News & Views from the Sustainable Southwest

2013 Awards Celebrating the Best of New Intercultural Collaborative Leadership Strengthening Communities Youth Building the Future

December 2013 ’s Third Largest Circulation Newspaper Vol. 5 No. 12 2 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 3 4 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Vol. 5, No. 12 • December 2013 Issue No. 56

Publisher Green Fire Publishing, LLC News & Views from the Sustainable Southwest Skip Whitson Winner of the Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Outstanding Educational Project Associate Publisher Barbara E. Brown Contents Managing Editor New Mexico Community Foundation • 30 Years...... 7 Seth Roffman Philanthropic First Responder...... 9 Art Director Anna C. Hansen, Dakini Design 2013 Luminaria Awards: Celebrating the Best of New Mexico...... 10 Copy Editor : Fire and the Fire Within ...... 11 Stephen Klinger Collaborative Leadership Program Initiative...... 13 Webmaster: Karen Shepherd NMCF’s Intercultural Collaborative Leadership Program Contributing Writers Juan Estévan Arellano, Joan Brooks Baker, Laura Understanding NM’s Complex Cultural History ...... 16 Bonar, Jane Clarke, Shebana Coelho, Sarah Ghiorse, Denise Gonzales, Deborah Harris, Youth Building the Future (with a Push from Artist-Social Organizer Lily Yeh). 18 Cheryl James, Lisa Jennings, Sandy Kiser, Juliana Ko, Alejandro López, Priscilla Manuelito, Tom Challenges Facing Rural Villages in New Mexico...... 20 McDonald, Valerie Martínez, Terry Mulert, trengthening ommunities through umane pproaches Betul Ozmat, Jenny Parks, Seth Roffman, Renee S C H A ...... 22 Villarreal, Tamara Watkins The Community Involvement Fund ...... 23 Contributing Follow Me ...... 23 Photographers Anna C. Hansen, Alejandro López, Native American Programs and Funds at NMCF. 26 Seth Roffman, Don Usner The SPARK Program: Joining Hands at the Pueblo of Jémez . 26 PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANTs A Teacher’s Perspective on a Small Navajo Town...... 28 Lisa Allocco, Cisco Whitson-Brown, Susan Claire The Thoreau Community Center...... 29 Office Assistants New Mexico Community Foundation Donor Profiles ...... 31 Camille Franchette, Claire Ayraud CHISPA Awards ...... 32 Advertising Sales Skip Whitson 505.471.5177 NewMexicoWomen.Org ...... 36 Anna C. Hansen 505.982.0155 Earl James 505.603.1668 Safety for Girls and Women ...... 37 Cynthia Canyon 505.470.6442 Tim Vaughn (Albq.) 505.750.7234 Breast Wishes Fund...... 37 Monica Maes (Española) 505.603.6899 The New Mexico Infant Team Program . 39 Joe Fatton (Taos) 575.758.3202 man oun eads heater of the ppressed orkshop Distribution I A L T O W ...... 40 Lisa Allocco, Barbara Brown, Susan Clair, Co-op Public Allies New Mexico ...... 40 Dist. Services, Joe Fatton, Nick García, Andy Otterstrom (Creative Couriers), Tony Rapatz, The New Mexico Community News Exchange ...... 41 Wuilmer Rivera, Skip Whitson, John Woodie Newsbites ...... 43, 45 Circulation 25,000 copies What’s Going On...... 46 Printed locally with 100% soy ink on 100% recycled, chlorine-free paper Green Fire Times c/o The Sun Companies PO Box 5588 Santa Fe, NM 87502-5588 505.471.5177 • [email protected] © 2013 Green Fire Publishing, LLC

Green Fire Times provides useful information for anyone—community members, business people, students, visitors—interested in discovering the wealth of opportunities and resources available in our region. Knowledgeable writers provide articles on subjects ranging from green businesses, products, services, entrepreneurship, jobs, design, building, energy and investing—to sustainable agriculture, arts & culture, ecotourism, education, regional food, water, the healing arts, local heroes, native perspectives, natural resources, recycling and more. Sun Companies publications seek to provide our readers with informative articles that support a

