Arriba Huntsville
- Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Organizational Overview
Arriba Huntsville is a faith-driven community development corporation in Huntsville, Alabama, dedicated to incubating new organizations and initiatives and to supporting existing local ministries and organizations that serve the Latino immigrant community. Its mission is to foster thriving neighborhoods through faith, justice, collaboration, and generosity, helping Latino immigrants and their families build brighter futures. Rooted in a Christian vision of Shalom and the rich Latino cultural heritage, Arriba Huntsville works on addressing spiritual, economic, and migration-related challenges within the Latino community. The organization's strategic efforts focus on fostering vibrant, healthy communities where individuals and families can flourish. Arriba believes that community transformation happens through strong faith communities, healthy family dynamics, purposeful living, and civic engagement. The "Camino Azul" strategy is central to Arriba Huntsville’s approach, promoting ten key areas for life improvement, including belonging to faith communities, maintaining healthy family dynamics, emotional healing, and community service. Through this framework, the organization collaborates with churches, local government, and other groups to promote spiritual, social, and economic well-being for Latino immigrants in the greater Huntsville area. This comprehensive strategy aims to nurture healthier, more connected communities that support sustainable development and create lasting positive impacts by helping Latino families not only survive but thrive in their new environment.
Beneficiary Population
- Urban Poor
- Migrants
- Women
- Families
- Leaders
- Entrepreneurs
Focus Areas
- Spiritual Transformation & Faith Communities
- Leadership Development & Training
- Community Development
- People & Family-Centered Development
- Wealth Creation & Economic Development
- Broad-based Transformation & Systemic Change
Organizational Track Record
Arriba Huntsville was officially launched in 2024 after three years of groundwork and relationship-building within the Latino immigrant and broader community of Huntsville, Alabama. The organization focuses on addressing spiritual, economic, and community development needs, currently through two primary initiatives. El Mercado del Pueblo, a weekly open-air market, serves as a vibrant cultural hub that celebrates Latino heritage through food, art, music, and family. It provides a platform for over 40 Latino-owned businesses to engage with the broader community, enhancing the visibility and contributions of the Latino population in Huntsville. The market has quickly become a central gathering space, fostering connection and cultural exchange. In addition to the market, Therapy and Immigration Support Services are offered, providing a range of mental health and legal advocacy services tailored to the Spanish-speaking community. Led by licensed social workers, these services include Christian counseling, psychological evaluations, and immigration advocacy, helping individuals navigate emotional, psychological, and legal challenges. Together, these efforts enable Arriba Huntsville to play a crucial role in promoting cultural pride, community well-being, and social integration. Looking ahead, Arriba Huntsville aims to expand its initiatives, inspired by its Camino Azul strategy, to further equip Latino families and businesses to thrive.
Key Leader Biosketch
Born in Texas and raised in California, Noel has dedicated his career to serving Latino communities across the United States as a youth worker, pastor, community developer, and advocate for biblical justice since 1982. He spent three decades in Chicago, specifically in the La Villita neighborhood, where he also authored several books on biblical justice and community engagement. Dr. Castellanos led the Christian Community Development Association as President and CEO for 14 years, an umbrella organization serving over 2,000 Christian nonprofit organizations committed to community development. He was appointed to the President’s Council for Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships during the Obama Administration was a founding member of the Evangelical Immigration Table, advocating for comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for World Vision USA. In 2019, Dr. Castellanos established Camino Alliance, focusing on addressing the root causes of urban poverty and migration in Latin America and in Huntsville, AL, where Noel currently lives and where Camino Alliance USA is headquartered. In 2024 he was instrumental to launching Arriba Huntsville as a subsidiary of Camino Alliance. He and his wife, Marianne, have been married for 40 years and are proud parents of three children and grandparents to two grandchildren.
Funding History with Camino Alliance
Arriba Huntsville received initial start-up capital and support for personnel costs from Camino Alliance, which played a pivotal role in its formal launch in 2024. As a subsidiary of Camino Alliance, Inc., this funding enabled Arriba Huntsville to establish its two key initiatives—El Mercado del Pueblo and Therapy and Immigration Support Services—and start making an impact in the Latino immigrant community of Huntsville. The strategic plan is to foster Arriba Huntsville’s growth into a strong, locally operated organization that will eventually become independent from Camino Alliance, continuing to serve and uplift the community.