People First organization in Alamosa

ALAMOSA — Once every month on a Thursday afternoon, an organization called “People First,” meets in the Alamosa Public Library. The group is comprised of thirteen adults with developmental disabilities who are, at the very least, interesting and inspiring and, if the March 21 meeting was any indication, very committed to developing skills that are crucial to who they are as individuals and the lives they choose to lead.

According to information provided by Larry Zaragoza, the organization’s advisor, “People First,” is a “self-advocacy,” and “self-help” organization whose purpose is to create a self-directed, supportive community of adults who have developmental disabilities. 

The club has been in existence since 2000, with some members having been a part of the community for “a very long time.” That Thursday, thirteen members were present, including two married couples, with another married couple and a few others who weren’t able to make it. There was a general consensus that helping each other is a key part of being a member of this community.

When asked what that looks like, Robert, one of the members, says, “We get together and talk about things. Things with each other and things in the world. Sometimes, we go out to lunch.”

“Three or four times a year, we go out to celebrate our birthdays,” adds Karie, People First’s president in Alamosa.

Reaching out to others is also a key element. “We talk to people in the community about the club,” says Elvira, People First vice-president. “We talk about what we do and what it means to us.”

“I was so excited to find out there was a People First club here,” says Amanda, club secretary. Amanda and her husband, Mike, recently joined the club after moving to Alamosa from California. ”This community is very important to us.”

Encouraging each other is also crucial. “We encourage our members to get outside jobs, if they want to,” adds Karie. That prompted a response from the group where a number of the members said they had jobs, some at fast food restaurants, such as Sonic and Taco Bell, and others at Blue Peaks Development Services.  One member was working at two jobs.

Being part of People First also helps to teach its members to be advocates for themselves.

“We need to be good, strong self-advocates,” says Amanda. “That means speaking up for ourselves. We don’t let our disabilities stop us.”

“Feeling strong” and “feeling good about myself,” were other answers that were offered.

When asked if, as a group, they have felt the Alamosa community was welcoming, most agreed they felt “somewhat” welcome. But others felt people still needed education.

“We have disabilities,” says Elvira, vice-president of the club. “But that doesn’t mean we’re different from other people.” The members of the club have the same interests, talents, strengths and desires that others have.  “We’re just like everybody else, we just have a disability.”

That comment drew a chorus of agreement from the group.

Lavern Valdez, another People First advisor, says the pandemic was very difficult on the group. Prior to the pandemic, members spoke to the Elks, Rotary Club and other groups in Alamosa, experiences that not only helped them gain more confidence but also was a great way to educate other members of the community about what it means to have developmental disabilities.

Since the pandemic, she says the group has not quite gotten back to that level yet.

However, that does not mean they don’t have goals on their horizon.

“We’re going to learn technology,” says Karie.

“We want to show people that [SLV] People First doesn’t just sit around doing nothing,” says Amanda. “And we’re also hoping to walk in the Pioneer Days parade to maybe recruit new members and do fundraisers.”

As stated in the information shared by Zaragoza, “The members of People First want to show people who don’t know about disabilities that people with developmental disabilities, “are able to live and work among them. They contribute a lot to the communities and enrich those areas where they live.”

The members are also clear that they want to have direction in their own lives. As the back of their t-shirt says, “Don’t talk about us without us!”

People First meets on the second Thursday of every month at the Alamosa Public Library. Meetings begin at 1 p.m.