In addition to Cruz’s unveiling, artist Alejandro López revealed his mural titled “Sacred Earth, Caring Community,” the newest mural in Española. The colorful mural showed images of the peoples and history of the Española River Valley, where everyone was together and working in harmony with the land and each other. Nurturing the earth that provides life was a theme, and it honored current events as well, with a tractor representing grain farmers in Ukraine and the children lost in the Uvalde tragedy. A flooding river highlighted the reality of climate change, while snow and rain were in abundance in light of the fires that had burned so much of New Mexico’s mountains as the paint went on the mural walls.

So how can mural events help the 100% New Mexico initiative, now in 15 counties across the state? First, the murals are catalysts for convenings, raising awareness of the 100% New Mexico initiative in the communities that make up a county. Second, as these murals grow across the state, so too will the shared vision, goals, visibility, and support for the initiative designed to ensure that all families have access to the ten vital services for surviving and thriving. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the mural events are an opportunity for a community to share their unique culture and heritage through art, which brings people together to support one another. I witnessed this first hand on a rainy Saturday evening in Española, serenaded by music and joyful conversations.

Many people before me have viewed the images that make up the murals and talked to the artists, and many people after me will do the same. These images will have the power to inspire pride in the community, which will work together toward the goal of taking care of their people, their familia.

Find out more about 100% Rio Arriba and 100% Socorro.