Naco Wellness Initiative

2012-02-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

Viva Voz: The Living Voice

“...Let us, let all of us be found, be freed to be brought home to a place of Love for one another, on all sides of every kind of border, at last.”

Clarissa Pinkola-Estes, PhD

Author and Cantadora (Keeper of the old stories in the Latina tradition)

People from Arizona and Sonora came together in Naco, crossing borders and barriers of many kinds, to make a way towards greater health. Children of Naco, their parents and grandparents, medical and social service professionals, school teachers, people from local churches, city government, and businesses attended an important meeting. A Diabetes Wellness Forum was organized by NWI and NWI clinic partners to improve knowledge of diabetes health risks and ways to prevent diabetes. The evening meeting began in an entertaining way: Maestra Flor and her young student actresses performed an original play about the risks of untreated diabetes. Comedy and drama combined to make the message fun and unforgettable to the whole crowd.

Over 50 people attended the Tuesday afternoon meeting. A whole lot of love, caring, and excitement buzzed in the meeting hall. A healthy repast was served including plenty of veggies and fruit for healthy snacking after school and work.

Those attending were surveyed about diabetes prevention unmet needs in the Ambos Naco communities. People were encouraged to attend a follow-up meeting on February 16 to address community identified priorities. At this meeting action teams will be formed with people from AZ and people from Sonora on each action team. It is hoped that an action team will be formed for each Naco barrio. Likely work groups to reduce personal diabetes risk and to improve community health include: community and home gardens for improved nutrition; exercise for improved physical fitness; cooking classes to improve family meal time; education and health fairs; medical screening, risk assessment, and diabetes monitoring; and, outreach and diabetes prevention publicity.

Photos by Pereda

Kathleen, Viva Voz

2012-01-30T20:56:00.000-08:00

Viva Voz: The Living Voice

“My light doesn't shine bigger than anybody else's. Kindle the light in other people, so we shine together."

Lily Yeh, Social Pioneer&Artist (1941-)

(My blogpost about the new debfibrillators for Ambos Naco is pending until the devices are ready for use at the NWI clinics. More later...)

Instead, this week, I am writing about the Diabetes Wellness Project and the planning forum that is scheduled for Tuesday, 01/31/2012, in Naco, Sonora. The planning forum is an important step in organizing efforts in Ambos, Naco. Ambos Naco refers to Naco, Arisona and Naco, Sonora. We are planning effective ways to prevent diabetes and to increase community wellness. Our planning process seeks to “kindle the light” - - the insight, opinions, experiences of those attending the meeting - - to show the way towards greater health. We are seeking strategies that will make sense on both sides of the border. What are the best ways to reach children, teenagers, young adults and elders living in Ambos Naco? We will be asking questions of people already living with diabetes, with community leaders, and health, education, and social services providers working on both sides of the border. Key questions include: 1. What are the unmet needs of people working to prevent diabetes in Ambos Naco? 2) What do diabetes treatment practitioners and educators need to help them in their prevention and early intervention work? 3. Which prevention strategies make the most sense in Ambos Naco schools, clinics, churches, businesses and other places where people live and work?

Saludos,

Diabetes Wellness Planning Group meeting at Casas Saludables, Naco, Sonora

~ Kathleen ~

Dear Reader: We need your point of view. Please post your suggestions here. Thank you.

2012-01-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

Viva Voz: The Living Voice Blog

“Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.”

~Hafiz of Persia~

Happiness and plenty of goodness found NWI in 2011. NWI gratefully accepted two recent donations. The first was a donation from the Cochise Community Foundation via the Arizona Community Foundation*. Our new funding and program development partners include Carol Sanger, SE Regional Director, of the Arizona Community Foundation and Tresa Thomas-Massiongale, Grants&Operations Coordinator. Our $2,700. grant award, in October 2011, was from their Borderlands Fund. These funds are earmarked for service projects with a regional approach assuring service benefits on both sides of the Arizona/Sonora border. Carol and Tresa also made an important introduction between NWI and the Pakis Family Foundation resulting in an $18,000 grant in December, 2011 to support a diabetes wellness project in Ambos Naco. Please look at the photos below to see the good work that is already underway. The photos show the healthy low carb meal being demonstrated and shared by Evan Waters. Evan is a wonderful chef and gardener. He is making a difference by showing healthy ways to prevent diabetes. Delicioso! You can also see Ivan Lopez building a new green house and Victor Acedo layering a compost garden bed to demonstrate affordable ways to plant and harvest vegetables at home. The construction includes using an old trampoline frame, steel fence posts, and used tires to frame a healthy seedling garden. Wire fencing covered with thick plastic, and a drip watering system will complete the structure.

When the garden is done it will resemble this photo of Victor's Garden

NWI, our friends and partners in Ambos Naco, will meet for the first time to make a strategic plan for the Diabetes Wellness Project. The first meeting is scheduled for 01/24/12 in Naco, Sonora. Partners include DIF (Desarrollo Integral de La Familia/Whole Development of the Family), municipal, school and church officials, Cruz Roja (Red Cross), Centro Salud (Central Health Clinic), and NWI staff/volunteers. Check out the blog next week for information about distribution of the first defibrillators in Naco. Portable defibrillators save lives by quickly helping to restore a normal heart rhythm. Happy New Year!

“Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.”

~George Santayana~

*For more information about the Cochise Community Foundation visit cochisefoundation.org

~Kathleen~

2011-12-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Viva Voz: The Living Voice Blog

Introduction
My name is Kathleen Martin. I am a Naco Wellness Initiative (NWI) volunteer program developer and grants-writer. I am writing this blog to bring the work of the NWI to life in words and pictures. My posts will feature the people giving and receiving the care and concern of NWI in Ambos Nacos. (Ambos Nacos refers to both Naco, Arizona and Naco, Sonora. A U.S./Mexico border crossing station is located here. Naco, AZ is a small unincorporated village; Naco, Sonora is a larger town with a population estimated to be 6,400.) The stories will shed light on the work of NWI along the borderlands in Arizona and Sonora. The blog will bring well-deserved attention to NWI friends, partners and allies: the people who are a part of the Ambos Nacos community.

We invite our friends and neighbors to be guest bloggers and to give voice to the people and places of Ambos Nacos.

Christmas Week, 2011

Camino Naco...The word camino refers to a path, road or journey. NWI offers help to people making their way along the path of life.

Sometimes the red dirt roads in Ambos Nacos are rocky and the road is rough... Sometimes extra determination is needed to find the best way forward.. At only 22 years of age, Miguel Beas Tarazon is a young man who is finding his way forward with the help of his friends, family and NWI. Miguel is a paraplegic and must use a wheelchair for mobility.*

Miguel's will to live combined with improved housing, nutrition, and medical care has resulted in a stronger and larger body. Tom Carlson, president of NWI, noticed that Miguel was becoming too large for his old wheelchair. Miguel needed a new wheelchair and Tom decided to do something about it. He found a non-profit source through San Francisco State University. Tom, the ultimate NWI wrangler, secured a Whirlwind Rough Rider wheelchair, manufactured in Mexico City, for Miguel. He also secured the funds for the new chair through a donation from Clarice and Roger Ewing; two strong supporters of NWI.

Miguel is able to use his new wheelchair on pavement and the rougher patches of road along Camino Naco. He can be seen using his wheelchair along two miles of road; getting from one place to another. Miguel uses 15 pound weights to improve the strength of his upper body. He also uses his paintbrushes and pens to complete his artwork and to further strengthen his spirit.

You can see his artwork posted here as well as photos that display Miguel's remarkable transformation

A Flash of Miguel's Transformation:

Miguel at the onset of encountering NWI

Miguel gaining strength

Smiling Miguel today in his new Rough Rider wheelchair!

Adelante Miguel, Clarice, Roger, and Tom! Forward!

*The World Health Organization estimates that 1 out of every 300 people, 20 million people, in the developing world are in need of a good wheelchair.

Next Week: More news next week about the Ewings and about a Pakis Foundation grant award to NWI...

For more information about NWI and/or Whirlwind Roughriders you can visit nacowellness.org and whirlwindwheelchair.org

- - - Kathleen, Ambos Nacos

Back and Better Than Ever!

2011-11-28T18:25:00.001-08:00

Naco Wellness Initiative is back online and better than ever! I apologize for the wait, but we have some very exciting projects to announce. Our Low-Carb Cooking Class has already begun! But that's not all: Our groundbreaking Diabetes Project is rapidly picking up speed. Stay tuned for more updates. We won't keep you waiting too long : )

--AA

2011-10-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Pictured here is Ramona Games Herrera. She is blind and 88 years old. She had somehow been using an old kitchen chair with small wagon wheels for a wheelchair.... That is, before Naco Wellness came into her life and donated a real wheelchair. After receiving the wheelchair it was as if she was given a new lease on life. This is just some of the life-changing work we do!

Welcome to thebrand new blog spot of Naco Wellness Initiative! We are a non-profit, 501(c)(3)organization dedicated to providing preventive and curative wellness servicesto the underserved communities of Naco, Arizona and Naco, Sonora, Mexico. Weprovide an extensive variety of services including: primary medical triage,first aid, health education, pediatric clinics, pre-natal counseling, a visionprogram, cooking and home gardening classes, and a number of special therapiesfor stress related conditions.

We have createdthis blog spot to better serve YOU! We want to increase collaboration by keepingyou aware of exactly what Naco Wellness Initiative is working on, and how youcan get involved!

Our goal is toshare stories of new and ongoing projects at least once a week. You can visitthis site to get all of our up to date information. With multimedia such aspictures and video you will also be able to witness our extensive collaborationbetween volunteer healthcare workers and healthcare providers on both sides ofthe border.

Naco Wellnesswants to foster an atmosphere of community and involvement for our readers.Commenting and reader participation is highly encouraged on our blog site. Welook forward to learning and growing together.