City of Albuquerque and Albuquerque Hispaño Chamber of Commerce Launch Community Involvement Campaign

Dec. 2, 2020

This morning, the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Hispaño Chamber of Commerce announced a new initiative that encourages people to get involved in their community. “Choose One” is a public engagement campaign aimed at inspiring residents to choose one way to take action to make a positive impact in Albuquerque.

““This year has been tough on so many in Albuquerque. We have developed a deep and powerful resilience over centuries of challenge. In the face of it all, we are driven by our love of family to step up and ask every day, ‘How can I help?’ By participating in the Choose One campaign through volunteering, supporting causes we believe in, or serving in ways that keep our neighbors safe, we can all make a difference and bring light to our community,” said Mayor Tim Keller. 

Watch the Choose One announcement video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuzgylTiEzY&feature=youtu.be​

Working with longtime partner the Albuquerque Hispaño Chamber of Commerce, television and radio advertisements were produced that will run throughout the month of December on local channels to encourage participation that showcase residents speaking candidly about Albuquerque strengths and challenges.

Ernie C’de Baca, Director of the Albuquerque Hispaño Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Hispaño Chamber is grateful to be working with the City on the Choose One initiative—a continuation of a long partnership based on shared values that made us the perfect choice for this push. There is no better time to show the world how resilient our people are in Albuquerque. The Chamber’s COVID initiative ‘#HispanoHelps’ has assisted many of our small businesses and Choose One goes beyond to involve the entire community and move us forward in a thoughtful, meaningful and generous way."

The campaign invites residents to take a hands-on approach to making their community safer by applying to serve in the Albuquerque Police Department, Albuquerque Fire Rescue or the newly established Albuquerque Community Safety Department, as well as ABQ Ride and the Solid Waste Department. Other ways to get involved include becoming a One Albuquerque Volunteer or donating to the One Albuquerque Fund to aid in important work around homelessness, workforce support and training, community investments and more.

Chairman of the One Albuquerque Fund, Charles Ashley, III, added support for the initiative saying, “When we participate in the Choose One campaign, it gives us the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way to the city we call home, to those among us who are struggling the most during these unusual and devastating times. Whether it’s volunteering your time or donating resources- if it’s in your means to do so- here lies the chance to help directly, and to help now.”

One Albuquerque Fund Board Member Westly Wellborn said, “The Choose One Campaign is coming at a really good time. It gives people the opportunity to give back to the city they love. By choosing to donate to the one Albuquerque fund, residents can directly support causes they believe in, like homelessness, public safety and much more.”

Albuquerque Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael said, “There are great opportunities for our residents to become a part of our family at the City of Albuquerque. We invite everyone to take a hands-on approach to making our community the best it can be by coming to work at the city.”

Office of Civic Engagement Manager David Chene said, “Although the landscaping of volunteering has changed due to COVID, Choose One reminds us that this is the perfect time to get involved with volunteering.”

To learn more or to get involved, visit: https://www.chooseone.us/