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General Information of ACCESS Inc and CEBICAMEX

Access, Inc Mission Statement
ACCESS is a private, non-governmental organization organized as a non-profit corporation in California in 1967. Although our principal work in the United States is with youth, especially in the area of preparing disadvantaged youth for careers, we have also served immigrants since the beginning of our long history. For example, after the Vietnam War, ACCESS helped many refugees from Southeast Asia gain a foothold in the United States by offering them English classes and job training. When Fidel Castro allowed thousands of Cuban refugees to seek asylum in the United States, ACCESS similarly helped resettle them with education and jobs.

Toribio Romo Center

Binational Center for Training
For the past nearly ten years, we have directed our efforts toward assisting Mexican immigrants, especially those who have no legal status in the U.S. Partnering with ICATMI, in 2000 we began to offer classes in English, basic computer programs, and microenterprise development. ICATMI provided money to pay instructors, while ACCESS provided computers, classrooms, and administrative oversight. This partnership was so successful—we graduated several hundred Mexican immigrants during the first year—that in 2006 we formed a consortium of three Mexican states (Hidalgo, Nayarit and Michoacán) and expanded the program.

The consortium, called Centro Binacional de Capacitacion para Migrantes Mexicanos (CEBICAMEX), consisted of the ICATs of those three States and ACCESS. With cash resources contributed by each of the ICATs, plus funding provided by ACCESS, a Center for educational and other services to Mexican migrants was created in the heart of the Mexican barrio of San Diego. It was equipped with computers donated by a San Diego foundation and offered classes in English, computer literacy, and business development. Other programs, such as the youth services and those for immigrant victims of domestic violence, were also offered to those who could qualify for them.

Meeting at Access Inc

Results and Benefits
More than 600 students receive certificates from CEBICAMEX each year. Because we follow a curriculum that is aligned with those of the ICATs, as well as being approved by the State of California, we are able to provide graduates with binational certificates of completion. Immigrants therefore are able to compete more effectively for jobs in the United States, because most employers here recognize ACCESS’ certification by the State. If they return to Mexico, they carry with them a certificate approved by the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP).
A Unique Collaboration
This is as far as we know unique in the United States. No other organization has such a close partnership with a government entity in Mexico, collaborating to serve Mexican citizens within the U.S. who would otherwise not be able to receive educational services. Many of our colleagues in the non-governmental sector express amazement when we tell them that these State government entities of Michoacán, Nayarit and Hidalgo provide cash resources to support this program beyond the frontier.

Computer lab at Toribio Romo Center

Seeking changes in Immigration policies
While the enlightened approach of the ICATs is obviously motivated by an intense interest of the Mexican federal government as well as the respective State governments in the unfortunate plight of the estimated eleven million Mexicans in the U.S., the same can not be said of the United States government, expect in a negative and punitive way. This attitude toward the influx of Mexican migrants seeking employment has its visible expression in the huge steel fence created at the San Ysidro-Tijuana border. Legislators in the U.S. Congress have been unable to pass meaningful legislation to change outdated immigration laws, but have been successful in allocating millions of dollars to this fence that some hope will someday “secure the borders” from entry of any Mexicans without visas.

In this way, ACCESS hopes not only to provide needed services to immigrants, but also change the political climate toward one that is more accepting and welcoming of our brother and sisters from Mexico who make such a priceless contribution to our economy, culture and civic life.