| The Somos Vecinos Project was conceived at the 1998 Amigos Bravos Three Year Strategic Planning Retreat where our Advisory Council expressed support for opening a dialogue between environmentalists and traditional communities regarding water issues along the Río Grande. Based on the recommendations of the Advisory Council, a grant proposal was developed and funds were received to carry out this project. A Planning Group for the Somos Vecinos Project was then formed in the Fall of 2000. The Planning Group consists of individuals working within tribal, acequia, environmental, policy/legislative, and economic development communities. During several months of meetings, the Planning Group thoughtfully defined a mutually respectful process, expanding participation in the dialogue and identifying actions which might meet the objectives outlined in Amigos Bravos’ Three-Year Strategic Plan.
The Somos Vecinos Retreat will be held at the Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, NM on September 23, 24 and 25, 2001. Forty individuals have been invited to participate. Following on from the discussions of the Planning Group, facilitators are developing an agenda with the intention of nurturing better understanding of key issues of concern, and in order to build strong working relationships and establish common goals.
The retreat offers a unique opportunity for participants to really get to know and trust others with diverse positions on water issues, and to discover that these diverse positions need not be mutually exclusive. We will provide a report on the retreat in the Winter Bulletin. |
