DCCNM History
The mission of DCCNM is dedicated to the development, growth, and education of our Deaf NM community and to sharing our Culture with our allies.
DCCNM's goal for 25 years was to Provide Accessible and affordable Housing to Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing New Mexicans. This was achieved in 2023 with the completion of the PAH! Hiland Plaza Apartments, in collaboration with Sol Housing.
Our current goals include programs to advance equity for the NM
The Deaf Community, through the Deaf Entrepreneur Program, focuses on community engagement and developing initiatives to advance our Deaf, DeafBlind, & Hard-of-Hearing communities.
We welcome our Hearing allies and share our culture and language through ASL classes, ensuring that all events are open to everyone.
Enjoy with us during our monthly and yearly community events. Our programs are designed by community members to benefit our community, lifting each other toward financial independence, community involvement, and most importantly, direct communication.
How it all started.....
In 1994, during a Town Hall meeting in Albuquerque, NM, the Deaf community was searching for solutions to the disproportionate level of access for Deaf individuals to housing, entertainment, and employment. The idea of a Deaf Culture Center emerged. This would be a place for events, affordable housing, and jobs. Creating this deaf-friendly place by and for Deaf New Mexicans. The space would be designed by Deaf people who know what accessible devices and designs would be the best fit.
The goal was to avoid the "adapted" perspective of Hearing culture to "fit" the Deaf culture; instead, we celebrate and affirm the Deaf experience.
Since a Deaf Culture Center seemed a good idea for a name, the group decided to adopt the name of DCC.
From 1994 to the present, the DCC group has hosted dinner fundraising events, potluck dinners, and holiday events.
Year after year, the DCC came together monthly to host events with the goal of raising enough money to create a Deaf Culture Center.
In 2008, DCC was approved as an official 501(c)3 organization.
Since DCC had grown to include Deaf community members from all over New Mexico, the name was modified to be more inclusive and represent all of New Mexico. DCC is now known as "DCCNM," the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico. The name honors all who have given their time, creative thinking, hearts, and dollars to make this dream become a reality.
This was done in part by a handful of Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, Deaf-Blind, and Hearing allies who formed a DCC Focus Group called the DCC Building Project to raise enough money to build the DCC Center/Apartments with specific design qualities for Deaf Citizens, Hard-of-Hearing, Deaf-Blind, and Deaf people with other disabilities.
In 2010, DCCNM was introduced to Cardinal Capital Management, which is renowned for building and organizing communities for people with specific disability needs, such as those with Autism, Disabled Veterans, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They have been instrumental in bringing DCCNM one step closer to the dream.
In 2017, DCCNM's dream building was given a name. This name was selected from a list of community-generated names that were then voted on by all participating NM residents. The building became known as The Yucca Canyon Apartments. The name was chosen to honor our NM State flower, the Yucca, which is also represented in the DCCNM logo, and the Canyon was to celebrate the Canyon that runs through our city of Albuquerque, NE Heights location.
From 2019 to the Present:
The partnership with Cardinal Capital Management had to pause due to some logistical issues. However, in 2021, the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership (GAHP) collaborated with DCCNM to build a fully accessible and affordable (Section 8) 92-unit apartment complex. The new location will be 5000 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
Things have been moving at a record pace! Groundbreaking is set for December 2021 or January 2022.
The new apartment complex's new name was PAH! Hiland Plaza on September 10, 2021.
The word "PAH!" is the ASL sign that means "Finally." Due to the time and hard work that DCCNM and the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing community have been doing, once we secured this relationship with GAHP, a huge sigh of relief and exhilaration was expressed. Everyone was signing "PAH! We did it!"
We are thrilled and proud to be working with GAHP in seeing through the building of our new affordable and accessible apartment community.
Supporting Organizations:
The following organizations have been a tremendous support for DCCNM in their endeavor toward their dream for our NM community (listed in alphabetical order)
COPD of NM - Community Outreach Program
Deaf Senior Citizens
Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership (GAHP) is now Sol Housing
Intertribal Deaf Council (IDC)
Monarch Properties
All of these organizations have guided DCCNM in networking and navigating the NM State Legislature process, where meeting legislators who share the same vision gave the NM Deaf community a 'voice' in the Round House.
ASLA - Albuquerque Sign Language Academy- Providing interpreters and event space and much, much more!
NMAD - New Mexico Association for the Deaf (including all the regional chapters of NMAD)
NMCDHH - New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons
NMRID - NM Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf for collaboration at meetings and events
UNM Interpreter Practicum Program always sends interpreters in training to support access at all DCCNM General meetings
Zia Deaf-Blind Club for always being involved and supportive at every DCCNM development level.