Programs:

The Women's Intercultural Center believes that every person can benefit from structured educational experiences; furthermore, each woman possesses a unique talent, story, or life experience from which others can learn. Therefore, the Center's Creative Learning Program (CLP) provides participants opportunities to be both teacher and student, empowering women through learning and sharing.

The CLP is not designed like a traditional school; the educational programs offered at the Center provide an introduction to learning experiences via a holistic approach that is not limited by a grading system or exams. The relaxed classroom dynamic fostered by the Center's classes creates an accessible, welcoming environment and productive learning space. Most courses (except ESL) are conducted primarily in Spanish. The Creative Learning Program offers the following:

•  Semester-long classes
•  Friday Workshops covering a broad range of topics and interests

All of the Center's programs are intentionally designed to foster personal growth and celebrate human potential; the organization's programming model can be viewed here.

Please find here a calendar of classes currently being offered.

Below please find descriptions of the Center's courses pertaining to the following topics:

English as a Second Language
Visual Art
Practical Skills for Home & Family
Needlecrafts
Kitchen Arts
Physical Wellbeing
Natural Healing Arts
Personal Enrichment

English as a Second Language (ESL)
A comprehensive program tailored to meet the needs to students at different levels in their English language skills, including beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Instruction includes individual or small group tutoring, as well as group classes, workshops and labs. Placement and post-assessment testing is also conducted. The Center works in collaboration with the Doña Ana Branch Community College of Las Cruces, NM to provide training for instructors and meet the learning needs of our participants.
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Visual Art
BLOCK PRINTMAKING : Students learn basic Soft-KutT printmaking skills to make block prints. Participants produce matted artwork, greeting cards, & gift-wrapping paper with opportunities to display and sell their work at the Center.

CRAFTS & FOLK ART : Students learn how to make folk art items, such as retablos in tin & wood, retablos painted on wood, painted walking sticks, art benches, etc. Students are encouraged to participate in an Arts & Crafts fairs ( Mercados de Artesania ) at the Center and similar craft shows at other locations

OIL PAINTING : Students receive an introduction to oil painting, beginning with the use of chalk pastels to learn about color and light, and then instruction on oil painting techniques. There are also opportunities to display and sell student work at the Center.
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Practical Skills for Home & Family
CARPENTRY, BEGINNING & ADVANCED : Students learn use of power tools, safety, and woodworking basics. Throughout the course, participants complete carpentry projects of their choice, from benches to coffee tables and more advanced projects.

ORGANIC GARDENING : Participants learn how to create a thriving food garden that will supply fresh and nourishing vegetables and fruits to gardeners, while fostering care for the earth and its precious resources. Emphasis is placed upon low cost gardening, with particular attention paid to water conservation and more.

•  Center Garden: Students will watch and participate in the preparation of the site and design of the garden, selection of crops to be grown, planting of both seeds and starts, mulching, and up keep.

•  Home Garden Consultation: In addition to working on the garden(s) at the Center, women who want to grow a garden at home can do so with an on-site consultation in their own yards

HAIRCUTTING FOR THE FAMILY : Students learn the basics needed to provide haircuts for themselves and their family members. (NOTE: Participants will not receive a commercial license or certification).
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Needlecrafts
SEWING BASICS : Students learn the basics of sewing with patterns, including instruction on sewing machine parts, maintenance and use, pattern selection and sewing techniques. Each participant selects their own project.

CROCHET and/or KNITTING : Participants will learn basic crochet and knitting.
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Kitchen Arts
NUTRITIONAL COOKING : Students learn about nutrition and how to cook healthy meals while collecting new recipes. There is classroom instruction as well as hands-on learning in the kitchen. (Certificate of completion for those who attend all class sessions).

CAKE DECORATING BASICS : Participants are introduced to cake decorating techniques and learn new frosting/icing recipes for various occasions. Demonstrations and hands-on experience included.
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Physical Wellbeing
WALKING FOR LIFE : Walking is one of the simplest and best forms of exercise and stress reduction that exists. The walking group meets in the Center parking lot precisely 8:00 a.m., and then walks about 2 miles for 30 minutes.

YOGA : Students learn and practice basic Yoga postures that promote physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.

AIKIDO : An introduction into this Japanese study of self-defense that focuses on the coordination of mind and body and the development of positive energy. Techniques emphasize flow, relaxation and blending with an attacker. The art is well suited for women and can be practiced by people of varying ages and physical abilities without threat of bodily harm because the exercise does not rely upon strength or brute force, but on the ability to coordinate mind and body.
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Natural Healing Arts
REFLEXOLOGY : An introduction into using pressure points on the bottoms of the feet to promote healing throughout the body, boost the immune system, and contribute to general well-being.

REIKI : An introduction into energy channeling techniques that harmonize the spirit, aid the immune system, and promote general well-being.
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Personal Enrichment
PARENTING : Instruction and discussion on a broad range of issues related to good parenting, including communication, childhood and adolescent development, structure and discipline, modeling behavior, and issues facing children and teenagers today.

VALUES & LIFE : Using presentations, drawings, discussion, and small group activities, participants explore a number of topics for personal growth - - all in a cozy atmosphere of trust and relaxation. Topics covered include: Self-esteem; an examination of our Values, how we adopted them and how they impact our lives; Conflict Resolution and Communication skills; Decision-making; Personal Power, & more.

EXPLORING OUR SPIRITUALITY : Humans understand spirituality, faith, and the Sacred differently; therefore, there is value in creating safe group settings within which participants may share their own experiences and learn from each other. In this faith group, participants will share reflect upon their individual faith journeys and explore spirituality and a sense of the Sacred in an informal environment of trust.
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Programming Model of the Women's Intercultural Center