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City of Las Cruces Celebrates Civic Health Month

On Monday, September 15th, the City of Las Cruces proclaimed August as Civic Health Month! NMPHA is proud to celebrate the growing number of local government efforts to recognize the relationship between civic participation and health outcomes. We at NMPHA are grateful to see so many people and organizations across New Mexico participating in civic engagement initiatives. Our families and our communities are healthier when we all have a voice in the issues that matter to us. Celebrating Civic Health Month inspires us to promote voting and civic participation not only during a proclamation, but all year long!

Within the past year, Otero County, Doña County, and the City of Las Cruces have prioritized civic health through this type of proclamation - joining hundreds of healthcare, public health, and civic engagement organizations uniting to promote civic health in their communities and across the nation. Receiving the proclamation, Jasper McCormick spoke about the many ways that we can promote civic health and voter participation in our everyday interactions. He noted that research has shown that among people who are eligible to vote but are not yet registered to vote, about 65% reported that they had never been asked!

Everyone deserves a voice in the systems that shape their lives. As public health advocates, we can share resources that promote voter information and registration, encourage voter participation, and advocate for practices and policies that support civic health. Currently, several NMPHA members are participating in initiatives with the national nonpartisan organization Vot-ER - you can learn more about their work and advocacy opportunities here: https://vot-er.org/

We are also excited to share a special call for submissions from Health Promotion Practice focused on civic health equity! You'll find information about the journal and the call for submissions here: https://journals.sagepub.com/hpp/civic-health


Above: Civic Health Month Proclamation at Las Cruces City Council Meeting


Picture Above from left to right: NMPHA members Kayla Blanchard, Leslie Konesheck, Jasper McCormick, & Holly Mata after the proclamation

Doña Ana County Celebrates Civic Health Month

The power of civic engagement and the vital role of organizations dedicated to community well-being are being recognized and celebrated by civic health advocates and the Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners.


On August 12th, 2025 the Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners officially proclaimed the month of August as Civic Health Month. “We at the New Mexico Public Health Association are so grateful to be part of community efforts to celebrate Civic Health Month! It’s a perfect opportunity to highlight the link between voting and health - and the many ways that we as public health advocates can promote civic engagement in our community,” says Kayla Blanchard, NMPHA co-president. “Your vote is your voice and your voice is powerful! Everyone deserves a voice in the issues & policies that affect their health and wellbeing across the lifespan, and making sure that we promote civic engagement and voter participation is a vital part of health promotion”.

More than 400 organizations nationwide celebrate Civic Health Month each August. Among the organizations at the forefront of this movement is Vot-ER, a leading advocate for nonpartisan civic participation and health equity. “Local public health professionals with NMPHA, NMSU, and area Health Councils first became involved with Vot-ER through the Civic Health Fellowship program several years ago,” shared Holly Mata, a public health specialist and NMPHA internship coordinator. “This year, NMPHA members Christine Dobbin, Jasper McCormick, & Leslie Konesheck are participating in the 2025 Vot-ER Civic Health Fellowship and the Health Democracy Campaign - they are amazing advocates for civic health!”

We at NMPHA are grateful to see so many people and organizations across New Mexico participating in civic engagement initiatives. Our families and our communities are healthier when we all have a voice in the issues that matter to us. Proclaiming August as Civic Health Month inspires us to promote voting and civic participation not only today, but all year long!

● Doña Ana County Commission proclaiming August as Civic Health Month: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1170183441812189&set=a.779043077592896 (picture) and https://www.youtube.com/live/2gTBLjOTlEo?t=1944s (video of the proclamation)

● To learn more about Civic Health Month, visit https://vot-er.org/civic-health-month/

● To learn more about Vot-ER resources and programs, visit https://vot-er.org/about/




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E-mail: nmpha.mail@gmail.com


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