Our-Story in the Making
“Our best resources are our people”
- Reynaluz Juarez
From 20 years ago to now
Almost 20 years, community champions noticed a trend. Doctors were leaving the I.D. and health services in the area were closing down. They wanted to keep health care professionals and services around, so they started talking to I.D. community members regularly to discuss solutions. Investors, teachers, those who lived and worked in the I.D. were all invited, and connections were made. Connections to health resources were shared and other social determinants of health were discussed. The folks that met regularly called themselves the International District Healthy Communities Coalition, or the IDHCC.
Reynaluz helped pass the proclamation naming the International District; she saw the beauty and good in everyone, that came from all around the world and strove to erase the negative stereotype of our community, coupled with the old nick name, the “war zone”. Reyna worked her whole life to change our community and help our people, and always said our people are worthy, we’re worthy of a good healthy life. We carry on in memory of Reynaluz and for “Una vida Buena y Sana” (A good healthy life).
When St. Joseph hospital closed, they started to meet at La Mesa Elementary and broaden their discussion to other social determinants of health like transit equity and environmental justice, and in 2011-2012 current IDHCC Chair, Bernadette Hardy, and a fellow community member Bridget Llanes, joined IDHCC after they met in a class at UNM and became aware of the Airforce base jet fuel spill. They dedicated their time to raise awareness, calling their campaign Sunflowers for Change under IDHCC’s umbrella. Discussions between officials and I.D. residents seemed to be met with a dead end as the base refused to do comprehensive testing, but the Sunflower for Change campaign took it upon themselves to test residential homes, gardens, and schools to understand the impacts of their own community. They shared practices that community members could adopt that help mitigate unknown effects from the jet fuel spill: like rainwater harvesting and healthy soil techniques.
Discussions were framed in a way that sought to leverage their own expertise, resources, and sweat equity to address their own community issues. It seemed apparent the I.D. needed to be its own hero. As Reyna said….
“Our best resources are our people”
- Reynaluz Juarez
Today IDHCC addresses the social determinants of health, including: healthy food, healthy environments, equitable housing, bountiful economic opportunity, and safe infrastructure. IDHCC operates a free food pantry, cafe, and closet, and received covid funds plus mini grants from Presbyterian, using mini grants to aquire food from our local farmers, for free food distributions, and special events like vaccine pop ups. Covid vaccine equity funds went to compensating partners for using their space for a Covid vaccine popups. IDHCC Covid Vaccine Popups and Resource Fairs had almost every primary resource represented; from free groceries, utility and rent assistance, to free clothes, shoes, harm reduction advocates, voter registration, and community surveys with gift card incentives.