Join the New Mexico Health Equity Partnership Network
As an initiative of the Santa Fe Community Foundation, the purpose of the New Mexico Health Equity Partnership (NMHEP) is to strengthen the capacity of New Mexico communities to shift power relations by advocating for systems and policy change and addressing structural and institutionalized inequities based on race, class, gender and geography. NMHEP is committed to working with rural, frontier, urban, and border communities and first nations to create access to fresh food, clean environments, safe places, quality education and fair wages for all New Mexicans. This way all children and families can live healthy and quality lives in safe and thriving communities no matter where they are located in New Mexico.
In 2016, the Partnership is dedicated to impacting in three key focus areas:
Solidifying a health equity peer-to-peer network and developing a statewide policy agenda;
Recruiting partners and decision makers to ensure health is considered in policy making; and
Strengthening community capacity and leadership to conduct Health Impact Assessments (HIA) in rural/tribal areas, training New Mexico HIA technical assistance providers via our HIA Train the Trainers Program, facilitating community peer learning, and advancing community-based health equity efforts.
The NMHEP network of unique, innovative and culturally diverse partners is crucial for the health of children, families and communities in New Mexico. To learn more about the NMHEP, please visit the Partnership’s website, sign up for the newsletter, and join the Partnership as a network member to be part of a larger health equity movement making lasting positive change for all New Mexicans!
Submitted by Jessica Jensen, NMHEP Grants & Capacity Building Strategist
NMHEP welcomes the network steering committee
The NMHEP held its first Network Steering Committee quarterly meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2016. We began our time together by sharing a story of our first encounters with “magic.” Not to suggest that “magic” is the foundation where we operate from but that it is the “magic” of our curiosity as human beings that allows for the creativity in building communities where total and complete health can exist.
The NMHEP Network Steering Committee is a five member, voluntary, committee whose role is to support the work of the NMHEP and provide mission-based leadership and strategic guidance. Over the next ten months the committee will work in partnership with the NMHEP team and partners, provide high level strategic guidance, assist in fundraising/resource leveraging educate and recruit decision makers, and develop the Statewide Policy Agenda and Health in All Policies framework.
As we work toward the 2017 vision and beyond, it is my hope that we always tap into that first encounter with “magic” and sense of curiosity to remind us that we must leave a place for others to experience their “magic.”
Submitted by María Gallegos, NMHEP Network Engagement & Policy Strategist
Please meet and welcome the NMHEP Network Steering Committee Members:
Yolanda Cruz
Yolanda Cruz lives in the beautiful, and snowy Sangre de Cristo Mountains with her family and pets. She has always played an active role in her community, listening, learning and assisting with many initiatives. Much of the work Yolanda has done has focused on social and health equity and has led to her working, increasingly, on substance abuse issues and systems change. Yolanda has coupled her extensive experience in grant writing, project/program development and implementation and strong leadership skills with her commitment to building equity by working in an area that can be very punitive. By working with her team, community partners, and stakeholders, including those who have been both impacted by and committed DWI, she has introduced an equity lens in the work needed to help communities become safer and healthier.
Nelsy Dominguez
As Deputy Director/COO at Farm to Table NM, Nelsy is involved in the development and advancement of general operations, works with the Board and staff on the overall management of the organization and on achieving Farm to Table’s strategic goals, as well as honing and expanding communication and philanthropic engagement. Nelsy has many years of non-profit organizational and programmatic experience in the philanthropic and non-profit sectors. Throughout, Nelsy has focused on coalescing opportunities that optimize collaboration and investment in New Mexico’s communities with a commitment to equity, leadership development, and to building capacity around advocacy for and empowerment of, under-represented communities to improve quality of life and economic opportunity. Life experiences ingrained a belief in the fundamental importance of addressing structural and institutional systems of inequities and of working towards changes that honor, care, and respect one another. She and her partner of 12 years live in Santa Fe, where they are lovingly raising a smart and strong nine year old.
Anastacio Trujillo
Anastacio Trujillo is a Membership Development Representative with Nusenda Credit Union. He received his B.B.A., Business Management from New Mexico Highlands University and an A.A.S., Accounting from Santa Fe Community College. He has worked at local financial institutions for over 14 years.
Anastacio is currently a Board Member of the Rotary International, Rotary Del Sur Chapter. He is a member of multiple business networking groups including the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Anastacio has served as Treasurer and is currently a member of the local organization, Los Caballeros De Vargas. He has volunteered for anti domestic violence non-profits in Santa Fe, NM, including Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families and One Billion Rising Santa Fe.
He is a resident and native to Santa Fe, NM. He lives with his partner of 8 years, Jessica Montoya, also from Santa Fe. They share a pet cat named Dulce.
Anastacio has an appreciation for New Mexico and the state's traditions, values and diverse history. His hope is to witness the unity of that diversity and contribute as a well meaning man to New Mexico communities.
