Our Team

David Gaussoin

New Mexico Health Equity Partnership
Director
dgaussoin@nmhep.org

David is responsible for coordinating HEP’s capacity building and community driven research activities, facilitating critical connections through network engagement, and utilizing diverse communications platforms to uplift HEP’s stories. He also provides support to HEP’s strategic leadership activities. He is also responsible for fundraising, operations, and oversight and management of HEP’s key areas of collaborative funding and convening.

David holds a BBA in Business Marketing from the Anderson School of Business, at the University of New Mexico, and a MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Cultural Arts Administration. He has a background in applied fine arts and arts education. David’s previous experience includes teaching at the Institute of American Indian Arts and the Santa Fe Community College, as well as, producing and selling his own jewelry and fashion internationally. David is a Native of Santa Fe, as well as, a proud member of the Navajo Nation and Picuris Pueblo. David is a strong advocate for the arts. He has worked with the Pueblo Opera Program, Avant Garde, the New Mexico Museum Foundation, and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. He enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and sharing with others his own cultural background.

David strongly believes in equity and advocacy for grass roots community action-

“I believe community members hold the knowledge and answers; they just need to be asked. I do this work because we all have a responsibility to honor our past, present, and future generations, because this is our home.”

Alexandra Goldman

New Mexico Health Equity Partnership
Independent Contractor
agoldman@nmhep.org

Alexandra Goldman (she/her) is one of NMHEP’s independent contractors.  She was delighted to join HEP’s team in 2022, and works on special projects.

Alexandra is a community organizer, advocate, and community planner with significant experience managing and raising funds for social justice based programs. Alexandra works to disrupt systems of oppression and white supremacy by helping provide the tools, information, space, and resources for communities to step into their own power. She believes that everyone is an expert in their own life, and also believes all of our wellbeing is deeply interconnected. Alexandra is particularly passionate about land use politics, harm reduction, and check-in questions.

Alexandra is extremely grateful to have made Taos her home in 2021 and is constantly humbled by the spectacular landscape and powerful community in New Mexico. Alexandra is an avid backpacker, and enjoys hiking up mountains, skiing down them, and falling in love with all the flora and fauna of Northern New Mexico (talk to her about bears!). She also can be found reading or daydreaming about rhubarb and fava beans.

Some pictures of past “Hepsters”….Once a Hepster always a Hepster!!!

WHAT WE DO

NMHEP works with community partners that have the capacity and knowledge to change systems that make it possible for New Mexicans to live a healthy life. New Mexico needs community members actively involved in making a difference, and it needs a strong set of community-based organizations learning from one another and serving as a galvanizing force to offer creative solutions. NMHEP is building the foundation to make this possible. HEP engages in the following strategies to make this happen.

CAPACITY BUIDING

NMHEP provides training and technical assistance to support grassroots organizations to conduct community driven research to make a more compelling case to decision makers on issues that affect the health and wellbeing of communities. Key tools include Health Impact Assessment, photovoice, and graphic harvesting. By using these tools, community partners collect data and uplift stories to inform policy change.

CONNECTING

NMHEP creates critical connections by facilitating relationships and leadership opportunities across the network and distributes information and elevates stories via communications platforms to advance health equity and racial justice.

COLLABORATIVE FUNDING

In partnership with funders, NMHEP engages in collaborative grantmaking and provides coordination, connections, and opportunities to increase access in funding for BIPOC and grassroots organizations to advance health equity and racial justice.

CONVENING

NMHEP serves as a convener and co-creates spaces for relationship building and cross-cultural learning to advance health equity and racial justice. NMHEP builds loving and beloved community to do work for social justice. NMHEP provides opportunities for people to connect across the state, bridge rural and urban areas, and engage in mutually beneficial relationships and peer learning.