Chaparral Family Development Center

The Chaparral Family Development Center involves 20 women in Chaparral, NM.  Chaparral is located close to the outskirts of El Paso, TX, and is a sprawling rural community of approximately 18,000 people.  The Colonias Development Council began working with women in Chaparral on a child care center project in 2001.  In 2002 another group of women formed to teach themselves sewing skills.  In 2003, the Colonias Development Council worked with both groups to combine their energy to apply for federal funding for a building to house their planned activities.  This application to the Housing and Urban Development Department was successful in 2004!  Construction of an almost 4,000 square foot facility was completed in August 2007.   The Chaparral Family Development Center includes a child care facility, sewing room, classroom space, a commercial kitchen, and offices.  Although the women involved feel a sense of unity and strength working together as one organization, each project has distinct history and goals.  

Happy Faces Child Care Program
In 2001 the Colonias Development Council started working with a group of five women in Chaparral who determined the need for a child care center there. They completed a market study and business plan. In 2002 they were awarded start-up funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, McCune Foundation, and Frost Foundation. They also secured a commitment of a donation of one acre of land from a local landowner for their center.  Several of the founding members are now employed as child care center staff. The Center is open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm and has a capacity for 30 children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. 

Creaciones Yuca (Yucca Creations)
In January of 2002, the Colonias Development Council coordinated a site visit to Albuquerque by five women from Chaparral and Hatch. The women visited three community economic development projects (Southwest Creations Collaborative, Mujeres en Acción, Comunidad en Progreso) and brought ideas back to their communities. In Chaparral, a group evolved from this visit that decided to pursue sewing possibilities. They were able to convince a local organization, Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, to bring a sewing/business class to Chaparral. Several of the participants joined with other women and became known as Mujeres Aprendiendo a Coser (Women Learning to Sew). 

Three years later, the group has changed its name since they have now learned to sew. When asked to describe themselves, the group members said, "We are a group of women who struggle to raise ourselves up, to help our families and our selves. We also want to help other women who want to learn to develop themselves and feel useful and productive members of society. We have encountered many obstacles and limitations, but thanks to God and the people and organizations that have supported us in different ways because they believe in our constancy and enthusiasm. Today we feel that we have achieved a lot, and very soon we will achieve our goals. The reason we chose our new name, Creaciones Yuca, is that the Yucca Flower is a native New Mexican plant that resists all kinds of heat and storms, just like we have resisted giving in when the challenges of our project were great."

They are beginning to focus on selling some of their products. They have a number of different types of products for sale, such as tote bags, potholders, children's clothing, pillows, and other home decor items. Some of their products integrate hand-woven and embroidered fabrics from Chiapas, Mexico. This collaboration came about with the support of Dr. Christine Eber, an anthropologist at New Mexico State University. Please see the Creaciones Yuca page f you are interested in supporting their work.  

Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten Program
Through a partnership with HELP NM, the Center is able to accommodate a morning Head Start and afternoon Pre-K program with a capacity of 20 children.  Both programs are free and offer a quality educational program. 

Other Projects
Soon, the Center members would like to be able to offer computer/internet access to the community for a small fee.  They are also working on plans to develop a small garden on the property.  In addition, Center members held a series of very successful yard sales, and are working on plans to develop an area to be used for a weekend vendor market.