SFCC News:
SANTA FE — Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) will host “Wellness Wednesday 3.18: One Brain, One Day” – a special brain health and brain injury awareness event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 18 in the Jemez Rooms on campus at 6400 Richards Ave.
The event will bring together community partners, health advocates and residents from across Northern New Mexico to learn more about brain injury, prevention and recovery. Partners include the State of New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability, Stagecoach Foundation, Presbyterian, SFCC Foundation and Christus St. Vincent.
The event is free, but registration is encouraged at https://luma.com/yqlnq6fe.
The day’s program will include the premiere of a documentary on brain injuries at noon, followed by community resource engagement and brain-healthy food demonstrations. The film is an informational video designed to help people better understand the realities of brain injury and the importance of awareness, prevention and support.
The resource fair component will also offer opportunities to learn about brain injury prevention, recovery and support services.
The informative community gathering is an outgrowth of SFCC’s Student Wellness Center’s Wellness Wednesday initiative, which connects students and community members with practical tools for wellbeing and access to supportive resources.
“This event reflects what can happen when community partners align around a shared commitment to health, awareness, and access,” said Dr. LaNysha Adams, Director of the Student Wellness Center at Santa Fe Community College. “Brain health is a community issue. By bringing education, nutrition, and resources together in one place, we are helping people understand brain injury, learn how to protect their health, and connect with the support systems that make recovery possible.”
The community event reflects a growing collaboration between SFCC and the State of New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability, particularly through the New Mexico Brain Injury Advisory Council, which works to increase awareness and improve services for people affected by brain injury across the state. The State of New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability works to improve the quality of life for New Mexicans with disabilities by addressing barriers to full participation in community life, including access to education, employment, housing, transportation and public services.
Angelia Velarde-Logsdon, Coordinator for the New Mexico Brain Injury Advisory Council within the State of New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability, emphasized the importance of education and public awareness. “Brain injuries affect thousands of families across our state, often in ways that are not immediately visible,” Velarde-Logsdon said. “Raising awareness is one of the most important steps we can take to ensure people understand prevention, recognize the signs of brain injury, and know where to turn for support. Partnerships like this one with SFCC are important for serving everyone.”
ASL interpretation will be offered at the event. Other accommodations for people with disabilities can be requested by contacting Velarde-Logsdon at 505.690.8324.
The SFCC Campus Cupboard Food Pantry will showcase brain-healthy snacks and host a food demonstration focused on nutritional practices that support cognitive wellness. Renee Treviño Zisman, Nutrition Educator with ICAN (Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition), a community nutrition education program through New Mexico State University that teaches practical, affordable healthy cooking skills, will lead a live cooking demonstration featuring salmon, brown rice, and spinach to highlight simple foods that support brain health and overall wellbeing.
The event is supported in part by SFCC Foundation, which is contributing food for the demo and refreshments through the Campus Cupboard to help demonstrate the role of nutrition in maintaining brain health.
Organizers encourage students, families, healthcare professionals, educators and community members to attend and learn more about brain health, prevention and the services available throughout New Mexico.
Direct questions about the event or the SFCC Wellness Center to 505.428.1046.