The ABQ Accent

Rachael Hernandez, Civic Engagement Coordinator, Office of Civic Engagement I have to say, I was smiling as I re-listened to this for notes. Rachael has built a career around her heart and highest skills, and I truly enjoyed chatting with her about her trajectory and recognizing the value of her “older sister vibe.” We reflected on that moment where she got her start in community engagement, how h...

Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver   Leading with dedication, integrity, and a sense of humor, Madam Secretary has seen it all.   She has been overseeing election administration statewide since 2016 and deeply understands the importance of being an engaged citizen. Reaching multiple generations of voters requires a range of outreach initiatives, for which she partners with 33 County Clerks...

Sila Avcil, Co-Founding ED for NM Voters First and ED for NM Open Elections   In a the lively pro-democracy elections conversations, Sila Avcil is a stand-out. Her unique background and deep knowledge of the topic are reflected by her beautiful articulation and sense of positivity. Our time together brought out some of the most important pieces of election processes as a whole, and the importance...

Lindsey Kay, VP of Client Services, WESST Dog lover, avid reader, problem solver. Lindsey Kay is someone we’d all want in our corner, and not just because she’s incredibly hard working. Lindsey is rooted in her values. As newly-minted VP of Client Services at WESST, Lindsey takes the time to get to know business owners and consultants alike; she knows the importance of understanding their stories...

Matt Carter, Project Planner, CABQ Public Art Program   Coming up among a family mixed with corporate work and musicians, one might better understand where the breadth of Matt’s talents come from. He’s honed his talents through hard work, deep creativity, and on the ground relationships in the arts community. As a glass blower and ceramicist, Matt understands the creatives he works with both withi...

Tina Garcia-Shams, Street Food Institute ED   With a bit of curiosity, a commitment to a vision, and being true to yourself, you can get a lot of work done. Tina Garcia-Shams is an excellent example of a local who pairs her love of community with hard work; she understands what it takes to build a start up with a unique vision into a sustainable organization. As ED of the Street Food Institute (SF...

Kristi Dorr, ED of Groundworks NM   A compassionate advocate for community-based solutions, Kristi is a joy to chat with. She smiles through her stories and encourages us to reimagine the power of coming together under shared purpose. Understanding Kristi is to realize a multidisciplinary framework for approaching leadership and advocacy. She believes we can and should show up as we are to use our...

Cristina Rogers ED, Barelas Community Coalition & Mainstreet Program   Cristina is a worldly, entrepreneurial-minded Creative at heart. While she now focuses her energy on Barelas, a community at “the forefront of change,” she herself is a front runner in the creative world. Her background in historic preservation and community development, casting, and large-scale facilitation has enabled her...

Stephanie Becker, ED & Superintendent of Amy Biehl High School Why should community service be a joyful experience? Stephanie Becker shares her thoughts on how and why we can be more engaged in our community, starting with the fact that service is integral to personal introspection (and a priceless experience for youth at Amy Biehl High). As ED and Superintendent of ABH going on 15 years, Step...

Ramiro Estrada Peer Support Specialist, ACS How does one know they are on the right path? In speaking with Ramiro, we come to find our purpose when we witness the positive outcomes of trust-based relationships… he sees the power of honoring his lived experience to support others in their personal journeys. The Violence Intervention Program out of the ABQ Community Safety department is built toward...

Agnes Vallejos is a story teller with big dreams for those of us LIVING in ABQ. She looks for the moments when opportunities and needs align so can continue supporting a thriving city for our intergenerational population. She challenges us to check our internalized ageism, believe in the strength of a multigenerational workforce, and give back outside of work. Check out this conversation with Agne...

 Jake Gutierrez & Savannah Hoover, The Ripple Effects of Co-Creating a Beautiful Life *Please note that this episode briefly mentions domestic violence and trauma “Even the smallest moments have great impact.” For entrepreneurs, Jake and Savannah, community needs are at the heart of their “work” together. Our conversation highlighted their dynamic teamwork and delved into everything from the c...

Monet Silva, MPA ED, NM Coalition to End Homelessness Monet Silva is a force. In her 16 years working with health-based and social justice nonprofits, her experience runs the gamut. While at one point she was providing health care in rural Honduras, these days she is focusing her energy on running the NM Coalition to End Homelessness and supporting its partners. The coalition – 70 organizations ac...

What does “being in community” look like to you? Destiny Logan shares her view on how creative and broad community really can be, how supporting your local community is more than where your dollars go. A Double Lobo, Destiny is rooted in New Mexico and Albuquerque in particular. She loves to discover new special destinations and also share her favorite spaces with friends and newcomers. Her role a...

Beyond his unassuming demeanor, David Estrada is deeply compassionate and one of the hardest workers I’ve come across. As he states at the outset of our conversation, he believes in the power of finding commonalities to build connection with others. As the new Head Coach for the Somos Unidos Academy program, David is providing this heart-forward example for his athletes. David is the kind of teamm...

Note: This podcast discusses topics of trauma and addiction. Jennifer Burke has a passion for helping young people and you can see her love in action at every turn of her hard work. As ED of Healing Addiction in our Community, Jenn, and her devoted husband, run an inpatient treatment center and do their best to prevent addiction via awareness and increasing treatment resources. Here you’ll hear ho...

Vaisu’s interest in service and bringing community together has given her a world of experience, and not just in NM. In her own words, “life has a way of taking you places you should be.” We are glad she is here, sharing lifelong lessons from coordinating a carnival as a child to serving on numerous boards and making deep impact in our own school system today. Enjoy this convo as Vaisu talks about...

Denise Nava Wyrick | Mentor, dancer, writer, creator… Denise Nava Wyrick is a critical member of our city. After 10 years at the Albuquerque Community Foundation and co-creator of Matchbox Marketing, Denise knows the impact of collaboration – and how far a deeply creative community can take us into a bright future. Her days are full, serving on numerous boards, making big decisions with community...

Shana Baker, Co-Founder, Albuquerque Involved   Shana Baker asks the important questions. Like, “why not?!” With a legal background, extensive knowledge of political and nonprofit sectors, Shana puts her skills to work every day making a direct impact on our city. Her belief that we can use both our love of ABQ and our connections to move the work forward is… contagious… and she loves that. And, h...

Episode #4 – Melora Palmer, Executive Director, Global Ties ABQ Melora Palmer believes we have a responsibility to one another and that upholding democracy has incredible ripple effects. Her wanderlust, humble but powerful perspective on her purpose, and belief that contributing to the world brings us closer a greater conscience (Love) will very likely encourage you to jump on board with this kind...

The power of community can make dreams come true. David and Larry discuss why it’s important to them to care for our city, and ask, “is there anything impossible to us?” In this convo the guys share perfect examples of how impactful personal stories can be, and that rallying around a common theme is just the beginning. This episode is not really about these two men. You’ll see. 

This podcast promotes the voices of community members and City staff who we believe are catalysts, innovators, and risk-takers making a difference in our city.  Like a spoken accent, we all have an inflection or emphasis on where we put our energy. Podcast host Mariah Harrison chats with guests about how they are putting their accents to work building their vision of the future... and how YOU can...

This podcast promotes the voices of community members and City staff who we believe are catalysts, innovators, and risk-takers making a difference in our city. Like a spoken accent, we all have an inflection or emphasis on where we put our energy. Podcast host Mariah Harrison chats with guests about how they are putting their accents to work building their vision of the future... and how YOU can g...