Meet Current and Past VISTA Members
PAMELA MARTINEZ
Las Vegas San Miguel Chamber of Commerce
Las Vegas, NM
Pamela joined the Las Vegas San Miguel Chamber of Commerce where she serves as their Communications Liaison. She is a native and life-long resident of Las Vegas NM. She worked for 28 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist for both school districts in Las Vegas. She is providing support in the development and coordination of the Las Vegas Chamber Leaders’ economic growth initiatives and endeavors for the community and surrounding area. She is assisting the Chamber to collaborate, advocate, and with outreach efforts, to create partnerships to sustain new businesses and jobs for low-income persons. Additionally, she is assisting the Chamber along with existing area businesses and chamber members to contribute towards and sustain a vibrant and prosperous community.
EVAN CRYSTAL
Rio Arriba County
Espanola, NM
Evan worked on Rio Arriba's Comprehensive plan. Through a better understanding of community history, land use, and geography, he developed industry cluster profiles and helped to organize municipal economic development plans throughout the state. In addition to understanding the metrics of development for Rio Arriba, Evan spent time reaching out to community members to invite and engage lower-income people in the community development process.
SARA MARTINEZ
Mora County Economic Development Corporation
Mora, NM
At MCEDC Community Development, Sara continues to develop and coordinate volunteer matching services for nonprofit organizations that need volunteer support to achieve their mission. By managing communication efforts in the community, Sara helps low-income individuals and other key groups, such as Veteran’s Affairs, commodity programs like Mora 4-H. These communication pathways also strengthen connections for the Mora Arts and Cultural Compound who have sponsored and assisted in coordinating many programs for youth and seniors.
JAMES DINGWALL
Center for Community Innovation
Raton, NM
James did outreach and marketing intended to increase the involvement of low income persons in adult education classes including high school equivalency preparation and testing, resume writing, and job interviewing. He worked with area employers to identify job training and education needed by employers, develop training materials. and help secure sponsors and funding to provide the job training local residents need to prepare for work in local positions.
SALLY KO
NonMetro Area Agency on Aging
Santa Fe, NM
At NonMetro AAA Sally worked to identify gaps in services and develop an action plan to transform the delivery of health, nutrition and transportation services to low income seniors throughout rural communities in New Mexico.
TANNER BOND
Cibola County Economic Development Foundation
Grants, NM
Tanner worked to help people find jobs through the SoloWorks program in Grants, NM. He was active with Client Relationship Management (CRM), web development, marketing and outreach, training, community building, and program development activities.
NATE CRAIL
Santa Fe County
Santa Fe, NM
Bridging the digital divide between the Internet “haves” and “have-nots” is an essential goal in the fight against poverty. Nate worked to insure that low-income people could access the Internet, creating empowerment through the ability to access distance education and medicine, on-line public information and services, and global technology-oriented employment opportunities. His work to develop a strategic broadband plan guided expansion of broadband infrastructure and access to high speed internet for low-income residents throughout Santa Fe County.