more sustainable planet. To our publisher this means © Don U sner maximizing personal as well as environmental health by minimizing consumption of meat and alcohol. Petroglyph at La Bajada, Santa Fe County, New Mexico GFT is widely distributed throughout north- COVER: delfin quintana with granddaughter jasmine and dog • photo by don usner central NM. Feedback, announcements, event listings, advertising and article submissions to be Green Fire Times is not to be confused with the Green Fire Report, an in-house quarterly publication of the New considered for publication are welcome. Mexico Environmental Law Center. The NMELC can be accessed online at: www.nmelc.org www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 5 6 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com New Mexico Community Foundation • 30 Years Jenny Parks and Sandy Kiser © Anna C. H ansen Los Brazos embrace the pastoral village of Los Ojos in the Chama River Valley t is a special opportunity to be with New Mexico Community Foundation in • Give Grande New Mexico, a statewide giving day scheduled for May 6, 2014 our 30th year. Reflecting on our rich history, we are especially proud that we and sponsored by The Community Foundation Coalition of New Mexico haveI remained steadfast and true to our mission serving the most rural and the • Philanthropic First Responder: our commitment to granting approximately $250K per year in emergency funds most forgotten in our state. We are proud to serve Chaparral, Thoreau, Silver City, Jémez Pueblo, Magdalena and many more places and individuals. We are here to Through the support of our donors and partners, New Mexico Community give hope and to fill gaps, and we plan to be here for many years to come. Foundation serves all 33 counties in our state, and this issue of Green Fire Times tells some of the story of our leadership in equity, community development and This month in Santa Fe, we celebrate 30 years of statewide philanthropy at our philanthropy. We hope you enjoy this issue! 30th Anniversary and 2013 Luminaria Gala. NMCF’s Luminaria tradition dates back to the mid-1990s and includes many leaders, visionaries and organizations, including Denise Chávez (1995), Tewa Women United (1997), Owen López (1999), Las Cumbres Learning Center (2000), María Benítez (2001), Jerry Ortiz y Pino (2002) and Ali McGraw (2007). We are happy to Sandy Kiser Jenny Parks be partnering with Green Fire Times for this month’s focus issue that highlights Board Chair President and CEO these extraordinary individuals and brings attention to the impact NMCF has had throughout the state for three decades. What Does NM Community Foundation Do? In 1983, we started with boots on the ground and zero dollars for endowment, New Mexico Community Foundation (NMCF), established in 1983, supports and we now manage nearly $30 million in various funds and assets, but we are community projects and underserved communities by pooling resources to support most gratified by the impact we have making grants of a much larger foundation: New Mexico’s people, strengthen the state’s nonprofits, and grow philanthropy and endowments, especially in rural parts of the state. The foundation serves $7.5 million in the last two years alone and $60 million overall. We do this with both donors and beneficiaries—connecting philanthropists (large and small) immeasurable support from donors, staff, board members and the many new and to the needs and aspirations of cities, towns, pueblos and villages across all of old friends of NMCF. We foster relationships with local, statewide and national New Mexico. NMCF pulls together people, ideas and resources, and serves as a partners in philanthropy, and together we make New Mexico a better place to champion of rural communities. live. We help New Mexico thrive. NMCF has served all 33 counties in the state by identifying community needs, Entering our next 30 years, we are particularly excited about designing and leading broad-based initiatives to meet those needs, and supporting • The return of our Luminaria awards local and regional nonprofits whose missions complement the Community • Our new women and girls’ fund and initiative, NewMexicoWomen.Org Foundation’s mission. • Our 2nd Annual Chispa awards • Nearly 50 active fiscal sponsorships By partnering with donors, NMCF helps them achieve their charitable goals— • The newly signed Chimpanzee Sanctuary Fund with the Humane Society whether that means starting a fund, creating an endowment, leaving a legacy, or of the and Animal Protection New Mexico just making a gift. By partnering with charitable entities and tribes, the foundation • The Community News Exchange funded by NMCF with a Knight builds and distributes resources for the underserved, vulnerable and unlucky. Foundation matching grant NMCF also supports nonprofits doing excellent work by investing in their NMCF Programs, Projects & People Contacts leadership. Through a vibrant Fiscal Sponsorship Program that provides programmatic support and financial oversight, NMCF allows charitable projects For more information or to contact any of the programs, projects or organizations to receive tax-deductible donations and foundation grants. The foundation also featured in this edition of Green Fire Times, call or email New Mexico Community holds nonprofit endowments that build nonprofit resources for an organization’s Foundation: 505.820.6860, [email protected], www.nmcf.org. future so its directors can focus fully on their mission. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 7 New Mexico community Foundation Timeline 1983 NMCF Founded 1987 40K NEA grant for “Churches, Symbols of Community: Cornerstones” 1996 First Luminarias event, attended by 500 people Ford grants $500K 2001 Kellogg early childhood program at 6 sites throughout NM 2004 $5.2M Kellogg Youth Initiative 2008 Women Building Community program initiated 2009 $5M Kellogg Collaborative Leadership & Endowment Building grant 2011 Community Involvement Fund begins with $1M DOE grant 2012 NewMexicoWomen.Org and Native American Preparatory Scholars 2013 Chispa Awards and 30th Year Celebration Give Grande New Mexico! Get ready. May 6, 2014 In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of community foundations, the Community Foundation Coalition of New Mexico, made up of the Albuquerque, Taos, Southern New Mexico, Northern New Mexico and Santa Fe Community Foundations, will be taking part in a national day of community giving. This event, called Give Grande New Mexico, will be part of a larger nationwide initiative, Give Local America, where over 100 communities across the US, with the help of their own community foundations, will host local giving events to support local causes and organizations. Giving Days are powerful 24-hour online fundraising competitions that unite communities around local causes. They are usually hosted by the area’s community foundation, and the Giving Day raises money through a single online donation platform. Past events like this have raised millions of dollars, generated considerable buzz throughout communities, while connecting new donors with nonprofits that address the causes they care about. In the past year, Texas raised $25 million, Colorado $15.4 million and Arizona over $1 million. Each gift to nonprofits next year will be amplified with dollars from a national incentive pool of funds, plus New Mexico will also have its own additional incentive prizes that will add to the amount of money raised that day. Eligible nonprofits, which must have their 501(c)(3) exemptions, are encouraged to participate. The event will include some webinars and capacity-building training for nonprofits on donor development and creative ways for nonprofits to communicate to their communities and donors the impact they are having in their areas. Early-bird registration for nonprofits is happening now at http://www. kimbiamatchday.com/?f=newmexico. The event’s website will be live on Jan. 1, 2014 at www.givegrandenm.org. For more information, contact Denise Gonzales, Give Grande NM Coordinator: 505.699.2493, [email protected]. © Anna C. H ansen

New Mexico Community Foundation staff – Front row (l-r): Renee Villarreal, Director of Programs and Community Outreach; Sarah Ghiorse, NewMexicoWomen.Org Director; Betul Ozmat, Director of Community Philanthropy; Paula Doane, Grants and Programs Assistant; Lynda Rouse, Accounts Payable Coordinator; Denise Gonzales, Special Projects; Nancy Spei, Advancement Associate; Back row: Mike Santistevan, Chief Financial Officer; Vicki Everhart, Volunteer; Terry Mulert, Director of Advancement and Donor Relations; Carl Beal, Controller; Not pictured: Jenny Parks, President and CEO; Grace Martínez, Executive Assistant and Office Manager; Tamara Watkins, Program Coordinator

8 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Philanthropic First Responder New Mexico Community Foundation Emergency Grants

