By Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

It is the season of giving thanks and reaching out to those who are important in our lives.  We are grateful for our 13 years of partnering and giving to the greater Taos community!

We hope many of you saw our full-page announcement in the November 15 Taos News that pictured Nonviolence Works’ enlarged staff, our enhanced services and our new name and tag line!  We are now Taos Behavioral Health — which more accurately portrays what we do:  “Heal, Grow, Empower Yourself.”

This work would not be possible without the generous partnering of organizations in Taos who believe in our mission:  “To provide comprehensive behavioral health services to individuals, families and groups to support them in developing positive behaviors and making life-affirming choices.”

We would like to feature the organizations that in 2018 once again partnered with our Familia y Mundo Therapeutic Summer camp.

First of all, Ranchos Elementary School with the commitment of Principal Lourdes Cordova once again provided us with two temporary classrooms to house our activities — protecting space for individual and group therapy and a wide variety of social, educational and physical activities.  The janitorial staff — a critical support for any activity in the buildings — was particularly supportive and efficient.

The participants visited Taos Village Farm to learn about agriculture and nutrition, and the staff always prepared them a fresh, free lunch!  High Altitude Fitness gave the program free swimming time and, High Altitude Athletics provided free time in their gym.

Twirl invited the program to a free afternoon of creative activities and time to play in their playground.  Taos Youth and Family Center allowed free use of their facilities, and we paid a small fee for swimming and rollerblading.

Gutters provided an experience for the youth to learn about and try bowling, and Parks and Recreation encouraged our use of all the city parks.

At the Taos Library, youth were given the chance to visit the book holdings and check out books of their choice.  Defendu Academy continued their reasonable fee for providing classes in beginning martial arts.

The Storyteller Theatre cooperated with us in opening the theatre for our students and their families in a special matinee celebrating the end of the summer program. We took the youth to Vagrant Heart where they learned from a rich variety of local artists and had opportunities to create themselves.

Sadie Quintanilla, TBH Director of School Programs, stated that the amazing support of community groups enriched the summer program and allowed for unique and memorable experiences for all the students. In all of these places, our students were welcomed, and their learning was facilitated by the attitudes and support of the staffs.  One of the important objectives of the summer camp is to provide new opportunities for the attendees to learn (and teach their families) about unique Taos resources.  In addition, we discuss ways that youth can give back to the community through service activities and representing Taos youth in positive ways.

As this Holiday season starts and we celebrate a new beginning with a new name, mission and tag line — we want to recognize the gifts of the community. These businesses that have supported us need recognition and appreciation by all the community.

Thank you from us all!

Taos Behavioral Health (formerly Nonviolence Works) has the largest credentialed and licensed behavioral health staff in Northern New Mexico.  We can be reached at 575-758-4297 or taosbehavioralhealth.org or stop by at 105 Bertha Street in Taos. 

Mary McPhail Gray is the Board Chair of Taos Behavioral Health (TBH) and can be reached at 575-779-3126 or mcphailconsulting@gmail.com