Purpose:
To improve the quality of life for Southside residents by creating structures for meaningful public engagement, effective policy creation and alignment of services and resources to achieve the greatest collective impact.
Outcomes:
The Southside Quality of Life Steering Committee has identifed the following Outcomes using the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework.
- Southside residents have a safe, healthy environment, successful schools, and employment opportunities
- Residents are engaged in ongoing, sustained efforts to improve Southside quality of life
Indicators:
The Southside Quality of Life Steering Committee has identifed the following Indicators using the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework.
- Amount of new resources directed to Southside
- Number of policy victories that benefit Southside residents
Description:
The Quality of Life Initiative began in 2013 by City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez and Andrew Black, Field Representative for U.S. Senator Heinrich, to explore ways to improve the lives of those living and working on Santa Fe's Southside. This work build off of Councilor Dominguez's Healthy Communities and Southwest Planning Initiative as well as continues the work Andrew Black and Senator Bingaman's office did in the Colonias of Dona Ana County. The goal of the Quality of Life Initiative is to create a broader community conversation and sustainable movement rooted in listening to the needs of the Southside community, promoting civic engagement and collaborative governance and building better alignment between organizations so as to achieve the greatest collective impact to help improve quality of life.
Through listening sessions held throughout the Soutside, community members are encouraged to identify key issues that will impact the quality of life for themselves and their families. Listening sessions also help identify community members who we can help support, equip and empower to be leaders in this collaborative and transformative work. Focusing on civic education, engagement, and empowerment, we work alongside these community leaders looking at how government systems work with regard to their issues, where the resources are, and what level of goverment can effectuate change and how they can effectively engage elected officials, non-profits, businesses, foundations and faith communities in working toward common goals.
Progress Made/News:
• The city decided to open the Southside Branch Library from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Previously, it had been closed on Sundays.
• The Southside Farmers Market ran through the summer on Tuesdays at the Santa Fe Place mall.
• The Santa Fe Food Policy Council prepared a food plan for the city and county, which includes improving access to healthy foods and growing more food locally.
• A new, larger veterans clinic was opened in September, 2014
• La Familia Medical Center developed the REACH program (Racial and Ethnic Approach Community Health) at its south-side clinic in 2013.
• La Familia also brought in experts in “walkability” and made recommendations for improving the area for walkers and cyclists, and identified critical problems, such as the lack of crosswalks at Capital High School.
• The Santa Fe Community College has created a community health worker training program. The “promotoras” are trained in community engagement and health coaching, and are especially important in reaching immigrants.
• Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center announced in January that it would build a $7 million south-side medical center for pediatrics, primary care and urgent care.
Key Documents: Coming soon
Steering Committee as of July 2014: The Initiative is led by a steering committee of volunteers that meets weekly and consists of Anderw Black (Pastor and Staff for U.S. Senator Heinrich), Carmichael Dominguez (SF City Councilor), Peggy Vazquez (Southside Resident / Tierra Contenta), Katherine Mortimer (Sustainable Santa Fe Programs Manager), Brandon Johnson, (Pastor and Interfaith Leadership Alliance), Bonnie Lochner (La Familia REACH Coordinator), Nohemy Bojorques-Flores (Southside Resident / SFCC student), Jen Manzanares (Staff for Congressman Ben Ray Lujan), Jckie Munro (La Familia and Southside Farmers' market) and Bridget Wolf (Southside Resident / Sidewalk Angels).
Contact Information:
Carmichael Dominguez, cadominguez@ci.santa-fe.nm.us
Brandon Johson, unitedchurch.brandon@gmail.com
