If you stand on the corner of Chihuahua Street and Paisano Drive, you can see two man-made borders: one border separating Mexico and the United States, the other a fence separating residents Antonia Morales (91) and Romelia Mendoza (66) from the street they’ve lived on for decades.

The fences surrounding their two homes are now clad with large photos memorializing the history of their barrio: portraits of famous actors and chefs, side-by-side comparisons of the street 100 years apart, detailed descriptions of certain buildings’ histories. Artwork on the sidewalk reflects indigenous culture of the land centuries prior to colonialist expansion. The photos and artwork stand as a loud declaration of Chihuahua Street’s longstanding history for the few who happen to stumble upon it, a revival of the ghosts that are fighting alongside those looking toward Duranguito’s future.

Over the last three years, residents of Duranguito have endured an ongoing battle against city leaders after it was announced that their barrio would be destroyed and replaced with a sports arena. 43 members of a once-vibrant community are gone. Romelia Mendoza and Antonia “Toñita” Morales are the last two people left in Duranguito—and they’re still fighting tooth and nail to protect their barrio.

WHY IT MATTERS

With the support of lawyers, activists, and a few city representatives, Antonia and Romelia’s battle to protect their community and history is far from over. 

It’s important to acknowledge that this isn’t a new battle. Across the country, vibrant, tight-knit communities in cities are being forcibly eliminated in order to accommodate more luxurious lifestyles. And when this happens, there are rarely any wins because people are targeting those whose voices they can easily silence—the elderly, minorities, lower-income folks, etc. 

Antonia, Romelia, and past residents of Duranguito are unafraid of expressing their anger toward the city. As documentary filmmakers, we hope to honor the work the two of them have done by creating this film for all to see.  

For the five of us, this project has meant researching El Paso city politics until three in the morning. It’s meant calling dozens of people trying to get interviews, working random jobs to pay for our travel expenses, and trying to explain to everyone why we care so much about this neighborhood in a city a thousand miles away.

Even still, it’s just a fraction of the work that Antonia, Romelia, and their supporters have done to keep their community alive. And at the end of the day, that’s what matters most to us. We’ve dedicated a lot of our time and effort into this project because we believe in this documentary and its ability to change perspectives and the future of Duranguito. As filmmakers, that’s all we can hope to do.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

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¡LA LUCHA SIGUE—VIVA DURANGUITO!

Thank you for taking the time to support a campaign dedicated to the residents of Duranguito. Any contribution helps.