Good Works Gazette – November 2025

Poco a Poco San Pedro Itzicán

Like the indigenous community they serve, Poco a Poco San Pedro Itzicán is steeped in a place-based outlook. Their mission is “to help the people in San Pedro Itzicán and the surrounding towns to improve their lives and the lives of others, for generations to come.” This may seem like a broad or vague mission. However, in a world where needs change almost daily, this approach has allowed the organization to address immediate issues while also laying the foundation for sustainable change. Their methodologies are inclusive and incorporate community input every step of the way. Real change takes time and, as their name suggests, they are willing to build change little by little (poco a poco).

The charity began in 2016 when local immigrants from the United States and Canada were introduced to social worker Anita Torres Guerrero. Originally from Nayarit, Anita was a lead volunteer of the youth programs for the Brigada Estatal de Protección Civil y Bomberos (State Brigade of Civil Protection and Firefighters). She had found her calling in serving the people of San Pedro Itzicán and had a vision to expand the programs available to this underserved population. She moved into the village and began building trust with her neighbors and friends. She worked tirelessly but recognized she couldn’t achieve her goals alone. Poco a Poco was born of this collaborative spirit.

Nestled in the hillsides between the Sierra Madre mountains and Lake Chapala, San Pedro Itzicán is about 18 miles (~28 kilometers) east of the city of Chapala. It is one of several remaining villages settled by the Coca peoples more than 700 years ago. It is a magical place, alive with ancestral energy. The unbroken and sacred relationships with the land and the lake are palpable. Known historically as friendly but fierce, the Coca are one of the few indigenous groups in western Mexico that have preserved land rights and communal organization into modern times.

Despite this illustrious history, the disruption of their traditional economy by colonialism and capitalism has resulted in abject poverty and the problems that accompany it. Literacy rates are low, and the malnutrition rates are high. Many parents must leave the area to find work, leaving grandparents, and the community at large, the overwhelming responsibility for childcare. To make matters worse, kidney disease is rampant. As much as 18% (and perhaps more) of the population suffers from chronic kidney disease due to nontraditional causes (CKDnt). The causes of this are varied but include malnutrition, unclean water, sometimes hazardous work and the likelihood of a genetic predisposition.

Poco a Poco combats these challenges with an array of programs. Principal among these is their meal program which serves a healthy meal six days a week for between 150 and 200 children. The organization also provides nutrition education and academic tutoring. Their newly minted community center, which is slated to expand, houses free dental clinics, seasonal art classes, various basic educational classes and training classes that promote financial independence. They have also developed several garden projects to promote the medicinal and health benefits of fresh produce. In addition, plans are underway to build a small water purification plant onsite at the community center.

The thing that strikes me about Poco a Poco is their purity of vision and dedication to service. They are focused on the mission, not self-promotion or the spotlight. They are wildly collaborative, not just with the community they serve but with other groups. They currently work together with 42 different nonprofit charities! They exemplify the highest ideals of generosity and care, demonstrating what it means to serve with purpose. If you are interested in volunteering for, or donating to, Poco a Poco San Pedro Itzicán, you can learn more at their website: www.pocoapocosanpedro.com.

Good Works Gazette features a different local group doing good work in our community each month. If you would like to nominate a group to be featured, please email Daria Hilton at daria_hilton@hotmail.com.