Interview with Las Cruces City Councilor Johana Bencomo, District 4

Johana Bencomo was born in Colonia Aldama, a small town in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. She migrated to the United States with her family when she was 8 years old. Johana has called Las Cruces home since she was 18 years old, having moved here to attend New Mexico State University – where she earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Government and Masters in Social Work.

She currently serves as the Interim-Director for the local faith-based organizing non-profit, NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe. She has been working with the non-partisan organization for 5 years. Johana has committed to a career in social justice and building power with underrepresented communities, primarily focusing on leadership development efforts. Prior to her work at NM CAFé, she worked for a federal TRIO program at NMSU, where she served as an academic advisor for first-generation and low-income students.

Bencomo is also a board member of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, a field instructor for NMSU’s School of Social Work, and a current WK Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow.

1. What are some of the political challenges that you’ve faced during this pandemic? Have there been roadblocks or has there been anything unexpected in the process of navigating this situation?
 
2. Do you have any advice that you could share with city council members of similar towns from your experiences here in Las Cruces? Are there best practices you’ve been following?
 
3. Do you have any advice for any medical personnel, hospitals, doctors, or care facilities that may be considering partnering with local governments? Is there anything that they can do to enhance the communication process and make sure that everything works as seamlessly as possible?
 
4. What will our new normal look like in Las Cruces for the next 12 – 18 months? 
 
5. In addition to this COVID-19 crisis we have  experienced an awareness of extreme racism in America, Are you aware of any racism issues in the cities departments? What is your message about the issue? 
 
6. What advice do you have for the members of our community in this time?
 
 
 
Interview by:
Maria Guadalupe Martos, Political Journalist & Photographer
Instagram: @mariaguadalupemartos
 
Copyright 2020 by:
Our Las Cruces – Online Magazine
Instagram: @ourlascruces

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