Betul Ozmat

hen a grandmother in northern While NMCF does not give money New Mexico learned that she directly to individuals, it does provide hadW been given custody of her four financial assistance to nonprofit young grandchildren, she welcomed agencies to purchase needed supplies the opportunity with an open heart. and services that help the individual But on her limited income, she was or families in need. In addition to the unable to purchase a bed for each child, Vecino Fund, an anonymous donor has as is required by state law. created a fund that allows NMCF to rapidly respond to crisis situations from Elsewhere, a young family was thriving partnering agencies that work directly until the father was paralyzed in a car with individuals and families who are accident. He could no longer work, in dire need of emergency assistance. and his wife reduced her work time to Lastly, the Land of Enchantment Fund care for him, further jeopardizing the provides another way in which donors family’s financial stability. can contribute to NMCF and channel their philanthropic dollars to help New A good neighbor in Mexico individuals and families avoid the crisis situations that can often lead times of crisis to devastating consequences. And in another tragic twist of fate, a The Bodhi Fund, hosted at NMCF, is talented potter fell and broke both wrists. a fund dedicated to families who find Though she had always supported herself themselves in a very special circumstance. through her art, she now struggled to pay Top: Ralph Montoya and grandchildren; Created by the Robinson Family, the her utilities and mortgage. Jardin de Los Niños, Las Cruces Bodhi Fund is a collaborative partnership All are true stories of New Mexicans between the Robinson Family, Children’s who found themselves in need of Cancer Fund of New Mexico and the of this, they decided to create a fund to © Don U sner a good neighbor in times of crisis. Pediatric Oncology Center of UNM support New Mexico families whose Grabiela Ortega (seated) with Debbie Ortega, Chimayó; Patricia Oviedo Fortunately, they found one in New Children’s Hospital. In 2003, four year- children are in desperate need of distance old Bodhi was diagnosed with a rare form cancer treatment. Since 2003, the Bodhi Mexico Community Foundation’s Vecino provide options to people experiencing a of leukemia. After successful treatment at Fund has helped pay for the out-of-state Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund. crisis so that they can control their own UNM Children’s Hospital, Bodhi was travel expenses of many New Mexico lives, do what is best Thanks to the emergency funds at referred to out-of-state medical centers families who would have had severe for them and their NMCF, these and hundreds of other for bone marrow transplants, a difficult hardship just getting their child to cancer families to weather lives were changed as each emergency medical procedure unavailable in New treatment. an emergency, and crisis was averted. NMCF has made Mexico. Today, Bodhi is an adventurous, One core value of NMCF is the belief emerge intact. i these kinds of emergency grants since irrepressible 12 year-old enjoying life. 2001, and in 2012 alone made $270,264 that people and communities have a right Betul Ozmat is in grants to help New Mexicans avoid Bodhi’s grandparents, Steve and Connie to have a voice in their own outcomes, Director of Community dire circumstances and return to self- Robinson, recognized the severe financial and in making the change needed to Philanthropy at sufficiency. and emotional impact for a family when address systematic problems. Through its NMCF. having a child treated out of state. Because emergency grants, NMCF is able to help For example, the Vecino Fund gives to New Mexico communities by quickly rallying community organizations and agencies statewide to help people in need. In the winter of 2011, when natural gas was shut off in northern New Mexico, threatening thousands of lives amid sub-zero temperatures, the Vecino Fund provided $17,000 in emergency aid— blankets, food and other necessities—to seniors, children and families. And when the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, impacted the watershed at Santa Clara Pueblo, the Vecino Fund provided food for firefighters, as well as sandbags and other supplies needed for flood mitigation. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 9 Luminaria Awards • A Brief History he Luminaria Awards are a proud New Mexico Community Foundation n 1996, the NMCF Board of Directors conceived of the Luminaria awards. tradition that pays tribute to outstanding individuals throughout the state Jaune Evans, NMCF’s executive director at that time, initiated the first who make a profound difference in their communities. Luminarias motivate, Luminaria event, which was celebrated in December of that year. Close to 500 inspire,T protect and support the dreams of others, promote diversity and peopleI attended, an indication of support, love and gratitude for the vision and equity and build community strength through their leadership demonstrated by the honorees. In its 30th year, the Foundation is leadership and vision. Alongside these Luminarias, proud to once again not only honor the outstanding individuals that embody the NMCF shares a commitment to help build the mission and values of NMCF, but also to honor the commitment of the community, grow charitable assets and help those Foundation’s partners, donors, grantees, past and present board members, most in need. community leaders and friends.

• 2013 Luminarias • “Celebrating the Best of New Mexico” Juan Estévan Arellano, Embudo those less fortunate than ourselves,” the deKays established Estévan Arellano is a journalist, writer, researcher, the Four Corners Foundation in 2010 to effectively address mayordomo and a Fellow of the Washington Journalism critical social issues in Farmington, NM. The Four Corners Center. He is author of numerous books and articles including Foundation serves as a unique not-for-profit organization La Acequia de Juan del Oso, John the Bear and the Water of Life that receives and administers community resources and (UNM Press), a bilingual children’s book written with Dr. improves facilities and services to meet the physical and Enrique Lamadrid, with royalties going to the New Mexico emotional needs of people who desire to achieve self-reliant Acequia Association. In 2011 he was recognized by the New productive lifestyles and contribute to society. A Path Home is a $3.3 million Mexico Acequia Association for his literary contributions to capital improvement campaign, which has garnered impressive community-wide the “moviemiento en defense del agua.” His forthcoming book, The Wisdom of the support through the Four Corners Foundation. The Foundation stands ready to Land; The Knowledge of Water (UNM Press) explores community irrigation systems. assist other organizations and programs that will change their community for good. He lives on land that he farms with water from the acequia in Embudo, NM. Lisa Jennings, Albuquerque Mary Carter, Anthony Lisa Jennings is executive director of Animal Protection of New Mexico Mary Carter recently celebrated her fifth-year anniversary as the (APNM) and Animal Protection Voters (APV), statewide animal executive director of Women’s Intercultural Center in Anthony, advocacy organizations working to change historic and widespread NM. Through her leadership, the center—“a place for women animal cruelty in New Mexico for 34 years. APNM/APV has helped to learn and work together to develop their personal, spiritual, introduce animal protection issues into broader discussions about economic and political potential”— has increased the number of overall social welfare. Recognizing that animal cruelty and neglect are participants it serves throughout southern NM and west Texas inextricably linked to other forms of family violence, the group offers from 700 to over 3,400 and has launched successful initiatives holistic, solutions-oriented approaches that aim to benefit entire communities. Their with emphasis on increasing economic self-sufficiency and the creation of future approach has been to forge broad-based coalitions and build a critical mass for change. entrepreneurs. During her tenure, the center has received numerous national Through Ms. Jennings’ leadership, New Mexico has become a land where cruelty to awards and recognition for work in educating, empowering and engaging women, animals is taken seriously, and where positive initiatives for animals and the people who with the most recent being a 2013 “Top-Rated Nonprofit” Award presented by care about them are embraced and supported. The most recent program, the Equine GreatNonprofits.org Protection Fund, is a partnership between APNM and the NMCF, offering affordable, statewide humane options for horses in need. Carnell Chosa, Jémez Pueblo After four years as a planner for the New Mexico Office of Fran Levine, Santa Fe Indian Affairs, Carnell Chosa, of Jémez Pueblo, assisted a Dr. Frances Levine, director of the New Mexico History friend with a business to create educational programs for Museum since 2002, oversaw the development and Indian elders across the country. He co-founded and co- construction of that museum, the newest in the Museum of directs The Leadership Institute, housed at the Santa Fe New Mexico system. The museum’s campus now includes the Indian School. Created to serve as a convener think tank, Palace of the Governors, the oldest museum in the Museum the LI’s projects include the Summer Policy Academy, Brave of New Mexico system, the Fray Angélico Chavéz History Girls, Community Institutes, and the Pueblo Ph.D. Cohort. Library and Photo Archives, The Palace Print Shop, and the Native American Portal Artisans Program. Chosa was a founding board member of the Walatowa Charter High School in Jémez Pueblo. He currently serves on the board of the Santa Fe International Dr. Levine attended the prestigious Getty Museum Leadership Institute, and Folk Art Market, Chamiza Foundation, and as an advisory member on the Native she is a member of the American Association of Museums, the Mountain-Plains American Advised Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Through the Museum Association and the New Mexico Association of Museums, as well as Pueblo Ph.D. Cohort project, he is currently in his second year of doctoral work the American Society for Ethno-history, and the Santa Fe Trail Association. She in Justice Studies at Arizona State University’s School of Social Transformation. is the author, co-editor or contributor to several award-winning books, including Our Prayers Are in This Place: Pecos Pueblo Identity over the Centuries (1999, UNM Matt & Jeanette deKay and Press) and Telling New Mexico: A New History (2009 UNM Press, with Marta the Four Corners Foundation, Farmington Weigle and Louise Stiver). A new publication, Frontier Battles and Massacres: Matt and Jeanette deKay grew up in the small community of Ignacio, Colo. Historical and Archaeological Perspective (with Dr. Ronald Wetherington), will be Compelled by the words of Matt deKay’s father’s evening prayer, “Let us not forget published in early 2014 by the University of Oklahoma Press.

