The ABQ Accent

 Jenna Stanton, Case Management Coordinator, CABQ Department of Senior Affairs  Call to action: review options and find a volunteer role with older adults that works for you!  Of note: there are currently dozens of older adults on the wait list to receive a Senior Companion of which there are only currently 13 volunteering.  Jenna is the Case Management Coordinator for the Senior Companions volunt...

Dr. Shelle Sanchez, Director, CABQ Arts and Culture & Tania Armenta, CEO, Visit ABQ All combined, Shelle and Tania have been supporting ABQ, visitors, and the arts for over 60 years. Here we focused on their collaboration to celebrate the National Route 66 Centennial. The highlight of this celebration is Route 66 Remixed, an “arts fieldtrip” across 18 miles of Rt 66 here in ABQ – 26 stops, 18...

 Spring Volunteer Fest Podcast Panel Carolyn Thompson, Community Engagement Coordinator, Animal Welfare Tamara Williams, Erna Ferguson Librarian Nikki Peone - Associate Director, Senior Affairs The theme of this panel, our second live recording of the podcast, was reflecting on how volunteers are critical to addressing issues across our city. Each of our guests manages several projects or programs...

 Happy National City Clerk’s Week!  CABQ City Clerk, Ethan, is a calming, distinct kind of presence and the first person to join us for a second episode, with good reason. (Check out Ep. #28 to listen to our first episode together.) Here we learn more about him and the awareness he has of our larger information systems and the efforts he makes to improve both processes and public education. With a...

Delaney Swink, Director of Volunteer/Pro Bono Services and Fundraising for the NM Immigrant Law Center   A love of travel, languages, gender studies, and the desert brought Delaney to NM by way of Oregon, Chile, and Morocco. Now at the NMILC Delaney is finding volunteers and donors to support the many programs they offer. NMILC provides free legal services to low-income immigrants statewide focusi...

Katy Anderson, VP of Strategy, Partnerships & Advocacy, Roadrunner Foodbank of NM   Having worked at Roadrunner over 12 years, Katy Anderson has been a part of many innovative and important systems change around food access and security. She’s a big part of our state and national advocacy platforms and does the deep work to address the needs of marginalized populations.   Katy and her team uti...

Phia Smith, Executive Director, Somos Unidos Foundation Phia so elegantly brings both the “head and the heart” to her work and has a genuine presence that encourages the belief that she is capable of truly big things. As she spoke about her trajectory into this ED position, “Tia Phia: relays her deep faith in how building relationships is the core of it all – both her emotional, very lively human...

Sean Sheehan, Owner/Winemaker, Sheehan Winery & President of NM Winemakers Association Red, White, or Rosé? Sean is a local, wildly creative winemaker living his dream. In this episode Sean shares his goals of growing world-class grapes to create world-class wine while telling the story of NM people and land. From rooting cuttings at their home to planting more than 15 vineyards across the sta...

Marisa Magallanez , President & CEO of the Albuquerque Community Foundation and New Mexico Community Trust.   Marisa brings more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to this sweet, inspiring conversation. Two weeks into her new role as CEO, she reflected on her personal search for purpose and how she hopes to carry what she has discovered forward with local and state-wide commun...

 Alice Main, CABQ’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Manager  If you every wonder who is behind the climate “action” plans, look to Alice Main for your local data and… actions. Alice discusses here how climate pollution reduction can be better understood and the plans that CABQ and surrounding groups are making. Alice is part of the CABQ Office of Sustainability and is managing the Climate Pollut...

Valerie Greif, Foster & Community Engagement Coordinator, CABQ Animal Welfare Department  Drora Shub, Manager of Volunteer Engagement, Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum  Chaplain Ryan Wooley, Director of Chaplaincy & Volunteer Services, Lovelace Medical Center   The Office of Civic Engagement hosted the 2nd Volunteer Fest at the ABQ Museum on October 24. As part of that event we...

Jeff Holland, Executive Director, Endorphin Power Company   Jeff Holland, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, doesn’t need someone to give him a runway – he is always thinking ahead and working as a leader in the NM recovery community. Two weeks into the opening of the Bernalillo County Recovery Support Center (BCRSC) on the EPC campus, Jeff welcomed our team to come in for our first on-site podcas...

