Doña Ana County, NM - Doña Ana County leadership kicked off the unveiling of its strategic planning process at a special work session on November 13, 2023. Community residents, commissioners, and county staff were present to discuss and review a new organizing framework and implementation approach for the area. The intent of the session was to review updated values, goals, and strategic measures organized under the Seven Vital Conditions and Urgent Services, a framework created in 2017 by a series of national-level organizations and funders. The framework was adopted by the federal government to support interagency coordination and create a series of cross-cutting solutions to challenges that plague thousands of communities nationally.
“This Strategic Plan is exciting because it puts community squarely into our conversations about our future,” shared Chair Susanna Chaparro. “I’m most excited to see the result of the series of Equity Action Labs, a guiding way to engage the community in pressure testing innovative strategies to ensure our residents shift from struggling to thriving.”
Members in attendance include the Empowerment Congress of Doña Ana County, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, and El Paso Electric. The entities acted as guiding subject matter experts in specific areas for the strategic plan, such as launching a new economic development division and addressing infrastructure and access to basic needs within the colonias.
“The approach to strategic planning is new. I am thankful that Doña Ana County was willing to be a leader, not just for this community, but for the state,” shared Rosalinda Natividad, Incite Network’s Chief Executive Officer. Incite Network supported with strategic planning and implementation efforts. “Our approach focused more on implementing the Plan than just preparing a finalized document. We are excited about the journey ahead.”
New tactics being discussed at the November 13 work session included creating a Resident Design Team that cycles different individual’s input every 90 days, publication of updated versions of the Plan to show modifications made by residents and a proposed State of the County address where stakeholders and community members present success and challenges to both state and federal delegation. County departments are also being coordinated into “Vital Conditions” teams to blend resources and expertise and focus on the measures of the Plan. A look around the room showed a different setup. Music was playing, lunch was served by a local restaurant, Urban Cafe, and the Commissioners sat at tables to dialogue with residents rather than at the dais.
The Strategic Plan was approved by the commissioners on November 14, 2023, to start implementation, community conversations, and approach other jurisdictions about how to braid their respective measures and priorities into one another’s strategies.
