Via International Inc

WE PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BY ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING LEADERS IN EMERGING COMMUNITIES. THE VIA INTERNATIONAL BOARD APPROVED A DEFICIT BUDGET TO REBUILD THE CAPACITY OF THE ORGANIZATION AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

VIA BARRIO SUPPORTS COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THROUGH SOCIAL JUSTICE ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY OF LOGAN HEIGHTS, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. WITH 48 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE ORGANIZATION NOW SUPPORTS MULTIPLE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE SAN DIEGO/TIJUANA BORDER REGION WHERE WE ARE BASED. -IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE SUPPORTED THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD BASKETS TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC (600)-THE ESCUELA AMISTAD OFFERED A SERIES OF ONLINE SPANISH CLASSES (MULTIPLE COHORTS) SERVING 35 PEOPLE-CHARLAMIGOS PROVIDED PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MIGRANTS OR DEPORTEES VIA ZOOM. THIS UNIQUE OFFERING CONDUCTED 250 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 5 WOMEN BAKERS TO DEVELOP COLLECTIVE SALES ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP A COOPERATIVE BUSINESS AND OPEN A BAKERY/COMMERCIAL KITCHEN IN LOGAN HEIGHTS, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

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 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 THREE SITES TO PARTICIPATE IN NUTRITION/ECOLOGY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION OVER THE PAST 48 YEARS. WE ALSO PROVIDED FOOD SERVICE SUPPORT TO SHELTERS AND DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE BI-NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP PARK WEEKLY, SERVING OVER 5,800 PEOPLE.-VIA BAJA - 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 TO OFFER COMMUNITY MEMBERS SELF-RELIANT METHODS TO ADDRESS THEIR FOOD NEEDS. FOUR COMMUNITIES, THREE IN TIJUANA AND ONE IN ROSARITO, MEXICO, PARTICIPATED IN THE NUTRITION/ECOLOGY COURSES. -VIA BAJA - 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 2022/2023, LOAN GROUPS RE RECONVENING FORM A MORATORIUM DURING THE PANDEMIC.-VIA BAJA - 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 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 250 VISITORS IN PERSON TO THE BORDER REGION, FOR MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HOSTED NUMEROUS DAY TRIPS, SERVING CLOSE TO 100 PEOPLE.