10 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Hayes Lewis, Zuni Hayes Lewis, a member of the Zuni Tribe, is of the Corn and Luminarias: Coyote clans. He is the superintendent of the Zuni Public School District and formerly served as the director for the Fire and the Fire Within Center for Lifelong Education at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. Lewis has a strong education and community development background that includes Alejandro López co-developing a tribally controlled secondary school and inter is the time for fires in New Mexico. Before gas lanterns and leading the Zuni tribal planning process that created the tribally governed Zuni electricity, people customarily built luminarias or bonfires to illuminate Public School District (K-12). He participates in his traditional Kiva society theW plazas during winter processions, as they still do at Ohkay Owingeh or and has served the Zuni people in a variety of high-level positions that include: Taos Pueblo on Eve. Luminaria, therefore, is indeed an apt name tribal administrator, special assistant to the Tribal Council, director of planning for designating and celebrating those individuals in our communities who, & development and Zuni team leader on the Ft. Wingate Base Closure Project. through their devotion and service to others, light the way for many people as Lynda Taylor and Robert Haspel, Santa Fe they make their way through an oftentimes difficult and bewildering world. Lynda Taylor and Robert Haspel are known for their Frequently confused are the two work in environmental justice, education and statewide terms, luminarias and farolitos, which philanthropy. In addition to their environmental support, translates as lanterns, or in northern for the last four years, they have responded to the needs of New Mexico, a grocery bag with a lit students with learning differences such as dyslexia, putting candle inside used to illuminate the in motion a comprehensive initiative based on multi- “pathways for each of the proverbial sensory methods perfected at The Shelton School in Dallas, three wise men” outside of people’s the largest school for students with language-based learning differences in the homes. Much of the confusion comes world. Taylor and Haspel have invested in teacher training in Santa Fe, where one from the fact that the Spanish speakers in seven students have a learning difference. Their funding led to multi-sensory of the north and south of New Mexico language programs at Desert Montessori School and Los Alamos High School. use the two terms in exactly the Their funding has also helped create the May Center for Learning, a school and opposite way, and thus, there can never outreach center in Santa Fe dedicated exclusively to students with language-based be any agreement in how the terms learning differences. The May Center continues to offer the Shelton training to should be used. What is agreed upon by teachers from the northern New Mexico community and beyond, in addition to all, however, is that fire and the light and warmth that it gives off are essential community seminars, tutoring programs, and summer programs designed to foster to our lives, for without fire most of our cultural attainments, including academic and social-emotional skills for students who learn differently. delectable cuisines, pottery and metallurgy would not exist. Part mystery and Jill Cooper Udall, Santa Fe partly explained by science as an ongoing chemical reaction fed by fuel, fire Jill Cooper Udall is an educator, lawyer, former deputy has fascinated human beings since the beginning of time, not only because of attorney general for the state of New Mexico, long-time arts its heat and light, but because fire transforms all that it touches. advocate, and former officer of Cultural Affairs for the state of New Mexico. She was appointed by President Obama to Luminarias burn the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Ms. Udall also sits on the board of visitors and governors for St. with the f ire of love John’s College and the boards of directors for the Washington National Opera, Ford’s Theatre, Santa Fe Conservation Trust, SITE Santa Fe, for their communities. Southwest Care Center and the Meridian International Center. She has been In fact, in many cultures it was engaged as a consultant on museum issues for the President’s Commission on believed that human beings had Holocaust Assets in the United States and for the Smithsonian Institution’s something akin to fire burning National Museum of the American Indian, where, among other things, she worked within their bodies and that when with the State Department’s Arts in Embassies Program to commission work by that fire burned out, the person Native American artists to hang in diplomatic residences around the world. She expired. Other cultures have is a graduate of Wellesley College and Columbia University Law School and is equated fire to passion or depth of currently finishing her first novel. feeling, such as the “fires of love” or Don Usner, Chimayó the “fires of devotion” that humans Born in Embudo, New Mexico, Don Usner spent his youth may feel for another person or a in Los Alamos and Chimayó. Growing up in these places particular cause. fostered in him a love for the natural landscape and a deep What seems to be certain in our case appreciation of his cultural roots in the Río Grande Valley— here in New Mexico is that those subjects that have remained a focus of his work throughout selected as Luminarias by the New his life. His book credits include The Natural History of Big Mexico Community Foundation Sur (University of California Press), Sabino’s Map: Life in for their exemplary work on behalf Chimayó’s Old Plaza (Museum of New Mexico Press) and of others burn with the fire of Valles Caldera: A Vision for New Mexico’s National Preserve. Usner’s distinctive style love for their communities and emphasizes clearly stated, evocative writing combined with striking black-and- for this extraordinary and deeply white portraits and color landscapes. Ongoing work includes documentation of enchanting place that we call New the Lannan Foundation’s Readings and Conversations series, teaching at the Santa Mexico. Fe University of Art and Design, and writing and photography projects focusing primarily on northern New Mexico’s natural and cultural history. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 11 Efficient and resourceful.

