Former NM Gov. Richardson partners with Olmos, Trejo on COVID-19 Relief Fund for colonias
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson wanted to do something to help the impoverished and vulnerable residents of the colonias in southern Doña Ana County, many of whom are feeling the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as it sweeps across the nation. [Susan Montoya Bryan / The Associated Press]
LAS CRUCES - Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson wanted to do something to help the impoverished and vulnerable residents of the colonias in southern Doña Ana County, many of whom are feeling the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as it sweeps across the nation. A couple weeks ago, he called up actor Edward James Olmos, whom he has known for about 20 years — long enough to call him “Eddie.”
Richardson, who served two terms as the state’s governor, from 2003 to 2011, said he has always had a “special place in (his) heart” for the colonias in southern Doña Ana County — generally defined as the unincorporated, low-income areas, located along the U.S.-Mexico border, which often suffer from substandard housing, lacking in basic services such as potable water, electricity, paved roads, proper drainage and waste management.
“It started when I ran for governor, and saw the very strong needs that the colonias had — for water, basic infrastructure, roads and transportation needs,” Richardson told me Friday. “Sunland Park was the most visible area that I felt needed assistance, and I’m very proud of some of the projects that I sponsored. Especially the skate park, soccer fields, and several other water projects throughout the colonias. I had 5 percent of the Water Trust Board Funds automatically go to the colonias. I did that with a lot of help from Mary Helen Garcia and Senator Mary Kay Papen; I proposed it, and they helped me get it through.”
Previously, Richardson has used his philanthropic organization, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, to partner with the Santa Fe New Mexican to provide aid to Santa Fe residents through the Empty Pantry Fund. Last month, he partnered with the Navajo Times to provide support to Diné communities, which have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
“I got calls asking for help getting medical kits, masks, gowns, cleaners, food and water,” Richardson told the Times. “We had to find a way to deliver supplies to the Navajos.”
Now, the Las Cruces Sun-News is partnering with Richardson’s foundation to provide support for Doña Ana County’s southern colonias. These include San Miguel, Mesquite, La Mesa, Del Cerro, Vado, Chamberino, Berino, Las Palmeras, Montana Vista, Joy Drive, La Union, Anthony, Chaparral, Santa Teresa and Sunland Park.
Edward James Olmos speaks to the sell-out crowd at the Rio Grande Theatre after receiving this year's Mark Medoff Humanitarian Award during the Las Cruces International Film Festival on Tuesday. [Jaime Guzman / For the Sun-News]
To administer the fund, which currently has pledges equaling $40,000 — including $10,000 from the Richardson Center — Richardson enlisted the help of the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico. The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico will serve as the fiscal agent.
“I believe that our partners in this are experts at helping with grassroots needs — like electric bills, internet service and cash assistance for people who just need help with groceries and food,” Richardson said. “We’ll let the health experts deal with the masks and the protective equipment.”
Richardson is also working with officials at the city, county and state levels to garner support for the project.
“I’ve had some very encouraging talks already with the county manager and the mayor about the possibility of them helping, as well as several members of the state delegation — like Ray Lara and Doreen Gallegos and Papen,” he said.
Hollywood legends lend a helping hand
“What is particularly exciting to me is that two Hispanic movie icons — who have had great experiences in the Las Cruces area, filming — Eddie Olmos and Danny Trejo, are eagerly joining in this effort,” Richardson said.
I asked him how he got Olmos and Trejo to sign on to the project.
“I’ve known Eddie for 20 years,” he told me. “I called him, and it took him two seconds to say ‘yes.’ We’ve talked on the phone twice, and he said, ‘You know, I got this award there a year ago, and they are great people. I know their needs there …’ He just recently gave a speech on the virus somewhere in Los Angeles.”
“I cherish my time working and filming in southern New Mexico and with the people of New Mexico,” said Olmos, in a written statement. He received the Humanitarian Award at last year’s Las Cruces International Film Festival.
“All of us have been impacted greatly by the spread of COVID-19, but it’s our collective responsibility to make sure that there’s a safety net for our most vulnerable families,” Olmos said.
Actor Danny Trejo poses while wearing an “I Love Allen Theatres” button with Allen manager Erin Whitehead at the Cineport 10 Theatre during the Las Cruces International Film Festival on March 3, 2016. Trejo attended the festival as the “Outstanding Achievement In Entertainment” award winner and introduced screenings of his film Machete at the Cineport. [Jett Loe / Las Cruces Sun-News]
As for Trejo?
