Healthy People 2030 identifies social and community context as a key Social Determinant of Health (SDOH), emphasizing the importance of increased social and community support for improved well-being. Healthy Archuleta values building connections and relationships and works to bring affinity groups together using Community Learning and Leadership Circles (CLLCs) and network-coalition building models. To date, Healthy Archuleta has supported six CLLCs and continues to develop its network-coalition building efforts. These initiatives are designed to cultivate community cohesion around food and health, fostering shared learning and mutual support to enhance the well-being of all residents.
Our Community Learning & Leadership Circles (CLLC)s
Current CLLC Initiatives & Community Groups
Spanish-Language Community CLLC
The Spanish-Language Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) meets monthly, fostering connections and relationships among Spanish-speaking community members. The group promotes a sense of belonging and integration within Archuleta County by sharing information and education in Spanish to increase access to food, health, and other resources that support everyone's opportunity to thrive, regardless of English language proficiency. For more information about the group, please click HERE.
The Spanish-Language Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) meets monthly, fostering connections and relationships among Spanish-speaking community members. The group promotes a sense of belonging and integration within Archuleta County by sharing information and education in Spanish to increase access to food, health, and other resources that support everyone's opportunity to thrive, regardless of English language proficiency. For more information about the group, please click HERE.
Spanish-speaking individual passionate about building community and supporting others?
Contact [email protected] to learn more!
Contact [email protected] to learn more!
Youth CLLC
Healthy Archuleta works to empowers youth to identify issues and opportunities, and to support them in ways that they want to contribute to advancing nutrition security and health equity. Youth are vital to Healthy Archuleta's work and have played an important part since the 2019 Community Food Assessment. Currently, a group of local youth regularly meets to advance learning about the community-based food system through youth-led activities and efforts. For more information about the efforts of the Youth CLLC, please click HERE.
Healthy Archuleta works to empowers youth to identify issues and opportunities, and to support them in ways that they want to contribute to advancing nutrition security and health equity. Youth are vital to Healthy Archuleta's work and have played an important part since the 2019 Community Food Assessment. Currently, a group of local youth regularly meets to advance learning about the community-based food system through youth-led activities and efforts. For more information about the efforts of the Youth CLLC, please click HERE.
Youth (15-25 years old) desire to lead and support peers on health promotion and prevention efforts.
Contact [email protected] to learn more!
Contact [email protected] to learn more!
Food Hub CLLC
Healthy Archuleta has been actively exploring and researching the concept of a Food Hub in our community to increase access to locally and regionally grown and sourced food. In early 2025, we were awarded a one-year planning grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to gather community input and develop a project plan ready for implementation. This process began with the establishment of the Food Hub Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC), which includes town and county representatives, local food producers, food stakeholders, and other community members who have expressed interest in this project. For more information about the Food Hub Project, please click HERE.
Healthy Archuleta has been actively exploring and researching the concept of a Food Hub in our community to increase access to locally and regionally grown and sourced food. In early 2025, we were awarded a one-year planning grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to gather community input and develop a project plan ready for implementation. This process began with the establishment of the Food Hub Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC), which includes town and county representatives, local food producers, food stakeholders, and other community members who have expressed interest in this project. For more information about the Food Hub Project, please click HERE.
If you want to support the Food Hub Project, join the Food Hub Capital Campaign Committee or the Food Hub Infrastructure Committee. Interested? Contact [email protected] for more information.
Food Systems CLLC
The Food Systems Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) aims to enhance the local food system through initiatives in food production, security, waste reduction, and youth engagement. Key efforts include expanding a hydroponics program with grow towers and increasing volunteer involvement. This group also works to reduce food waste by directing edible food to the Food Distribution Center (FDC), diverting waste for animal feed, and promoting composting. The CLLC advocates for healthy school meals and food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, to increase participation. Youth engagement is crucial, involving students in agriculture through high school classes and internships to build future capacity. They aim to support the Food Pantry Network (FPN) to ensure a unified vision, established nutrition guidelines, and implementation of the SWAP system when practicable. A long-term goal is to support a Food & Health Hub that provides accessible health education and local/regional healthy food options to the community.
The Food Systems Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) aims to enhance the local food system through initiatives in food production, security, waste reduction, and youth engagement. Key efforts include expanding a hydroponics program with grow towers and increasing volunteer involvement. This group also works to reduce food waste by directing edible food to the Food Distribution Center (FDC), diverting waste for animal feed, and promoting composting. The CLLC advocates for healthy school meals and food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, to increase participation. Youth engagement is crucial, involving students in agriculture through high school classes and internships to build future capacity. They aim to support the Food Pantry Network (FPN) to ensure a unified vision, established nutrition guidelines, and implementation of the SWAP system when practicable. A long-term goal is to support a Food & Health Hub that provides accessible health education and local/regional healthy food options to the community.
If you want to support the Local Food System Efforts in Archuleta County, join the Food Production Team. Interested? Contact [email protected] for more information.