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12 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Collaborative Leadership Program Initiative Renee Villarreal

ver a six-year period, through the Collaborative Leadership Program Leadership Institute at Santa Fe Indian School initiative, the New Mexico Community Foundation has granted more than (Tribal Communities Statewide) $773,000O to New Mexico nonprofits and organizations in support of programs The Brave Girls Program promotes and initiatives that promote positive development, health and well-being among positive change in high-school-age marginalized children, families and communities of color. young women. Based on the framework of the Leadership Institute (LI), the The program, which began in 2007 and is generously funded through the W.K. young women follow a similar model in Kellogg Foundation, emphasizes building the collaborative capacity of diverse their development as leaders. Through community efforts. The development of strong, effective and sustainable networks this program, the LI is convening a across boundaries of race, class and culture in diverse communities addresses second Women’s Institute Series to challenges and inequities in our state. bring together an intergenerational This year’s Collaborative Leadership grants focus on supporting existing programs group of Pueblo women to have open and efforts of organizations that bring together community partners to enhance and honest discussions on the roles of intercultural leadership and collaborative capacity. The work, grounded in social Pueblo women in their communities. and economic justice, includes the following areas of focus: Littleglobe (Cíbola County—Ramah Navajo) • Native American Leadership and Education Dovetailing with the culmination of Ramah Navajo • Food Security, Hunger, and Health Continuing Education’s three-year Oral History • Immigrant Leadership Project and the first year of formalized classes • Women and Girls Leadership within the Pine Hill School’s Language and Culture • Positive Youth Development Program, the Ramah Navajo Student Cultural Leadership Filmmaking Program is exploring 2013 Collaborative Leadership Grants personal and family histories and the power of Casa de Salud the Ramah Navajo language in the lives of each (Bernalillo County, South Valley) student and their family members. In a large-scale The Familia project provides support for immigrant community event, students will share their resulting and youth leadership and for the prevention and short film and co-lead a “community conversation” self-care of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and exploring issues of identity and culture. The Cultural depression. It assists individuals and their families Leadership Filmmaking Program is a collaboration who are being served by Casa de Salud and Centro with the Ramah Navajo School Board, Ramah Sávila. The project facilitates the development of Navajo Continuing Education Department, Ramah Grandma Katie Henio healthy eating, active living and stress reduction Navajo Oral History Project, Pine Hill School’s among immigrant families in the South Valley area Parent Involvement Advisory Committee, Littleglobe, and the Center for Creative of Bernalillo County through informal, monthly, Community Engagement (3CE). family-centered meetings. OLÉ Education Fund (Bernalillo County) Encuentro (Bernalillo County) The Urban Conservation Project The Collaborative to Advance campaign uses a series of storytelling Opportunities for Immigrant workshops called the River Families shares organizational Writers to help the predominantly strengths with Enlace Comunitario, Latino membership engage with the New Mexico Immigrant tangible, urban conservation Law Center, and El Centro de issues that are visibly impacting Igualdad y Derechos, in the areas their communities. Members of violence prevention, immigrant gather, tell their stories, voice legal services, adult education and their concerns and connections Victoria Gómez and Katia Pérez building Encuentro staff arduinos to do data collection in the Bosque rights organizing. These partners to the Río Grande, the Bosque, are building their own and the Collaborative’s organizational capacity to engage and New Mexico’s drought, and with Latino immigrants, including adults and youth in leadership development develop plans to impact local conservation policy. OLÉ is expanding the young and activities that assist immigrant families in our state and across the country. River Writers to reach more youth and provide paid internships to select graduates of the program. These interns then sow the seeds of a more diverse conservation Enlace Comunitario community, launching professional careers or lifelong interests in volunteering to (Bernalillo County) protect Albuquerque’s land and water. Engaging Immigrant Men as Leaders is a grass-roots community-based project Somos Un Pueblo Unido (Santa Fe, Río Arriba, McKinley, San Juan, that engages Latino immigrant men in Taos, Chávez, Curry, Lea, Valencia, and Socorro counties) proactive domestic violence prevention. The Statewide Immigrant Leadership Network initiative is expanding and Enlace is building on the project’s success strengthening the capacity of a network of church, student and community groups by continuing classes that build leadership and allies that are working together for immigrant rights and racial justice. Somos and recognize the role that men can play improves communication with and between several Somos-affiliated community in ending violence against women. continued on page 15 www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 13 Advertise in GREEN FIRE TIMES Call Skip at 505.471.5177 or Anna at 505.982.0155

14 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Collaborative Leadership Program/Continued from page 13

Collaborative Programs continued from pg. 13 groups in 10 New Mexico counties, providing leadership- development training and opportunities for Latino immigrant leaders in rural and semi-rural communities and building their organizational capacity to engage in local, state and national campaigns.

Thoreau Community Center (McKinley County) The Íína naas noseel or “Progressing in Life” project fosters local leadership, particularly of Navajo women, to continue their collaborative work at the Center to support positive youth development in Thoreau and surrounding rural communities including Navajo Nation chapters. This project focuses on Food Security and Hunger by expanding their community garden, incorporating more youth leadership and management, and increasing resiliency factors by extending after school snacks and meals. There is also an emphasis on Women’s Leadership by building and developing capacity to collaborate and respond to community needs.

The Wellness Coalition (Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, and Sierra counties} The Southwest New Mexico Young Leaders Program connects young people ages 18 to 25 with activities, resources and training designed to empower them to work with younger teens and adolescents, ages 11 to 17, in a positive youth-development framework that celebrates youth as community and cultural assets. The Wellness Coalition utilizes its existing collaborative network of AmeriCorps Members and Service Sites to create a regional cadre of young leaders. Members serve in a variety of rural settings, from community gardens to health care to early childhood programs and conservation crews.

