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Doña
Ana
Communities United
August 2019
Newsletter
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Happy August to our supporters and friends! We hope you have had a restful and rejuvenating summer.
In this newsletter, we share about a recent visit from our NM Health Equity Partnership colleagues, a freshly painted mural in the Nevada neighborhood, and our new mapping project in Doña Ana. Finally, you'll hear about the guests who appeared on
Just Community
this month.
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 Orientation
September 16, 5:30-7 PM (DACU office)
For those who wish to join the timebank. If you are already a member,
refer a friend who joins and you will receive three hour credits!
Story Circle
September 18, 5:30-7:30 PM (Pioneer Women's Park)
Share stories of lived experiences. Receive time credits for participating!
Salsa Making
September 20, 5:30-7 PM (DACU office)
Learn how to make Gary's 5-ingredient simple Salsa! Bring your own jar to take home leftovers.
Redeem time credits when participating!
Timebank Get-together: Game day
September 22, 2-4 PM (DACU office)
All timebank members are invited: b
ring a game and finger foods to share if you like.
DACU Team Meeting
September 26, 11 AM-1 PM (DACU Office)
A chance for everyone to gather, network, and hear updates on DACU's work.
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NM HEP Partners Visit DACU
In mid-August, the other core partners in the NM Health Equity Partnership visited Las Cruces for a two-day quarterly meeting. We were so happy to host Jessi, Hazel, Anna, and Chris as they journeyed from Santa Fe, San Juan, and McKinley counties for a visit packed with small meetings with DACU community members, as well as time for reflection and problem-solving.
One of the high points was a boisterous timebank potluck with nearly 40 people, where we explored what the timebank core values mean to us.
We are so grateful our colleagues made the long trip down to the hot end of the state, and we feel we learned as much from them as they did from us. If you'd like to keep up with their amazing work, please visit the
NM HEP website.
Photos by Robert Yee
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| Anna, Chris, and Hazel reconnect with timebank member Rosa. |
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| Jessi discusses with timebank member Michel which timebank core value is most difficult to live by. |
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Second Nevada Neighborhood Mural Unveiled
Another full day of painting with neighbors and friends brought to life a second vibrant mural in the Nevada neighborhood, this one at the corner of Brook Circle and Nevada on resident Ray Griego's wall.
Local artist Meg Freyermuth designed the piece in three parts: the south end represents the Organ Mountains as seen from White Sands National Monument, the north end depicts elk and Sierra Blanca, and the middle section is dedicated to Ray's late wife, Martha Rose. The couple spent much of their time in the cool of Cloudcroft, and Meg's design seeks to show the connections between that ecosystem and our own.
Meg
says "h
earing him and countless neighborhood residents exclaim how beautiful it is has been an inspiration.
Murals are for everyone, and I hope to keep doing this for my community." Be sure to c
heck out the wall next time you're at Young Park (it's just a block away)! And don't forget to visit its sister mural to the west, at the corner of Nevada and Mimbres. We are excited that the City of Las Cruces has agreed to work with DACU and residents to do more to calm traffic in this neighborhood. Be on the lookout for chicanes, a new streetlight, and crosswalks!
Photos by Robert Yee
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Mr. Griego's house casts welcome shade. |
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All smiles at the halfway point!
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The painters finish well after dusk. |
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| Color blocking helps us follow Meg's design. |
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Elks Trail Community Event
DACU is coordinating outreach to residents of Doña Ana to inform construction of a multi-use trail there. In August, Ricky and Teague, two social equity mappers who live there
, canvassed multiple neighborhoods. On a blistering Saturday at the end of the month, we set up outside the Dollar General to ask residents what they thought about building the trail along Elks Drive. Residents of all ages and backgrounds overwhelmingly supported the plans.
This is the first of three community engagement events we are holding in collaboration with County planner Sam Paz. The next event will take place on September 14th, followed by a caminata along the proposed route on September 28th. The more residents who participate, the greater the likelihood of obtaining additional funding to build a longer trail!
If you live in or near Doña Ana and would like to get involved, please contact
Enrique
.
Photos by Robert Yee
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| Sam explains where the trail could be built. |
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Residents share their suggestions.
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| Of the 70 people who cast their votes in exchange for a paleta, 69 liked the trail idea. |
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Kari continues to host
Just Community
on KTAL-LP every Thursday morning from 8 to 9
AM.
The show focuses on social equity and features voices not often heard in our community. Locally, tune your dial to 101.5 FM, or listen to the show online from anywhere in the world.
As of a few weeks ago, Kari has some help at the control panel, so she is now able to take phone calls! You can dial 575-526-5825 to visit with her and her guest on the air.
These guests and topics were featured in August:
- Lorelei Horse Stands Waiting (incarceration of Native Americans)
- Karen Conley (artist and retired military officer)
- Sean (what it's like to wear an ankle monitor)
- Victor Jaurequi (Growing up in a union family in the mining town of Hurley)
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| Lorelei spoke on behalf of her partner Robert, who is incarcerated. |
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Karen shared about life in the Army and her current work as a visual artist. |
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| Victor is also a self-taught woodworker! |
You can listen to archived shows here. If you know someone who would be an interesting guest, please contact Kari.
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Directions to Our Office
151 South Walnut Street, Unit B13
DACU is based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. You'll find us 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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Our 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.
Our Initiatives:
(1) Social equity mapping: Undervalued community members explore their neighborhoods and work with local decision makers to implement policies and projects that advance health equity. Current efforts focus on the Community of Hope, Gallagher Park, and the Nevada Neighborhood in Las Cruces; Elks Drive in Doña Ana; and Lisa Drive in Chaparral.
(2) hOurTime timebank: Members build social cohesion and practice an equitable form of alternative economics by exchanging
services.
(3)
Just Community radio show: Residents with lived experience of social inequities share their insights into how we can work together to advance equity in our county.
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