PPEP, Inc. has had a presence in a variety of initiatives in Mexico going back to its formative period in 1970’s. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, freezes, and other calamities affecting our neighbors to the south have generated major relief efforts. Such items as: Clothing, food, vehicles, volunteers, medical supplies, and drinking water have been collected, transported, and distributed by PPEP, Inc. volunteers. Some of these efforts have been in cooperation with World Care.
Major initiatives to form micro credit programs on the border have been realized including capitalizing the FAISON micro credit fund in 1990. Several Memorandum of Understandings (MOU’s) with entities such as FAI, CEDES, FONAES, CONASUPO and educational institutions such as Universidad de Kino have been signed. Exchange programs with students contributing volunteer efforts during vacation time including cultural, athletics, youth orphanages, and construction of ecological housing have been realized.
PPEP, Inc. sponsored the International Microbusiness Summit in Cd. Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, in 1990 and the International Microbusiness Trade Expo in 2008 highlighting cross border trade.
Support of orphanages such as those living in Casa Hogar El Reino de los Niños in Imuris, Sonora, and other children’s relief programs have been established reaching border orphans. Additionally, numerous used vehicles some handicap equipped have been donated for cancer screening, Diabetes and developmentally disabled programs. Other cross the border initiatives include services to the elderly, handicapped, developmentally disabled, and Diabetes prevention. All initiatives have been well received and have addressed major issues in Mexico.
In 2008, the Mexican Congress in Hermosillo passed a resolution commending PPEP’s long standing contributions and services to the US/Mexico border region.
In addition, affordable housing, economic development, and solar summits have been conducted sharing ideas on how to improve the quality of life of its people. PPEP, Inc. has worked closely with the Mexican Congress, Sonora State Government, and the Municipios to promote socioeconomic programs for farmworkers and rural Mexicans. PMHDC has participated in two National FONAES Expos in Mexico City. On one occasion, Dr. John David Arnold greeted the Mexican President Vicente Fox, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to promote import/export of Mexican products and services. PPEP, Inc. actively participates in the Mexican Plaza Comunitarias programs in two border counties Yuma and Cochise.
Dr. Arnold as a child lived in Guadalajara, Mexico, and attended school there, he became bi-lingual and bi-cultural. This helped direct him at the age of 12 to start working with Bracero workers in the Santa Cruz valley region in Arizona. In 1967, he organized PPEP, Inc. with the mission to improve the quality of rural life and serve farm workers.
Listen to the Corrido al Dr. John David Arnold. Composed by: Dr. Celestino Fernandez
