The San Juan Mixtepec - Mixteca Region Demonstration and Proliferation Program
In setting out the first demonstration and proliferation program according to the new approach, Solertia began a search for a community that was socially and economically marginalized, geographically isolated, and had distinct ambitions towards a better life.
After considering countries in different parts of the world, and through subsequent research of three communities in Mexico, Solertia ended up focusing on the indigenous municipality of San Juan Mixtepec in the mountainous Mixteca Region of Oaxaca, Mexico, with its strongly linked kinship communities in Northern Mexico and the United States of America.
San Juan Mixtepec, with a total area of 354 sq km, is one of only 7 of in all 2443 municipalities classified by the Mexican government as having both the highest socio-economic marginalization and the highest migration rate to the United States. The local population has decreased over the past several years, mainly through migration, leaving a current level of less than 10,000 people.
Through many meetings and consultations with local and migrant community members and local authorities and institutions, agreement was reached between this 'extended' San Juan Mixtepec community and Solertia to jointly adapt and apply the
Model Program for the Advancement of Capable Communities
Since then several Federal and State government institutions, civil society and private sector institutions and others have also committed to participate in the program. The implementation has reached the second phase of this four phase program.
A Solertia member lived in the San Juan Mixtepec community for nearly a year to compile and analyze together with the community and external stakeholders, significant knowledge and information about or affecting the community and its development.
In the process of defining common local objectives and plans, two broad multi-stakeholder meetings were held in San Juan Mixtepec with the active involvement of representatives of federal, state and municipal government in addition to local and external educational institutions, community leaders, local groups, and individuals.
With community and key external agreement and guided by the Model Program, a Specific Local Program was developed for San Juan Mixtepec. The key elements of the integrated development support infrastructure for San Juan Mixtepec are:
The General Assembly of San Juan Mixtepec designated an existing community owned building for use as the Community Development Center.
The necessary funds for the appropriate upgrading and expansion of the building were secured through the Secretaría de Economía of the Federal Mexican Government. A non-profit public benefit community organization, Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario San Juan Mixtepec A.C. was formed to establish and manage the Center. All members of the community including migrants are automatically members of this Center A.C.
Two noteworthy institutions, a library and a community museum are already located in the designated building. The library will be expanded to become an integral active and proactive part of the information services of the Center and its extensions throughout the municipality, while the reactivated community museum will be augmented in ways that will support the community in confidently meeting the challenges of the future.
Solertia has proposed a strategy for economic development and job creation which has been discussed and refined together with the community and outside stakeholders. The aim is to help ensure well-balanced and sustainable economic growth and job creation through the broad use of local resources in multi-sectoral small-scale activities.
In this context Solertia has developed and discussed with the community a target job creation program with the possible diversified composition of new employment for more than 700 people. This was done to stimulate innovative thinking and as potential goals for enterprise and employment policies and activities for the first upcoming years.
Furthermore, a new model for a rural enterprise incubator has been proposed to help improve, increase, and diversify production, services and marketing in the municipality through the provision of shared facilities, training, and support services. The integrated system of production workshops distributed throughout the municipality will enable the many smaller dispersed communities to contribute more effectively and actively in the local productive and economic life, while reducing production costs and ensuring little time will be taken by people going to and from a workplace. This support framework is designed for cooperatives as well as private enterprises, respecting both traditions and emerging trends within the area.
Specific economic initiatives are now under consideration. An example of such is proposed clusters of productive activities for the manufacturing of theme products and product groups for common promotion. These product families that make use of mainly local materials will give substantial diversified employment in San Juan Mixtepec in both small-scale industry and handicraft. Local, regional as well as national and international markets will be targeted through an innovative marketing strategy. Such new and substantial economic activity will also help drive many learning, social, health and environmental improvement programs and projects.
Neighboring Communities have expressed interest in the new activities and directions in San Juan Mixtepec, and have independently and on their own initiative declared the wish to participate in this Specific Local Program.
The first steps have been taken for the proliferation of the Program through the participation of people from neighboring municipalities in meetings and training sessions held in SJM.