Los Frontera Fellows desarrollan proyectos comunitarios después de un verano de capacitación en servicio público

A group of Frontera Fellows interns completed a summer fellowship centered on public service and community engagement in El Paso, developing projects aimed at addressing local needs ranging from transportation accessibility to support for migrants and refugees, according to El Paso Matters.

The cohort began the fellowship in May and worked closely with Congresswoman Veronica Escobar's campaign to study local and state government, regional history, and civic engagement through meetings with community leaders. Throughout the summer, fellows met with elected officials and nonprofit leaders to understand how policy decisions affect residents.

Texas state Rep. Mary González discussed her transition from education to politics and her current legislative efforts with local utility companies. District 2 city Rep. Josh Acevedo explained the Meta data center proposal and how differing perspectives can delay policymaking. Socorro Independent School District Trustee Manny Rodriguez and El Paso ISD Trustee Mindy Sutton addressed advocacy for students and educators, with Sutton stressing the importance of empathy in decisions affecting the community.

Fellow Randall Barraza said the conversations taught him that "it is not enough to simply understand policy. You also need to understand the people, their concerns, and the history of the community you serve." Fellow Paulina Ortega attended a town hall where Congresswoman Escobar introduced U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico to the city, an experience that reinforced her commitment to civic engagement.

Fellows produced two detailed projects as the fellowship's conclusion. Ortega and Daniela Avant-Mier led the Annunciation House Community Drive, which launches a donation drive and places collection boxes across El Paso to support organizations serving migrants and immigrants. Ortega said the initiative aims to make service organizations "feel appreciated and supported by their community."

Kareena Ortiz, Pierro Aragones, and Santiago Serrano created a Public Transportation Resource Guide documenting El Paso's transit system, identifying accessibility gaps, and proposing improvements. Community members can support the initiatives through donations, volunteering, or engagement with the organizations involved.