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Rural Livelihoods / Border Region

Launched in 1997, Rural Livelihoods initially looked to build on the assets of rural communities throughout the state by funding sustainable, community-based economic development projects.  In 2002, Rural Livelihoods was expanded with a focus on New Mexico’s/Mexico Border region.

Across the state, NMCF’s Rural Inititiative grants aim to build community and philanthropic resources, support basic human services such as healthcare and childcare, and sustain our culture and natural resources.

NMCF strives to maintain healthy, creative, sustainable connections between communities, the people who live in them, and NMCF donors and partners. NMCF’s believes that New Mexico’s rural communities can not only survive, but thrive.

NMCF’s Rural Livelihoods Initiative has been able to contribute to the:

  • Expansion of the resources base for rural communities and families
  • Increase of entrepreneurial and leadership skills and best practices
  • Development of strategic opportunities
  • Strengthened relationships among organizations
  • Community planning and management of natural resources and water

Rural Livelihoods – Border Region Project

Designed to strengthen and deepen the philanthropic impact along the U.S.-Mexico border by addressing ‘quality of life’ issues in border communities:

  • In southern Doña Ana county, NMCF supports the innovative Girl/Boy Talk Club project.  The activities of the club are implemented through La Clinica de Familia’s Promotora Project, which encourages people from the community – Promotoras – to train as peer educators. Bringing boys and girls into separate lunchtime sessions, the project addresses the extremely high rates of teen pregnancy in the area by improving the students’ ability to make responsible, informed decisions. Sessions also focus on helping students share their knowledge with their peers, increasing self-esteem and improving attitudes. The Project’s overall goal is to decrease risky behavior that might lead to teen pregnancy.
  • Working with its partner Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, NMCF also supports the groundbreaking Tres Manos micro-enterprise development program. Tres Manos, based in San Miguel, teaches the women who live in the Colonias of southern New Mexico the skills of textile weaving. The program has trained over 75 women who go through six months of training. They learn to weave on traditional wooden looms, transforming thread and yarn into scarves, shawls, rugs and other textiles. After the training the women can sell their beautiful products in the Tres Manos store in Mesilla, keeping 70% of the sale price. Through Tres Manos, the women can still work from home, yet their sales transform their families’ resources while the women form deep friendships and strengthen their communities.

NMCF’s Rural Livelihoods Initiative is supported with funding from our partner foundations, including the Ford Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the National Rural Funders Collaborative, Hispanics in Philanthropy, the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership, the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Messengers of Healing Winds Foundation, and from our individual donor partners.

Tierra Madre Housing Project

Learn about NMCF’s role in the Tierra Madre Housing Project.