In July, Brant One did our community spotlight on two individuals from a local advocacy center, Casa Fortaleza. In August, I was able to tour their facility, as well as have the opportunity to interview other contributors with Casa Fortaleza, so that Brant One could publish an article highlighting the center itself.
Casa Fortaleza is a local nonprofit organization that provides culturally specific services, advocacy, and support for survivors of sexual assault. It is the only sexual violence support organization in New Mexico specifically dedicated to serving Spanish-speaking communities.
The center, initially starting as a project of a bigger organization, branched out and became an independent non-profit in 2016. Their mission is to eliminate all forms of sexual assault through education and outreach, while providing counseling, support and empowerment that honor survivors’ strengths and autonomy in central New Mexico. With the help of federal and state issues grants, as well as partnering with other community organizations, Casa Fortaleza has expanded to be able to serve 13 zip codes and multiple counties in New Mexico.
I was able to speak with Valerie Sanchez, the Executive Director, and Italia Aranda, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator. During this interview and tour, they emphasized the importance of their mission at Casa Fortaleza and how its growth has benefited survivors. “We’re addressing that healing aspect of reclaiming your own identity and reclaiming your power and autonomy after a sexual assault,” said Italia.
Casa Fortaleza’s facility includes resources like therapy and advocacy offices, a food pantry for clients, a children’s play area in the lobby, and a new conference room where the organization hosts community and client events, including yoga, cooking classes, traditional healing and workshops with other organizations. These resources reflect its commitment to walking alongside survivors beyond moments of crisis, offering ongoing support and connection as they pursue healing on their own terms.
Most significantly, there is a new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) unit, an important addition to their resources. The center has already gained a certain amount of trust in the community, with their services, workshops, and outreach. “What we’re looking to do with the SANE program with Casa Fortaleza is bring that missing piece, of now we have the trust, people know us, and so we want to build services that really honor people’s autonomy, people’s language,” Italia said about the SANE unit. “It’s a lot different being able to share your story in your own language, right, with the words that come to mind, rather than using an interpreter, who sometimes they don’t know the medical terminology, sometimes.”
In addition to the SANE services, Casa Fortaleza offers the guidance that clients may need in the case that they choose to report their assault. “We want to be able to provide those services in a space that also feels safe. And the community already knows that this is a safe space.” In addition to SANE services, Casa Fortaleza offers guidance to clients who choose to report their assault. “We want to be able to provide those services in a space that also feels safe. And the community already knows that this is a safe space.”
For Casa Fortaleza, survivor-centered care extends beyond language access. It means understanding the weight behind each survivor’s words, the experiences that shape their story, and the many layers of their identity—and adapting programs and services to reflect that understanding. By offering care that feels familiar and honors survivors’ cultures, lived experiences, and choices, Casa Fortaleza supports each person’s path to healing on their own terms.
The 2025 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) states that 45% of women and 16% of men experience sexual violence in their lifetime. According to the 2025 FBI Crime Data Explorer Report, New Mexico is the 9th highest in the nation in rape offences. 54% of Hispanic respondents in the 2024 NM Crime Victimization Report identify as a rape survivor, and many SA survivors do not seek help. Casa Fortaleza hopes to help extinguish the barriers preventing survivors from doing so, such as lack of awareness or access to services, cultural values, or misalignment between traditional providers and their linguistic or cultural needs. In 2025, Casa Fortaleza helped 181 survivors, took 426 crisis calls, and provided 530 therapy sessions. Their work will continue to pursue a safer, more educated, and brighter future for survivors.
Casa Fortaleza’s office is located at 2340 Alamo Avenue SE, Suite 124, Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you are interested in contributing or supporting the center, visit this link for details. They can be contacted by phone or through their website, casafortaleza.org. There is also a 24/5 Sexual Assault Crisis Line: (505) 510-4910.
Olivia Woodard is a journalist for Brant One News. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram at @brantonenews.
