“God not only walks with his people, but also within them… In this we see an extension of the mystery of the Incarnation. For this reason, the encounter with the migrant, as with every brother and sister in need, ‘is also an encounter with Christ.’” – Pope Francis, for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
When we welcome a person to KBI, we welcome the face of God. In addition to this universal dignity, each person comes with a unique story, hopes, and set of strengths. Often, we don’t know what the next step or chapter will look like for the people who walk through our doors. That’s why offering holistic accompaniment, which includes opportunities like the Livelihood Project, is so important. Taking a holistic, multifaceted approach allows us to foster resilience, renewal, and skills that people can take with them, no matter what the next chapter holds.
Today, we want to give you an up close view at the Livelihood Project – its history, how it’s developed over the years, and the people who give it vibrancy.
What is the Livelihood Project
The Livelihood Project emerged as a response to policies that left migrants in limbo for months in Nogales, awaiting the chance to begin the asylum process.
“Time doesn’t stop while we’re waiting for the U.S. policy to change,” says Sr. Anastacia “Tachita” Monjarez, M.E. “Living in Nogales is Plan B for many people. Plan A was seeking asylum, but they need a different plan while they wait. Migrants need to be able to create lives in Nogales while they’re here,” she says.
Soon, Tachita and others began guiding migrants in pursuing local job opportunities and offering weekly workshops to hone marketable skills. KBI staff began cultivating a network of employers open to employing people on the move in industries such as hospitality and manufacturing. To make sure they could enter such contracts with legal protection, KBI staff worked alongside migrants to acquire documentation for employment. Then, KBI would partner with migrants to make sure they had marketable skills – either to deploy with existing companies or to generate an income for themselves. As a result, the Livelihood Project has grown to offer workshops like baking, sewing, embroidery, and painting.
The overall goals: ensuring people on the move can economically sustain themselves in Nogales and beyond, and fostering a sense of belonging and community.
In 2023 alone, the Livelihood Project assisted 936 people on the move. While these people participated in a variety of the options the Livelihood Project offers, today we want to give you an in-depth look at how the baking workshops uplift a sense of dignity, hope, and confidence.
The Livelihood Project Today: Araceli shares about the joy of baking workshops
“The dynamic is really beautiful. A number of people have been coming for awhile, and while in class we like to joke and laugh together. People have gotten so comfortable with one another that I’ve noticed people have been walking each other to the workshops or houses. You can tell that thanks to the Livelihood Project, they don’t feel alone here in Nogales. That’s what I love most about these workshops, and what inspires me to keep doing them,” says Araceli Pacheco, a KBI staff member who has been leading baking workshops as part of the Livelihood Project.
She leads the workshops with empathy and understanding. As the main provider for her six children, she remembers long days selling bread to sustain her family before she worked at KBI. In 2008, Fr. Pete Neely invited her to volunteer in the kitchen at KBI. Soon after, she became a full time employee.
“I’ve loved watching Kino grow, but when we moved to the new space I found myself missing the sense of camaraderie and closeness with people at the Migrant Outreach Center. Our space used to be so much smaller. The team was smaller. It was easier to interact with everyone. I mentioned that to Jorge off-handedly,” she remembers. A couple of weeks later, Jorge called her into his office.
Araceli laughs, “I was so scared! I thought I’d done something wrong. Then he asked me if I would want to lead baking workshops for people at the center and help create a sense of community. It meant the world to me, and I loved the idea.”
She held the first baking workshop in February 2023, and they soon took off! Araceli would lead up to a dozen or more people in lessons on how to make cakes, pastries, puddings, cookies, rolls, and more.
“We foster a sense of community and belonging by preparing everything together, cleaning, sharing tips, and learning from each other. And we weave in ways for people to share their stories and cultures. Some of that comes up naturally, since food is so tied to family,” she explains.
Last Christmas, Araceli prepared a lesson on how to make “Besitos de Novia,” a Christmas dessert made of sugar and nuts. As she read out the recipe, she noticed one woman in the workshop perked up, eyes glistening. “When I came up to ask her about her reaction, she told me that her grandmother used to make that same dessert every Christmas. We got to talking about her family, laughing and smiling, as we made that dish together,” Araceli says.
Araceli has structured this community-building and culture-sharing into the rhythm of the workshops, too. One week each month, a migrant will lead the group in preparing a dessert from the place where they grew up. “It’s a chance for us to get to know each other’s culture and also to learn from each other. It builds a lot of confidence for people to have that chance to be an expert and lead the group,” Araceli says.
Naomi explains how baking fosters resilience, renewal, and community
Naomi has been attending baking workshops with her three daughters for the past seven months. She arrived to Nogales with her children and husband in November 2023 without knowing anyone. After being turned away at the port of entry, Naomi remembers that a woman told her about KBI.
“We came, and thanks to God, Kino gave us a place to sleep. We learned about the CBP One application and were able to apply for an appointment. Every time we came to KBI, we found out a new way they offered to support us – food, psychological services, clothes. I heard about the baking workshops and wanted to go, but at first I avoided it because I didn’t want to leave my children behind,” she says.
Ultimately, she decided to test it out. She’s astonished at how much it has changed not only her life, but also her daughters’ lives. “When we came, my heart was so heavy. I remember telling God that I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. My daughters were so afraid. So shy. Every time we came to a baking workshop, I saw them walk out with a little more confidence. I learned how to make so many wonderful cakes and desserts. Some of them I’d never even heard of!” Naomi says.
Araceli has seen a similar impact on other families. She recalls one woman who started coming to the workshops before tentatively asking to bring her 12-year-old daughter, too. After a couple of sessions, the mother explained, “I came for my daughter, not myself. When we left our home, she fell into a depression. She didn’t play. She didn’t eat. She barely spoke. Then, she heard I was going to make cookies and she asked to come. From then on, she would ask, ‘Is it Thursday yet?’ wondering if she could come back.”
This story highlights the way that the Livelihood Project serves as an extension of psychosocial accompaniment. It’s designed that way – to boost wellbeing by providing a space for people to enjoy recipes tied to positive memories, learn alongside others who can teach them a new skill, express creativity, and above all build community. Naomi has loved forging connections through the baking workshops, too. One of the people she met in the workshops even connected Naomi with a place to live.
“I’ve gotten to know great people here. I’ve made friends who I know I’ll stay in contact with for years. In the midst of the challenges we’ve faced, it’s been a wonderful gift. It lightened the burden,” she says.
Araceli says she plans to keep coming to the workshops until Naomi gets the chance to cross into the U.S. with her family.
What’s next for the Livelihood Project, and how you can help
The Livelihood Project will remain strong as long as people keep coming to KBI. The project uplifts migrant dignity from multiple angles – connecting people to opportunities for a livable wage, giving migrants a space of self-expression, honing entrepreneurial skills, and creating opportunities to change the narrative about migrants in Nogales. By bolstering self-sufficiency and creative expression, the Livelihood Project gives migrants space to reclaim their own strengths and leverage them in a way that allows them to integrate into Nogales, Sonora. In this way, we see the Livelihood Project as one way to help community members, politicians, and businesspeople better welcome migrants into Nogales, Sonora.
“I think it serves as a reminder that when we welcome migrants, we welcome new strengths and gifts. Turning away people on the move means that we miss out, too,” says Director of Education and Advocacy Pedro De Velasco.
Your support will enable this project to grow so that many more migrants can create a livelihood that can make them proud.
Through initiatives like the Livelihood Project, together we are building a world where Migration with Dignity is possible.
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