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Doña
Ana
Communities United
March 2019
Newsletter
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Though we're a few days late, March was full of optimism and new opportunities for DACU.
In this newsletter, you'll learn about how you can make a difference with our new initiative to extend the timebank to incarcerated folks and their families. We also share about the Shamrock Shindig we held at Gallagher Park, and invite you to connect with former outreach coordinators Meredith and Parisa during their upcoming visit to Las Cruces. And of course you'll hear about guests who appeared on Kari's weekly radio show,
Just Community,
this month.
Finally, we are relieved to share that we received good news from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation: they will continue to partially fund us for three more years! We hope you'll join us at our picnic in May to celebrate!
Many thanks for all you do to make our work--and our world--wonderful! It is a joy building community with all of you.
In good health,
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Upcoming DACU Events
Timebank Orientations
April 9, 1:30-3 PM (Branigan Library)
May 4, 10:30 AM-Noon (DACU office)
Timebank Get-togethers
April 11, 5-7 PM (Potluck at the DACU office)
May 10, 5:30-8 PM (Picnic at Young Park)
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Human Kind United
Raúl Esparza, Jr. has been an active member of DACU for six months. Recently, he and Kari crafted a plan to extend our timebank to one of the most marginalized segments of our society: people locked up in our prisons.
DACU is participating in A Community Thrives to fund this new effort we're calling Human Kind United. Please help us reach our goal of $6,000 in online donations by April 12! You can find out more on our campaign page.
Once we reach our goal,
we will be eligible to obtain larger grants through the USA Today Network. We are already more than halfway there, thanks to the help of many of you.
Click on the video below to hear from Raúl about about the loneliness and isolation that people feel during incarceration. Even after his release, Raúl has struggled with wanting to return to his cell, feeling like he had nobody on the outside supporting him.
We are starting Human Kind United to be that bridge. It will be the first effort to use timebanking to connect people who live on both inside and outside of the prison system.
Human Kind United consists of six components: (1) a print newsletter sent to inmates, which Raúl is already busy writing; (2) timebank pen pal pairs on the inside and outside who co-create narratives and art that speak to societal inequities; (3) a website that shares these and other creative works beyond the prison walls; (4) inmates who participate in advocacy efforts to reform the prison system; (5) inmates' family members who join the timebank and utilize the time credits earned by their loved ones behind bars; and (6) meaningful employment for former inmates. You can find out more on our
campaign page
.
Please help us in this vital work. It's easy to share our campaign via email or on
social media
. You can
make a gift
online by April 12. Many thanks for your support!
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Shamrock Shindig
On St Patrick's Day, residents and friends of Gallagher Park came together to celebrate at the Shamrock Shindig! Folks dusted off their best leprechaun gear to dress themselves and their pets, and enjoyed the face painting station and homemade baked goods. The best dressed dog and human won a timebank yard cleanup, and runners-up took home green spider plants.
The best part of the Shamrock Shindig, as Shana pointed out, was getting to know our neighbors! Julie taught us about the early symbolism of shamrocks in Christianity; Amelia talked us through her yummy pot-of-gold cookie recipe; and many families stopped by with their young children to rekindle our love for chalk art. It was a terrific way to celebrate the holiday. Thank you, Shana, for your hard work and creativity!
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Elizabeth and her dog earned the Best Dressed award
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| Attendees enjoyed delicious Shamrock goodies baked by a young neighbor |
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Help us welcome Meredith and Parisa!
Meredith Severtson and Parisa Shirazi, our f
ormer timebank coordinators, will be visiting Las Cruces in a few weeks! We are so grateful that they are donating their time and talents to help us think through where we've been and where we are headed.
We want you to help welcome them home! The April timebank get-together has been planned to coincide with their trip. Join us at the DACU office on April 11th from 5-7 PM to enjoy a potluck and catch up with these two amazing women!
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| It's a woman's world: Kari, Parisa, and Meredith during Parisa's visit last year. |
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Kari continues to broadcast her radio show
Just Community on KTAL-LP every Thursday morning from 8 to 9
AM. (Locally, tune your dial to 101.5 FM, or listen to the show
online from anywhere in the world
.)
The show focuses on social equity and features voices not often heard in our community.
These guests and topics were featured in March:
- Leon Miramontes repeat (street artist and free thinker)
- Vivian (lived experiences as a transgender woman)
- Raúl Esparza (Human Kind United)
- Kellen Acree repeat (hip hop and youth engagement)
If you'd like to listen to archived shows or know someone who would be an interesting guest, please
contact Kari.
Raúl has spoken on a variety of topics as a guest on
JC.
Leon has added his artistic touch to many community events.
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| Kellen and Kari at the studio. |
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Directions to Our Office
151 South Walnut Street, Unit B13
You'll find DACU at the corner of Walnut and Griggs in the Walnut Business Park.
Please call before you come by as we may be out and about in the community!
We are just a few blocks away from several bus routes: Route 6 (stops 16 and 17), Route 7 (stop 20), and Route 8 (stop 5).
For more information, visit
the
Roadrunner Transit webpage.
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Vision:
Mission:
Doña Ana Communities United (DACU) creates welcoming spaces for all people, especially those whose voices and stories go unheard. We build genuine relationships, carry out uplifting projects, and engage with local government.
DACU conducts two main projects. (1) Social equity mapping: Undervalued community members explore their neighborhoods and work with local decision makers to develop policies that advance health equity. Current efforts focus on the Community of Hope, Gallagher Park, the Nevada Neighborhood, and Lisa Drive in Chaparral. (2) hOurTime timebank: Members build social cohesion and practice an equitable form of alternative economics by exchanging
services.
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