This past October, the Nueva Luz Foundation was involved in two community Trunk-o-Treat Events! Our interns created wonderful scenes and showed the children of Mercedes and Edinburg a fun time.
Nueva Luz Cuts Ribbon on Creative and Expressive Arts Center
NUEVA LUZ CUTS RIBBON ON CREATIVE & EXPRESSIVE ARTS CENTER
On October 29th, 2022, The Nueva Luz Foundation and the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce commenced the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Harlingen-based Creative and Expressive Arts Center!
This center is going to be used by those affected by trauma and PTSD to express their emotions and learn to cope using creative arts. We have different methods of being creative such as use of Music, Art, Sand Tray Therapy and Heart RAte Variability. We are going to have a videography modality as well.
Our ribbon cutting was featured on KRGV Channel 5, which can be viewed below along with some pictures of our ceremony and our new center.
We as a foundation are excited to start a new chapter in our history!
Congratulations Nueva Luz Intern Class of Summer 2021
This summer, we have had the pleasure of hosting 14 student interns from the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley and Our Lady of the Lake University. They were able to learn about our ongoing mission to help first responders, veterans and their families affected by trauma and PTSD. On Friday, August 20th, we honored our Nueva Luz interns by conducting a traditional hooding ceremony. Congratulations and we wish you all a bright future!!
Nueva Luz Trains Mission PD to Become PEER Facilitators
This past Friday, we had our first graduates as “Trauma-Informed Peer Facilitators” from Mission PD. Our goal is to educate our first responders to facilitate critical incident debriefings internally within their respective departments. Safety, support, and wellness are crucial within the first 24 hours. Our facilitators participated in a 40-hour course consisting of psychophysiology, individual and group interactions, a grueling exam, and open discussion on how they will apply their new skill set. We had a few guest speakers including Mission Mayor Armando O’Cañas and one of our board members, Chief Rene Lopez, Jr (ret). We’re looking to make a difference: one child, one family, and one community at a time.
~ Gilbert B Lopez – Founder/Executive Director
Nueva Luz Trains Veterans on PTSD and Trauma
This past October, Dr. Norma Villanueva and the staff and interns of Nueva Luz Foundation took a trip over to our community partner, STAIVA, in Brownsville. STAIVA is a nonprofit that helps veterans and their families in need. We held a training course for these veterans and their spouses on the effects of trauma and PTSD.
About Us
Welcome to the Official Site of the Nueva Luz Foundation
We are the Nueva Luz Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the Rio Grande Valley with the mission of bringing helping those affected by trauma and PTSD.
Our Mission
Our mission is to further the health, welfare, vocational training, education, safe housing, and quality of life for those affected by trauma and PTSD to include children, Veterans, and families.
Our Motto
Our motto at the Nueva Luz Foundation is Understand, Cope, Prevail. The core of our programs is for us to not just help people through their trauma with therapy. With the traditional therapy, Nueva Luz does it a little differently. Through an education basis, we help people Understand what they are going through, so that way they may Cope with their trauma, and hopefully, they will Prevail from their traumatic experiences and move past it, that way they can have fulfilling lives.
Don't Just Treat... Educate.®
Education is the empowerment tool used to offer all clients control and power over their situation. The Nueva Luz Foundation is committed to programs that strengthen not only the individual but also the family unit and support successful interactions with the community. The foundation of our programs is a strength, empowerment, and leadership focus. The Nueva Luz Foundation’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that all persons can prevail if offered the right information, opportunity, and support.
How Many Have Overcome
The Nueva Luz Foundation has offered hope to many individuals through its programs offered. Here are our statistics for the amount of people we have helped understand, cope, and prevail!
Learn More About the Nueva Luz Foundation
NLF at the Emergency Preparedness Camp
The Nueva Luz Foundation is honored to partner with the Weslaco Fire Department in sending one of our counselors to the Youth Emergency Preparedness Camp to guide some of the students. At the camp, the students learned the fundamentals of becoming a member of the Community Emergency Response Team. The Nueva Luz Foundation is honored to have partaken in this event as it has helped out the community’s youth learn skills that will be beneficial to the community.
Learn About Our Programs
Our Current Services and Programs
The Nueva Luz Foundation offers various services for anyone who has been affected by Trauma. Through our philosophy of Understand, Cope, & Prevail, we aim to empower individuals to overcome any obstacle that they happen to face in life. Our programs are available for:
- Veterans
- Veterans Families/Caregivers
- First Responders
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- Youth
- Families
- Individuals
The Nueva Luz Foundation is helping empower individuals on a daily basis. For us to continue in our mission, we rely on the time and talent of our board, our staff, and the community. Our Foundation not only relies on grants but also on the generosity of individuals and businesses through generous donations and sponsorship. For information on how to help sponsor a program, donate to our cause, or get involved, click here.
The Nueva Luz Foundation has offered hope to many individuals through its programs offered. Here are our statistics for the number of people we have helped understand, cope, and prevail!
The HOPE Program
Under a grant funded by the Office of the Governor, we have been working hard with our community to help those with our Holistic Options for Positive Empowerment (HOPE) Program. In this program, we work with those who have suffered a trauma in a holistic approach that includes more than just psychotherapy, for example, we work with the children of Mercedes to help them learn about their emotions and how to control them.
Watch our video below that showcases our work with the children!
The Creative and Expressive Arts Program
This fall, the Nueva Luz Foundation launched the creative and expressive arts program!
In this program, we utilize creative and expressive arts combined therapy allowing each person to utilize their skills and talents to rebuild and strengthen their resiliency and return to health. There are different modalities to our program including art, music, dance/movement, writing, heart rate variability training, biofeedback, and therapy to improve resilience, coping skills and wellness.
Want to Know More? Download our brochures below.
Get Involved
Volunteering
There is always a need for volunteers to donate their time and energy to support our cause. Please send us an email to [email protected] to join the list of NLF volunteers. Our team will keep you updated on what we’re doing and all of the upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Internship
We look forward to helping students broaden their education, and diversify their interests. If you are interested in conducting your internship with our Foundation contact us!
Check out our intern’s corner here!