SW New Mexico News

The Anna, Age Eight Institute, part of the Department of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences at New Mexico State University (NMSU), has received a nomination for a Rocky Mountain Emmy Award. The documentary titled “On the Road to 100% Chaves” was nominated in the category “Special Concerns Content.” The award ceremony is scheduled for November 16 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“On the Road to 100% Chaves” is part of a series that highlights NMSU’s 100% New Mexico initiative. This initiative identifies challenges faced by New Mexicans and features local champions working together to create innovative solutions.

“Our hope is that the video series brings much-needed attention to the root causes of so many of the problems we face in New Mexico: Adverse Childhood experiences and Social Determinants of Health,” said Katherine Ortega Courtney, co-director of Anna, Age Eight. “Our ‘The Road to 100%’ video series showcases the amazing work that our county initiatives are taking on as we start this journey toward 100%. These videos really capture the energy and sense of community that fuel the 100% New Mexico initiative.”

Developed by Courtney and Dominic Cappello, co-creators of the 100% New Mexico initiative, and directed by Vladimir Chaloupka of VladFilms, the documentary underscores the role of socially engaged filmmaking in addressing societal issues.

“The 100% New Mexico initiative is an innovative framework that operationalizes the social determinants of health in an understandable and accessible way,” Courtney stated. “The 100% New Mexico initiative is active in over half of the counties in 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. Eliminating barriers to these services is the best way to improve health, education, and well-being outcomes for kids and families in New Mexico.”

For more information about NMSU’s Anna, Age Eight Institute, visit https://annaageeight.nmsu.edu/index.html.