Abara means “ford” in a number of semitic languages, signifying a natural place where a river is shallow enough to cross. Our desire is to cultivate a space where people move in humility across divides. Abara House is more than a place. It is a pathway toward understanding and change.

In response to global migration, in a polarizing world:

Abara House inspires connections beyond borders through mutual understanding, education, and meaningful action in pursuit of narrative, systems, and personal change. We envision a global beloved community flourishing through justice, peace, healing, and transformation.

To discover more about how Abara interacts with Abara House, learn more by downloading our free summary cards.

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We envision a global beloved community flourishing through justice, peace, healing, and transformation. Beloved Community includes a wide circle of neighbors thriving together, a community centered in love, mutuality, common memory, hope, and the strength of nonviolence in a polarized world.

We are one fluid community in two nations. We are one of many border cities around the world. In the words of Sal & Rosemary Sierra, “Juarez is El Paso, and El Paso is Juarez.” We are becoming family (a new humanity) beyond the borders that exist within ourselves. Learn more on Abara’s Voices Page with additional videos and quotes from the community.
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Going Deeper | Shared Histories

As described by The King Center: The term “beloved community” was coined by philosopher Josiah Royce to denote an ideal community, used frequently by Dr. King to describe a society of justice, peace and harmony which can be achieved through nonviolence.

In his sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 2, 1957, Dr. King said, “The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community.” in 1968 Dr. King sent a message to Chavez which said "Our separate struggles are really one. A struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity.”

César E. Chávez said that MLK led the way through nonviolence: “It has been our experience that few men or women ever have the opportunity to know the true satisfaction that comes with giving one’s life totally in the nonviolent struggle for justice,” he wrote. “Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of these unique servants and from him we learned many of the lessons that have guided us. For these lessons and for his sacrifice for the poor and oppressed, Dr. King’s memory will be cherished in the hearts of the farm workers forever.”

Yes, we envision Abara House joining a family of peace building centers around the world with a shared commitment to principles of nonviolence, contemplative activism, mutual flourishing, and healing ethnic wounds.

Located on one of the oldest crossings on the US-Mexico border, and, as so many histories converge into one place, we believe now more than ever that this future borderland center will be a gathering place to inspire connections today and tomorrow.

Our heartbeat is rooted in the tradition of global peace builders who embodied the strength of nonviolence such as Cesar Chavez, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Maya Angelou, Dorothy Day, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Thich Nhat Hanh and many others throughout history.

We envision this 4-acre oasis, including the Historic Hacienda, a café representing foods from around the world, an Event Center, Adobe Desert Chapel, Offices/ Training Space, Marketplace for local and global artisans or others under threat of displacement, as well as a guest house for those visiting the borderlands.

Our primary objectives for Abara House are:

• Celebrate and honor diverse cultures and voices that converge along the United States and Mexico Border

• Mobilize community leaders to respond to emerging needs within the Borderlands

• Create opportunities to forge meaningful connections across divides

• Transform the narrative surrounding immigration and the borderlands by amplifying under-heard voices and sharing a more complete history and common memory

• Equip leaders to return to their contexts and advocate for more just systems with a focus on nonviolence, contemplative activism, mutual flourishing, and healing ethnic wounds

• Provide a contemplative and disruptive experience that catalyzes individuals along their personal and collective journey in pursuit of narrative, systems, and personal change and, ultimately: Beloved Community

Today’s Global Moment

• Today’s polarized reality indicates that a center dedicated to connecting beyond borders and across divides is needed now more than ever

• The properties were a dream for several years as local neighbors waited and prayed

• The space unexpectedly went up for sale in 2021

• The “stars aligned” quickly and beautifully as friends of Abara helped secure the properties through private loans

• The location is one of the most significant and historic places facing the border wall

• Representative Communities have a stake in these properties (Indigenous, Mexican, Mestizo, Spanish, African American, Chinese, Anglo) | This ancient crossing is so significant that POTUS recently made an unscheduled (surprise) visit to the site

• The land and space is positioned to welcome others locally, nationally, and globally as a Borderland Center for Beloved Community

Income Generating (sustainable vision)

• Local brand: Many share fond memories of the historic, much beloved La Hacienda Restaurant

• Significant potential for income-generating initiatives - apartments, café & cantina, marketplace, border encounters, and event/venue space

• Key location - near downtown, accessible from highway and close to UTEP

• Low interest private loans locked in at 3.75% and 4% through 2024/25

• Low risk, high market value – Business voices suggest this project has high potential

• In-kind gifts - A few large loans were transferred to in-kind gifts toward the project

Interest and Demand

• Strong demand - local and national community are behind this project (neighbors, universities, professionals, faith groups, stakeholders)

• Patio is 6,500 sq feet - Arguably the largest patio in the borderlands

• Spacious, open air environment to gather safely under shade

• Family celebrations are a cultural staple in the borderlands

• Space to gather people across divides to process the issues of the day

In August of 2021, friends of Abara helped secure the historic properties directly on the border fence, with a dream for transforming the historic La Hacienda and surrounding grounds into “Abara House”.

This property sits directly on one of the oldest known crossings of the Rio Grande River, an ancient indigenous pathway pre-dating Spanish colonization in 1598, later becoming the famed “Camino Real De Tierra Adentro.”

It remains one of the most significant historical locations in the borderlands and beyond, and is one of the most significant international crossings globally.

Rooting our work out of these historic properties provides a gathering space to lean into our mission, as we inspire connections beyond borders. Abara House will be a sacred space and guest house for people of peace to connect, learn and engage, particularly in response to stories on the margins.

We currently host hundreds of individuals each year from a variety of nonprofits, churches, boards, denominations, university groups, and interested individuals for border encounter experiences. Abara House will also serve as a place of hospitality for these groups and as overflow housing for refugee families.

Yes, there is a lot of momentum with hundreds of conversations over the last few years. Formally, Abara co-hosted community listening sessions with professors from UTEP through “liberating structures” as a way of drawing out the voice and perspectives of local residents in the borderlands.

In collaboration with our Board of Directors and Staff, a Bi-National Wisdom Council is forming with voices from both sides of the Rio Grande across generations and cultures.

So far 90%+ of loans and donations for Abara House are local. We are open to a blend of fundraising efforts to include individual contributions, foundations, businesses, universities, and faith-rooted groups. We anticipate contributions from around the country and world as Abara House is rooted locally while reaching national and global audiences with principles that apply toward the love of neighbor.

Yes, our first focus includes fundraising to repay private acquisition loans and to cover upcoming predevelopment costs to keep the project moving forward. Underway in 2023 is a rezoning of the property, an adobe brick study for repair and restoration, and funding to cover personnel, architecture and engineering services required in the coming months.

Each of our two LLC Holdings have different scenarios based on timing and sponsorship of either the apartments or Hacienda as we move forward each step at a time. The overall campaign includes initial staff and operational costs with a commitment to environmental sustainability and income-generating initiatives.

No and Yes. Abara is committed to proper protocol and standards of excellence for Adobe Repair and Historical Sites, while hiring contractors and companies to restore the buildings and landscape with local residents who bring to bear the professional skills and expertise needed for this project.

We do periodically host volunteer groups to help with basic projects to amplify the beauty of the old Hacienda and the surrounding land. For example, Abara recently hosted a working group of Venezuelan migrants who offered to assist with projects around the courtyard in collaboration with a local partner.

We accept gifts from people of peace who align with Abara’s mission and vision. Our Gift Acceptance Policy is committed to transparency, integrity, communication, and partnering with those committed to the work of Abara.