Member-only story
A New Day Dawning for Compassionate Action in Las Cruces!
At the beginning of April, I picked up Dawn Zephier, a Las Cruces mother, and we headed over to City Hall to meet with Mayor Ken Miyagishima for an important conversation on the topic of invisible family homelessness.
This marked the launch of my new project, Mamas and Mayors. My one-woman national nonprofit, HEAR US Inc., has focused on family and youth homelessness since I hit the road in my camper 16 years ago shortly before Mayor Ken was elected. Las Cruces was on my route then, and I’ve visited several times since.
The Mayor and I have touched base over the years. He’s a compassionate leader for the city with the motto “People Helping People,” and a perfect mayor to inaugurate Mamas and Mayors. Dawn, who shared her recent experience of family homelessness for my film project, was a willing and capable spokesperson.
Homelessness in Las Cruces has sadly, but not surprisingly, surged over the years, as it has everywhere. The best efforts of a dedicated cadre of human service workers have not stemmed the tide of houseless adults and kids, far beyond those visible on street corners and in Tent City.
