Photo by Sunny DeYoung
Hello hello!
Last time, there was a lot of focus on Greg Gutierrez and the community garden in Tularosa, and there will be plenty more in the future because these efforts need to be sustained, right?
Today, I really want to hit home why his efforts to make little improvements to the village are so important.
Last time I did write a bit about how our close neighbor has been really trying to make improvements to attract business and wealth to their community.
As much as the economy and the concept of money is something we (or at least I) very begrudgingly have to pay attention to, at the end of the day, none of it matters, not even a little bit, if not in service to the people who actually live their lives here.
According to the National League of Cities,
¨Cities have many important factors to consider when it comes to setting their constituents up for success, particularly smaller cities, which oftentimes need to work harder to cultivate opportunities for themselves. Access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities are all crucial aspects that cities frequently focus on, but one factor that is often overlooked is community beauty. While it may seem like a superficial concern, a growing body of evidence suggests that beautification… (can encourage residents to feel) proud of their city and feel connected to it, (and) they are more likely to participate in local events, volunteer in their communities, and engage in civic activities. This sense of community can lead to stronger social connections and a more cohesive society, which can have long-term benefits for the success of your community.¨
-Nikki Lee Carrol
In both Alamogordo and Tularosa, and really everywhere, we need to inspire a bit of hope again. I don’t think that´ll necessarily come through politics or politicians except for a few here and there (looking at you, Ashlie Myers), but one thing the working class can rely on is each other.
An organization that has worked pretty closely with Gutierrez over the past few months is Keep Tularosa Beautiful. With the ideals of providing residents ¨a clean, green, and beautiful place to live,¨ the parent organization has been helping communities across the US for over seven decades.
One huge point I would like to call attention to, with people in mind, is how important green spaces and natural beauty are to the good mental health of our communities. In my very humble opinion, backed by decades of consuming psychological content, without that good, positive mental health, we can hope to be good community members, good mothers and fathers, siblings or friends. It may be practically a cliche by now, but it’s true. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
“We have to be engaged in the local election so we can have local politicians who will champion and support our efforts,” said Gutierrez, and a very important first (and ongoing) step to achieving that is inspiring local pride.
Next week, I am hoping to start highlighting how these community gardens and positive mental health are converging in Alamogordo and Tularosa. However, after that, I may take a small break so I can get started on an aspect of my blog I’m very excited about, community profiles. My first few are in the works, but if you´re interested in your community knowing more about you, contact me at CommWorks24@gmail.com!
Please be kind to especially black cats tonight, keep an eye on the roads/ drink very responsibly, and remember that everyone deserves a bit of joy, especially on holidays.
Until Tuesday,
Salud!
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