 Rebecca Sisneros, Community & Government Relations Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central NM  As a young mom, Rebecca Sisneros focused on leveling up her skills and then sharing her insights with others. She’s researched the ins and outs of health care access, career readiness, and knows it’s important to be an advocate alongside others. Her favorite thing to do is connect people and res...

Tara Gohr, President/CEO, The Grant Plant Aly Sanchez, Director of Strategy and Organizational Development   Tara Gohr and Aly Sanchez are part of the crew at the forefront of the grant writing world. They have about 50 years of experience between them in addition to the other 19 folks at The Grant Plant. Tara and her sister, Erin O’Keefe Hielkema, started TGP in 2003 and since then it has been a...

 Diane Harrison Ogawa, Executive Coach As someone who lives in possibility, Diane Harrison Ogawa is the friend, colleague, coach we all need. This conversation was such a joy because Diane is a dynamic, hopeful, compassionate woman. She has decades of experience in corporate philanthropy and has used these opportunities to build new initiatives that many of us are still taking part in today. Diane...

Jean Block, Nonprofit Consultant Extraordinaire   Jean Block has 55 years of experience in leadership and training within the national nonprofit sector. What’s more – she’s been FUNdraising since she was 13, has published nine books and manuals, and doesn’t walk away from challenging work. Jean’s career has largely focused on supporting nonprofits through transition, be it evolving into social ven...

Linley Daly is a leadership coach, consultant, and a darn joy to be around! In her coaching and consulting business, Linley’s currency is impact – she works for positive, long-lasting change for the social sector as a whole, individual leaders, and cohorts alike. In this conversation you’ll see that she asks the BIG questions, like, “if chaos rules, how can we create culture that is based in core...

Benjamin Tobias Manager of Student Basic Needs, CNM CC  Benjamin Tobais has not only found community in ABQ but continuously works to build connections to support community. It’s something that comes easy to him – the compassionate and grateful Dad, the lifelong learner, the personable, kind leader. Ben understands the needs of students within the CNM community because he takes time to get to know...

Tsiporah Nephesh, Founder and ED, NM Thrives   If you need a woman of deep compassion and wisdom, Tsiporah Nephesh is the friend to know. Tsiporah centers her work on relationships, on listening to the needs and goals of the NM nonprofit sector so she can both advocate for them and support them via education, resources, and connections. She created NM Thrives to uplift the vital work of nonprofits...

Dr. Melani Buchanan Farmer: Director, Running 505; Founder & Owner of Bfit 505 and Aspen Education Collective   Dr. Farmer’s CV is extensive, and her passion for education and community run deep. In this episode Dr. Farmer shares how she came to be at the helm of several great programs here in Albuquerque, and what keeps her motivated to continuously look for collaborators in this good work. “...

Ethan Watson, CABQ City Clerk   Have you ever considered how transparency comes into effect in real life? Ethan Watson says that “transparency is an ecosystem,” and through this conversation I came to understand that he is absolutely correct – it takes multiple players, on the same beam, if you will, of access to information to ensure transparency comes to fruition in both state and federal system...

Liam Westgate, Director of Community and Clinical Linkages, Presbyterian Health Services   When you think of healthcare, do you think of hope? Liam Westgate believes not only in the power of hope, but creating mechanisms for healthcare workers to utilize optimism in their caregiving and relationships. As the Director of the central delivery system for Linkages, Liam guides his colleagues with the...

Brianna Gallegos, Public Information Officer for Youth and Family Services (YFS)   Brianna is a long-time employee of the City of Albuquerque and would love for young folks to follow her lead. This conversation focuses on her deep understanding of the YFS community centers and their offerings, but even between the lines you can hear her passion for mentorship and collaboration. Firmly connected to...

Peter Rice, Editor of the Downtown Albuquerque News (DAN)   A natural investigator that he is, I discovered that it’s very worth asking Peter what is on his mind. His inspiring approach to modern journalism embraces a deep understanding of important historical events and current affairs. Peter is the Editor of the DAN and, along with his contributors, gathers a wonderful array of articles reflecti...

Megan Holcomb, Recycling Coordinator, CABQ Solid Waste   Starting as an intern at 15, Megan has worked in City government for quite some time, and she brings a genuine concern for community to her work every day. Between interests in sustainability and communications, her work is wide-reaching and reflects her creative abilities as well as her deep understanding of government resources. Megan and...