Uniting for Public Health in New Mexico

Uniting for Public Health (UPH) in New Mexico was a special non-partisan training offered by UR Action. The interactive workshops brought together New Mexico residents to build relationships and strengthen interpersonal and community engagement skills in an effort to improve public health. The workshops were held on the following dates and times:

• July 6, 2022 at 1-2:30 MT
• July 13, 2022 at 1-2:30 MT
• July 20, 2022 at 1-2:30 MT
• July 27, 2022 at 1-2:30 MT

What?
Interactive, lively 90-minute workshops on each of the following four topics: 

• ABCs for Constructive Dialogue: Achieve a shared understanding of different views on issues
• Problem Tree Analysis: Deepen understanding of causes and effects of complex societal problems across systems, and pinpoint opportunities for intervention
• Collaborative Negotiation and Problem-Solving: Reach a good outcome with counterparts when some goals are shared, but others are different or conflict
• ​Stakeholder and Influence Mapping: Determine how best to sequence your engagement with community stakeholders by analyzing your sphere of influence

Who?
Health equity specialists in New Mexico and/or health council members who engage with communities to promote vaccine equity and post-pandemic rebuilding. 

Why?
​1. Raise our awareness of the assumptions we bring into conversations across difference
2. Increase understanding of different views on issues 
​3. Strengthen our skills for communicating across divides 
4. Learn and apply a tool for analyzing complex societal problems
5. Learn and apply a tool for maximizing influence in community engagement efforts
6. Have fun!

​Implementing Organizations:

• Lead for America: This local effort was led by Emily Guerra, a Public Health Equity Corps Fellow (a collaboration with LFA and Association of State and Territorial Health Officials) who is serving with the New Mexico Department Of Health for two years. 
• Urban Rural Action: Provided facilitation support to participants and connects efforts in New Mexico with the national Uniting for Democracy initiative
• New Mexico Department of Health: Supported implementation of the training