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>Center for Bilingual Development and Social Enterprise (CBDSE)

A MUJER OBRERA CENTRO MAYAPAN

A Sustainable Community Economic Development and Empowerment Initiative Rooted in Mexican Cultural Heritage in the United States.

To respond to the crisis facing Spanish-speaking women workers and families on the border, La Mujer Obrera, in conjunction with other community and national business and non-profit partners, is implementing the Plan Mayachén, as a sustainable development initiative rooted in the market opportunities of Mexican cultural heritage. Plan Mayachén, proposes to create opportunities for the women and their families by offering:

* An entertaining and educational bicultural experience for visitors from Texas, other parts of the United States, and Mexico;
* A generator of business and investment opportunities in this bi-national area;
* A plan for community and regional development; and

* A significant expansion of El Paso’s socioeconomic infrastructure.

As a demonstration site of Plan Mayachen’s diverse strategies, La Mujer Obrera and its partners are establishing Centro Mayapán, a unique community-operated festival marketplace and community empowerment center. We are in the final stages of renovating a 40,000 square foot warehouse in South-Central El Paso to house a wide range of businesses and community services, as well as to serve as a cultural center and events venue. When inaugurated in late 2008, Centro Mayapan will include:

* Mercado Mayapán:
A public in-door artesian marketplace featuring dozens of micro-enterprises and small businesses producing local goods and/or selling diverse products from throughout Mexico. The Mercado Popular also will serve as an incubator to support the growth of new and expanding businesses based in the Mexican cultural heritage.
o an indoor marketplace offering fresh produce, dry goods and sundry household items in demand amongst the Mexican population on both sides of the border. Local vendors of produce and household goods, emerging micro-enterprises, and area farmers will be featured.
o a commercial kitchen and individual food booths that offer specialty Mexican dishes and daily food staples (such as tortillas, tamales, taquitos, etc.) prepared on-site for consumption in the Mercado or for take-out dishes.

* Plaza Cultural-

An events venue that will sponsor regular programming and special events highlighting Mexican cultural heritage as presented by dance, music, and arts practitioners from both sides of the border. In addition, the Plaza Cultural, will maintain the authenticity of Centro Mayapán’s decor and facilities so that visitors and customers are immersed in the experience of Mexican cultural heritage, rather than viewing Centro Mayapán as nothing more than a commercial shopping site.

* Lum Metik Trading Company –

International bi-national company importing authentic, high-quality goods from carefully selected cooperative organizations of Mexican women and indigenous communities. It partners principally with socially conscious organizations that pay fair wages, employ environmentally friendly manufacturing practices, and produce high-quality, hand-crafted wares. As such, the principal client base of the Trading Company will be the businesses operating in Centro Mayapán, as well as a broad network of customers in Mexican communities across the United States via e-commerce (www.lummetik.com).

* Museo Mayachén -

A gallery for permanent exhibits on the history of struggle of Mexican immigrant women garment workers and farmworkers in the area, as well as the heritage of the South-Central El Paso neighborhood. The Museum will also develop exhibits throughout Centro Mayapán to highlight the cultural heritage reflected in the products and businesses in the facility.

* Media Center -

A public facility for community-based technology and multimedia training and services for the Spanish-language community. It will also serve as a presentation center for multi-media projects on the Mexican cultural heritage of El Paso and the Mexican immigrant community, as well as the designer of diverse marketing materials in support of Centro Mayapán and its component businesses, services and events.

* Center for Bilingual Development and Social Enterprise (CDBES) -

The capacity-building program that embeds leadership development in community economic development, workforce training and civic engagement, through programs for Spanish-speaking women and their families.

Conclusion

As a response to community needs, Centro Mayapán is a dynamic initiative designed by displaced Spanish-speaking women workers to build an empowerment center that creates new opportunities for employment, income and civic engagement, while also providing skills training and community development, within a cultural space for the Mexican immigrant community to express itself and to learn about and to share its Mexican traditions.

Centro Mayapán will open in spring 2008
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