Networks-Coalitions & Partnerships We Support
Food Pantry Network
Since April 2020, food pantry coordinators across Archuleta County have been meeting monthly to network, share resources and build community. Healthy Archuleta provides backbone support for this informal network by procuring, storing, and distributing food to the pantries for the benefit of our neighbors who visit the pantries in Archuleta County. Currently, there are seven food pantries serving the community: two located in downtown Pagosa, three in uptown Pagosa, one in Aspen Springs, and one in Arboles.
Since April 2020, food pantry coordinators across Archuleta County have been meeting monthly to network, share resources and build community. Healthy Archuleta provides backbone support for this informal network by procuring, storing, and distributing food to the pantries for the benefit of our neighbors who visit the pantries in Archuleta County. Currently, there are seven food pantries serving the community: two located in downtown Pagosa, three in uptown Pagosa, one in Aspen Springs, and one in Arboles.
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Rural Health Network
In July 2024, Healthy Archuleta, supported by a Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, began planning process for the Archuleta Rural Health Network (RHN) with four members of the Health Partner Coalition. After a year of collaboration and deliberation, the RHN was established. It’s mission is to collaboratively advance strategies that address barriers and promote a healthy community through responsive and community-centered preventative care, working toward the vision to have the healthiest population in Colorado. The RHN aims to ensure that healthcare is accessible, responsive, and well-understood, particularly for the uninsured and underinsured. |
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- Want to support expansion of mental and behavioral services in Archuleta County, we are looking for providers to join a professional working Group.
- Want to support the health Fair, join the planning committee!
Volunteer Network
Healthy Archuleta actively engages community members as volunteers, building connections and relationships in service of the community. We offer various opportunities relevant to health and food access to connect with others in the community through food drives, community events, and administrative/project tasks.
Healthy Archuleta actively engages community members as volunteers, building connections and relationships in service of the community. We offer various opportunities relevant to health and food access to connect with others in the community through food drives, community events, and administrative/project tasks.
Past CLLC Initiatives & Community Groups
Vista Lake Community Garden CLLC
With support from Healthy Archuleta and Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA), community members designed and developed the Vista Lake Community Garden, which is currently operational. A group of these community members formed the Vista Lake Community Garden CLLC, which was instrumental in leading this process. The strong connections and relationships established among CLLC members have sustained the operation of this garden in service of the community. These CLLC members later offered leadership and learning on the newly formed committee of the PLPOA. Today, the Vista Lake Community Gardens, located on Port Avenue in the PLPOA/Vista Community, consist of two gardens operated by the Vista Lake Community Garden Committee. They maintain beds dedicated to growing food for community food pantries and offer individual beds for PLPOA community members to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. For more information on how you can get involved in the Vista Lake Community Gardens, please send us an email at [email protected].
With support from Healthy Archuleta and Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA), community members designed and developed the Vista Lake Community Garden, which is currently operational. A group of these community members formed the Vista Lake Community Garden CLLC, which was instrumental in leading this process. The strong connections and relationships established among CLLC members have sustained the operation of this garden in service of the community. These CLLC members later offered leadership and learning on the newly formed committee of the PLPOA. Today, the Vista Lake Community Gardens, located on Port Avenue in the PLPOA/Vista Community, consist of two gardens operated by the Vista Lake Community Garden Committee. They maintain beds dedicated to growing food for community food pantries and offer individual beds for PLPOA community members to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. For more information on how you can get involved in the Vista Lake Community Gardens, please send us an email at [email protected].
Community Assessment CLLC
The Community Assessment Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) was formed during the initial phase of the Nutrition Security|Health Equity Assessment This group of seven community members with diverse backgrounds met regularly with content area experts to advance their knowledge of nutrition security and health equity. Their primary role was to identify key questions for investigation during the information-gathering phase of the assessment. This group met through June of 2022 and was invaluable in informing the design and development of the assessment. Currently, community members and content area experts continue this work in teams, gathering information and sharing emergent findings and lines of action with various partners and groups.
The Community Assessment Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) was formed during the initial phase of the Nutrition Security|Health Equity Assessment This group of seven community members with diverse backgrounds met regularly with content area experts to advance their knowledge of nutrition security and health equity. Their primary role was to identify key questions for investigation during the information-gathering phase of the assessment. This group met through June of 2022 and was invaluable in informing the design and development of the assessment. Currently, community members and content area experts continue this work in teams, gathering information and sharing emergent findings and lines of action with various partners and groups.
Health Partner Coalition
Healthy Archuleta established the Health Partner Coalition (HPC) in September 2022, following a Social Network Analysis (SNA) and in response to findings from the NS|HE Assessment. This informal group convened bi-monthly to enhance access to primary preventive healthcare in Archuleta County, basing its work on the NS|HE Assessment and supporting initiatives like the community-led health fair focused on preventive services.
Healthy Archuleta established the Health Partner Coalition (HPC) in September 2022, following a Social Network Analysis (SNA) and in response to findings from the NS|HE Assessment. This informal group convened bi-monthly to enhance access to primary preventive healthcare in Archuleta County, basing its work on the NS|HE Assessment and supporting initiatives like the community-led health fair focused on preventive services.