WESST (Mora, Taos and Río Arriba counties) The Rural Women/Global Marketplace project builds upon existing collaborative relationships in several northern New Mexico rural communities, including Peñasco, Truchas, Chamisal, Mora, Villanueva and Ribera, to promote and develop entrepreneurial talent among both youth and women as a means to sustainable economic livelihoods. This project trains participants to use new skill sets to generate quality products, Recycled handmade items provides business skills training and helps participants generate earned income by pricing and selling their products at a profit. This project also provides seed money combined with zero- interest loans to sustain growth and development in these economically challenged communities. i Renee Villarreal, a native Santafesina, is NMCF’s Director of Programs and Community Outreach. She is deeply committed to supporting equity, social and environmental justice and self-determination for communities of color in New Mexico. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 15 NMCF’s Intercultural Collaborative Leadership Program Understanding NM’s Complex Cultural History Alejandro López lobal culture, which American With the entry of the Americans and culture, politics, economics and their powerful institutions, beginning technologyG have helped spawn, is a vast in 1846 to the present, New Mexico raging river that is pouring voluminously underwent a complete makeover. The into the remote, expansive, rugged, ancient changes this culture wrought included and (until recently) sparsely populated the quelling of unsubdued tribes, the southwestern United States. This region division of the peoples into separate has been the traditional homeland of ethnic groups, each with disparate federal Indigenous peoples for millennia and policies governing them, appropriation Mejicano/Hispano peoples for centuries. of vast communal lands, clear-cutting As a result of this longevity, an intricate of forests, wholesale extraction of mosaic of both sedentary and nomadic minerals, laying of railroads, damming tribes, and later, primarily genízaro people of rivers, imposition of a cash economy, (mixed Spanish and Indian) coexisted of the English language, of compulsory when they were not at odds with each schooling and Protestant evangelization. other over land and resources. Life then, These were but a few of the more as now, was hard. powerful forces that dramatically disrupted the traditional lives of New Powerful forces Mexico’s original inhabitants, whose dramatically disrupted descendants now comprise about half the traditional lives of of the state’s total population. New Mexico’s original Not only did many of these changes cause many native New Mexicans to inhabitants. abandon their homes and relocate So locked into each other’s cultures to other areas of the Southwest were they, that in New Mexico, the (particularly to urban centers in search heart of this vast region, prior to 1846 of work), but more importantly, they many of the Pueblo Indian people broke the communalism and strong and the Mejicanos/Hispanos enjoyed ties to the earth that had been their the intimate ties of compadrazgo or greatest strength and source of spiritual the “godfathering” of one another’s and economic sustainment for as long children. Additionally, the Navajo as they could remember. developed a Mexican (Nakai) clan from In the 20th and 21st centuries, other their Mejicano/Hispano ancestors, analogous and even more powerful while many (Nuevo) Mejicanos/ forces were unleashed upon the land. Hispanos claim descent from former Among them have been numerous native captives of various tribes. global conflicts in which native New Subsequently, in the age of discovery, Mexicans were heavily represented, conquest and colonization (1598- such as the installation of a nuclear 1823), the Southwest, and New research laboratory in Los Alamos. Mexico in particular, represented Along with automobiles, television Spain’s northernmost holding in her and the digital and cyber-revolution world empire. By 1823, the region had has come unbridled tourism and the slipped into the hands of the newly relocation of hundreds of thousands formed Republic of México, which was of Americans into the state, most of then the world’s third-largest country. whom had economic ties to more Although the people kept a trade route prosperous areas of the country and going with México and later with substantially higher education levels, the United States, they were mainly thus giving rise to distinct social self-sufficient farmers, ranchers and classes. Finally there has been rapid pastoralists whose lives were built more urbanization and the sprouting up of around cooperation than competition, endless national franchises, which now © Seth R offman Top: Santa Fe Fiesta procession with La Conquistadora; Buffalo Dancer from the Pueblo and they tended to be guided by deep provide people with things they once of Jémez at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture; historic guns at the Mountain Man religious/spiritual and community provided for themselves. Trade Fair, New Mexico History Museum; historic reenactment on the Santa Fe Plaza values over any others.

16 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Collaborative Leadership

poor nutrition, poor health, poor Key to the success of this program was school attendance and poor educational the identification of and support for attainment of too large a segment of the the development of emerging local state’s youth population. Factor in the community leaders of color. To this high incidence of teenage pregnancy, end, the NMCF has provided capacity the high incidence of suicide and drug and community building and the abuse/addiction, and it becomes all development of assets to support this too clear that a large number of New work. Because skilled practitioners with Mexico’s youth are suffering through cultural competence are often lacking no fault of their own. in New Mexico, especially in the areas Toward a Solution of community process facilitation, planning, community organization and

© Seth R offman Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, in 2007 the New Mexico advocacy, NMCF made provisions for Community Foundation launched an bringing in seasoned community leaders The net result of distancing people The Challenge intercultural Collaborative Leadership who have been particularly successful in from their cultural and historical Perhaps one of contemporary New Program to assist diverse communities in identifying and supporting marginalized roots, while imposing too much Mexico’s most salient characteristics is building strong, effective and sustainable youth in their communities. i externally determined change in that it harbors worlds within worlds that networks as well as supportive Painter/photographer/ too little time, has had the effect of are still getting to know each other as community infrastructure to improve farmer Alejandro either strengthening the original they attempt to come together to solve the lives and outcomes of the state’s López, a writer in both New Mexicans or of pulverizing the state’s most intractable problems. most marginalized children and youth. English and Spanish, them so thoroughly that many who studied with Lily Yeh These include an incommensurate As part of the program the NMCF have suffered land, cultural, linguistic, at the University of the dependency on government funding, has facilitated collaborative leadership community and familial loss are in a high levels of poverty, and generally Arts in Philadelphia development among grantees and and assisted her state that could best be described as poor levels of health—again, particularly helped enhance the capacity of nonprofit at the Village of despondent. In many families (or what among, but not exclusive to, the ethnic organizations and community group Arts and Humanities in predominantly is left of them), social, cultural and populations. When it comes to New networks that have a programmatic African-American and Puerto Rican North economic confusion reign supreme as Philadelphia. Mexico’s youth, these conundrums are focus on improving the lives of children they do in cultural groups around the further compounded because youth and youth in diverse communities. world that have undergone a similar generally lack the resources to address process of colonization. the ills that afflict them. Add to this already exceedingly complex collage yet another voluminous stream New Mexico harbors of peoples that have come in recent worlds within worlds decades from Mexico and Central America especially, many of whom that are still getting to face comparable challenges, joined by know each other. individuals from every known corner of the world. The end result of so many If one were to examine New Mexico migrations by so many diverse peoples closely one might almost conclude is a highly diverse contemporary New that the state resembles a puzzle in the Mexico embedded in a country where process of being put together, sometimes it alone is a minority majority state. with pieces of many different puzzles and sometimes without the pieces that should be there. Among the most persistent, perplexing and troubling of the misfit or missing pieces is the general lack of solutions for the state of crisis in which our youth disproportionately find themselves.

A national study published in 2013 called Kids Count, produced by Voices for Children and funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, concluded that the quality of life, based on nearly a dozen key indicators for New Mexican children and youth, ranked the state of New Mexico 50th in the nation. Among the most serious issues listed are the corrosive climate of poverty, © Alejandro López

