Mercado a monument to displaced workers
Ramón Rentería
April 30, 2009

EL PASO -- Hilda Garcia thinks often of all the work and sacrifice it took to get the project off the ground.

Another feature is that the mercado will offer "slow food" on a takeout basis. Visitors, for example, can take home gorditas, flautas or a small pot of cooked frijoles.

La Mujer Obrera estimates the long-term impact in the South-Central El Paso barrio will amount to more than $10 million in new investment.

First-year goals include creating or expanding 23 small businesses and elevating job skills for 200 people.

"All this came out of necessity, out of the lack of jobs since the implementation of free trade," said Irma Montoya, executive director of La Mujer Obrera.

"Out of that arose the need to be creative. We want to be a part of this city's economic development."

Pete Duarte, a former Thomason Hospital CEO, has supported La Mujer Obrera for years. He described the mercado as one of the few projects in the city that will not only generate money but also keep dollars in El Paso.

"We've had individuals who have come and raised our hopes and we've seen them as shining lights to improve the situation for all of El Paso, and then in five or 10 years they're in jail," Duarte said. "But La Mujer Obrera has never lost sight of what's important to this community."

Durate applauded La Mujer Obrera for continuing the struggle to improve conditions for working-class Hispanic families.

"The legacy of La Mujer Obrera is not only helping women but helping the poorest of the poor of our community that nobody even considers important when you look at the movers and shakers, the economic dreams and all of that," Duarte said.

County Commissioner Ve ronica Escobar applauded La Mujer Obrera for not giving up on the project.

"It's been a long struggle for them. They've worked with a lot of federal, state and local agencies and the community at large to make that day a reality," Escobar said.

"What's great is that they're trying to help workers displaced by NAFTA become more independent than ever. And that's a wonderful step forward."

Carlos Marentes, director of the Farmworker Center in South El Paso, is convinced La Mujer Obrera is setting an example of what works.

"It's time to think of local initiatives," Marentes said. "In these times of economic crisis and unemployment, it is even more important that this type of initiative can serve as an example of how to survive."

Ramón Rentería may be reached at rrenteria@elpasotimes.com; 546-6146.