Rare Cross-Cultural Collaboration Shines at Voices of Alamogordo Forum: Mescalero Apache Voices and Nontraditional Nonprofits Spark Excitement in Community Dialogue

The Voices of Alamogordo Community Forum — the engaging monthly salon series produced by 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News and KALH Radio — delivered another standout session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the inviting historic venue of Otero Arts (1118 Indiana Avenue / Indian Wells Rd., Alamogordo). The free public gathering, running from 6 p.m. to about 7:30 p.m., centered on local stewardship, food access and sovereignty, sustainable resource management, community empowerment, and the building of interdependent networks that span Otero County, southern New Mexico, tribal lands, and regional partners.

What made this forum particularly exciting was the rare and powerful inclusion of Mescalero Apache tribal members on the panel — voices seldom heard in Alamogordo community forums — alongside nontraditional nonprofits forging fresh partnerships in shared community missions. This cross-cultural, grassroots collaboration sparked genuine enthusiasm in the room, highlighting how diverse groups can unite around common goals like food security, youth empowerment, and regional resilience.

Mayor Sharon McDonald and a representative from U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján’s office participated actively from the audience, as well as several engaged and enthusiastic community members and a growing audience contributing questions and insights that elevated resident ideas to municipal and federal conversations.

The panel’s dialogue flowed with authenticity and depth:

Donna Stern, Director of the Mescalero Apache Division of Resource Management and Protection and former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, offered profound reflections on stewardship rooted in cultural continuity. She described how traditional Apache knowledge guides responsible care for land and resources, stressing that “history resides in the land and its people.” Stern advocated for community-led control over food and energy systems and invited thoughtful partnerships with non-tribal neighbors that respect sovereignty while addressing shared environmental challenges like water conservation.

Kevin Balatche, Founder and Director of Sugar Hill Path Ways Inc., shared an inspiring personal story of resilience and purpose. He explained how his nonprofit creates uplifting spaces for Mescalero youth through summer and afterschool programs — including mountain biking adventures on his “Sugar Hill” land, hands-on gardening, traditional food education, and cultural activities. Balatche connected these efforts to food sovereignty, noting how they build self-reliance, health, and pride in heritage. He warmly welcomed ideas for collaboration with Alamogordo, such as youth program exchanges or joint food-sharing projects, to strengthen ties and combat rural challenges together.

Evan Lambert Ross of Community Power New Mexico detailed innovative mutual aid approaches, including the Otero County Labor Hub’s tool lending and project support to make resources more accessible. He emphasized networked, interdependent solutions as key to food security and economic empowerment across regions.

Jovanny Hernandez of Community Power Doña Ana built on this with examples of Las Cruces-based community building and mutual aid, advocating for outreach that links neighboring counties and adapts successful models to places like Alamogordo.

Isabella Telles, NMSU undergraduate and founder of Project RootEd, showcased her digital platform’s practical tools — harvest guides, storage tips, recipes, and education resources — to empower community gardens and food awareness in underserved areas. She highlighted how such initiatives can scale locally through schools or neighborhood efforts.

The special late-arriving guest from the New Mexico Dream Team — the youth-led statewide network supporting multigenerational, undocumented, LGBTQ+, and mixed-status families — added urgent perspective on dignity, safety, and solidarity. They connected advocacy (including the Immigrant Safety Act to limit detention involvement) to community resilience, noting how stable families enhance participation in food sovereignty and mutual aid. The guest encouraged local alliances and provided ways to get involved, resonating deeply with the room.

Audience participation turned the event into a true dialogue, with residents eagerly sharing stories, asking targeted questions, and sparking collaborative ideas:

• One panelist and a community member recounted personal challenges with rural fresh food access and inconsistent with fresh foods and clean water supplies, prompting Telles to share specific Project RootEd strategies for starting small gardens and crafting balanced healthy meals engaging with Balatche to draw parallels with cultural food education and opportunities on the reservation.

• Several participants expressed excitement about partnering with tribal efforts, asking Stern and Balatche for practical next steps; responses included suggestions for joint workshops, resource exchanges, and direct follow-up conversations, with panelists offering contacts to keep momentum going and to continue working together in diverse collaborations.

• Questions on adapting Las Cruces mutual aid models to Alamogordo led Lambert Ross and orhers to discuss customizable templates, pilot projects, and ways to pool community strengths regionally and expand efforts beyond Alamogordo.

• The Dream Team guest’s insights prompted heartfelt exchanges about family stability, immigration scares and community support, with attendees asking how to stand in solidarity; the guest responded with advocacy guidance and appreciation for the inclusive spaces. 

• Throughout, the crowd shared nods, applause, and enthusiastic follow-ups — especially around the novelty of hearing Mescalero voices and nontraditional nonprofits in an Alamogordo forum. Residents voiced appreciation for the rare opportunity, noting how these partnerships felt fresh and full of potential for lasting impact. 

Panelists responded dynamically, pausing to engage directly, exchanging ideas in real time, and committing to ongoing dialogue through shared contacts, future meetups, and collaborative planning. The tone remained optimistic and action-oriented, with a clear sense of excitement over these uncommon alliances driving community missions forward. After the forum guests mingled with panelists for about 45 minutes afterwards keeping the conversations alive, exchanging phone numbers and connecting with one another- the key intent of these gatherings- idea exchange and empowerment. 

This February 3 forum captured the essence of the Voices of Alamogordo series: inclusive, inspiring civic conversation that empowers residents to connect and create change. The recording is available on YouTube which is a bit choppy but insightful at https://youtu.be/vsTYDRpsEe0 — watch it to experience the authentic energy, heartfelt exchanges, and community-driven momentum firsthand. Stay tuned via 2nd Life Media media entities for announcements for the next several salons, where more voices and partnerships will continue to shape Alamogordo’s future.

Our next forum will include Courtney McCary, Kimmie Jordan and Lynn Kimbell with discussions on fresh food scarcity, mental health care and health care on March 3rd. Save the date and join us!

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