Amador Health Center

Pamela Angell grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut. With a Professional Writing degree from University of New Mexico, Angell wrote for a small newspaper in Grants, New Mexico, later relocating to work as a reporter for the Las Cruces Sun News writing about Borderland politics, New Mexico Colonias, and American Education. Angell went on to serve as director for Doña Ana County Humane Society in Las Cruces.

In 2001, as the executive director of Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, Angell advocated for Las Cruces homeless services and organized fundraiser events to increase community awareness. During this time, Angell earned a Masters of Public Administration from New Mexico State University. In 2010, Angell joined the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to deliver statements to the U.S. House of Representatives on the topic of “Providing Essential Services and Benefits to Veterans in New Mexico and Across America.”

In 2011, Angell became executive director of Saint Luke’s Health Clinic, during which time the Las Cruces community experienced increased cases of homelessness. Rather than prohibit overnight camping, Angell asked members of the homeless community to identify the resources they needed and wanted. This collaboration between Hope Campus leadership, the homeless community, and Las Cruces City Council resulted in temporary measures for the tent-city known as Camp Hope. Eventually zoned to address public safety concerns, and legally sanctioned by the City of Las Cruces, under the model of “Self-governance” Camp Hope offers residents Housing First transitional living with access to partner programs located on the Hope Campus. 

In 2012, Saint Luke’s Health Clinic organized Cafe Salud, a weekly Harm Reduction Program event designed to support wellness and wellbeing with vital nutrition, exercise, and health triage information. During the first Cafe Salud, a New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) mobile clinic offered free HIV and Hepatitis screenings, personal safe-sex kits, and a needle and syringe exchange. The event also offered a Naloxone aerosol spray training session to advocate for the prevention of opiate overdoses.

In 2018, Angell helped orchestrate a campaign to renovate Saint Luke’s Health Clinic facilities and services. Rebranded by name, logo, and Hope Campus location, no longer considered an unsustainable “Free Clinic,” Amador Health Center increased behavioral and clinical healthcare opportunities with low-income sliding-fee billing schedules alongside Las Cruces community access for those covered by health insurance.

Important to make clear for the local community and Doña Ana County residents who access services in Las Cruces, New Mexico:

Amador Health Center’s new facilities are located on the Hope Campus at 999 West Amador Avenue  for healthcare provider services to both insured and uninsured patients.

Read:

Listen:

Hope Stories 07 –– 1h 51m duration. Recorded 13 July 2018 at Jardin de Los Niños La Paz Room on the Hope Campus.