About Us

Our Story

In the spring of 1993, Sisters Camilla Verrett, Kathleen Erickson, and local women from Anthony, NM were searching for a location for a women’s center.  There was a large house with a two-car garage and some storage areas, including a tiny “apartment” for sale on Lincoln Street, across the street from the church.  The property took up half a block, including a large yard and parking area.    The group initiated discussions on purchasing the property.  The sisters thought if they could get money for a down payment, then the money used for rent where they were currently living could be used as mortgage payments to pay off the property. 

The significance of this decision included not only financial issues but the realization that it meant a long-term commitment, fund-raising, and administration. Neither sister was interested in taking this on, having come from years of similar work and wanting to work more directly with people.

The evening prior to deciding whether to go forward, Sr. Kathleen sat on the steps in front of the Church thinking about these issues and deciding to vote against purchasing the property and starting a women’s center.  Just then, she noticed a young woman pushing a baby carriage across the street.  As she got close to the front of the Church, Sr. Kathleen saw that she was crying.  After greeting one another, they talked.  The young woman said her husband had come home drunk again and that she didn’t know what to do.  She had no friends or family in Anthony and, although she said she wasn’t afraid of him, she felt extremely sad and alone.  That was exactly why the group was considering a women’s center.  Women in the area needed a place to meet and mutually support one another.  The following day, both sisters agreed that it was a real need and decided to move forward.  Fund-raising projects began.

Sr. Camilla did much of the negotiating with Mercy leadership and the owners of the property, eventually establishing the Women's Intercultural Center as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in NM.  The NM Department of Health helped fund the down payment and the Omaha Sisters of Mercy gave a sizable grant that was donated by Sr. Hilary Barella, who wanted the funding to be used for a project to benefit Hispanic women.  The sisters also assumed the mortgage at no interest.  In 2000, as part of the Jubilee year, the Sisters of Mercy forgave the $13,000 outstanding debt on the property. 

During the summer of 1993, the sisters and the local women met in the living room of the empty house.  The group drew diagrams on big pieces of cardboard showing where they would put a kitchen, bathroom, gathering room, and areas for sewing and ESL tutoring.   The group included Magdalena Esparza, Martina Filerio, Josefina Guzman, Isa Mary Hernandez, and her daughter who had the same name, Norma Sanchez, and Diana Sosa among others.

Remodeling began and sisters Camilla and Kathleen moved into the house in August 1993.  When sister Damien arrived from Kansas City, she came with enough furniture to furnish the house.  Manny Leyva, from the Las Cruces Diocese, served as “contractor” for the remodeling.  Local businessmen and women generously joined the Board of Directors.

For approximately seven years the Women's Intercultural Center functioned in the1,500 square foot space, from the remodeling of the two-car garage and adjoining storage area which were turned into several small offices, a kitchen, and a gathering space.  Over the years, space proved insufficient for the Center's expanding programs. The classes and projects brought in more participants and more ideas for new classes. It was time for a change. At the beginning of 2000, the women, staff, and board of the Women's Intercultural Center began to seriously consider the possibility of expanding their building. Together, they envisioned what a larger space would offer. This led to the Educational Construction Project of building an environmentally friendly building out of compacted earth and tires.

The Women's Intercultural Center's inauguration of the main Center building was held November 26, 2003.  As a demonstration of commitment to operating in a collaborative style instead of inviting a “dignitary” to cut a ribbon or give a speech; the women stretched a long ribbon across the front of the Center and all those instrumental in completing the construction project cut the ribbon at the same time.    

Since its inception, the Center provides classes, training, and workshops in a variety of areas, hosts community meetings, and much more.   The women are provided with the tools and resources needed for them to move on to attain technical skills, higher education, and/or employment.  Our volunteers are the key to our success and the source of the expansion and growth of our work.   

"Where It Starts"