Via International Inc

WE ENGAGE LEADERS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES.

VIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOSTERS LEADERSHIP FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES IN THE CALIFORNIA/BAJA BORDER REGION, MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND BEYOND. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDE:-VIA MIGRANTE THIS YEAR WE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT NEWLY ARRIVED PEOPLE TO TIJUANA, BOTH MIGRANTS AND DEPORTEES, TO ESTABLISH THEIR LIVES AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND/OR DETERMINE THEIR NEXT STEPS. WE ORGANIZED WITH FOUR SITES TO PARTICIPATE IN NUTRITION/ECOLOGY PROGRAMS WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION OVER THE PAST 47 YEARS. WE ALSO PROVIDED FOOD SERVICE SUPPORT TO SHELTERS AND DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE BI-NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP PARK WEEKLY, SERVING OVER 5,800 PEOPLE.-FAMILY HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY IS DEFINED AS ALL PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY OBTAINING A CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE, NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE DIET THROUGH NON-EMERGENCY FOOD SOURCES AT ALL TIMES. THE VIA PROCESS INTEGRATES NUTRITION, HEALTH AND ORGANIC GARDENING INTO A COMMUNITY APPROACH THAT OFFERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS SELF-RELIANT METHODS TO ADDRESS THEIR FOOD NEEDS. TWO COMMUNITIES, ONE IN TIJUANA AND ONE IN ROSARITO, MEXICO, PARTICIPATED IN THE NUTRITION/ECOLOGY COURSES. VIA ALSO PROVIDED 600 FOOD BOXES TO PEOPLE IN LOGAN HEIGHTS SAN DIEGO WHO ARE STILL AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.-MICRO ENTERPRISE FOR FAMILY FINANCIAL SECURITY. COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL FAMILY WELL-BEING IS ENHANCED BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. IN 2003, VIA BEGAN A COMMUNITY BANK FUND TO INCREASE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND THEREBY ADDRESS CHILD HEALTH AND SCHOOL/EDUCATION COSTS. HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE PRIORITIES FOR FAMILIES. THE MICRO-ENTERPRISES PROVIDE A WAY TO CREATE SELF-RELIANCE TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED NEEDS. OVER $2.1 MILLION HAS BEEN LOANED AND REPAID. IN 2021/22, LOAN GROUPS RECONVENED FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC.-COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT. VIAS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES COMMUNITY OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS TRAINING INCLUDING SKILL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING COMPONENTS. VIA COLLABORATES WITH A UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE CREDENTIALING FOR THIS PROGRAM AND SERVE THE PARTICIPANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY WORK, PROVIDE SKILL TRAINING FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS TRAINING FOR DEVELOPING MICRO-ENTERPRISES AND ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM. THE PROGRAM HAS 440 GRADUATES.

VIA BARRIO SUPPORTS COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THROUGH SOCIAL JUSTICE ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY OF LOGAN HEIGHTS, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. WITH 47 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE ORGANIZATION NOW SUPPORTS MULTIPLE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE SAN DIEGO/TIJUANA BORDER REGION WHERE WE ARE BASED. -THE ESCUELA AMISTAD OFFERED A SERIES OF ONLINE SPANISH CLASSES (MULTIPLE COHORTS) SERVING 40 PEOPLE-CHARLAMIGOS PROVIDED PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MIGRANTS OR DEPORTEES VIA ZOOM. THIS UNIQUE OFFERING CONDUCTED 398 SESSIONS AND PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED INCOME TO THE MIGRANT AND/OR DEPORTEE PARTICIPANTS. -VIA CAFE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH A COFFEE ROASTER WE OFFER FOR SALE ORGANIC, FREE TRADE COFFEE. WE HOSTED IN PERSON MARKETS SELLING BOTH COFFEE AND VIA HONEY FROM OUR BEE KEEPER COOPERATIVE IN MEXICALI. ATTENDANCE WAS 100+.-VIA COORDINATED THE PARTICIPATION OF 7 WOMEN BAKERS TO DEVELOP COOPERATIVE SALES ACTIVITIES WITH THE INTENT OF DEVELOPING A COOPERATIVE BUSINESS AND OPENING A BAKERY/COMMERCIAL KITCHEN IN LOGAN HEIGHTS, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

VIA GO: GLOBAL EDUCATION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM LOCAL LEADERS AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY IN THE WORK OF DEVELOPING SELF AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. WE ANNUALLY HOST HUNDREDS OF TRAVELERS/VISITORS TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS YEAR OUR WORK WAS DETERRED AGAIN BY THE PANDEMIC. HAVING LAUNCHED IN 2020 A VIRTUAL PROGRAM, WE CONTINUED THIS YEAR WITH MULTIPLE VIRTUAL GROUPS INCLUDING UNIVERSITY AND CHURCH GROUPS SERVING 220 PEOPLE. WE HOSTED 275 VISITORS IN PERSON TO THE BORDER REGION, FOR MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HOSTED NUMEROUS DAY TRIPS, SERVING CLOSE TO 100 PEOPLE.