Community center aims to empower youth

Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach Center aims to empower youth to become leaders of their neighborhood.

The center originated as an effort from the Church of St. Clement, located at 810 N. Campbell Street, but in 2004 it was spun into a separate non-profit organization to focus on the development of the Rio Grande neighborhood near downtown.

“Our focus is renewal and development in this neighborhood and wanting to see a healthy thriving community here,” said executive director Sami DiPasquale.

He said the center’s focuses include empowering youth, supporting families, equipping leaders and strengthening community.

DiPasquale said the neighborhood has high rates of illiteracy and poverty.

The center’s after school mentoring programs helps children overcome challenges that will help them succeed in the classroom.

“We just want to see every kid graduate from high school.” DiPasquale said.

Ciudad Nueva works year round to send kids to summer camps around the Southwest to offer them different experiences.

The assistance goes beyond the walls of the community center, it helps the families of the some of the children that attend the center.

Food assistance, paying utility bills and legal immigration services are just some of the ways families are helped.

“I think we measure our success by the relationships in the community and how positive the community speaks of us,” said Luis Gabaldon, one of the center’s directors.

“I feel like our community has gotten closer,” said Evelyn Loya, a sophomore at El Paso High School who spends a lot of time at Ciudad Nueva.

She said it offers opportunities to improve in school, gain confidence and learn about God.