Members of the International Relations Policy Task Force (IRTF), one of four learning communities at the Schar School of Policy and Government, traveled to the United States-Mexico border during March 2025 spring break to see for themselves how community members and activists work together to support those living in the area.
Julia Conway, a sophomore international security and law major, writes about her experience visiting the border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and engaging with the nonprofit Ciudad Nueva.
Ciudad Nueva is an organization focused on outreach aiming to promote a prosperous community within El Paso. Through its Community Access Initiative, the group helps support senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, while also holding many other enrichment programs for youth, middle schoolers, and high school students. At the heart of the organization are Community Connectors, leaders who assist individuals with a multitude of things. They facilitate counseling sessions and have connections to outside mental health resources and also step in to occasionally make a rent or utility payment on behalf of a family during times of financial crisis or emergency. Additionally, they can help community members with job searches, finding GED programs, and can disperse scholarships to those enrolled in local community colleges.
Another profound aspect of Ciudad Nueva is the food co-op that was brought to life in 2017. Our group specifically learned about this vital branch of the organization when visiting the establishment. We heard from the food co-op coordinator who works with local businesses to disperse food donations to local families in need. It was very evident that this specific coordinator was incredibly passionate about service to the neighborhood. She was contagiously enthusiastic; she spoke in a tone that was empowering, and it was clear that she eagerly leapt at any opportunity to collect more donations for her community pantry. She and a team of dedicated volunteers work sorting and dispersing food while also cleaning and making sure the facilities are in great shape.
This visit was significant in many ways, not just for me but for many of my other peers too. We studied border challenges, both on the United States and Mexico sides, migration, resources for migrants, and so much more that adds to the complexity of the topic. While our trip overall focused on the idea of “narrative over policy,” it required that each of us think and reflect deeply on our experiences. We gained perspective by meeting with individuals and seeing firsthand how policy affects communities in and beyond the United States. For many of us, it was a lot to digest as we navigated the discussions and challenges that came with participating in this unique study-abroad opportunity.
We ended up getting a tour of Ciudad Nueva toward the end of our time in El Paso, which in my opinion, was the perfect way to wrap up the trip. The coordinator talked about the work of the organization in a way that was both uplifting and empowering, instilling hope in us for improved community development. After learning about many different aspects of migration and policy, this reassured me that there are people in the world creating meaningful change, even on the local level. It highlighted to me how significant grassroot efforts are in helping communities thrive, especially those that face significant challenges in relation to migration.