New Mexico, it’s time to celebrate our health heroes! The 2024 Con Alma Heroes of Health nominations are open, and we’re calling on you to help us recognize the incredible individuals who are working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Don’t let their efforts go unnoticed— let’s give them the recognition they deserve!

• Two Award Tracks – Traditional & Youth Heroes
  This year, we’re honoring health champions in two categories:
  • Traditional Hero (Age 26+): For those dedicated individuals making waves in health and wellness across New Mexico.
  • Youth Hero (Age 25 and under): Celebrating the next generation of health advocates already transforming their communities.
    
• Statewide Nominations – Every Community Matters!
  From New Mexico’s vibrant cities to its close-knit rural communities, we want to hear about the everyday heroes who are making a difference. Whether they’re volunteers, clinicians, teachers, or advocates, this is your opportunity to celebrate those who are helping to make New Mexico a healthier, happier place for all.
  
• A $1,000 Donation – For a Cause Close to Their Heart!
  Each selected Hero of Health will get to choose a non-profit to receive a $1,000 donation in their name. This is a chance for them to further their impact by giving back to an organization that matters to them and their community.

For more information
Linda Candelaria-Dodd
Executive Director | Con Alma Health Foundation
505-438-0776 ext 3
Linda@conalma.mgldevs.com | www.conalma.org

About Con Alma Health Foundation
Con Alma Health Foundation serves as a catalyst for positive, systemic change by partnering with nonprofit organizations from around the state to provide equitable access to health resources for New Mexico’s diverse communities.

2023 Heroes of Health Winners

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“The review committee was impressed with Lisa’s leadership in bringing telehealth, grief and healing, employee wellness, and laundry services to Alamogordo Public Schools and surrounding areas,” said Denise Herrera, PhD, Con Alma’s executive director. “In our second year honoring a youth hero, we are inspired by Rayven Ward’s passion, advocacy, and fundraising efforts to provide outdoor education and bring about community change.”

Con Alma will donate $1,000 each to 100% Otero, a community partner focused on ensuring access to vital services, on behalf of Patch and Valencia County Community Gardens for its Outdoor Equity Project on behalf of Ward.

Holly Noelle Chavez nominated the oldest of her four children because of her dedication to helping animals and people in need, protecting the environment, and supporting outdoor education. She’s a Teen Court attorney, a member of the Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, and Youth Move, an advocacy group, and she co-teaches two religious education classes as well as helps tutor kids involved with her mom’s H2 Academic Solutions business in Belen.

“I think she’s amazing,” Chavez said. “For being only 13 and the things she’s doing, it’s exciting to see what she’ll do next.”

Ward attributed her advocacy to a mentor who taught her the value of the environment at Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area. After a fire burned the area, Ward and her sister sold handmade art and donations to support Whitfield, and later did the same for the local animal shelter. Now her advocacy has broadened; she’s currently developing a proposal to help educate middle-school students about the dangers of fentanyl.

“I like to inspire people that if they have excess money to give it to someone in need or buy a plant or something that can help the community,” she said.

Cally Finnegan of Alamogordo nominated Patch for her “compassion, dedication and leadership” in ensuring services for students and families who need it most. “In times of uncertainty and change, creative thinkers find solutions to challenges. Lisa Patch, MSN, RN, NCSN, is one of those thinkers,” Finnegan wrote in her nomination letter.

Patch coordinated several initiatives that have made a difference for students and families, such as a healing camp for grieving students and a “store” at school where families can get donated clothing, food, and necessary supplies. Her extensive partnerships expand her reach, including a school telehealth initiative and a partnership with MTC Prison Facilities that builds beds for students who don’t have one. During the height of the pandemic, Patch worked with Alamogordo schools to convert an RV into a mobile health unit that visited skateparks, ballfields and neighborhoods to provide support and resources for school and mental health.

“Our goal has been to remove barriers to learning for every child in our district, so that each one can reach their full potential,” she said.

Patch chose 100% Otero for her $1,000 donation “because they share the mission of working together to address areas families need to survive and thrive. In my 25 years here at Alamogordo Public Schools, I have seen the impact of having several different organizations come together with one goal, to help children. When we share ideas, hard work and resources we can change the lives and health of children and families and set them up for a successful and bright future.”

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Tina Cordova

Meet Tina Cordova, co-founder of Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, and this year’s Hero of Health for her advocacy on behalf of New Mexicans exposed to nuclear testing. She inspires us, for her unwavering commitment to fight for compensation and acknowledgement that the government’s nuclear testing caused incredible suffering in south central New Mexico.

Her inspiration:
The beauty of the people and the landscape in New Mexico is breathtaking. Our state has an ancient history that has developed into a beautiful, multi-cultural place with deep roots and traditions. I love that. Footprints were discovered at White Sands Monument that date back 23,000 years. Few people can say they live in a place with proof that their ancestors have been here for 23,000 years. I love that.

Her definition of healthy communities:
It means all people have access to good health care no matter their circumstance, that people have a place to go when they are well and to be screened for potential problems. I survived thyroid cancer because I had access to good health care in Albuquerque and it was detected early. I may have had a much different outcome if I had been living in rural New Mexico. I believe access to good health care is a right that all people living in the United States should be afforded.

Her commitment:
Being overexposed to radiation has taken a significant toll on the health and well-being of many New Mexicans, beginning with the uranium miners/workers. We will never fully know what this has cost in our lives or the economic impact it has had. I cannot and will not look away. The truth has to be told, and there will come a day when we receive the justice we so deserve.”

Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss

Meet Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss, southern Ute on his maternal side and Southern Cheyenne and Caddo on his maternal grandfather’s side, and this year’s youth Hero of Health. He co-founded Tribal Adaptive Organization when he was 17 to give Native youth with disabilities sports opportunities. He inspires us for overcoming personal challenges to succeed in life, and then lift up people in his community who face similar hardships.

His inspiration:
My father truly encompasses all the qualities I think a father/leader in the community should be. As a single father taking care of four kids, he always provided for us and ensured that I could participate in life. He even modified a raft frame so I could row when we went rafting. He also made sure to keep us connected to our heritage, teaching us ceremonies, songs, and history. He is someone I strive to embody today.

His definition of healthy communities:
I was surrounded by hardships growing up on the reservation. I witnessed people struggling with drugs, alcohol abuse, and suicide. As I grew older, I found new communities through sports and ceremonial practices. A healthy community supports and pushes each other to reach new heights. Healthy communities learn to embrace change and push on, even when things seem lost. I plan to continue fostering healthy habits to create a long-lasting community for generations.

His commitment:
When I was injured, I thought I had lost all value in life. I was no longer able to be the child I once was. When I was introduced to adaptive sports, my whole life changed. I competed against other kids in wheelchairs, traveling to competitions while building lifelong friendships. Not everyone has those opportunities. My dad and I decided to start Tribal Adaptive to make an impact, and to use sports to change Native lives the way it changed mine

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