Three join Portales' Cultural Affairs Committee

PORTALES — Three fresh faces were added to Portales’s Cultural Affairs Committee at the Oct. 20 City Council Meeting. New appointees are Jasmine Johnson, Krista Jones, and Darrelyn McCloud.

McCloud, 28, is the owner of Snap Fitness in Portales, where he works as a wellness coach and a strength and conditioning coach. The former Eastern New Mexico University football player is originally from Albuquerque but moved to Portales in 2012 and has been there since.

Johnson, 27, is the Marketing Director for La Casa Family Health Center in Portales, Clovis, and Roswell. She first came to Portales from Dallas in 2011 to play basketball for Eastern New Mexico University and to attend school there.

Johnson and McCloud both said Oscar Robinson, the city councilor who chairs the Cultural Affairs Committee, introduced them to the committee and tried to get them involved.

“He introduced me to the group and I was anxious to bring some of my ideas to the committee,” McCloud said. “They all welcomed us, and the feeling was mutual.”

“I wanted to be more involved in our community and Oscar Robinson brought the committee to our attention,” Johnson said.

Attempts to contact Jones were unsuccessful.

The Portales Cultural Affairs Committee was established during Robinson’s second term as a council member. Since then the committee has offered representation for the different backgrounds of people in Portales, and has been involved in planning inter-community activities during culturally significant holidays.

Earlier this year the committee was recognized as Volunteers of the Month for February where they were commended for the work they did on Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities. The group often coordinates their efforts with ENMU organizations and the New Mexico MLK Jr. Commission.

The new appointees will be some of the youngest members on the committee, but they are looking forward to the opportunity be part of the groups efforts.

“I hope to bring awareness to areas that are overlooked in some cultures for whatever reason,” McCloud said. “I hope to provide hope for people that look like me. I hope to bring joy to the committee. I hope to inspire the committee. I hope to grow the committee.”

“I hope to be a voice for young minorities in our community, bring awareness to many cultures within our community, provide a fresh outlook to the committee, and encourage others to get involved and be inspired,” Johnson said.