Concilio CDS Inc. Focuses on Community Needs
From left, Estela Vásquez, Foster Grandparent Program volunteer; Julia Gil, Senior Companion Program volunteer; Alicia de Leon, FGP volunteer; Josefina Mata, Concilio CDS Inc. Executive Director; Julian Resendis, SCP volunteer; Cruz Valdez, SCP volunteer; and David Rios, SCP volunteer pose for a picture.
When Julian Resendis, 81, a Sunland Park resident, retired, he felt like everything was over, until he found out about the volunteer opportunities for seniors through Concilio Campesino del Sudoeste, Inc., a statewide community-based nonprofit organization with offices in Las Cruces, San Miguel, Silver City and Gallup.
As a volunteer with Concilio's Senior Companion Program, Resendis works with the elderly and other adults who have physical, emotional or mental health limitations by providing companionship, transportation to places like the doctor's office or the grocery store and help with activities in the home.
"I can make a difference, not only in my client's family, but in my own family as well, because my family is not worried that I'm depressed or sad," said Resendis, who speaks Spanish and talked to My Las Cruces through a translator. "When I retired, I felt seniors might be seen as disposable objects, but they're not because they can still contribute and they can still help."
Concilio Campesino del Sudoeste, which means Council for Farm Workers of the Southwest, started in San Miguel, New Mexico 43 years ago, in 1972, to address the needs of the farm worker population, said Concilio Executive Director Josefina Mata.
"They formed this council nationwide and then in New Mexico, there used to be four councils — Council of the Southwest, the southeast, northwest and northeast — and we're the one that's still standing," she said. "Other councils in other states are no longer in existence."
Today, Concilio serves seniors, youth, families, migrant and seasonal farm workers, veterans, immigrants and a large percent of people who are Spanish speakers or bilingual by addressing health disparities, economic crisis, poverty, education, hunger and other areas through community volunteerism.
"Our approach is a multigenerational approach, where we recruit volunteers of all ages to help each other to build community," Mata said. "Whatever is happening in our community, we want to focus on and help make a difference through volunteerism."
Several components exist under Concilio's umbrella of services, including civic engagement, in which participants can earn help, or time credit, by giving their time to help others; AmeriCorps Legacy, a national project in which members provide respite care to individuals who are taking care of a family member; health promotion; tobacco prevention and control and senior volunteer programs for people ages 55 and older.
"We have more than 800 volunteers in Concilio within all of the different programs," Mata said.
Concilio also is host to a Foster Grandparent Program, in which volunteers work with children in schools, Head Start programs and youth centers in Doña Ana and Grant counties to help them develop academic and life skills.
"They focus on helping children succeed — those students who might be falling behind with their schoolwork — helping them to become successful in their studies and to improve behavior and educational outcome," Mata said. "They are kind of like a team. Not only to the teacher (of the class), but the parents, in the educational growth of the child and the emotional part. They're really focusing on being a role model for the students."
Estela Vásquez, 70, from Anthony, Texas, has participated in the Foster Grandparent Program for the past three years and has served as a volunteer with Concilio since 1979.
Vásquez, who speaks mainly Spanish, said the Foster Grandparent Program has been fulfilling. She volunteers at Gadsden Elementary School, where she helps Spanish-speaking children struggling with math.
"It can be very difficult for them, so I explain it to them and take the time to help them," Vásquez said through Mata, who translated.
Vásquez said one of the things she enjoys about being a member of the Foster Grandparent Program is that the children she works with make her feel loved and appreciated. One example she described is when she couldn't make it to school on Valentine's Day and the children set out Valentine's Day cards for her when she returned. Vásquez said she was also once brought to tears when a student asked to be one of her children.
Alicia De Leon, 59, a resident of Sunland Park, who also volunteers for the Foster Grandparent Program, said participating in the program allows her to give back to the community and stay busy after her husband had passed away.
"I worked in the schools for 15 years as a substitute teacher," De Leon said through Mata, who translated. "I went on disability, but still wanted to continue to work. When I turned 55, I became a foster grandparent."
De Leon, who works with third-graders at Sunland Park Elementary School, said she enjoys watching children learn and improve. De Leon said when she sees students outside of the program, they often call her "grandma."
Concilio CDS Inc. is in need of monetary donations or donations of blankets, coats and sweaters, which can be taken to Concilio's main office, Mata said. Checks can be made out to "Concilio CDS Inc." and mailed to the Las Cruces office at 2220 S. Solano Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88001. Those interested in volunteering can call 575-521-9814.
Alexia Severson
Las Cruces Sun News