accomplishment is built on the strength, kindness, and generosity of the people who give their time so wholeheartedly. Their work, both the visible and the unseen, is what allows our mission to grow and our community to thrive.

 

Behind the Scenes and Straight from the Heart

People often ask what an ordinary weekday looks like behind the scenes at the Women’s Intercultural Center. The truth is simple: a little bit of everything, carried by a whole lot of heart.

Long before classes begin, our volunteers are already shaping the day. They’re the welcoming voice at the reception desk, answering questions with patience and kindness. They’re the steady hands setting up chairs, organizing supplies, and preparing classrooms for the morning cohorts. They’re the storytellers capturing our community’s spirit through photos and posts, and the quiet problem‑solvers keeping paperwork, schedules, and administrative details running smoothly.

Their work doesn’t just keep the Center operating, it ensures that anyone who walks through our doors feels seen, supported, and immediately at home.

To every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and warmth to this community: thank you. You make this place what it is.

 

Celebrating Our Newest Citizenship Cohort

Every time our classroom doors open, a powerful dream walks in with our participants. Their bright, determined faces reflect the very heart of the Women’s Intercultural Center and the purpose that has guided our Citizenship Program since 2008.

For 16 years, our Citizenship Classes have proudly maintained a 100% success rate, and we intend to keep that tradition going. Each lesson, each practice interview, and each history review becomes a meaningful step toward a milestone that strengthens families and uplifts our borderland community.

To our newest cohort: your dedication inspires us. We see the late‑night studying, the note taking, and the commitment you bring to every class. We already look forward to the day you take your oath, raise your flags, and celebrate becoming naturalized U.S. citizens.

Thank you for trusting WInC with your journey. Your success is our joy, and your courage enriches our entire community.

 

Taking the First Step

Whether someone is entering the workforce for the first time, shifting into a new career, or simply strengthening their professional skills, taking that first step toward a goal is always worth celebrating.

This week, we had the pleasure of working alongside Carlos to update and refine his résumé, highlighting his strengths and organizing his experience for the opportunities ahead. WInC is a place that gladly provides the tools and resources needed when community members invest in their future and prepare for new possibilities, this is why our work matters.

Here’s to new beginnings, steady effort, and opening doors to a brighter path forward.

 

Joy, Warm Wishes, and Birthday Smiles in ESL Class

We had a wonderful time celebrating Juanita’s birthday with our ESL class, a morning filled with bright smiles, warm wishes, and a thoughtful gift from the entire WInC family. WInC is a place where participants bring much joy into the classroom and deeply enrich our community.

We are grateful to have Juanita with us and wish her a year filled with happiness, good health, and continued success in all she pursues. Thank you to everyone who helped make the celebration so meaningful.

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Juanita!

 

Staying Informed and Engaged: New Air Quality Permit Application for Project Jupiter

Civic participation and keeping our community informed are central to our mission at the Women’s Intercultural Center. Recently, Yucca Growth Infrastructures (YGI) submitted an Air Pollution Permit application for a proposed power plant intended to support Project Jupiter. Although the facility would use Bloom Energy fuel cells, it would still operate on natural gas.

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center has raised several concerns about the application, noting potential increases in greenhouse gas emissions and volatile organic compounds, which could affect ozone levels in Doña Ana County. They also point to questions about water usage and the handling of solid waste associated with the project.

The public comment period for this permit—AQB 26‑57 (P)—is open until October 23rd. Community members may submit comments either in support of or in opposition to the application.

You can share your feedback using the public comment form here: https://nmed.commentinput.com/?id=C3cNMTVKs

Disclaimer: As a 501(c)(3) organization, we share local alerts solely to support civic engagement and public participation. Sharing this information does not constitute an endorsement of the project or of the specific claims made by the NMELC.

 

Bringing Traditions to Life

There is a special kind of beauty in watching traditions come to life, one thoughtful brushstroke at a time. This week, our community gathered for a quiet moment of focus and creativity, painting vibrant, patterned pots inspired by a shared reference image.

With a rich palette of colors and steady, patient hands, participants brought their own interpretations to the canvas. In these peaceful sessions, stories are expressed through pattern and color, traditions are honored, and everyday artistry shines in a way that feels both personal and collective.

It’s in moments like these that creativity becomes a bridge that connects experiences, celebrates culture, and reminds us of the joy found in making something meaningful together.

 

Celebrating Local Talent

There is nothing quite like seeing our community members shine and share their passions with others. On October 10, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, we invite everyone to stop by Bassett Place in El Paso for a special event, Conoce a tu Autor Local (Meet Your Local Author).

We are proud to support our dedicated volunteer, Guadalupe Zacarías, as she presents her book ¡Salud! Vinos de Nuevo México. Her work highlights the rich stories and traditions behind New Mexico’s wines, and we are excited to celebrate her talent and the inspiration behind her writing.

We hope you’ll join us in cheering her on and supporting local authors who bring creativity and culture to our region.