The Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, (CBDIO) was created in 1993 by Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB) to serve the indigenous migrant communities from Mexico that reside in California, United States (US). Different sources affirm that there are more than two hundred thousand indigenous from Mexico residing in the US. Of the more than 60 different indigenous communities that remain alive in Mexico, the following are the ones with the largest representation in California: Mixtecs (from the state of Oaxaca and Guerrero), Zapotecs, Triquis, Chatinos, Chinantecos and Mixes (from the state of Oaxaca) and P’uhrépechas (from Michoacan). Each of these indigenous communities have their own language and culture that differentiate them from one another, however all indigenous people faced similar problems in the hometowns from which we have migrated.

Since its foundation as a non-profit entity CBDIO has been dedicated to implement projects on worker’s rights which provide orientation, education, training, counseling and referrals. The organization has also promoted the intensive training on professional ethics of indigenous interpreters, so that they can serve as a medium of communication between monolingual indigenous migrants and various government institutions. Likewise, CBDIO has also worked to increase the participation of indigenous women in the life of the migrant community, by providing training in and promotion of gender equality, so that they may exercise self-determination in their civic lives. CBDIO also promotes health education on prevention and treatment of different illnesses; it facilitates the access to health and social services and helps the indigenous migrants learn how to make changes to improve the living conditions of the communities where they reside.

On the organization’s tenth anniversary we developed its first strategic plan so it could guide us in the fulfillment of our vision and mission. On the retreat that we had on March 2007 in Cambria, California, we updated our first Strategic Plan and we proposed to work in the following strategic areas: Health; Civic and Community Participation; Culture and Education; and Capacity Building for the Organization.

From March 2nd to March 4th, 2007 there was a retreat in Cambria, California in which the Board of Directors came together with the staff of the offices of Greenfield, Santa Maria, Fresno and Los Angeles. The purpose was to revise the organization’s Strategic Plan and update it based in the experiences of the work that has been done in the last years. This document reflects the Strategic Plan 2007-2010, which is based in the experiences and the collective vision of all the retreat’s participants.

Given the challenges faced by Oaxacan indigenous migrants in the United States, leaders of community organizations joined forces to establish in 1991 the organization that is now known as Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (Binational Front of Indigenous Organizations, FIOB). This organization is made up of Mixtecs, Zapotecs, Triquis, and P’uhrépechas; it has carried out a number of activities to defend and advance the rights of indigenous peoples on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border. Although, initially, the FIOB’s work focused on organizing the community to draw attention to the needs of the Oaxacan people, it also had a view toward providing direct support to the community through specific projects.

For that reason, on December 18, 1993, FIOB’s leaders registered Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, Inc. (CBDIO, Inc.) as a nonprofit organization with the US authorities so it can receive funding to implement, on both sides of the border, projects on education, economic development and training. CBDIO is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS.

Although FIOB and CBDIO coordinate their work together to benefit the indigenous community, the CBDIO is governed by an autonomous and independent board of directors. This board is formed by four officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer) and six directors who are people notable for their leadership skills and knowledge of the community’s needs. The CBDIO also has an advisory board made up of lawyers and university professors. Currently CBDIO’s staff consists of an Executive Director, a Coordinator of the Health and Civic Participation Project, two regional coordinators of the project “Children First”, four community workers and three accounting personnel.

With regards to CBDIO’s legal office, it was initially located in San Jose, California. In 1994, the organization’s office moved to Santa Cruz, where it remained until 1998, when it moved to Fresno. Other important milestone in CBDIO’s organizational structure was the creation in 2001 of the Executive Director position. In March 2002, the Indigenous Health Project was expanded to include Los Angeles, and in March 2003, an office was opened in that city. Years later CBDIO opened two more offices to serve the needs of the growing indigenous community. On October 15 2004 the Santa Maria office was opened and in September 13 2006 the Greenfield office.

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.