Hello, Alamo!
In 2022, Community Power New Mexico filed as a not-for-profit. Since then, it has been committed to projects to help uplift the community. So far, the projects have included adopting Oregon Park, gathering and delivering donations to Mescalero after the South Fork and Salt fires, and building signage for the Maryland garden.
For the past few months, CPNM has facilitated volunteer days to set up a community space at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Jacob Justus, originally from Virginia, moved to Alamogordo in November 2023. With a built-in values system that prioritizes public works, he was happy to find a large group of people in Alamogordo already doing the work to support the community that he could attach himself to.
When St. John’s Episcopal changed its governing structure to be led by a Bishop’s Council, Justus stepped up. His involvement, as well as his role as chief operating officer at CPNM, helped pave the way for constructing this space at the church.
The Episcopal church has a long history of civic engagement ranging from opening an African Episcopal Church in Philadelphia prior to the Civil War, to our local mission donating space for our blind and visually impaired school.”(St. John’s) wanted to be visible in helping the community” again, so approving the space was a fairly easy venture..
Called the Otero County Labor Hub, this space will feature a tool library, a bank of donated materials like lumber, a public workshop, and a commons area for knowledge and skills sharing via books and conversation. .
“My hope is that the community can come together a little bit more every day.” To CPNM President Lambert, “it’s about the ripples that will happen in our community.”
As a matter of fact, they already have.
Everything from electronics to tools, labor in building out the space, and the space itself have all been donated by the community simply for the community.
If someone needs tools to repair their fence or build a wheelchair ramp, for example, they can come to the Labor Hub, sign up for a card, and check out all the tools and materials required to complete the task, completely free of charge. Lambert said that is usually the part people need time to wrap their head around. It’s not often that compensation is neither required nor wanted to take advantage of these kinds of resources. They just ask that you donate what you can monetarily or excess supplies-wise to continue supporting Alamogordo.
“I’m really excited for folks’ material needs to be met.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony for this space will take place tomorrow evening from 6-7pm at St. John’s, 1110 Indiana Ave. Next week Wednesday and Sunday I’ll write more about the different ways to use the Labor Hub.
Happy building, and
Salud!
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