Connecting Our Voices

09/01/2026

💜 September is Recovery Month!

Recovery grows stronger when we come together. Through connection, support, and community, we can help create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and hopeful.

At Connecting Our Voices, we believe every conversation, every act of support, and every connection can make a difference. Together, we can strengthen our communities and support pathways to healing and recovery.

Recovery happens together. 💜

08/31/2026

Today the National Latino Behavioral Health Association NMx SPF 25 team is presenté at the August 2026 OSAP meeting. Today we plan to prevent substance misuse and overdose death in Rio Arriba County. W Rob Vigil Melisha Lee Montaño Doc J Rocky Romero

08/26/2026

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08/19/2026

08/19/2026

We’re excited to bring NLBHA’s Circles of Care to Northern New Mexico College! 💙

Thank you to Northern New Mexico College for welcoming us to campus and helping create spaces where students feel heard, supported, and connected.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙌

Melisha Lee Montaño

💜 Circles of Care: A Community Wellness & Connection Gathering 💜

Northern New Mexico College’s Counseling & Student Support Center (CASSC), in partnership with the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA), invites our campus and surrounding community to come together for an uplifting gathering centered on mental wellness, su***de awareness and prevention, healing, support, and connection.

📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
🕦 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
📍 AD 101/102 | Northern’s Española Campus
🔗 Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=W360msthyk6IvWJfQAFsXvavQ20d-T9Gu1NfV6B4YidUQUM2RURGMEcwNlNEMExCM1hKMUFNRURaMC4u&route=shorturl

✨ What to Expect:
• Guided wellness circle discussions
• Meaningful conversations around su***de awareness and prevention
• Wellness and prevention resources
• Community support and encouragement
• Opportunities to connect, learn, and grow

This gathering is open to everyone — students, faculty, staff, families, friends, and community members.

Sometimes, one conversation can make a meaningful difference. By creating space to talk openly about mental wellness and su***de prevention, we can help strengthen a community where people feel supported, connected, and comfortable reaching out when they or someone they know may need support. 💜

For more information, contact:
📧 Enrique Lopez-Escalera — [email protected]
📧 Melisha Montaño — [email protected]
📧 Khiana Valencia — [email protected]

We hope you’ll join us. 💜

08/17/2026

🌿 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕆𝕦𝕣 𝕍𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝔸𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕠𝕟𝕒 | ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤🌿

The National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA) is proud to be represented at the 58th Annual Southwestern School for Behavioral Health Studies Conference in Phoenix, Arizona!

Today, Doc J Rocky Romero, Senior Director of NLBHA’s Connecting Our Voices, presented:

“Connecting Our Voices: Strengthening Latino Behavioral Health Through Healing Spaces.”

Dr. Rocky shared how NLBHA’s work is helping create and strengthen spaces rooted in culture, connection, trust, dignity, and community. His presentation highlighted an important message: healing spaces are not defined only by where they are located. They are created when people have opportunities to feel welcomed, heard, connected, and supported. 💜

Through Connecting Our Voices, NLBHA continues to bring together prevention, community voice, lived experience, and culturally responsive approaches to strengthen behavioral health and wellness in the communities we serve.

We are grateful to the Southwestern School for Behavioral Health Studies for the opportunity to share this work, learn alongside behavioral health professionals from across the Southwest, and continue the conversation about what it means to create spaces where our communities can heal and thrive.

Congratulations to Dr. Rocky for representing NLBHA and sharing the work, experiences, and voices of our communities on a regional stage!

07/27/2026

𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙩𝙤-𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮! 🎒📚

NLBHA was proud to participate as a community provider at the Back-to-School Block Party hosted by the Georgia O'Keeffe Welcome Center in Abiquiú!

Our Program Coordinator, Melisha Lee Montaño, had the opportunity to connect with youth and families while sharing information about NLBHA's youth programs, behavioral health resources, and opportunities available throughout our communities.

We were also proud to have NLBHA Career Pathways intern Analicia Lucero helping staff our resource table alongside her sister, Anjolene "Jo Jo" Lucero. Both are United Way Future Leaders, and their enthusiasm, leadership, and commitment to serving their community made a meaningful impact throughout the event.

Thank you to the Georgia O'Keeffe Welcome Center for hosting this wonderful event and for bringing families together as they prepare for a successful school year. We are grateful to have been part of it! 💙

07/24/2026

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙐𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 5𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙩𝙤-𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩!🎒 📚

The 5th Annual Back-to-School Event is happening this Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM at Carlos F. Vigil Middle School Campus in Española!

This 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 community event is a wonderful opportunity for children and families to prepare for the upcoming school year while enjoying:
✏️ Free school supplies (children must be present to receive supplies)
🎲 Games and fun activities
🤝 Family and community resources
💜 Resources for all ages

The NLBHA team is excited to be part of this year's event! Be sure to stop by our table to meet Melisha Lee Montaño and our amazing Career Pathways youth employees, who will be representing NLBHA and connecting with families and community partners throughout the morning.

We look forward to seeing you there!

05/18/2026

We are thrilled to unveil the incredible lineup of visionary leaders joining us for the 2026 National Latino Behavioral Health Conference.

We are bringing together some of the most influential voices in mental health and education to lead the conversation on equity, wellness, and Latino student success: These trailblazers are at the forefront of advocacy, equity, and mental health transformation in our communities.

Meet Our Keynotes:
✅Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. – CEO of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and a leading national voice for mental health equity.

✅Dr. Jennifer Gomez-Chavez – Vice President for Institutional Engagement at Excelencia in Education, dedicated to Latino student success.

✅Dolores Huerta – Legendary civil rights activist, Co-founder of the United Farm Workers, and Founder/President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

✅Dr. Manuel X. Zamarripa – Co-Director and Founder of the Institute of Chicana/o/x Psychology, specializing in culturally grounded wellness.

🚀 Join the Movement
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these icons and collaborate on the future of Latino behavioral health in the heart of Albuquerque, NM!

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: September 9–11, 2026
📍 LOCATION: Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM

🔗 Register Now & View the Agenda: https://nlbha.org/2026conference/