Doña  Ana Communities United
June 2017 Newsletter

Greetings from DACU! It's been a very full month, and the summer shows no sign of slowing down.

We are very excited that our online auction of services goes live tomorrow. Did you know that it's not too late to donate a service? Our Summer Gathering is also right around the corner, on June 29th.  We look forward to seeing you then!

Warmly, 
Kari and Parisa

DACU Director 
Kari Bachman 
575-496-4330

DACU Outreach Coordinator 
Parisa Shirazi 
575-323-1252

Upcoming DACU Events

Online Auction of Services
June 20th - 29th

Timebank Potlucks
June 21st | 6 - 8pm
July 14th | 5:30 - 8pm
DACU office

DACU Summer Gathering
June 29th | 6 - 8:30pm
Peace Lutheran Church
1701 Missouri Ave.
(Tickets $15-30) 
Timebank Orientation 
July 12th| 6 - 7:30pm
DACU office

DACU Team Meeting 
July 27th | 11am - 1pm 
DACU office
(Lunch provided)
Our new office is located at 151 S Walnut Street, Unit B13. You'll find directions at the  bottom of this newsletter.
Online Auction of Services 
We're just a day away from the opening of our auction.  We have a collection of fun services that range from a bike spa to collaborative art...you won't want to miss out on bidding!

From June 20th to 29th, you can bid online.   The process couldn't be simpler: just click on  32auctions.com/DACU2017  and you will be taken to our auction website. Final bids will be taken at our Summer Gathering on the 29th.

Also, it's still not too late to donate a service. If you are interested, please contact Parisa by June 28th.  You can view the list of services featured at our last fundraiser here  and we can also brainstorm ideas that incorporate your unique talents. Here are some possibilities:

- Dog walking
- Knitting lessons
- Reading aloud
- Knife sharpening
- Translation services

The sky is the limit...the more creative, the better!

DACU Summer Gathering 
Mark your calendars! Our Summer Gathering will be here before we know it! 
We are hosting our second DACU fundraiser on  June 29th  from  6 to 8:30pm  
at  Peace Lutheran Church.  

Our event will include dinner, a community building activity where attendees share creative ideas for advancing health equity in our county, and final bidding on the auction of services. 

You can purchase tickets at http://32auctions.com/DACU2017 or by coming by the DACU office. Please just call ahead of time to make sure that one of us will be there.


Connecting Across the Border
Last month we hosted Carolina, Juan José, and Diana, three of our timebank members from  Ciudad Juárez. We had a wonderful time creating two collaborative art pieces with them at our timebank potluck. Our pieces focused on our experiences living in the borderlands, which led to an honest conversation a bout our realities and what we can do to break down walls. 

Our friends have generously offered to host us in Juarez on July 23rd. We are currently finalizing details about our one-day trip. If you are interested in joining us, please email  Parisa .


Photos by Robert Yee 
Street Mural 
We are thrilled to announce the creation of the first intersection mural in Las Cruces! You can find it in the Mesquite District at the corner of Tornillo and Picacho. 

This was an amazing collaboration between DACU's social equity mappers, Mesquite District residents, and timebank memb ers from Ciudad Júarez. 
Special thanks to Saba and Niko, our incredibly talented and patient artists!

Our goal is for the City of Las Cruces to develop a streamlined process that enables residents to create similar works. Intersection murals build community: not only as they are painted, but by calming traffic and providing a focal point for social interaction. We are currently circulating a petition and will be speaking about this before City Council in July.


Photos by Robert Yee
Directions to Our Office: 

151 South Walnut Street, Unit B13 map

We are located at the corner of Walnut and Griggs in the Walnut Business Park. Our  office is w alking distance from Roadrunner bus routes 6 and 7. Please give us a call before you come by, as we are often out and about in the community!

 
Doña Ana Communities United (DACU) builds the capacity of communities to develop and implement policies and community-based solutions that improve social, economic, and environmental conditions that shape health and life opportunities. We work to advance health equity in Doña Ana County by addressing institutional inequities related to geography, class, gender, and race. 

We are conducting two main projects. Through the social equity mapping project, undervalued community members explore their neighborhoods and work with local decision makers to develop policies that advance health equity. Participants in the hOurTime timebank build social cohesion and practice an equitable form of alternative economics as they exchange services with each other.