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Bob Decker was a
member of the Baltimore City Police Department from 1971 through 1981,
when he resigned to join the Houston Police Department, where he is a
police sergeant.
While in Mexico he
realized that he was lost in the colonias. In the colonias, He was also
found. He agreed to form a non-profit organization for one reason: He wants
everyone to have the joy and happiness he found walking the streets of
the colonias, visiting the people in their cardboard shacks, and working
as equals with the people of the colonias. These people have only the
bare necessities of life, yet they are happy, hopeful, optimistic, and
never give up.
PURPOSE
Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. was founded to provide
Americans the
startling experience of mission and selfless charity in the colonias of Mexico.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Paper Houses Across the Border, a non profit 503(c)
charity, is to improve the quality of life for American families and for
the impoverished families living in the colonias of Mexico by working
cooperatively with the families and institutions in the colonias.
Values
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Respect the
culture of the people in the colonias
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We shall uphold
this country's democratic values as embodied in the Constitution and
shall dedicate ourselves to the preservation of liberty and justice
for all.
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Improve the
quality of life
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We shall strive
to improve the quality of life by working as partners with the
people of the colonias and linking Houston families with families in
the colonias.
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Respect for the
dignity of work and self-achievement
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We shall strive
to improve the quality of life in the colonias by working with
people to support projects that help our friends succeed in
business, home ownership, and programs that provide food, shelter
and love for the most neglected.
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We shall always
engage in behavior that is beyond ethical reproach and reflects the
integrity of police professionals.
Principles
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Life and
individual religious beliefs are sacred and respected.
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We value customs
and traditions.
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Our role is to
provide support, friendship, material, and guidance to help the
people of the colonias resolve problems. Our role in the lives of
Houston families is to facilitate a meaningful relationship with the
people of the colonias that improves the spiritual life and promotes
happiness.
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Our focus is the
colonia (neighborhood) and we work with the residents at the basic
neighborhood level
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The children of
the colonias are our most valuable asset.
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We exist to work
in partnership with the people of the colonias by servicing their
needs and within their guidelines.
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People should be
treated fairly and equitably in recognition of basic human dignity
and as a means of enriching life.
Method of
Operations
Primarily, we are searchers. We search at the community level for
ways we can fulfill our mission, establish goals, and create projects.
We work with the people at the bottom. We work with individuals,
families, churches, educators, neighborhood leaders, business people and
government officials (in that order).
Note: when people are hungry, we don’t need a committee.
We need a sandwich. And we need a plan for them to feed themselves.
We also operate with the understanding that self sufficiency and
education are the keys to resolving many problems. Pride in self and
pride in self accomplishment are important. We do not exist to support
poor people. We exist to learn from the people of the colonias, help
them through situations they cannot handle alone, and we exist to help
the poor to escape poverty. Most of these people are already doing their
part. They need education, small loans, encouragement, and a little
help.
Face to face encounters, through mission experiences, are the best
way to accomplish our purpose and mission. (Please read this sentence
100 times).
Members of
the Board, Volunteers and Contributors
Every suggestion,
activity, goal, objective and plan must align with our mission, values,
purpose and goals. We
are searchers. We continually improve and expand as we find new
information and better ways to work. If an issue is not in conflict with our purpose, mission,
values and principles, the only limit is our imagination and ability to
deal with an idea. Read the Sermon on the Mount and the works of mercy
to better understand our goals.
We
prioritize and focus on projects where there is a reasonable
chance of success. We are fiscally responsible. However, we are
not afraid to fail.
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