ARISE to the challenge

Creating community leaders one woman at a time

By Elisabeth Román

When Maria initially accepted help from the women who came knocking at her front door all she wanted was to get a driver’s license. For the mother of four children, one born with autism, being able to drive meant Maria could finally take her children to school and to their many doctor appointments.

Like a lot of women in her colonia, as unincorporated border communities in Texas are called, Maria had always been told she had nothing more to offer than to care for the house and family. Like many in her community she also feared that leaving the house to seek any type of services could get her into trouble since she and her husband are undocumented immigrants. Little did Maria know that a visit from ARISE volunteers, an organization located in Las Milpas, Texas, would change her life and open up doors to new opportunities.

Established in 1987 by Sister Gerrie Naughton, ARISE which stands for A Resource in Serving Equality, was organized as an effort to empower women who live in the poor colonias in the Rio Grande Valley. By teaching women English, helping them to attain leadership skills and training them to become community organizers, ARISE helps immigrant women primarily from Mexico get on their feet in the U.S.  Programs for adult women always begin with personal development and spirituality.

Sister Gerrie began ARISE by going door-to-door, earning the trust of women and recruiting those interested in improving themselves and their community. The initial need identified by many in the community was to learn English. The women in Las Milpas who were fluent in English were trained to teach others.

ARISE, which does not charge for its services, provides women with job counseling; networking and advocacy skills; workshops on leadership and community development; reading programs, and English language development for children and adults, among others. Today, the non-profit organization is sponsored by three religious congregations: the Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Although ARISE’s programs are free, adults are asked to provide volunteer services in their community at least once a week. Every year, college students from throughout the nation also come to ARISE and volunteer in the summer programs. The center is supported through grants and donations.

ARISE believes each person is created in the image of God and therefore has many gifts and talents to offer. For Maria, this meant discovering she had an innate talent for designing and creating jewelry, arts and crafts. ARISE helped Maria enroll in an arts and crafts course at a local college and now she works from home and is helping to support her family by selling her jewelry creations. Maria also volunteers at ARISE, teaching other women how to unleash their own potential.

“At ARISE we serve people through personal contacts, home visits and by reaching out to those afraid to leave their homes or cannot, for whatever reasons, come to our center. Our goal is to empower women so they can achieve new heights and self-esteem,” said Lupita Negrete, president of ARISE in Las Milpas. “Just as Sister Gerrie did 20 years ago we are out in the community letting people know we are here to help.”

Your turn
Do you think people around you have some talent? What talents do you have that you could offer others?

Saint Frances Cabrini

She wanted to be a sister in her native Italy, but God had other plans for her. Because she was of delicate health, she was not accepted in the institute of her choice and so started her own. But that, fragile health and all, led her to leave home, land and family to devote herself to the immigrants who were arriving to the shores of the United States.