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Letter from the Editor

At WInC, our commitment has always been to empower our participants with clear, trustworthy information, especially when it comes to navigating systems that can feel overwhelming or vulnerable. Many of you have seen the recent reporting on immigration attorney Alexandra Lozano and the serious allegations of fabricated claims, misleading practices, and harm done to migrant families. Stories like this are painful, and they remind us why reliable guidance matters.

For years, WInC has worked closely with attorneys across our region. We have seen firsthand how they communicate, how they treat our participants, and how they show up when families need honesty, clarity, and dignity. Because of this direct experience, we want to be transparent about who we trust.

In El Paso, we recommend David Haro, who has consistently demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and deep respect for our community. Phone: 526‑0092

In Las Cruces, we recommend Lauren Armstrong, whose compassion, thoroughness, and commitment to educating our participants have made a meaningful difference. Phone: (575) 201‑3254

These recommendations are not endorsements of every attorney in the region, they are simply the result of the work we have done together and the positive, ethical, and reliable support we have witnessed over time. When we see professionals treat our participants with dignity and honesty, we believe it is important to share that information.

As always, WInC will continue to stand beside you. We will continue to share accurate information. We will continue to protect our community by lifting the people and resources who have earned our trust.

Thank you for allowing us to walk this journey with you. Your courage inspires us every day.

Mary Carter
Editor & Executive Director
Women’s Intercultural Center

 

Lupita’s Gift

At WInC, we’ve learned that community is built through small acts of care. And this June, that care comes from one of our own: Lupita Zacarias.

Lupita, one of our most generous volunteers, after working as a substitute teacher came up with an idea. “I want to do something for the teachers,” she said. “For everyone who cooks, cleans, assists, substitutes, and keeps our schools running. They deserve a moment to breathe.”

From that simple intention came a beautiful offering: A Massage + Ionic Detox for just $60, available for the entire month of June for teachers, aides, kitchen staff, custodians, and substitute teachers. A moment of rest for the people who spend the year caring for our children.

Lupita explains it with her usual calm smile: “The massage helps release the tension and mental fatigue that build up during the school year. And the detox helps the body reset. It’s my way of saying thank you.”

At WInC, we believe deeply in that message: caring for caregivers. So today we celebrate Lupita, and every volunteer who brings wellness and compassion to our community.

If you know someone who needs a moment of rest, here’s the invitation: 📞 (915) 204‑3108

Because here in our borderland, love shows up in the ways we help each other heal.

 

A Spectacular Day in Yarn Art Class!

Our classes always feel like family. We had double the joy in the yarn art class this week, a birthday celebration and a beautiful creative project that filled the room with color and laughter.

First, we celebrated a very special milestone: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the wonderful Lorhuama Sinai! Her smile lit up the room, and everyone was excited to share her special day. At WInC love and friendship grow inside our walls.

After the birthday cheers, our class jumped into a fun and vibrant project: mandala yarn‑art keychains. Each participant chose their own colors and patterns, weaving traditional diamond shapes with so much care and creativity. The final touches, bright beads and playful tassels made every piece unique.

By the end of class, the tables were covered in color, the room was full of proud smiles, and everyone left with a handmade keychain that carried a little piece of joy.

Days like this show the heart of our community: celebrating each other, creating together, and finding beauty in every thread.

 

How a County Plans for the Future

In Doña Ana County, planning doesn’t happen behind closed doors. It happens out in the open, with residents invited to learn, ask questions, and understand how the projects that shape daily life are chosen. This month, the County is updating its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan, better known as the ICIP, and the door is open for the community to take a closer look.

The ICIP is more than a list. It’s the County’s long‑term roadmap for the things we rely on every day: safer roads, stronger utilities, upgraded public safety facilities, community centers, parks, and the kinds of investments that make neighborhoods healthier and more connected. Each year, the County reviews needs across every community, from rural areas to fast‑growing neighborhoods, and updates the plan so it’s ready when state or federal funding becomes available.

For many residents, it’s the first time seeing how a project moves from a community need to a formal plan and, eventually, to construction. The County’s ICIP page breaks it all down: background information, current priorities, and a clear explanation of how the process works. It’s a helpful resource for anyone who wants to understand how decisions are made and how local voices can shape what gets built.

