On the Road to Better Health: Bringing Diabetes Education to Every Corner of the Community
October 28, 2025
Across El Paso, dedicated community health workers are hitting the road — not just to visit neighborhoods, but to empower residents with the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their health. Through The University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP) Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) and its Community Engagement Core, the “On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes” program is making a meaningful impact by addressing one of the region’s most pressing health issues: Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
In partnership with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, the program reaches adults who have diabetes, are living with prediabetes, or are at risk of developing the disease. Health workers travel to areas of high need across the region to share practical, culturally relevant information about diabetes prevention and management.
The program’s bilingual curriculum ensures that education is accessible to everyone, regardless of language. Outreach takes place through tabling events, community gatherings, and word of mouth, helping connect people to vital resources where they live and work.
Health workers have built strong partnerships with trusted local organizations such as the Housing Authority of El Paso, the County of El Paso, the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, and many churches and community centers throughout the region. These relationships make it possible to bring health education directly to the heart of the community.
“This has been a very positive collaboration that we have with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation,” said Bibiana M. Mancera, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Community Engagement Core at BBRC. “We’re able to reach areas of the community that have been traditionally underserved and deliver an intervention on diabetes, which is one of the initiatives that the Health Foundation champions. It’s been wonderful to work with our program officer, Audrey Garcia, and with Dr. Michael Kelly, who provide tremendous support and guidance in identifying where our outreach can make the most impact.”
Managing diabetes starts with awareness — and awareness begins with connection. Learn more about how you or someone you know can get involved in the “On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes” program. Together, we can build a healthier, more informed El Paso community.
To learn more about the programs the Health Foundation supports, visit pdnhf.org.
