Doña Ana County may be home to a new community outreach facility. Learn more about it here.

Community leaders and potential investors gather at a workshop Sept. 18, 2024, in Anthony, New Mexico. The organization Family Ties, NM proposes to build a new facility known as "The Oasis" that would provide space for community members to learn and safely gather. Photo by Juan Corral / SNMJC

A proposed new center named “The Oasis” in the heart of Anthony, New Mexico, has taken its first step into fruition. Community leaders and members from several organizations came together Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the first public planning session for the project to discuss the need for the facility. 

The Oasis, which stands for outreach, advocacy, strength, inclusion, and sustainability is led by Family Ties, NM founder Vanessa Mobley Knox. 

“This village is about creating a holistic community,” she said. “We are looking for people in mental health, people in health care, veterans, so we want to start with growth within the community.”

Disclosure: Family Ties, NM is a participant in the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative.

The Oasis project could offer a new “third space” in this 8,600-person Texas-New Mexico border city, where residents have long complained about a lack of infrastructure and community spaces. Support for so-called third spaces – gathering spots away from home and work – has gained traction nationally as a way to foster civic engagement and community identity.

Mobley Knox emphasized the importance of working alongside leaders in the community but with unvoiced community members. She said the proposed center, expected to be located on 12 acres, will bring community members together to provide economic growth for families.  

The facility is expected to have three buildings — an administration building, an education building and a distribution center, according to the proposed layout. Many of the specifics, such as the anticipated budget and the sources of possible funding, are still in development.

“Designed to meet the needs of the region’s underserved populations, The Oasis will provide a variety of services and resources aimed at cultivating community and prosperity,” according to the overview explained at the meeting.

A space for classes, workforce training

The concept will provide a space for family engagement, adult learning activities like cooking and parenting, resource fairs and workforce development, among other possibilities. 

Psychotherapist and counselor Camille Cisneros, who attended Wednesday, is eager to get involved. 

“I was called to this meeting because I still believe in the community and work with the community. I want to help in any way I can with some of these projects and see where I can provide guidance,” Cisneros said. 

Cisneros pointed out community engagement as one of best ways to garner opinions and ideas that may address obstacles The Oasis can face during the construction phase. 

Challenges could include community outreach and being able to reach various demographics from rural communities, like Anthony, Chaparral, Santa Teresa, Sunland Park, and even from Las Cruces and El Paso. Cisneros said solutions can include a door-to-door initiative, community meetings and meet-and-greets with community leaders. 

“One way to engage with the community is going to areas the people like to congregate. One place we may not always think of but is very popular in Anthony are bars,” Cisneros said. “Some of the places that do not immediately come to mind are many places rural communities gather.” 

Former Doña Ana County Manager Julia Brown on Sept. 18, 2024, discusses ideas to keep community members and potential investors involved with a proposed new community facility, called "The Oasis," that would be built in Anthony, New Mexico. (Photo by Juan Corral/ SNMJC)

Many attendees agreed with Cisneros; one in particular was former Doña Ana County Manager Julia Brown. Brown, who’s also a former Sunland Park city manager, said reaching a variety of people, from high school students to military veterans, can help build enthusiasm for such a large project. She suggested a way to fund the operations of a nonprofit center such as The Oasis. 

“The term nonprofit does not mean you cannot turn a profit,” she said. “That is only a tax status. When they form their organizations, if there is an opportunity to create a revenue stream then they should structure themselves in a way where they stack the for-profit with the nonprofit so the nonprofit portion of the organization can still go after grants that it is eligible for.” 

Continued Brown: “This way, the for-profit entity can generate the revenue stream and make tax deductible donations to the nonprofit entity. I am so thrilled to have encountered that in this approach.” 

Brown added that this is an “amazing” and “creative” start to operational and entrepreneurial opportunities. She hopes the proposal will garner attention locally so other communities may follow the blueprint. The project also could open doors for further economic development and job creation in the community.

“This project, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. I am so thrilled to see where this is going to go,” Brown said.  

Potential jobs and revenue 

In addition to creating jobs during the construction phase, the facility – once opened – could staff a range of personnel, including administrative staff, maintenance workers, workshop instructors, childcare providers, culinary entrepreneurs, event coordinators, IT technicians, custodial and warehouse staff. 

The center is expected to provide rentable spaces, catering services, leasable office space, a  leasable commercial kitchen, and rentable cold storage to help local farmers. 

The center will include a broadband tower for community members who may not have access to internet at home or any in the vicinity.

Once plans eventually are finalized and funding is in place, construction is expected to last a little over three years. Infrastructure development is estimated to take the first 12 months. The following 17 months will focus on construction of the center’s three buildings, broadband infrastructure that will provide free internet for community members, and a solar farm. 

Family Ties, NM will focus the final nine months on staffing and community outreach leading up to its grand opening. 

Mobley Knox said she wants to establish a good relationship with the community as the plans develop. She continues to seek sources of funding for the project.

“Just to reinforce is that one of the biggest complaints we have from our families is that they don’t feel heard,” Mobley Knox said. “This is just one reason why we have our community meetings and want this project to succeed so that our families can feel heard and seen.” 

The next meeting about the project is slated to take place Oct. 15. Details on a location will be released at a later date. With questions and input, reach out to Family Ties, NM at TheOasis@familytiesnm.com.