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Part II: MTC Otero County Facilities Prove to Be Valuable Community Leaders

In Part II of our look at the value the MTC Otero County facilities bring to their local community, we take you to a recent backpack giveaway event.

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Otero County MTC Facilities

“Today we have a partnership going on,” says Travis Dempsey, superintendent of the Gadsden Independent School District, “helping our kids get started back to school. We all know it’s been a tough year, last year was difficult. This is an opportunity for them to get school supplies, backpacks, so that they can start that year in a really good space. We’re excited about getting started, and now our kids will have all the supplies they need to get started on day one.”

MTC’s Otero County facilities do an outstanding job of partnering with local organizations to serve the community. With the facilities providing the school supplies, the backpacks, and the folks needed to hand the items out, students and their families are given the boost to begin the year right.

Willie Madrid is the area’s state representative.

“You know,” he explains, “there’s a real essence of urgency for our kids to get some normalcy back into their lives. And I think getting excited to get back to school is the way to go about it, and these are just small ways to reach the rural part of our community in the state that deserves to have these things.”

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Otero County MTC Facilities

Besides State Representative Willie Madrid, County Commissioner Diana Murillo-Trujillo, who is also the Mayor of nearby Anthony, New Mexico, came to show her support for the school supply giveaway.

“Because when you engage with the community and show them that you care, they engage,” adds Ms. Murillo-Trujillo. “Great things can happen.”

The Mexican Consulate Office in El Paso was also represented at the event where they handed out information celebrating and promoting the predominantly Hispanic culture of the area.

“This couldn’t be possible if we did not partner with Gadsden School District,” says Ricardo Hernandez Lecanda, Acting Consul General of the Mexican Consulate of El Paso.

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Otero County MTC Facilities

“MTC is providing outstanding services to the community, not just because of the work you do, but also because of how you project yourself to the community, as well as the Consulate General of Mexico.”

Joseph Mata is the Assistant Principal at the Yucca Heights Elementary School where the event took place.

“I think it’s phenomenal. We have the commissioner, we have the superintendent here, we have the wardens from the facilities down the road. We have a lot of district employees here. We have employees from the facilities. I think it’s phenomenal.”

“It’s a feel good for employees to know that they’re helping somebody,” says Dora Orozco, warden of the Otero County Processing Center. “And we’re really telling our story of what it is. We’re not just a detention facility, but we’re partners in helping with education, helping the needy.”

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Otero County MTC Facilities

In Part III of this story, we’ll show an even wider range of community partners, as these facilities continue to exemplify what being a good corporate citizen is all about.

“We have a tremendous professional relationship,” explains Assistant Principal Mata, “and we’re partners in education. And it’s fantastic to have the support.”