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 17 Youth Building the Future (with a Push from Artist-Social Organizer Lily Yeh) Story and Photos by Alejandro López

mong the people the NMCF invited to work with a sincere desire to see the youth bloom like with its grantees and partner organization was flowers before her eyes, which they did. Yeh subtly LilyA Yeh, founder of the nonprofit Barefoot Artists, bored an energetic hole right to the core of their Inc., in Philadelphia. This 70-something petite beings and therein ignited a fire of passion for Chinese-American woman has received accolades living in the world. from the Ford Foundation and many others for her ability to work a kind of transformative Yeh has launched a movement magic on distressed communities through the restorative power of grassroots, collectively built, in New Mexico. large-scale community art and culture projects Perhaps Yeh’s most lasting legacy in New Mexico of overwhelming beauty. Yeh has organized is the formation of a deeply committed coalition youth programs, schools, gardens, parks, plazas comprised of those who attended her workshop and sanctuaries in any number of places—from entitled “Community Building through Creative Rwanda to the Palestinian Territory to inner-cities Envisioning and Action” at the Gutiérrez-Hubbell in the United States—places that in many ways House in the South Valley. resemble parts of New Mexico in their brokenness. Beginning with her Aside from her boldness very first gesture, of vision and highly which was to lead developed artistic skills a simultaneous and sensibilities, a key dance/meditation, to Yeh’s success has to her final one of been her fearlessness in joining and soldering executing these projects tightly the strengths and her deep love for and resources of people, especially everyone present children. Yeh also has (read intercultural the ability seemingly collaborative to create something leadership), this out of nothing, or very transformative workshop using artistic creation little. Invariably, this results in the coalescence of effectively launched a movement in New Mexico highly dynamic and effective relationships and that is still alive, well and growing. The movement partnerships, a hallmark of the very essence of is now being led by some of the same partner intercultural collaborative leadership. organizations, grantees and individuals who During her weeklong stay in New Mexico, participated in the workshop. They are moving Yeh implemented a two-day mural-painting forward on community-driven arts and cultural project with adjudicated youth, in partnership projects that will incorporate Yeh’s inspiration. with La Plazita Institute in the South Valley of Through this initiative, youth of New Mexico will Albuquerque. La Plazita’s founders believe that experience a renewed sense of their power and will the reclamation of traditional cultural practices and be the ones to rekindle hope in every area of their understandings are vital to the healing of broken lives as well as in their communities. i youth. With the precision of a surgeon, Yeh was Alejandro López and Renee Villarreal, Director of able to cut through the resistance of many of the Programs and Community Outreach at NMCF, helped youths’ jaded façades. To achieve this, she used her organize Lily Yeh’s working visit to New Mexico at the irrepressible sense of joy and enthusiasm, together end of April in 2013. Community-building at Creative Envisioning and Action workshop

18 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Dr. AnDy CAmeron AssoCiAte VeterinAriAn, Dr. Allison otis

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www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 19 del are llano / From the Arid Land Challenges Facing Rural Villages in New Mexico Juan Estévan Arellano n comparison to other states, New Not only is there not enough Mexico, due to its vastness and native chile seed; there is also diversity,I does not have the resources a lack of maíz Concho seed, or a big foundation to support the what has been traditionally work that needs to be done in the rural used for making chicos. villages. Three big challenges face the Though today people are rural villages in New Mexico: making chicos out of sweet corn and almost any type 1) Availability of water of corn, it does not have 2) Lack of traditional seeds, both corn the same taste as horno- and chile, that are not genetically made maíz Concho chicos, and modified (GMO), in order to prevent connoisseurs can immediately the hunger low-income families are tell the difference. facing today Both native New Mexico 3) Involving more youth in agriculture landrace chile and maíz Concho chicos are money crops. © Seth R offman This is where community foundations Today not enough are grown Embudo, in northern New Mexico such as the New Mexico Community to satisfy the local market, Foundation can be instrumental in much less to export to the diaspora This summer when I was in Phoenix What foundations such as NMCF helping communities battle the hunger of nuevomexicanos living in Denver, there was a big promotion for Hatch and others in New Mexico should do crisis: by helping to set up seed libraries, Phoenix, Los Angeles and other places chile, and the same happens in Los is work together with the New Mexico assist communities in continuing they call home. Angeles and other big cities, even Acequia Association (www.lasacequias. their acequia systems to protect the though the chile might come from the org) and set up a separate funding water, and to get the youth involved in But even if we have plenty of seed, we state of Chihuahua in México. source to help acequias with short- growing food. also need water, and at present many and long-term planning. This includes What I propose is that the landrace of the acequias are not functioning the doing GPS mapping of all acequias, chiles from northern New Mexico be New Mexico is last among states when way they should, with most having such as was done in the Embudo marketed as Chile del Río Arriba; and it comes to food security. A community a myriad of problems with their Valley with the help of the Arid Land the chile grown in the Middle Río cannot be self-reliant and sustainable if infrastructure, governance, and possibly Institute of Woodbury University Grande from Cochiti to Socorro as it cannot feed itself due to the lack of most important, the fact that very few from Burbank, Calif. Before doing Chile del Río Abajo. At the conference, open-pollinated seeds, a steady supply youth are involved or participate in the any acequia infrastructure work, it is of this area, which produces a lot of chile, of water and young people to do the acequia culture of their communities. utmost importance to have the acequias was left completely out of the “chile work. One cannot prosper without the other. mapped so that it is known where the wars” debate. Meanwhile, chile grown problems lie and what needs to be done. In terms of promoting the local from Elephant Butte to El Paso should The lifeblood Then the Acequia Association can go landraces of chile, we have to change be known Mesilla Valley Chile (this to the Legislature and seek funds from of the small rural the marketing strategy we see in New would include Hatch chile). There is no Capital Outlay. areas are their Mexico today of Hatch versus Chimayó cultivar known as Hatch chile, which chile. At the recent FUZE food is the name of the town where chile But for these lofty goals to become a acequia systems. conference in Santa Fe, I participated developed at NMSU is grown. reality we need more youth to take up on a panel about the north-south chile the mantle of working the land and Though David DeWitt, founder of In 2009, Loretta Sandoval, a farmer wars, which made it seem like only taking care of the seeds and water. Only Fiery Food Show, denied NMSU is from Cañoncito, and I met with some two areas grow chile: the commercial then will hunger be a thing of the past. attempting to develop a genetically people from Santa Fe interested in varieties developed by New Mexico It can be done if we all focus our energy engineered chile, he did admit that helping local communities get more of State University grown in Hatch and on seeds, water and youth, who need to the university is trying to develop a their produce to the farmers’ markets. In the landrace Chimayó chile. Yet chile capture the traditional knowledge from pod that can be harvested by machine, the course of our conversation it became is grown throughout the state, not their elders before it is lost. i apparent that before more people only along the Río Grande Corridor, is uniform in size, and has the same Author and would be coaxed into abandoning the but also along the Pecos River and in taste and texture, unlike the real chile couch for the farm, we need more seed, we find in the north. community leader the Gila. And since the local landrace Juan Estévan especially if we want people to plant chiles sell for more and are preferred But seeds cannot grow if there is not Arellano has native northern New Mexico landrace by more people, according to a recent enough water, and the lifeblood of devoted most of his chile. Some of this chile goes for up to life to documenting survey conducted by the Santa Fe New the small rural areas are their acequia $50 a bushel, which weighs about 20 the traditional Mexican, everyone is trying to capitalize systems, which, like chile, date back pounds. The community simply does knowledge of the on the allure of Chimayó chile. Today to 1598 and even earlier, as there was not have enough seed if someone is Indo-Hispano in even chile grown elsewhere is sold irrigation practiced by the Native northern New interested in planting 10 or 20 acres as Chimayó chile to the unsuspected Americans in pre-colonial times. Mexico, especially as it relates to land and of local chile. consumer. water. [email protected]

