OTHER PROGRAMS

Funded by the Higher Hope Foundation, Puentes de Esperanza (Bridges of Hope) is a trauma-informed initiative of the Arizona Border Alliance designed to support survivors of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking in Douglas, Arizona. Tailored to the realities of rural border communities, the program provides a safe, bilingual, and culturally responsive network of care for individuals facing barriers such as limited local services, language access challenges, and heightened vulnerability to exploitation.

Puentes de Esperanza offers holistic support including crisis response and case management, healing services such as trauma-informed yoga and art therapy, survivor education and empowerment workshops, and prevention outreach. Through ABA’s Douglas Community Hub, survivors also access the SafeTech Project, which provides private spaces for virtual therapy, legal consultations, and court proceedings. 

By combining healing, safety, and skill-building, the program aims to support survivors while strengthening community awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering a safer, more supportive Douglas community.

Border Women Rising is a new initiative of the Arizona Border Alliance designed to expand education, career, and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and girls in Bisbee, Douglas, and surrounding rural communities. Funded by Freeport-McMoRan, the program provides bilingual career readiness workshops, DreamBuilder small-business training, financial literacy education, and mentorship from local colleges, workforce partners, and business leaders.

Each year, Border Women Rising will engage 120–150 participants, equipping them with practical skills, confidence, and connections that lead to measurable outcomes—higher college enrollment, improved job attainment and retention, and the creation or expansion of women-owned small businesses. By reducing barriers such as language, transportation, and access to training, the program empowers women to strengthen their families, increase household income, and contribute to the long-term vitality of rural Cochise County.

Funded by Arizona Complete Heath, this program focuses on hosting town halls and community gatherings to focus on solutions to the housing crisis in Southern Arizona.

Arizona is facing a significant housing crisis characterized by a severe shortage of affordable housing, escalating home prices, and rising eviction rates.  Addressing Arizona's housing crisis requires comprehensive policy reforms, including increasing the supply of affordable housing, revising zoning laws to facilitate development, and implementing tenant protections to ensure housing stability for all residents.

The Arizona Border Alliance is currently convening town halls throughout Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties to begin addressing the housing crisis and helping those in need of support.

Funded by the City of Sierra Vista's Industrial Development Authority (IDA), this program has enabled the ABA to purchase podcast equipment and host podcasts for the communities we serve.   

Voices from the Border is a storytelling and information-focused podcast that explores the complex realities of life along the Arizona-Mexico border. Each episode highlights the voices of local residents, migrants, ranchers, humanitarian workers, policy experts, and indigenous leaders to offer a nuanced understanding of border issues. Topics include immigration policy, border enforcement, environmental impacts, cross-border culture, public health, and community resilience. With a balance of personal narratives and expert insights, the podcast aims to foster dialogue, deepen empathy, and promote informed discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the borderlands.