You can explore the ICIP information here: https://www.donaana.gov/departments/county_manager/icip.php

In a county as diverse and growing as ours, planning is a shared responsibility. When residents stay informed and engaged, the future we build reflects the people who call Doña Ana County home.

 

Blanca’s Colorful Touch

At WInC, we love watching creativity come alive and few people spark that magic quite like Blanca Vélez. Every time she walks through our doors, she brings a burst of color, imagination, and heart that transforms even the simplest idea into something unforgettable.

Blanca’s latest creations show just how much love she pours into her craft. She’s been designing vibrant Spider‑Man and Dinosaur‑themed piñata‑style numbers, each one layered with color, texture, and joy. For the children who receive them, these pieces are the highlight of a celebration, the thing that makes a birthday feel truly special.

Yet Blanca’s creativity doesn’t stop there. She also designs graduation balloon gifts, complete with plush toys, confetti, and personalized touches that make every graduate feel seen and celebrated. Each piece carries her signature blend of artistry and care, the kind of detail that turns a simple gift into a cherished memory.

And then there are her surprise boxes, handcrafted treasures that open to reveal gifts tucked inside and along the sides. They’re playful, thoughtful, and full of heart, just like Blanca herself.

Blanca, thank you for sharing your talent with our WInC community. Your work brightens our Center, lifts our spirits, and shows us how powerful creativity can be when it’s rooted in love.

You inspire us and we’re grateful for the color you bring to WInC every single day.

 

Patty’s Touch of Joy

At WInC, we’re always inspired by the way our participants carry their creativity into the world and this week, we’re celebrating Patty, whose talent shines far beyond our Center.

Patty recently designed a stunning balloon arch to brighten the company where her daughter‑in‑law works. The moment it went up, the whole space transformed. Bursting with color and joy, the arch featured playful soccer‑themed balloons and a beautiful cascade of red, green, and blue that lifted everyone’s spirits the second they walked in.

Patty’s work is special because of the heart behind it. She creates with intention, with pride, and with a deep love for the people around her. And that love shows in every curve, every color choice, every detail.

At WInC participants learn skills, share beauty, connection, and community wherever they go. Their creativity becomes a gift to workplaces, families, neighborhoods, and celebrations across our region.

Bravo, Patty, for sharing your artistry and love with the world. Your work brightens rooms and all of us.

 

Under the Sea Art Workshop

Our Under the Sea Art Workshop was bursting with color, creativity, and joy. Families gathered around the tables, used bright construction‑paper shapes and turned them into playful, vibrant fish that seemed ready to swim right off the page. Every design was different and showed just how much personality a simple piece of paper can hold.

Leading the way was Isabel, whose joy and patience set the tone for the whole room. She guided each participant with encouragement and a smile, helping children and adults alike bring their underwater creations to life. Right beside her was Lupita, offering steady support, warm conversation, and making everyone feel welcome.

In this workshop hands were busy creating, voices laughing, and families discovering new talents together. And none of it would be possible without volunteers who give their time and heart so generously.

Thank you, Isabel and Lupita, for making moments like this possible. Your leadership and kindness ripple outward, bringing joy to every corner of WInC.

 

Honoring Sanjay Antonio Singh

In moments of deep loss, a community’s strength is measured by how it gathers around those who are hurting. This week, our hearts are with the Singh family as they mourn the passing of Sanjay Antonio Singh, a beloved son and a proud member of the United States Navy.

Sanjay lived a life marked by courage, service, and love for his country. Those who knew him speak of his dedication, his kindness, and the quiet strength he carried into every room. His commitment to serving others will continue to inspire long after this heartbreaking moment.

As his family faces the unimaginable, we hold his mother and loved ones close in our thoughts. We send them comfort, strength, and the gentle reminder that they are not walking this path alone. Grief this deep has no map, yet it does have community; people who stand beside you, lift you, and honor the life of the one you love.

The WInC community stands together in sorrow and solidarity, honoring Sanjay’s memory and the family who raised him with such grace and love. His legacy lives on in the kindness he shared, the service he gave, and the hearts he touched.

