At Mixteca, community care takes many forms

On a weekday morning in July, Mixteca’s open-space office on 23rd St is buzzing with activity.

Inside, a dedicated staff and a rotating cast of volunteers and interns field walk-ins, coordinate upcoming outreach events, and prepare for an afternoon rally, all while under the ominous threat of what they suspect to be an ICE van parked near their headquarters.

“Every day is different.” said Jorge Paz, who coordinates advocacy for the organization. They see about 600 to 800 people a week, many of whom are undocumented. Despite fears, people continued to stream into the offices to seek help with everything from applying for work permits to getting OSHA certification.

“We're still trying to figure out how to respond to a lot of these threats and emergencies,” Paz said, speaking not only about the van, but ICE sightings throughout the area. “It's a balance of still being accessible to the community and protecting the community without creating alarm.”

Growth and leadership

Founded in 2000, Mixteca has grown in recent years from a small grassroots support center into a multi-service hub for Latinx immigrants, especially Mexican and Indigenous community members.

According to executive director Lorena Kourousias, the organization’s annual budget has grown from $250,000 to over $3 million in six years, growth that many attribute to her leadership.

“My priorities at the beginning were trying to have better salaries and dignity for the staff that is also part of the community.” Kourousias said. “Everything is changing because of the political situation, but our priorities are always to keep our families safe and to provide dignity and respect in our services.”

Mixteca’s current 2000 square feet is, according to Councilmember Alexa Avilés, “bursting at the seams,” and the organization is poised to move into a larger space in Sunset Park, while still possibly providing services at the South Slope office.

Last year the Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Avilés and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams secured $2.5 million in funding for Mixteca to purchase their own building in the neighborhood. While the original deal fell through, Avilés was able to secure additional $700,000 in funding this year to secure another location.

Immigration and Legal Services

Mixteca splits its immigration work between legal support and advocacy. Two DOJ-accredited paralegals handle citizenship, asylum, and work permit applications, though they have been seeing less asylum seekers. Paz points to the Trump administrations anti-migrant policies.

“They’re just attacking everyone who has asylum.” Paz said. “Even those who have asylum and they have the ability to get a work permit, they’re denying a lot of their work permits.”

Meanwhile, the advocacy wing provides Know Your Rights trainings and hosts quarterly town halls that regularly draw 60 or more attendees. Advocates also connect people with agencies like the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and accompany community members to rallies and Albany visits.

Mental Health Services

Led by mental health coordinator Aldonza Buerba, Mixteca’s team of four offers both individual and group therapy. But the demand for one-on-one sessions has outpaced supply. While they currently have a three-month waiting list for one-on-one counseling Saturday therapy groups remain open to new participants.

Childcare is provided during the therapy group sessions, where the children often work on impromptu art exhibits.

Health Access and Training

Health coordinator Laura Rivera oversees everything from HIV testing and nutrition workshops to mobile mammography screenings. She also helps community members enroll in NYC Care, a program that provides healthcare access to undocumented New Yorkers.

Additionally, Rivera also runs free OSHA certification courses, once in high demand, but now quieter. “We used to have a waitlist,” Paz noted. “That’s no longer the case.”

Education

Mixteca runs regular beginner and intermediate English classes and has a computer class that runs once a year. These classes rely heavily on volunteers and finding volunteers to teach the computer classes can be difficult.

“We currently don't have the computer class going on, just because we depend a lot on the volunteers to have that experience and willingness to teach the whole course,” Paz said.

Day-to-Day Support and Walk-In Services

While staff are officially divided into departments, most take on a little of everything. Walk-in support includes help applying for SNAP, Fair Fares, Real IDs, and consulate appointments—mostly with the Mexican consulate, though they try to assist others too.

“We see a range of people everyday with different needs,” said Paz, citing one man who stopped by for condoms..

Promotoras and Leadership Training

One of Mixteca’s most ambitious efforts is the Promotoras program: a one-year leadership training track for local community members. Participants study advocacy and public systems, then join Mixteca staff for rallies and meetings.

Many go on to work at partner organizations. “One’s now with Councilmember Alexa Avilés,” said Paz. “Another is with Planned Parenthood.”

A Shifting Landscape

Mixteca’s caseload surged during the asylum influx of 2022–23, fueled in part by temporary shelters like the one at the Roosevelt Hotel. Now, as shelters close, the demand has changed.

“They used to funnel people straight to us,” Paz said. “Now that link is weakening.”

While the pathways that bring people to them shift, and the needs of those they help evolve, Mixteca remains committed to providing support of all types. This day a healing circle is taking place at a nearby community garden, where participants can not only receive healing, but learn about how to provide healing to others.

“Even though it’s only one space, we do our best to provide the services,” said Kourousias. “But it’s always with care and it’s people from the community helping the community.”