Background Information

Why was the Colonias Development Council formed?

In the late 1980s the colonia phenomenon exploded in southern New Mexico. A housing shortage had caused numerous developers to create illegal subdivisions to serve farmworkers and other low-income workers unable to afford other housing. The Office of Catholic Social Ministries of the Diocese of Las Cruces responded to this need by starting the Farmworker Organizing Project, which in 1994 became incorporated as the Doña Ana County Colonias Development Council (CDC), an independent non-profit organization. CDC was created to address the concerns of southern New Mexico's colonia residents. These concerns included gaining access to infrastructure and services such as water and wastewater systems, natural gas services and paved roads. Many colonias were also situated in flood plains, increasing the risk of flood damage, surfacing raw sewage due to flooded septic tanks or cesspools, and trash carried in from other areas. In addition to infrastructure needs, residents also faced economic development and educational issues, environmental health concerns, and problems related to immigration and civil rights. CDC's mandate was to work with these residents to develop community-based solutions to common needs. CDC' uses a community organizing approach that focuses on developing grassroots strategies to address resident-identified issues of concern. This approach builds leadership among colonia residents and develops the capacity of communities to build on their assets to bring about change. Over its eleven-year history, The Colonias Development Council has successfully worked with colonia leaders to bring about improvements in all identified areas of concern. Highlights are discussed in our past annual reports, which can be accessed through the links below.