About Us

Mija, Yes you can.®

Our Story

On March 8, 2020, International Women’s Day and one week before the pandemic changed all of our lives, our founder Iris Lopez launched a project that she had held in for months because she wasn’t sure if this “silly little project” would amount to anything. That’s when she heard her mom’s voice calmly telling her, “Mija, Yes you can,” and turns out mom was right.

Iris started The Mija Project in her small two bedroom apartment. She turned her living room into an office and studio where she would take photos for the website on her phone.

A year later and Mija, Yes you can.® has donated hundreds of dollars to other non-profit organizations in our community including COVID-19 Compassionate Care Fund, NAMI of El Paso, The Center Against Sexual and Family Violence and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Left to Right: Estela Casas, Iris Lopez, Shelby Montgomery. The Mija Project was able to donate $400 to UMC’s COVID-19 Compassionate Care fund thanks to the sale of Mija t-shirts.

We have created workshops for women of all ages as well as partnered with local schools to mentor young ladies in our community.

Most recently, The Mija Project in partnership with El Paso Electric awarded the organizations first scholarship awards to 14 deserving women in our community. The scholarships were awarded to young girls attending development camps or college as well as for women who needed assistance with their small business.

Women in the El Paso and Las Cruces community were the recipients of The Mija’s first ever scholarship award.

Your donations will not only help us provide more scholarships but it will also help us create workshops that allow women in our community to network and gather together to share their stories and to continue partnering with other local non-profit organizations to bring awareness to their missions as well.

The Mija Project held their first ever Back-to-School Drive to benefit The Center Against Sexual and Family Violence in El Paso. The Mija Project collected school supplies, backpacks and monetary donations.

“Mija, Yes you can” aims at telling the stories of women of all ages who have achieved great things through obstacles big or small. We hope to provide a platform that allows women to encourage each other and most importantly relate to one another because you never truly realize how much you can relate to others until you share your story with the world.

There’s a reason our phrase is in both Spanish and English. The phrase is meant to reach ALL women of ALL races and ethnicities. We are proud of our Mexican culture and invite others to join us in this movement that includes ALL women.

The Mija Project is a team of women who want to remind the world to never underestimate the ability of a determined woman. Young or old, experienced or inexperienced. When a woman is determined to do something it will get done. Why? Because Mija, Yes you can.

Mija Yes You Can Founder Iris Lopez Mural reveal, by El Paso artist Martin “Blaster” Zubia with the Estrella Jalisco’s Artist in Residence Program, El Paso, TX, Sept 14, 2020, Andres Acosta El Paso HeraldPost
Left to right: Iris Lopez, Maria Elena Lopez, Sarah Zambrano: Our Founder Iris Lopez’s main motivators have always been the women in her family including her mom, pictured in the middle.

“Love this organization so much and everything they do for our community, especially for my hometown.”

@biancadanielle_

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