Taos United - Social and Political Activists For a Fair and Just Democracy in Taos, New Mexico

Social and Political Activists For a Fair and Just Democracy in Taos, New Mexico

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THE POVERTY PROJECT

Newly launched  by Taos United and Pascual Maestes, this working group is  exploring  local avenues to reduce poverty in  Taos.   It was inspired by the  successful local efforts by towns and cities in Canada described  in the Opinion piece by David Brooks in the New York Times and led by the Tamarack Institute  which lifted 202,872 families out of poverty in seven years with local efforts.

Opinion _ Winning the War on Poverty – The New York Times

Pascual is looking for members  to help research the Canadian methods and results in order to  determine if they offer guidelines for our community as an initial phase of the project.  Expertise or experience in community development, economics, affordable housing, early childhood, affordable childcare, transportation all welcome.

It is important to note that the models used in Canada had the goal, not of “helping the poor or having better poor”, but of strengthen communities to have fewer poor.  And all began with engagement and input of those living in poverty, rather than  the “top down” approach where the well-off provide the answers and run the show.  That in itself is  a breath of fresh air in Taos  with its history of outside consultants and third party reports on how to vitalize the economy gathering dust on city and county shelves.  While this approach may explain why the Canadian efforts were successful, it is clear that while doing so they also give hope and empower  those who are too accustomed to not having a voice and begin to address the  hopelessness and despair which are root causes of  substance abuse, dropouts, suicides and violence which often accompany generational poverty.

To learn more or to join the group, contact Pascualito Maestas: pmaestas@mail.usf.edu 

 

Recent Posts

  • TAOS COALITION- PRESS RELEASE July 21, Taos, New Mexico
  • Action Alert: Speak Up On June 8th – Democracy Under Attack In Taos
  • Action Alert: 05/13/21 – Fundraiser For CD-1 Candidate Melanie Stansbury
  • Action Alert: 04/21/21 – Taos Environmental Film Festival
  • Action Alert: 04/16/21 – Taos Earth Day Activities
  • Action Alert: 03/13/21-Taos County Democratic Central Committee Meeting; Community Schools
  • Action Alert: -02/28/21–Senator Ben Ray Lujan Town Hall, New Mexico Bill-HB-111 + Other Leg Actions
  • Action Alert: -02/25/21–Please Contact your representative this morning to vote YES on HB206!

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