Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC) has embraced Overweight/Obesity as the top priority (having no age, gender or cultural preference), followed by teen pregnancy and domestic violence. Considering the issues that our communities face with respect to access to healthcare, SWIC has agreed to focus on encouraging and supporting a healthy lifestyle which includes routine or regular medical visits, screenings and increased health consciousness.

On Saturday, May 6, 2006 from 10am – 2pm, Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), formerly known as TVI South Valley Campus hosted ¡Celebrando la Vida!, a free event designed to celebrate life and encourage people to make healthy choices.  There were free health screenings, workshops, exhibitions, and information all available to those who attended.   Information was provided in both English and Spanish. 

While ¡Celebrando la Vida! is open to the public, organizers focused on bringing together those living in the southwest quadrant of Bernalillo County with those providers and businesses in the same area.  “Our focus is on helping people in the community improve their lifestyles and provide them with culturally relevant information” says the Southwest Improvement Council for Wellness and Human Development (SWIC). “¡Celebrando La Vida! is about life, it is about providing information and resources, and it is about encouraging individuals and families to make the right choices to improve their lives”.

Saturday, May 6 was the first ¡Celebrando La Vida! event held.  Organizers were very pleased with the turnout of both exhibitors and participants and have plans to hold a follow-up event in August.  “We want ¡Celebrando La Vida! to become a bi-annual event so resources and information remain in front of residents who live in the community and they received continuous encouragement to make healthy choices.” says SWIC.

“We are thrilled to be hosting ¡Celebrando La Vida!.” says Arthur Córdova, CNM South Valley Campus Director and SWIC Chair.  “TVI is a part of this community and we are happy to host and open our doors to the community.”

¡Celebrando la Vida! is sponsored by the Southwest Improvement Council for Wellness & Human Development (SWIC), a project of the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation, and CNM South Valley Campus.  SWIC is a comprehensive health council whose primary goal is to foster and support a community health system that optimizes health and quality at every stage of life for individuals and families.  SWIC's ultimate goal is to positively impact health outcomes in the southwestern part of Bernalillo County as we work through a structured systems approach to community action.  CNM South Valley Campus is part of the South Valley community’s overall wellness. 

“This event is a first step towards encouraging community members to make healthy changes and introduce them to a variety of resources and information that they can investigate and consider for themselves and their families.” says Francisco J. Ronquillo, an original member of SWIC. 

For more information on ¡Celebrando la Vida! or for information on SWIC contact Elena Zamarripa at 348-0462, Art Córdova at 224-5011 or Francisco J. Ronquillo at 833-9950.

SWIC firmly believes that the developing strategic plan contains potential activities that are realistic and practical to reduce health risks of our southwest quadrant residents.

For more information, please contact RGCDC 505 452-8525 or rgcdc@swcp.com