Native strives to be voice of the people

Clovis native Josefita Griego comes from a family of eight; five brothers and two sisters, and she has three daughters. Griego prides herself on being a community activist and is known for her outspokenness on local and state governmental issues, and has formed a group called the Voices of New Mexico. She said she’s just an average woman who is OK with being the one voice that represents many in the area. Griego hopes to develop the group into a non-profit organization that will serve as the alternative for residents to receive the education and help they need with issues that impact their daily lives. Griego said the Voices of New Mexico serves as a forum for community members to come together to develop ways to serve people in the parts of the community that she feels goes unnoticed. She says the group’s motto is to speak for people without a voice.

link Staff photo: D’Nieka Hartsfield

Griego is the director of the group Voices of New Mexico in Clovis.

What do you like about the type of work you do?

I like to be the voice for the people. So many come to me to ask for help about whatever they’re going through, but they’re scared to speak up for themselves, especially if they feel they’ll be retaliated against. My friends Noah Parrish and Adrian Chavez are great mentors to me and both have inspired me to do what I do.

You’re very active on social media when it comes to government and politics. In what ways do you take your activism to the streets and why is it important to you?

I think people can be closed-minded or just feel defeated by their government to where they don’t think anything can or will ever change. It’s important to me to be the voice because nothing will change if we just sit quiet. People don’t know how powerful they can be if they just come together. I’m not talking about starting riots and things like that, but we just need more voices, and people can start by attending town meetings.

If money were no object, what would you do to make the world a better place?

I would open a Boys and Girls Club to serve the lower-income children to be able to play sports or whatever they’d like to do. We have so many kids that can’t afford to get involved in activities that will keep them off the streets and give them incentive to want to do well in school.

When you were a kid, what did you think you’d be doing as an adult?

I thought I wanted to be a cardiologist.

What is your theme song?

I like so many songs. It’s a song that has a lot of curse words in it (she laughs). It’s called F_ You (Very Much) by Lily Allen. She talks about issues in a way that I can relate to.

What’s your favorite taste?

New Mexican food.

What’s your favorite smell?

I love the smell of rain.

Who’s invited to your fantasy dinner party and why?

My mother. She was a very giving person. She helped with the start of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers here in Clovis. I would also invite all the homeless to feed them. All of my family would be there and we would cater to the homeless.

If I could do anything I would…

I would ask the attorney general to come down to investigate the county.

What do you envision your life being like in 10 years?

By then hopefully my group, Voices of New Mexico will have expanded as a non-profit organization. I really hope for it to become a grass roots movement.

— Compiled by CMI Advertorial/ Editorial writer D’Nieka Hartsfield