About

Doña Ana Communities United

Welcome to the Doña Ana Communities United “About” page! This section highlights the dedicated individuals who guide our mission and work, including our Steering Committee members and staff. Each person brings unique skills and passions to help build a more connected and resilient community. Explore their stories and discover the people behind our efforts.

Steering Committee Members

Kelsey Hiss
Steering Committee Board Member

Kelsey Hiss is a dedicated Student Media Specialist with a BA in Computer Science. As a steering committee member for DACU, Kelsey has been instrumental in developing the website, and volunteering her time. Her goal is to help enhance DACU’s professional presence and contribute to its ongoing success.

Previously, Kelsey volunteered with the Mesilla Fountain Theater. She brings valuable expertise in website design, photography, and graphics to the committee and is committed to making a positive impact.

In her spare time, Kelsey enjoys drawing and playing video games. She draws inspiration from the Chinese myth of the carp swimming upstream to become a dragon, which helps her through challenging times. As a fun fact, Kelsey is exceptionally skilled at solving jigsaw puzzles.

Shavon R. Johnson
Steering Committee Board Member

Shavon R. Johnson is a dedicated steering committee board member with over 20 years of volunteer experience. With a professional background in Human Resources, she has also spent much of her time involved in fundraising and event coordination. Shavon has served as the fundraising chair for her previous organization, a Roller Derby team, and continues to be actively involved in community work through the New Mexico Doula Association and the National Perinatal Safe Spot.

Her passion for maternal health has driven her to offer free childbirth education and birth and postpartum Doula services to the community. Additionally, Shavon enjoys teaching yoga, both for adults and through her Mini Me Yoga program for children.

In her free time, Shavon loves being creative and learning new things. She is guided by Marie Curie’s inspiring words: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.”

Staff

Leo Alvarez
Program Assistant

Leonardo Alvarez is a dedicated community member helping Doña Ana Communities United as the Program Assistant. His interest in understanding how we make everyday decisions inspired him to earn undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Economics at Pennsylvania State University. Now he helps out at DACU events, using his skills and enthusiasm to help them run smoothly.

He has an appreciation for the role that local events play in bringing our community to life. He participates and sometimes helps in a wide variety of events in and near Las Cruces, ranging from the Pride Parade and Air & Space Expo to food distributions and board game nights.

In his free time, Leonardo likes to consume any kind of media that tells a story, including shows, video games, and books. He hosts a monthly session of the collaborative storytelling game Dungeons and Dragons with members of the Mesilla Valley Timebank. He plans to be a fiction writer and build fantastical stories that make our own world feel a little grander.

Patricia Mendoza
Director & Mesilla Valley Timebank Coordinator

Patricia Mendoza serves as the Doña Ana Communities United Director and Mesilla Valley Timebank Coordinator. A passionate advocate for community building, Patricia has a diverse background rooted in service and education. She holds a degree in Individualized Studies, with emphases in Social Work and History, from New Mexico State University. Her commitment to service is demonstrated through her experience as an AmeriCorps NCS member and two terms with AmeriCorps VISTA.

With prior work experience in early childhood development, Patricia brings a holistic understanding of the importance of community care and collaboration. As a board member of PFLAG Las Cruces, she actively works to foster inclusive environments for all.

Patricia firmly believes in the power of creating safe spaces for community members, which she sees as foundational to building a resilient and connected community. She is deeply committed to the five core values of timebanking: respect, equality, reciprocity, generosity, and community-building.