Another Way Forward

Another Way Forward: Grassroots Solutions from New Mexico offers hope to anyone discouraged by the nation’s inability to tackle problems like poverty and health care. Award-winning author and former Senator Dede Feldman profiles innovative organizations and inspiring local leaders who are changing the world in New Mexico, one neighborhood, one clinic, one classroom at a time. She shows us what they have in common and how we can join in to make a difference from the bottom up. Feldman’s alternative path to community and economic development leads through food hubs, land trusts, fire departments, outdoor classrooms, and immersive art experiences. Along the way the reader meets asparagus farmers, EMTs, neighborhood hellraisers, radical teachers, health care reformers and social entrepreneurs. Together, these resourceful citizens are drawing a roadmap to permanent jobs and healthy communities, something that often eludes national and state officials.

It "illustrates the capacity of social entrepreneurs to tackle tough problems — with modest resources but ample creativity and determination. The solutions emerging across New Mexico have lessons to teach at the local and global levels. For anyone who seeks to build a better world starting from where they live, this book provides excellent guidance and inspiration.”--David Bornstein, author, How to Change the World and co-founder, Solutions Journalism Network

Another Way Forward: Table of Contents

Preface—
Real Change Comes From the Bottom Up .......................................... vii

Part One—

Another Way Forward: Solutions from the Grassroots .......................... 1

Chapter 1 Introduction………………………………………..……3

Chapter 2 Project Echo: Disrupting the Medical System

System to Restore Hope to Rural Patients
and Joy to Burned-out Practitioners......................... 11

Chapter 3 Planting the Seeds for Community Health
and Viable Local Food Systems................................. 21

Chapter 4 Preserving Traditional Communities:
How Neighborhood Hell-Raisers Became
Innovative Housing Developers................................ 43

Part Two---

Reinventing Health Care in New Mexico .............................................. 59

Chapter 5 Reaching Beyond the Clinic Walls: First Choice Community Healthcare…63

Chapter 6 Using Tradition to Build a Healthy Community in Jemez Pueblo…75

Chapter 7 A Model for Rural Health Care Takes Root in Old Mining District…85

Part Three—

Reshuffling the Deck: A New Kind of Healthcare
Workforce for New Mexico ..................................................................... 95

Chapter 8 Community Health Workers: Solving Patients’ Problems, Developing New

Career Pathways ........................................................ 99

Chapter 9 Community Paramedics in Santa Fe
Look Beyond 911 Calls............................................ 107

Chapter 10 Growing Your Own in Southwestern
New Mexico: Mandolin Player Has Cultivated

Crop of Doctors, Health Professionals .................. 115

Part Four—

Connecting New Mexico’s Youth With Our
Prime Asset: The Great Outdoors......................................................... 123

Chapter 11 Wild Friends: Unique Civics Program
Helps Students Find Their Voice
While Standing up for Wildlife ................................ 125

Chapter 12 Cliff Crawford’s Cottonwood Seedlings:
The Bosque Ecosystem
Monitoring Program (BEMP) ................................ 133

Chapter 13 Rocky Mountain Youth Corps,
Youth Conservation Programs Inspire
Motley Crews to Give Back and Build the Foundation for Healthy Communities................... 143

Part Five—

Growing the Middle Class—One Family at a Time ........................... 155

Chapter 14 Prosperity Works’ Approach to
Poverty Addresses Root Causes ............................. 157

Chapter 15 Southwest Creations Collaborative Combines Business and Social Mission in a Small Albuquerque Factory ............................................... 167

Part Six---

Chapter 16 Grassroots Efforts Get New Mexico Kids into College—
Against the Odds..................................................................................... 177

Chapter 16 Closing the College Gap: Getting Low-Income
Kids Into College One Student at a Time .............. 179

Part 7 Creative Enterprise Unleashes a New Kind of Economic Animal....191

Chapter17 Meow Wolf: Together We Can Build Spectacular Worlds.....193

Conclusion Social Entrepreneurs, Change Makers at the Grassroots Level Have Left A Map to a New Kind of Society...203

Acknowledgments....203

Endnotes..... 221

Index....231