The mission of HACC is simple: improve the social functioning, health, education and well-being of the people of northern N.M. through culturally appropriate, youth and family-centered approaches deeply rooted in the multicultural traditions of the communities.
Hands Across Cultures currently works via five flagship programs. The Hombres y Mujeres Nobles Mentoring Project reaches out to youth between the ages of 4 and 18 who have at least one incarcerated parent. La Vision del Valle Coalition seeks to unite communities so that they can work collaboratively. Promotoras de Salud provides diabetes information to both children and adults, while Project Northland-Class Action specifically targets alcohol abuse prevention. Finally, the SADD program is a long-term effort to provide alternatives to youth in the form of after-school activities. Although each has different themes, all five programs work together toward the common goal of nurturing the children of Northern Sante Fe and Southern Rio Arriba Counties.
Before creating HACC, Montoya received a master’s degree in counseling psychology and immediately began to rise through his community’s ranks as a grassroots organizer. He was elected as a Pojoaque Valley School Board member, and then as Santa Fe County Commissioner, later becoming a candidate for land commissioner and eventually a candidate for political office. Over years of service, he has been repeatedly recognized for his dedication to fixing his community’s drug, alcohol and health misuse problems, and for his incredible achievements since the foundation HACC.
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