Gallup’s Hozho Center finds new home, expands recovery and wellness services

Posted by Donna Wickerd | Jan 11, 2024 | News |

GALLUP – Seeking to expand its mission of empowering individuals through holistic recovery and cultural connection, the Hozho Center for Personal Enhancement in Gallup has acquired a new property.
Located at 309 Chino Loop in nearby Gamerco, the spacious older house will soon be transformed into a haven for those seeking healing and growth.

Courtesy | Ken Collins
Asbestos abatement take place in the house, in Gamerco, just north of Gallup. The house will be the new home of the Hozho Center once repairs and remodeling are complete.

“We want to start smaller and do everything right,” said Brian Wilson, the program manager at Hozho Center.

The property, funded through a collaboration between the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority and U.S. Housing and Urban Development, requires renovations to ensure accessibility and address environmental concerns like lead and asbestos. However, once complete, the center envisions a comprehensive approach to well-being.

Traditional practices will take center stage by constructing a hogan and sweat lodge and facilitating cultural counseling and talking circles. Hozho Center plans to hire a medicine man to guide clients along their healing paths, using the Native-centered “Wellbriety” approach that emphasizes cultural harmony and spiritual connection.

Education and practical skills development will also be integral parts of the program. Clients can access basic life and financial literacy training, GED tutoring, and assistance with resume building and job placement. Notably, the center will implement a mindfulness-based relapse prevention approach, fostering a “home-like environment” where individuals can strengthen their sobriety and communication skills, according to Wilson.

Hozho Center’s reach extends beyond its new home. A new downtown Indian Center is also in the works. This walk-in facility will offer essential resources such as seasonal warming and cooling, housing information, basic medical aid, showers, and clothing.

All services will be available to anyone in need, regardless of ethnicity or background.

The Hozho Center is a nonprofit community organization offering various services, including peer counseling and transitional housing. Evidence-based practices and best approaches in recovery inform all Hozho Center programs.

Fundraising also takes a unique, culturally meaningful approach. Ken Collins, the center’s director, sells cedar bundles and wreaths at the Gallup Flea Market.

“Cedar is sacred to most Native cultures and especially the Navajo,” explains Collins. “It’s used in ceremonies, for prayer, and as a medium for healing.”

Beyond financial gain, this practice embodies reciprocity and community connection. “It’s so powerful to see someone in recovery making and selling cedar,” Collins said. “It builds hope for people. It’s a blessing, and when purchased, forms a reciprocity between the buyer and seller that goes beyond a sale.”

This exchange symbolizes shared journeys and collective healing, offering a testament to the transformative power of Hozho Center’s mission.

Unsheltered relatives

Demetrio Begay, a peer support worker at Hozho Center, lived on the streets of Gallup most of his life. He has been sober for almost four years.

Begay prepares the cedar for sale and accompanies Collins to the flea market.

“I tell them my recovery story and about being sober. It helps me relate to people,” Begay said. “It makes me feel great, happy to share. Me being there as a vendor allows me to be a role model, especially to other people who lived on the street.”

Begay didn’t know much about cedar but has been learning traditional values. “They teach me to be mindful of things, my mistakes, so I can try not to repeat them,” he said. “I used alcohol to cope on the street. Being mindful led to my sobriety. I am learning along the way.”

As Hozho Center prepares to open its doors in its new Gamerco home and expand its outreach through the downtown Indian Center, one thing remains constant: its unwavering commitment to holistic well-being, cultural connection, and empowering individuals to reclaim their lives through recovery and hope.