In Southern New Mexico the Doña Ana Community Network Rural Partners Network (RPN) collaborated with Borderland Family Ties Organization to host its first virtual Watch Party to view the 2023 Rural LISC seminar in Coachella, California held on December 11, 2023.
Borderland Family Ties is a combined for-profit and non-profit agency whose mission is to strengthen families, empower parents, support schools, and strengthen communities through social, workforce, community, and economic development. Through this collaboration RPN Doña Ana Community Network, has begun conversations on opportunities for the expansion of Borderland Family Ties Organization that includes the purchase of a larger facility with additional growth potential to include a commercial kitchen, community garden, and a food pantry. RPN Community Liaison, Patsy Villalobos, is working to aid in identifying funding and technical assistance though USDA Rural Developments Community Facilities Program and Rural LISC’s Creative Capital opportunities.
The Watch Party brought opportunity for networking, with many of the guests that attended being part of Promotora Organizations. Promotoras are community advocates that are trusted individuals that empower their peers through education and connecting communities to health and outreach services. The different Promotora Organizations had the opportunity to introduce themselves and provided information on each of their resources and services that they provide to the colonia communities of Doña Ana County. In celebration of the Hispanic culture in the community, we all enjoyed delicious Mexican food such as red and green enchiladas (Christmas, as Southern New Mexicans call it for red & green chile sauces) chicken flautas, rice and beans.
As a result of this event Borderland Family Ties has been an active organization within the Doña Ana Community Network mission and initiatives. RPN is committed to supporting a successful partnership with Borderland Family Ties on other additional planned projects!