In the border towns of northern Mexico, families are working side by side with their neighbors to build more than just houses, they’re building stronger communities and brighter futures. At the heart of this movement is the valley based 1MISSION, a nonprofit organization founded by Jason and Tina Law of Peoria.
The couple often traveled with their church to Mexico on mission trips, helping to construct houses for families in need. But over time, they began to ask how they could make an even bigger impact. Their answer was to launch the 1MISSION organization, where families in poverty earn their homes by serving in their own communities.
Since 2008, nearly 1,200 families have earned safe, secure homes by contributing more than 371,000 hours of service through projects like community gardens, sewing classes, and literacy programs.
“At 1MISSION, we believe that when it comes to building healthy, vibrant communities, there’s nothing quite as powerful as local knowledge and local initiative,” said Tim Hoiland, the organization’s Communications Director. “That’s why our community development model is built around participation. Doing good for others is not enough. With the help of our committed donors in Arizona and beyond, together we’re committed to doing good with those who will transform their own communities.”
While 1MISSION’s Phoenix office helps raise awareness and resources, most of the staff live in the Mexican state of Sonora, leading efforts in Puerto Peñasco and Miguel Alemán. Their local roots are key. “It means so much to us that these staff members are from the communities they serve,” Hoiland explained. “They know their neighbors and neighborhoods better than we do, so we support them as they change lives.”
Housing remains the cornerstone of 1MISSION’s work. The homes are cost-effective, easy to build, and durable. But the impact runs deeper than construction alone. 1MISSION is best known for providing housing for families in need of safe, secure shelter,” Hoiland said. But they also quickly point out, they’re not a construction company, but rather a community development organization. That means that while housing is often the most visible thing they do, the 1MISSION staff and the families they serve are working hard in their own communities to make their neighborhoods better places for everyone to live.
That sense of shared responsibility extends to 1MISSION’s donors and volunteers. “Nothing we do would be possible without the generous support of our committed donors,” Hoiland said. “We try not to approach relationships with donors as transactional. Instead, we see our donors as full participants in this transformational work.”
One of the most impactful ways to participate is by joining a build trip. These experiences take volunteers to Puerto Peñasco for a long weekend, where they work together with families to build houses. The organization’s basecamp can host up to 400 people at a time, complete with hot meals, showers, and air-conditioned bunkhouses. Trip participants work side by side with local families to build houses that represent a dream come true. You don't even need to have prior construction experience. The organization regularly host kids, senior citizens, and everyone in between.
For those curious about getting involved, Hoiland’s invitation is simple: “To someone who's interested in learning more about what we do, I'd say, come join us and see for yourself what's happening every day in these amazing communities we serve. But be forewarned: when you serve side-by-side with a local family, you and your family will be changed. You will carry new friendships and stories back home with you. And you'll be eager to return.”
Ultimately, 1MISSION’s impact is felt on both sides of the border, by the families’ earning homes and by the donors and volunteers who partner with them. The hope is that every person who interacts with 1MISSION is changed for the better and that the organization’s commitment remains to the families they serve. The organization is one where people experience this dignity, in themselves and in the person next to them.
For more information or to get involved, visit 1MISSION.org.
“At 1MISSION, we believe that when it comes to building healthy, vibrant communities, there’s nothing quite as powerful as local knowledge and local initiative.”