From left: Kayla Hernandez and Max Garcia, RGPP Youth Advocates, Anika Velasquez the 2020 Outstanding Member of the Year and RGCPH Prevention Coordinator Nancy Molina. Photo by Chelsea McNerney-Martinez

RIO GRANDE COUNTY-The Rio Grande Prevention Partners (RGPP) Community Coalition met for their monthly meeting Tuesday, June 2, via Zoom. The coalition recognized their Outstanding Member of the Year and Outstanding Youth of the Year for their volunteer work, dedication and service to RGPP’s mission and the Rio Grande Community at large.The RGPP Community Maintenance Board sent forms to every coalition member asking for nominations and their reasons for their selections. The answers were collected anonymously, but some of the common highlights for the members are included. The two coalition members selected received a gift card and a certificate of recognition.

The Outstanding Youth of the Year is Andres Villa, now a senior at Monte Vista High School. Villa has been a volunteer with RGPP in the last academic year and has already presented to government boards on behalf of RGPP, lead discussions on systemic discrimination and its effect on health equity and has brought many unique perspectives to the board. Some of the coalition members who nominated Villa stated:  “Andres is always willing to help with RGPP projects and activities.

‘Andres has helped his peers and has shown growth through RGPP.’ ‘Andres is a new member but he has taken the initiative to assist with anything that is needed. ‘Although Andres hasn’t been with us as long as the other youth, he has brought a huge voice.’ ‘He is quick to speak on any topic and knows how to break the ice. It’s great to see what the youth have to say and Andres as well as all the youth have done tremendously!”

Villa also contributed the Youth Voice Corner column to the June 2020 newsletter. “I am a very passionate person and when I find something to pursue that I enjoy and believe is worth putting time into I will do whatever I can to do that one thing to the best of my ability. I am a rising senior and am very excited to finish high school and begin my life in the real, scary, and rewarding world that we live in. RGPP for me has been an interesting commitment so far since the time of my joining in October 2019. RGPP has been an incredible opportunity to place my voice within a storm, and have it be thunder. In other words, RGPP has given me the ability to voice my thoughts and opinions on very important and influential matters that directly or indirectly affect my generation, and the generations that come after. RGPP has given me the ability to sharpen my public speaking, especially in the realm of policy, and has allowed me to collaborate and brainstorm effective and efficient prevention strategies with other RGPP members in the goal of supporting the youth. Some of the most influential and substantial changes that RGPP has made while I have been here have been the introduction of “Tobacco 21” to Monte Vista and the SHARPS program to the Valley.”

The adult Outstanding Member of the Year selected is Anika Velasquez, Director of the Monte Vista Kids Connection and member of RGPP for over six years. Velasquez also serves on the RGPP Executive Team and Data Workgroup and has recently made efforts to expand behavioral health services directly available to local youth. Velasquez has been the Director for Kids Connection for over eight years and has applied for and received several grants in the time she has been there.

Velasquez is known for her commitment to improving the lives of youth in Rio Grande County, and especially Monte Vista, and has been a community leader in finding new ways to provide for the varying needs of the youth, by providing a safe and enriching environment in the summer and a helpful and educational environment during the academic year.

Some of those who nominated Velasquez stated: “Anika consistently shows up to RGPP meetings, she always has great feedback and insight for needs and ideas in the community. She is an important leader for our youth and continually looking for ways to collaborate.”

“Anika has been finding innovative ways to reach the youth and serve the community, fighting through lots of unseen challenges brought about by COVID-19. She has been a great contributor to the coalition, always looking for ways to integrate our ideas into the Kids Connection.”

“I nominate Anika because for her being the director at MVKC she makes time for almost everything and she does it with ease. She is always one of the first people to volunteer and makes sure she gets stuff done. She is very straight to the point.”

For more information about Rio Grande Prevention Partners, including how to get involved with a process using evidence-based methods to enable positive youth development and improve the health of our community, contact Nancy Molina at [email protected]

RGPP’s Mission and Vision are: Mission: Partnering to create a county-wide environment conducive to safe, healthy and productive living through education, awareness and community support. Vision: Healthy Children, Families, Schools, Communities and Cultures.