“And then, of course, Danny… You connected me with Danny,” Richardson told me. “I’m a fan of Danny. You’re the one who did that — that might be the biggest thing here, dontcha think?”
(I must admit … that I did. I’d interviewed Trejo ahead of his visit to the Las Cruces International Film Festival in 2016. That year, the festival granted him the “Outstanding Achievement In Entertainment Award.” I suggested that Richardson reach out to him.)
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Trejo has been active in his home state of California providing meals for frontline hospital workers and joining a campaign to provide resource kits in Spanish to migrant farmworkers.
“I’ve been doing what I can at home to protect and provide for those most at-risk for COVID-19, and I am honored to join with Governor Richardson to help the people of the colonias in southern New Mexico,” Trejo said in a written statement. “Now, more than ever, we should reach out and support our neighbors.”
Richardson described Trejo and Olmos as “principles” in the fund and its mission.
“They are involved in the donation and fundraising efforts,” he said. “They both care deeply about Doña Ana County and the colonias. They’re deeply involved in this, and I think that’s huge. They are two of the biggest Hispanic media and movie icons in the nation. Them agreeing to contribute, Danny and Eddie, is also due to the success of the movie program — Film Las Cruces — down there. That film festival, the locations… That’s a big part of this. Both of them are really humanitarians, they’re both helping their communities in Los Angeles — and now in New Mexico.”
How it will work
“Individuals and families who are in need can apply, and the foundation will deliver the cash assistance,” Richardson said. “We’ve raised $40,000 already. I’ve really been working the phones. But the key to making this work will be the grassroots donations — the $5, the $1 donations. I’m contributing $10,000 from my foundation; that’ll help kick things off. That’s included in the $40,000.”
I spoke to Dawn Hommer, CEO of the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, about how the applications will be processed.
“Obviously, since our offices are closed to outside visitors at this time, we’re going to be taking applications over the phone and through our website to keep everybody safe,” she said. “We’re also going to be accepting referrals from our partners, and through the census outreach work that the Empowerment Congress is doing in the colonias. That will be the intake process. And then we’ll work with those clients any way we need to to make sure we’re able to provide the assistance.”
Most clients — even in the colonias — will be able to get CAA the necessary information over the phone or through email.
“If there’s no other way to get us information, then we’ll actually go to their home — if we need to pick up paperwork, or something like that,” she said.
Since the outbreak, Hommer said CAASNM has seen a rise in need throughout the colonias.
“We’ve already begun to see people who did not qualify for our services, based on income, 30 days ago now qualify. It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “Some people used to like to go to the grocery store every couple of days. Now, you’re trying to make sure you’ve got the money to buy enough groceries to get you through a week, or even two weeks. When you add on cleaning products and paper goods, people were just spending more money. To be able to have a little bit of extra money to make sure they can have what they need is going to be so valuable.”
And what the residents of these communities need, Hommer said, is cash.
“I just can’t emphasize enough how wonderful it is that we’re able to provide the cash assistance, because they’ll be able to spend that money at the local businesses — which multiplies the impact it has in the colonias. We know that the economic impact is at least two-fold.”
How to donate
The fund will be managed by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, which will serve as the fiscal agent.
“Our board of directors, staff, and volunteers are honored to be a part of this emergency response fund,” said Terra Winter, president and chief executive Officer of CFSNM. “In times like this, we are reminded of the importance of community foundations – we can be flexible, quickly respond to needs and make an immediate and lasting impact in the communities we serve.”
Donations of any size are welcome — and small donations are encouraged. For those interested in donating to the fund, visit bit.ly/SCDACemergencyfund.
Donors may also mail a check to:
Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico
2600 El Paseo Road
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Please indicate “Richardson Olmos Trejo Fund” in the memo line.
To apply for assistance from the fund, call the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico at 575-527-8799 or visit https://caasnm.org.
Damien Willis is a reporter and columnist for the Las Cruces Sun-News. His biweekly column focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Las Cruces and around the region. Have a story to share? Contact him at dwillis@lcsun-news.com or @DamienWillis on Twitter.
This story originally appeared in the Las Cruces Sun-News on May 4, 2020.
