April is Global Volunteer Month!
Throughout April, we’ll be featuring City of Farmington volunteers and highlighting the contributions they’ve made in our community!
Our first volunteer spotlight is on Flo Trujillo. Flo was a City of Farmington employee for 30 years before she became a volunteer. Flo worked as a youth services coordinator for the Farmington Public Library and was highly involved in outreach projects in the community. While working, she still managed to serve as a volunteer at local schools, churches and nonprofits. She even helped start a branch of the Farmington Public Library at the Boys and Girls Club of Farmington.
Promoting the arts became a focus for Flo.
Upon her retirement, Flo decided to focus on promoting the arts and became the president of the Northwest New Mexico Arts Council. Three years ago, she officially joined the City of Farmington Mayor’s Volunteer Partners, volunteering downtown — the HeART of Farmington — and at the Hummingbird Café. Flo donated 1,141 hours of her time in 2020 and earned the Gold Award for the President’s Volunteer Service Program.
Flo diligently worked to keep the arts at the forefront of the downtown project during construction and throughout the pandemic.
Flo and the NWNMAC team did social media features on merchants in downtown Farmington during its revitalization. They also made sure art continued in the community by offering plein air packets to citizens and nursing home residents. When Camp STEAM was canceled, Flo and her team also ensured these activities continued during the pandemic by providing packets to participants for pickup in downtown Farmington.
Warren Unsicker, director of economic development and ORII, said, “Flo has been a huge part of helping keep the arts at the forefront of the downtown project through its construction process and COVID! She helped to launch the virtual art walk with the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, worked to provide opportunities for artists to remain visible during the pandemic, and likewise helped organize "cash mobs" for downtown businesses. We greatly appreciate the effort and care with which Flo has contributed to the growth and cultural assets of downtown. She is a true asset to our community.”
Flo is excited about the reopening of downtown Farmington this year. Our popular maker’s market and art walk are among the activities scheduled in the next few months. The Mayor’s Volunteer Partners is currently seeking volunteers for these events.
If you’re interested in joining Flo and the other wonderful volunteers in the HeART of Farmington, consider applying to the Mayor’s Volunteer Partners. Apply today at https://www.fmtn.org/414/Volunteer
Thank you, Flo, for your contributions to your community and your mission to keeping the arts alive in Farmington. Your motivation is truly a Work of Heart!
About the MVP program:
The City of Farmington Mayor’s Volunteer Program provides a wide range of opportunities for volunteers to contribute their knowledge, talent and energy toward improving the quality of life in our community. MVP recognizes volunteers as instrumental partners in strengthening our community’s bond and works to cultivate and model the generosity of spirit, time and resources to further volunteer engagement and its stakeholders toward community participation.