About Our Story & Mission
Project ARRIBA (Advanced Retraining & Redevelopment Initiative in Border Areas) is a community-based nonprofit that operates as a workforce and economic development initiative in the Paso del Norte region.
Through a partnership of community-based organizations, training institutions, and private corporate investors, we work with underserved and overlooked populations to help them start or persevere in a post-secondary education program to achieve a degree or certification and then assist them with job placement to ensure long-term career retention in a position with a family-sustaining wage.
We began our mission to provide opportunities for people to succeed in 1999, modeling our case management and dignity-affirming education support program after San Antonio’s Project Quest. Project ARRIBA was created to retrain displaced workers from closing local factories to prepare them for and connect them to available, high-paying positions in the community. Since our inception, we have helped over 1,700 participants graduate and helped over 1,600 with job placements. Our program benefits participants, helping them achieve financial stability, while also meeting regional workforce shortages and strengthening the local economy.
To assist economically disadvantaged individuals in gaining the education and job skills needed for in-demand occupations that pay a family-sustaining, living wage in El Paso, Texas.
Be a leader in workforce development for the region, which will impact the state and nation, and over time, the world.
Our Standard
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Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
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Make every effort to build people up.
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Always do what is right.
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics recognized Project ARRIBA as a “Bright Spot” in Hispanic education. One of three El Paso recipients, Project ARRIBA received recognition for helping close the achievement gap for Hispanics in the areas of College Access and STEM Education.
This reflects Project ARRIBA’s commitment to data transparency among other nonprofits and sets the standard for the organization’s impact and effectiveness to our community and stakeholders.
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WSC report recognized Project ARRIBA as one of the nation’s top 14 successful workforce models from across the U.S. that is proactively addressing the challenge of providing disadvantaged workers with the technical and postsecondary education needed to qualify for skilled positions.
TEDC recognized Project ARRIBA as a top workforce development program for communities over 100,000 in population.
The U.S. Department of Commerce recognized Project ARRIBA as one of the top twenty programs in the nation that represent Workforce Innovation and Economic Adjustment Strategies.
The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics honors organizations whose leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character; ensure that the organization’s practices meet the highest standards of ethics; and consequently generate trust with its customers and the community. Project ARRIBA was a 2023 winner for non-profits.
