In the Central Valley, CBDIO is working in the following projects:

Proyecto de Salud Indígena (PSI): This is one of CBDIO’s core projects. It focuses on improving access to health and social services of indigenous migrants in the Central Valley. Through this program we provide health education, interpretation and individual assistance navigating the health and social systems. We also provide cross cultural training for health and social providers about the Oaxacan Indigenous Culture so they can develop cultural competency toward this population.

Naa Xini – Community Health and Civic Participation of Indigenous Immigrants. This program aims to develop a culturally based health policy advocacy model for the indigenous populations in Fresno and Madera counties. Using this model, CBDIO will train a group of 40 leaders in these two regions that will engage in advocacy activities to improve cultural competency and language access within selected health care systems.

Interpreters Project. CBDIO launched this project since 1996. It consists of identifying bilingual and trilingual indigenous persons that can be trained as interpreters. We have coordinated six different trainings with the participation of more than fifty indigenous persons. Through its offices CBDIO offers interpretation services in Mixteco and Triqui and it also has a referral list of trained interpreters in other indigenous languages such as Zapoteco, Chatino, Maya and Purepecha.

Salud es Vida. CBDIO is part of a collaborative of five organizations in Tulare County that are working together to increase the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors to prevent and reduce the incidence of childhood obesity among Latino families in rural communities. We have one promotora in Farmersville who will coordinate monthly activities to share with children and youth ways inspired in our traditional customs through which they can be healthy such as learning traditional dance, learning active games (e.g. Escondidas, Bote Pateado, brincar reata, etc.), gardening of traditional vegetables and elaboration of handicrafts.

Bio Drift Pesticides Project. CBDIO is part of collaborative that is currently working in Tulare County to conduct pesticide education and air biomonitoring trainings in two selected communities (Exeter and Farmesville). Agencies involved in this project are Pesticide Action Network North America, Common Wealh, and California Pesticide Reform. We are working in the Farmersville area of Tulare County to address the issue of pesticide exposure and health and build leadership to push for change. Through door-to-door outreach, community meetings, and work with other community-based organizations and agencies, CBDIO will reach both Indigenous and non-indigenous families. Information on pesticides, health, and drift will be combined with opportunities to take tangible action, including participation in a collaborative air- and biomonitoring study with the California Department of Public Health and members of the statewide coalition Californians for Pesticide Reform (“BioDrift,” July 2009), and linkage to broader campaigns to push for the implementation of protection zones (buffers where pesticides cannot be applied) around schools and other policy efforts.

Following is a list of the organization’s most important projects.

In the United States:

• Health and Civic Participation Program. (Programa de Salud y Participación Cívica) It was launched in 1997; it operates in Madera, Fresno, and Tulare Counties.
• Indigenous Interpreters’ Project (Proyecto de Intérpretes Indígenas). It was launched in 1996; it operates nationwide in the United States.
• “Xina Naa Vali. Children First” Project (Proyecto Xina Naa Vali. Los Niños Primero). Launched in July 2007; it operates in Greenfield and Santa Maria.
• “Naa Xini Project” (Proyecto Naa Xini). Launched in August 2007; it operates in Fresno and Madera Counties.
• La Guelaguetza in California. It is organized every year in Fresno since 1998.
• World Web Page (Página Mundial) Inaugurated in 1997, it is used to promote the organization’s activities: www.centrobinacional.org

In Oaxaca and Baja California, Mexico:

• Education and Training Project on Human Rights, Organizing, and Advocacy (Proyecto Educación y Capacitación sobre Derechos Humanos, Trabajo Organizativo y Abogacía) Launched in 2002; it was operated in Oaxaca and Baja California.
• “Triqui Women’s Savings, Credit, and Artisan Improvement” Project (Fortalecimiento de Cajas de Ahorro, Crédito y Artesanías de Mujeres Triquis) Operating in Oaxaca.