Susan Wilger
With a passion for public policy and strong values for health, justice and equality, Susan Wilger began working for policy change at the local, regional and national levels over 25 years ago. Throughout her career she has served as a leader, developer, advocate and teacher in the fields of behavioral and primary health care, child care, prevention and domestic violence services. Susan has worked for the past 15 years with rural and frontier communities throughout the U.S. on various community development and equity issues. She has served as a consultant with the National Center for Frontier Communities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National REACH Coalition and other entities. Her areas of interest include empowering rural and frontier communities to improve local conditions of health and well-being. Susan recently served on the Board of Trustees for the National Rural Health Association and as a board member of the New Mexico Alliance for School Based Health Care. Ms. Wilger received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a Master's Degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Fatima van Hattum
Fatima was born and raised in Abiquiu, New Mexico. She has a BA in Arabic and Development Studies and an MSc GLobalisation and Development from University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. She has a background in international development, food justice, gender and labor rights. She is the Program Manager of NewMexicoWomen.Org and is committed to working towards social justice in New Mexcio.
Policy & Advocacy
Upcoming core partner educational policy/advocacy days
In 2016, the NMHEP team will be working in partnership with four core partners to coordinate and host educational policy/advocacy days. Core community-based partners, located in Bernalillo, Doña Ana, McKinley and San Miguel counties, are working to improve health by addressing economic justice, environmental justice, land-use policies, and substance abuse treatment rather than incarceration. Previous policy/advocacy days have focused on the health impacts of uranium mining; educating how the Santolina Master Development would affect land, water, and health; civic engagement in Doña Ana county; and the Safe Passage Initiative, Complete Streets, and Predatory Lending in San Juan County.
Please keep an eye out for 2016 policy/advocacy days! NMHEP network members will be invited to attend policy/advocacy days to serve as a bigger base of support.
Submitted by Jinelle Scully, Creative Logistics & Operations Associate
Capacity Building
Impacts of the Lobos C02 Pipeline Health Impact Assessment
The Lobos CO2 Pipeline HIA provided the impetus for the Partnership for a Healthy Torrance Community, the New Mexico Department of Health, Human Impact Partners Inc. and the NMHEP to share resources, information and expertise. In so doing, the HIA team was able to develop a balanced, well-researched and annotated document designed to inform the decision making process around a very controversial issue that has significant environmental, human, economic and land use policy implications. This HIA can be seen as both document and process.
As a formal research document it has the potential to inform future decisions about appropriate and sensitive land use in Torrance County, and can be used by other communities in their efforts to address related concerns. While at this time there have been no changes in planning and zoning ordinances, the HIA called for revisions to the Torrance County Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The county has recently formed a Steering Committee to update the Plan. As this was the first HIA done in Torrance County, it also provided the opportunity for the community members to speak to decision makers about the importance of Health in All Policies.
As process, from the reports of many involved in the HIA, it has opened doors to healing for individuals and the community. Many of the stories shared in the HIA process reflect historical relationships of domination and exploitation, of treaties broken, of land stolen, of individuals wounded; and experiences of deep resilience and loyalty to the land as bedrock of personal identity, family, community, and faith. People felt heard--some for the first time. The HIA process gave voice to a marginalized population, purpose and direction to a community health improvement council, and a sense of community empowerment that comes from engagement in collective action around a common goal. It was a transformative process at many levels, producing a document that will serve the community in the years ahead.
Submitted Submitted by Patricia Lincoln, M.P.A. and Linda Filippi, Ph.D.
Mini Health Impact Assessment training held
The NMHEP Santa Fe Indian Health Services Health Impact Assessment (HIA) team gathered for a valuable HIA mini training at the Santa Fe Community Foundation on February 29, 2016. Richard Wright, the New Mexico technical assistance provider for the team, presented local examples and outlined the structure and crucial pieces of HIA. Emily Haozous, the HIA coordinator, and Valerie Rangel, project coordinator, teamed up with Richard to outline potential pathways, indicators and health outcomes to members of the teams' Advisory Committee.
Submitted by Jinelle Scully, Creative Logistics & Operations Associate
NMHEP Network Member Capacity Building Opportunities
If you are a NMHEP network member and you have an upcoming training, workshop, or other capacity building opportunity open to community members and organizations, please send information about it to Jessi Jensen, Grants & Capacity Building Strategist and the NMHEP team can include it an upcoming NMHEP newsletter.
Santa Fe Community Foundation Capacity Building Opportunities
The NMHEP’s institutional home, the Santa Fe Community Foundation (SFCF), is committed to supporting nonprofits in achieving their missions with excellence. The SFCF’s Philanthropy HUB has been designed as a learning and gathering place for the philanthropic sector. The HUBs programs strive to: 1) deepen philanthropic practice; 2) build nonprofit capacity; 3) provide support for professional advisors; and 4) provide platforms for learning about social issues in community.
Please check out the SFCF’s upcoming trainings and presentations.
For an extensive list of opportunities, please visit the SFCF webpage here.
Calendar
DATEMarch 18, April 22, May 20, & June 17, 2016March & April 2016
April 27, 2016
May 2016TBD June 2016July or August 2016
EVENTSmall Group Gathering : Global 505 – New Mexico Asian Family Center and the NMHEP Small Group Gathering: Youth Leadership and Shared Learning – La Semilla Food Center, Southwest Organizing Project, Farm To Table, and the NMHEPSmall Group Gathering: Educating decision makers and the media – New Mexico Breastfeeding Taskforce and the NMHEPSmall Group Gathering: Reclaiming FeminismSmall Group Gathering: Care Coalition – Tewa Women United and the NMHEPNMHEP Statewide Health Equity GatheringPolicy/Advocacy Day in Bernalillo County
