Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Improving Area Quality of Life in Southwest Santa Fe

Two-Day Kick-off Event | November 1-2, 2013 | Zona del Sol Community Center

The public is invited to a two-day kick-off event that seeks to create a broad community conversation and ongoing work to improve quality of life in southwest Santa Fe. Events will be held at the Zona del Sol Community Center at 6601 Jaguar Drive, across from the Southside Library on November 1-2, 2013.

What: Community Conversation on Improving the Quality of Life in SW Santa Fe

When: Friday, November 1, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
             Saturday, November 2, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Friday, November 1st will feature a series of panels and community discussions focused on improving quality of life in Southwest Santa Fe.

Saturday, November 2nd will be a Community Fiesta starting with a free breakfast and listening session at 9:30 a.m. which will be followed by information tables and fun free activities for the whole family. Activities include a mariachi band, Zumba class, cooking demonstrations and more.

Where: Zona del Sol Community Center
6601 Jaguar Drive, across from the Southside Library
Santa Fe, NM

Topics covered will include:
·         Immigration: Pasado, Presente & Futuro
·         Health Care and Healthy communities
·         Education: Child and Teen Wellbeing
·         Economy, jobs and business
·         Transportation, Housing and Infrastructure
·         Access to Healthy Foods
·         Juvenile Justice and Youth series
·         Role of Faith Community and Non profits

Participants will have an opportunity to learn about options under the Affordable Health Care Act and sign up for health care plans. The city will be giving away recycling bins to city residential customers and reusable grocery bags. Voter registration will be available. Numerous community service organizations will be on hand to provide information about the services they offer and other services available to the community.

"Access to quality public education, healthcare, good jobs, better nutrition and a safer Southside community can no longer be met with hurdles or delays. We need a new definition to what constitutes ‘care’ and this must include full access to these basic rights--as well as our best effort to provide timely and responsive action for the best outcome. Our Southside citizens deserve nothing less," said City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez.

"I'm proud to join this collaborative effort to address the needs of working families and find homegrown solutions that strengthen and empower our local communities. Utilizing models that have been successful in other underserved areas in New Mexico, this initiative will bring together government leaders, non-profits, businesses, and faith-based organizations to help improve the quality of life throughout Santa Fe," said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich.

“When the community comes together as friends and neighbors to find innovative solutions to the challenges that face our families, there is no limit to what we can achieve. I look forward to the engaging discussions that this important event will foster and the ideas that will be put forth to address the key issues that impact families every day in an effort to build a stronger community in Santa Fe,” said U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Luján.

The event is sponsored by:

City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s office, U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Lujan’s office, Santa Fe Community Foundation, New Mexico Health Equity Partnership, La Familia Medical Center, The Interfaith Leadership Alliance, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Health Action New Mexico, SFPS Superintendent Joel Boyd, Santa Fe Community College, Envision Santa Fe, Santa Fe Prevention Alliance, United Church of Santa Fe , The Food Depot, City of Santa Fe Children and Youth Commission, Santa Fe County Community Services Department, Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center and Chainbreaker Collective.

No comments: