“This place makes you feel a lot better” declared a second grader to Candy Allen, the Family Navigator at the  Enos Garcia Nurturing Center.  The student’s mother had just gone into a detention center and his teacher encouraged him to go down to the center for some emotional support.  Allen was able to listen to him and engage him in an art project—one of the staples of the Nurturing Center’s activities.  He made a sculpture for his mother. [Read more…] about TBH Welcomes The Nurturing Centers

Towns like Taos succeed and thrive because people voluntarily contribute their time, talents and resources in deep measure to our progress.  Such a hero is Richard S. Watkins —just retiring from the Taos Behavioral Health Board after 12 years of extraordinary service.  He arrived as it was a small collection of staff with a budget built only on donations and has guided its financial progress to becoming the largest Behavioral Health agency in northern New Mexico with solid financial systems and an outstanding staff of 55. [Read more…] about Saying Farewell to a Community Hero

“No, Jose.  That was too rough!  Help him up and tell him you are sorry” stated the teacher.  I was observing this activity in the Taos Behavioral Health small day care center for employees’ children. Six boys aged 3-6 were playing touch football in the side yard under the watchful eye of their teacher seated in a corner.  It was an exuberant active scene—but with clear limits stated by their teacher.  And the limits related to caring for others—noticing others—and quickly making an apology. [Read more…] about Learning from these Images

We are as polarized as we have ever been—in the nation—and in our community.  The aftermath of the murder of George Floyd has increased the anger and grief over the state of justice in this country. To talk across the divides of positions or ideas seems fraught with danger.  And danger—for some—seems to be ever present.  Any communication about what we are each feeling seems to be even more dangerous. [Read more…] about Our Divided World—Large and Small

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

Here is a favorite Taos question:  “How many nonprofits are there in Taos?”  Often asked by people serving in one—or by residents asked to make donations—the answers may be “Over 100”—“No—over 200!”  And then the subsequent conversation usually includes—“There are far too many and they all compete with each other for donations.  The same 60 people get asked again and again.”  There is a discouraged air about this conversation.  All the “asks” can be categorized as worthy and it is frustrating to decide where to put resources.

Another common Taos question to newcomers is “Are you serving on any boards yet?”  Notice the “yet”—because the invitation to serve on a board is often made to  people coming new to Taos.  Why?  Well if the answer in the first paragraph is 100 and each NFP needs a board of 5-10 persons—there is a minimal need for 500-1000 people to be board members. That is a great deal of human service needed in the village.

So—not only is there competition for donations—but very real competition for excellent board members.  In Taos Behavioral Health, we have a board of eight dedicated active members.  Over the past 8 years, we have seen an additional sixteen board members join our ranks—and for a variety of reasons—both personal and professional then had to leave.  In addition, we approached eleven others with an orientation to TBH and an invitation to serve—all of whom eventually declined.  Recruiting and keeping great board members is time consuming and challenging. [Read more…] about The Power of Board Members