VALLEY — Tori Martinez, executive director of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, presented the history of the San Luis Valley (SLV) to board members from The Colorado Trust and their team. Other SLV residents also presented, on the local initiatives to address social determinants of health in the area.

The Colorado Trust traveled to Alamosa to view the beauty of the San Luis Valley and learn about its unique history, cultures, and traditions. Among the topics discussed were the indigenous tribes of the region, the Spanish colonization, human migration patterns, the different cultures in the SLV, and current social issues.

One of the team members commented, “Tori’s presentation was excellent…she is a great teacher, using all methods of presentation – touch, taste, and activities.”

The group of 30 participants from The Colorado Trust were split into three teams during the presentation. Team one played a history game that made it enjoyable to learn about the historical architecture, national historic sites, Native American tribes, and Hispano culture of the area. Group two became archaeologists for the day with a hands-on activity to identify seven artifacts that have been discovered in the area and their uses. Finally, group three engaged in a cultural food activity by making biscochitos, a traditional cookie.

Overall, the board of directors said it was a beautiful experience to connect with the people in the SLV.

The work of The Colorado Trust to increase health equity in Colorado aligns with the work of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area to build social support and community pride, promote culture, and revitalize communities by improving the physical environments we live, work and play in.

To learn more about The Colorado Trust visit their website at coloradotrust.org

To learn more about the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area visit their website at sdcnha.org