News from New Mexico about a new $68 paid to senior and disabled residents on their food assistance cards is a welcome development. It is direct acknowledgment of the unyielding rise of grocery prices and the ongoing struggle with modest means for many of our most vulnerable neighbors. But as we ponder what more we might do, at the local level, to not just address food insecurity but change the conditions that make it possible for so many to live choked by modest means, we need to consider how better to use our limited resources and effect what amounts to lasting change.
For communities such as Tohatchi within the Navajo Nation, the issues are far from just a matter of cost. They involve basic access to the necessities of life, like food. Many residents have to make a 50-mile roundtrip just to get groceries. For others, it's even worse, traveling 60 miles one way from places like Newcomb to the nearest grocery store. This isn't just an inconvenience, of course. It's a substantial and significant burden of gas costs, vehicle wear and tear, and hours lost from the daily life of individuals and families.
Moreover, while the country supplies a raft of staple foods as direct assistance, they often lack the fresh foods necessary for a healthy diet. Nearly a year after the pandemic started, it was still very much with us: the need for food was greater than ever, but supply was almost nonexistent.
This deeply personal crisis ignited my vision. As a descendant of Chief Manuelito and having served in the military, I feel called to serve my community. I've experienced the heartbreaking loss of multiple family members during the pandemic. That profoundly personal experience has fueled my determination to create a solution that is rooted in the very land and traditions of our ancestors.
The Ii'ni Marketplace is the answer.
Ii'ni Marketplace is a resilience hub that's more than just a grocery store. Its mission is to tackle systemic issues—in the local and national food systems—that too many people have been forced to endure for far too long.
Even though federal help is essential in a fix-my-job-diplomatic manner, that is not what projects like the Ii'ni Marketplace are about. They represent the kind of work that is, or should be, typical in a place as poor as the Navajo Nation. They exemplify local problem-solving on a scale and with a kind of effectiveness that, again, ought to be our national standard. And they illustrate how local individuals with drive, love, and a vision can, by themselves, effect profound change in their communities.
Prepared to play a role in this change-making vision? Go to our webpage for further details, and register so you can be in the know about critical developments as we create a healthier, more robust tomorrow for Tohatchi and the world at large.
https://iinimarketplace.com/
