About Us

New Mexico

Alliance for Children

Creating healthy communities through the arts

Executive Director, Julia H. Price, M.A.

Julia has served as Executive Director of the New Mexico Alliance for Children, an educational non-profit organization, since 2002. She also serves as Program Director for Eating SmART. She developed Eating SmART in 2007 as a pilot program for the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger's statewide effort to reduce food insecurity for children in economically deprived circumstances. Julia previously taught English, writing, and art at the high school and college level for twenty years. She is a Regional Coordinator for the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger, a member of the Board of Directors for the Southwestern Arts Alliance, a member of the Ruidoso Regional Arts Council, and an active visual artist.

Programs Coordinator, Eating Smart, Patsy Blasdell, RN

Patsy is a registered nurse currently licensed in New Mexico with over 25 years experience in the field, who has served as a Program Coordinator for Eating SmART since the development of the pilot program in 2007. Ms. Blasdell is also a professional artist with more than thirty years of experience and a particular interest in teaching art to children. She brings her nursing skills, interest in nutrition, experience with art, and her love of children to our children's programs. As program coordinator, she works closely with teachers, parents and children to ensure that the sites provide a safe, healthy environment.

Board of Directors

New Mexico Alliance for Children

Dr. Robert Thigpen, Chairman of the Board, is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of New Orleans, and was Chairman of the Political Science Department for many years. Dr. Thigpen has taught classes on public policy, including the politics of food distribution. He now resides in Ruidoso, New Mexico and is actively involved in fundraising efforts and volunteer recruitment for the New Mexico Alliance for Children's food distribution projects.

Mr. Gary Henry, Vice-Chairman, is an active volunteer for Eating SmART and the New Mexico Alliance Community Garden Project. A school administrator and teacher, he retired from Mineral Wells ISD with thirty years of service. In 2001, Gary and his wife retired to Ruidoso, where Gary is now busy with his art and civic activities. Mr. Henry graduated from Texas State University with a Masters in Agricultural Education. He continued post graduate work at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and East Texas State University, where he also was a Guest Instructor. He earned his certification in Management from in 1982 in Tarleton State University.

Ms. Luz Cecilia Francis, Secretary, has taught in the public schools system in New Mexico for more than 20 years. She has a degree in Anthropology and is a certified Zumba dance instructor. She teaches children's dance and fitness classes and also serves as an Eating SmART curriculum consultant for science and movement activities for the elementary grades.

Dr. Bruce Klinekole, Treasurer, has a Doctor of Chiropractic from the Parker School of Chiropractic and a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board. Dr. Klinekole has been practicing for over 14 years in Ruidoso. He grew up in Mescalero, New Mexico and is a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Dr. Klinekole is active in community engagement for Eating SmART.

Mr. Michael Francis is in his fifth year as Musical Director of Roswell Jazz Festival. A professional jazz pianist for more than 45 years, he has produced major jazz concerts since the 1980s with such greats as Dave Brubeck, Count Basie, Ray Charles, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Ray Brown and Chick Corea. He has taught and performed in the public schools and in various student workshops and is working on production of an elementary student's guide to jazz on DVD. He holds a degree in Music Theory and Composition. Michael is also the Executive Director of the Southwestern Arts Alliance.

Health Consultant

Mr. John McPhee, Coordinator of the Childhood Injury Unit for the New Mexico Department of Health is also the New Mexico representative for the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Mr. McPhee is a contributing editor to the "Healthy Environments and Living Spaces" curriculum. He is also a contributing editor to the "Improving the Safety of Child Care Environments" curriculum for daycare providers.

Consultants

Media/Public Relations

Bill Yorston, Proprietor of Ruidoso Computer Genie, Website and computer services

Michael Francis, Computer and Technology assistance

Registered Dietician

Amy R. Maupin, BS, MS, LD (Licensed Dietician), RD (Registered Dietician) RD # 633461, CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator), has served as Registered Dietician at Mescalero HIS Hospital for 12 years.

Fitness Professionals

Sarah Crewe, Certified Level 1 USAT Coach, Certified Level 2 ASCA Swim Coach, Certified YogaFit Instructor, Instructor and Chairperson, ENMU Physical Education Department

Andrea Reed, Proprietor, The Dance Gallery, ballroom dance instructor and instructor of children's dance, three years experience as dance coordinator for Eating Smart

Cecelia Francis, Zumba Kids! Dance and Fitness Instructor