The nomination of “On the Road to 100% Chaves” for a 47th Rocky Mountain Emmy® Award in the “Special Concerns Content” category is a landmark achievement for the 100% New Mexico initiative. This recognition highlights the innovative work of the 100% Chaves County initiative and is sparking interest in 100% initiatives across New Mexico. The initiative aims to ensure that all families have access to ten essential services crucial for surviving and thriving—services that are currently inaccessible to many children, students, and families in the state.

“Who survives?” Who thrives?

The documentary, part of the “Road to 100% New Mexico” series, begins with a road trip. It poses crucial questions: “Who determines our quality of life? Who survives, and who thrives?” Our “Road to…” program illuminates strategies for addressing challenges that affect many. As we journey to all 100% counties, we race to meet determined local problem-solvers who courageously seek solutions, refusing to take “no” for an answer.

“On the Road to 100% Chaves” begins with “Part 1: Arriving in Roswell, Chaves County, NM,” introducing viewers to the county’s unique character, symbolized by its iconic green alien greeters. This segment delves into the challenges faced by local families in accessing vital services, setting the stage for the initiative’s importance.

“Part 2: Meeting the Local Champions” features Dan Jennings, a city councilor in Hagerman and the initiative’s leader. Jennings shares his vision for county-wide support and explains how the 100% New Mexico initiative framework can unite service sectors to solve delivery challenges. His driving question, “How can we support 100% of our communities across the entire county?” encapsulates the initiative’s ambitious goal.

In “Part 3: Technology Empowers the 100% Movement,” Jennings demonstrates how cutting-edge technology is integrated into the initiative. This segment highlights the use of a community building site at 100percentchavescounty.com, which serves as an interactive platform for reports, data, and discussions among ten action teams. It also showcases an app that connects county residents to vital services, illustrating how technology facilitates community engagement and service access.

“Part 4: Bold Ideas About the 100% Family Center: One Stop Service Hub” offers a tour of the CASA Service Hub. This innovative center exemplifies the concept of a “One Stop Service Hub,” providing a model for comprehensive service delivery. The segment emphasizes the importance of preventative measures in addressing public health, safety, and education challenges before they escalate.

“Part 5: The 100% Chaves Summit” brings together representatives from all ten vital service sectors including the schools. This segment illustrates the collaborative effort to ensure 100% access to essential services for county residents. Dan Jennings articulates the initiative’s audacious goal and the potential for transforming it from aspiration to reality with support from state and local leaders.

“Part 6: The Promise of 100%” showcases the power of community-driven change. It demonstrates how local knowledge and united vision can transform entire counties into thriving communities for all families. This segment emphasizes the achievability of the initiative’s goals through collective effort and shared purpose.

“Part 7: Why is David Struggling Amid Such Wealth?” explores the dual challenges faced by children: adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse social determinants of health. It highlights how lack of access to vital services, particularly behavioral healthcare, can perpetuate cycles of trauma and hinder child development.

In “Part 8: The Power of State Government to Transform Communities,” New Mexico State Senator Dr. Bill Soules advocates for a “child’s bill of rights.” This segment challenges viewers and leaders to prioritize children’s health and education, proposing innovative ways to utilize the state’s vast financial assets and resources for this crucial cause.

“Part 9: Champions Moving into Action” features Dr. Melissa Moyer from Eastern New Mexico University’s Program of Social Work, reflecting on the 100% Summit experience. It showcases how hundreds of attendees collaborated, combining lived experiences with research to develop strategies for ensuring access to all ten vital services.

The series concludes with “Part 10: Leaving Chaves County, Inspired and Back on the Road,” capturing the energy and passion driving the movement forward. It ends with Dan Jennings’ empowering message to Summit participants, emphasizing their collective power to effect change.

And the winner is… all New Mexicans

Directed by Vladimir Chaloupka of VladFilms in Santa Fe, the Emmy®-nominated program showcases the documentary’s ability to engage, enlighten, and draw attention to critical issues and the solutions being developed across New Mexico. This Emmy® nomination is a powerful recognition for the thousands of New Mexicans engaged in the 100% New Mexico initiative, working to ensure the health, safety, education, and social justice of 100% of its people.

The Emmy® Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 16th. Regardless of the outcome, this nomination has already brought welcome and valuable attention to the critical work being done through the 100% New Mexico initiative.

A special “ask” for our readers: Please share this article with five people in your life who would appreciate knowing about the special recognition 100% New Mexico has received with this Emmy® Award Nomination. It’s for all New Mexico.

Watch the Nominated Film