The Fall Leadership Forum is an annual opportunity to connect Sandia’s leadership through engaging discussion and networking. This year’s forum in November featured four individual service projects where leaders gave back to the community and learned about the work of multiple nonprofits in Albuquerque.
WORKING TOGETHER TO FEED THE COMMUNITY — Labs Director James Peery works on an assembly line filling boxes with food at Roadrunner Food Bank. As the largest food bank in New Mexico, Roadrunner plays a major role in distributing food to people facing food insecurity. (Photo by Lonnie Anderson)
COMFORTING CHILDREN — From left, Associate Labs Director Nancy Davis, Director Samantha Flores and Director Amy Halloran created no-sew blankets that will be given to children in foster care in Bernalillo County through New Mexico Kids Matter. The agency advocates for children who have been abused or neglected by empowering community volunteers to speak up for them in the foster care system. Materials for the blankets were provided by TenderLove Community Center, an agency that helps women escape from the cycle of poverty and achieve stable, self-supporting lives. (Photo by Roberta Rivera)
FILLING BOXES FOR NEW MEXICO FAMILIES — Lab Fellow Bill Miller, left, and Associate Labs Director Rita Gonzales prepare boxes of food that were distributed by Roadrunner Food Bank. The nonprofit impacts the lives of 70,000 hungry people every week of the year. (Photo by Lonnie Anderson)
FALL CLEAN UP — Director Kevin Dixon cleaned up the campus at Mandy’s Farm as part of the leadership forum service projects in November. Mandy’s Farm provides engaging opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and includes horseback riding, a barn and a community garden. Volunteers raked leaves and removed debris. (Photo by Amy Tapia)
WINTER VEGGIES — Director Jen Gaudioso plants winter kale in the urban garden at the Rio Grande Food Project. The agency provides a food pantry, an urban garden and serves as a community hub that works to ensure that kids, adults and seniors have enough nutritious food to live their most healthy, active lives. (Photo by Debra Menke)
PREPARING FOR SPRING PLANTING — Directors Rafael Gonzalez, left, and Lorenzo Gutierrez winterized the urban garden at the Rio Grande Food Project, preparing it for spring planting in 2022. (Photo by Debra Menke)