May his light continue to guide those who loved him. May his memory be a blessing.

 

A Little World Cup Magic in ESL Class

As ESL students settled in for the lesson, someone shyly asked if we could put the World Cup on the screen, just in case a match started while they were learning. It was a small request, yet it carried something bigger: a desire to stay connected to a moment the whole world was sharing.

Before anyone could say another word, Allen, our incredible volunteer, stepped forward with his usual kindness and enthusiasm. He got everything set up, making sure the class could learn and enjoy the excitement of the tournament at the same time. The room lit up because of the sense of belonging. A sense of being seen.

In that moment, the classroom became a place where people from different countries, traditions, and stories came together to celebrate something familiar and fun.

This is the magic of WInC: community woven into every lesson, every smile, every act of generosity.

Thank you, Allen, for showing once again how volunteers help turn simple moments into meaningful ones.

 

A Small Miracle in Yarn

At WInC, beauty often begins with a single pair of hands and this week, those hands belong to our Crochet Instructor Veronica. Her latest creation, a small handmade Virgencita, carries the stories, prayers, and quiet strength of our borderland.

Shaped with patience and devotion, this little figure glows with the hues that define our region: deep reds, calming blues, and the warm golds that echo our sunsets. Every stitch feels like a whisper of hope, a reminder that milagros sometimes bloom in the simple act of creating something with love.

Veronica’s Virgencita reflects who we are. A community that holds space for faith, for culture, for memory. A community that believes beauty can be an offering, and that hope can be woven, shared, and passed from hand to hand.

In her work, we see the heart of WInC: creativity rooted in tradition, and tradition carried forward with tenderness.

Thank you, Veronica, for showing us that even the smallest creations can hold immense light.

 

Every Color Tells a Story

At WInC, creativity is about discovering the strength, voice, and possibility within each woman who walks through our doors. This week, that truth shines through the work of Deborah, whose art carries layers of meaning in every color she chooses.

In each stroke and shade, Deborah is telling her own story; a story of faith, of healing, and of the future she is building with courage and intention. Her artwork reflects her journey, her fortitude, and the quiet hope she continues to nurture.

This is what WInC is all about. When women create, they’re building confidence. They’re forming connections. They’re shaping a future where their voices are seen, heard, and honored.

Deborah’s work shows us that creativity can be a form of prayer, a path toward healing, and a declaration of possibility. And when one woman rises, her light lifts the whole community.

Here, every color matters because every woman’s story matters.

 

Judith’s Legacy Lives in Every Creation

The legacy of our beloved former volunteer Judith Aldaz continues to shine through the hands and hearts of the women she taught. As WInC’s cake‑decorating instructor, Judith opened doors to creativity, confidence and joy. Her classes were about her students believing in their own ability to create something beautiful.

Patty, one of Judith’s former students, is a perfect example of that legacy in motion. The skills she carries today reflect everything Judith poured into her work: beauty, flavor, and love woven into every detail. Each creation Patty makes is a quiet tribute to the woman who encouraged her, guided her, and helped her discover her own artistic voice.

This is how deeply Judith touched the lives around her. Her influence lives on in every swirl of frosting, every handmade decoration, every moment of pride her students feel when they finish a piece they once thought they couldn’t make.

We miss you, Judith. May God keep you safe in your travels for work, and may He grant you the chance to visit us whenever the road brings you home again.

Your light continues to live here in the women you taught, the joy you sparked, and the community you helped shape.

 

Nourishing Our Community, One Dish at a Time

This week in our Nutrition Class, the kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of a hearty veggie lasagna layered with colorful vegetables, whole ingredients, and the kind of care that turns a simple recipe into something meaningful. Participants chopped, stirred, learned, and laughed together as they explored what balanced meals can look like in their own homes.

Yet the most beautiful moment came after the cooking was done. Instead of keeping the meal for themselves, our students chose to share their creations with the volunteers who support our programs day after day. It was a gesture of gratitude, community, and connection.

At WInC, building skills in the kitchen is about nourishing the body and the spirit. It’s about learning together, caring for one another, and celebrating the generosity that keeps our Center thriving.

Thank you to our volunteers and students for making moments like this possible.