The mission of the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo (YDSP) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program is to harness the power of tribal community members through education, training and volunteer service to make our community safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of any kind. YDSP CERT training promotes a partnering effort between tribal and city/county emergency services and the people that they serve. YDSP CERT members are encouraged to support tribal emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. To date the 30 community members, both local and tribal have participated in the CERT training and exercises.
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CERT Training Course fall 2008 |
CERT members at 2008 disaster simulation |
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CERT members helping simulation
volunteers to triage |
CERT members planning simulation
course of action |
YDSP CERT Volunteers
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Josh Garcia |
Mirna Morales |
Elias Torrez |
Louie Munoz |
Ulises Estrada |
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Walter Morales |
Sylvia Garcia |
Yvonne Villanueva |
Edward Avalos |
Debbie Torrez |
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Ricardo Ruedas |
Yvette Sierra |
Patrocino Alvidrez |
Esequiel Garcia |
Jesus Loera |
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Robert E. Holguin |
David Paiz |
Ana Velarde |
Anthony Jimenez |
Lydia Melendez |
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Dezirae Senclair |
Gloria Duran |
Ruben Arroyo |
Chris Gomez |
Rocio Gomez |
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Jose R. Lopez (Jr.) |
Deanna Rodriguez |
Christina Munoz |
Marisol Lucero |
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The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program iwas established in 2003. The Pueblo is a member of the El Paso Coalition for Family Economic Progress, a partnership of local nonprofit agencies like the United Way of El Paso, El Paso Affordable Housing Credit Union, the City of El Paso, YMCA and IRS who prepare and provide free tax preparation services, EITC outreach, and employ asset building strategies and programs aimed at improving the financial wellness of families in El Paso County.
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo’s VITA Program goals are to: Provide free tax preparation services to the tribal community aimed primarily at accessing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); Prevent tribal members from utilizing any of their refunds toward tax preparation fees from predatory lenders; Empower tribal members to understand their taxes; and utilize the EITC as an asset building catalyst
In 2008, the VITA Program assisted families in claiming $327,735 in earned income tax credits and completed a total of 326 returns with a total of $664,799 in tax refunds for our local community.
In 2009, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo VITA site became the prime outlet for free tax preparation services in the Socorro area, thereby catapulting its production to record numbers. The total number of tax returns prepared doubled from 326 in 2008 to 649 in 2009. The Pueblo’s VITA site brought in more Earned Income Tax Credits than any other participating VITA site in 2009 with 317 families qualifying for $671,018. With only a volunteer base of seven, the accomplishments achieved in the 2009 tax season were phenomenal.