20 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com “KICK ASS” GLUTEN FREE CRUST DELIVERY UPPERCRUSTPIZZA.COM

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www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 21 Strengthening Communities through Humane Approaches Laura Bonar and Lisa Jennings

nimal Protection of New Mexico Gelding Assistance, curtailing us for their well-being. We are becoming (APNM) came to the New Mexico irresponsible breeding of horses through increasingly aware of how the humane CommunityA Foundation (NMCF) in vouchers and clinics for sterilization of treatment of animals is inextricably linked 2009 with a problem: horses and other stallions and colts to the overall health and wellness of our equines were suffering in every corner communities. A stark example of this Trail’s End (humane euthanasia of the state, and there were very few illumination is the story of chimpanzees support), providing support and resources for relief. in biomedical research labs in the United removing obstacles for humane end-of- States. New Mexico has been involved in Despite a hardworking group of New life care for suffering horses numerous chapters of this dark saga. Mexico horse rescue organizations Veterinary Care Support, ensuring that collectively shelter from 250-350 Many New Mexicans have personal immediate veterinary attention for equines at any given time, these groups accounts of chimpanzees on Holloman equines seized by or relinquished to were struggling because they rely only Air Force Base in Alamogordo, from the law enforcement agencies in cruelty on private contributions to care for every days when chimps were used for testing investigations abandoned, abused and neglected horse prior to manned space flight, to the largest they take in. Horses that go to shelters To date, APNM and NMCF have helped captive colony of chimpanzees in the typically come from individuals and over 450 horses through the Equine world held by the infamous Dr. Frederick families who had cared for their horses Protection Fund, providing support to Coulston, to the public outcry to end for years but had no help to weather a families in need as well as individuals cruel, ineffective invasive tests on chimps. temporary loss of income, even as hay and organizations on the frontlines of Passionate volunteers, community leaders, prices climbed. helping horses in our state. The fund is Attorney General Gary King, many poised to grow in response to the hard Though it was somewhat unusual to set current members of Congress and in times facing horses. up a fund in the community foundation particular Sen. Tom Udall have worked specifically to serve animals, NMCF knew for years to protect from any further the deep connection between the health The humane testing the nearly 200 mostly elderly, and safety of animals and the health of our treatment of animals sick chimpanzees still in Alamogordo. communities. NMCF enthusiastically Finally, we are witnessing the end of the agreed to partner with APNM to create is inextricably linked use of chimpanzees in research across the the Equine Protection Fund to provide to the overall health United States and the promise of hope for help for horses, donkeys, and mules. these long-suffering individuals. (Please visit www.helpourhorses.org to and wellness of our Just a few final barriers remain before make a gift and see photos and video of communities. chimpanzees like 56-year-old Flo, a our clients.) survivor of long, difficult years in invasive Of course, horses are not the only kind of Now, thanks to the partnership between biomedical research, can experience the animal whose welfare is on the minds of NMCF and APNM, the Equine Fund’s peace and dignity of sanctuary. Significant New Mexicans. The public is increasingly programs offer a whole set of services private funds will be required to ensure and rightfully concerned about the previously unavailable anywhere in New federal support to care for these chimps humane treatment of all animals, both Mexico: in sanctuary, where they can have a chance because of our growing understanding at healing from the many physical and Emergency Feed Assistance, providing of their needs and unique qualities psychological traumas they experienced Animal Protection of NM ads up to two months of hay and other feed and because of our responsibility to be as lab subjects. in cases of temporary financial difficulty merciful stewards of all those who rely on Once again APNM has reached out Throughout its history the NMCF to the NMCF to create a national has demonstrated its focus on effective Chimpanzee Sanctuary Fund that will solutions that are informed by the help secure sanctuary for hundreds of caring communities they serve. APNM chimpanzees—the last ones who will shares this guiding principle and is Appointments in the comfort of your own home. ever be born, bred, and sold into invasive honored to work with the NMCF as Dr. Audrey Shannon, DVM, has training in both Western research labs. we both invest in strengthening our veterinary medicine and in traditional Chinese veterinary communities through the power of medicine. APNM is enormously proud to announce collaboration, leadership, compassion this new partnership that further Her integrated holistic approach focuses on acupuncture and philanthropy. i and acupressure, with nutritional and herbal therapy to strengthens New Mexico’s commitment ensure your animal’s optimal health and well-being. to compassionate solutions. The public Laura Bonar is program director and Lisa believes the chimps deserve it, they believe Jennings is executive director of Animal Treatment is available for dogs, cats, and horses. Protection of New Mexico, which has been our horses deserve it; indeed, all animals working to ensure animals matter in every www.animalacupuncturevet.com 505.820.2617 deserve it. New Mexican community since 1979.

22 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com The Community Follow Me Involvement Fund A prose poem by Valerie Martínez Denise Gonzales ou don’t often hear of a federal government agency providing money to ho hasn’t driven communities to help them make decisions on how the agencies operate, but north, up and over Yin 2010 that is exactly what the Department of Energy (DOE) did. The DOE’s LaW Bajada Hill in dark Office of Environmental Management has provided the New Mexico Community December, to see the lights Foundation $1.5 million over three years to provide grants to communities across the nation who have federal facilities as neighbors. of Santa Fe unfurl: colcha,

The NMCF’s Community Involvement Fund was set up to give nonprofit snowflake, electric mosaic? organizations around nuclear facilities resources to inform and involve the public And who hasn’t walked regarding operations and clean-up activities at these sites. NMCF has always firmly the evening streets just believed that informed public input can improve clean-up decisions by ensuring to trace the silhouettes that local conditions and community values are understood and incorporated into clean-up strategies. of walkways, houses and hotels, counting farolitos? For the DOE, the idea of using a community foundation was to ensure that the funds were given in an objective unbiased way. The fund’s advisors consist of a team Hasn’t driven past the of national committee members, all of whom have a specialty in dealing with federal Christmas tree lot on facilities, either as a regulators, activists, past employees of a facility, nonprofit Rodeo Road just to get employees or even scientists who have studied the effects of the contaminates that exist at the facilities. a whiff of fir, pine and spruce through the dashboard heating ducts? Hasn’t heard the Training the next generation of informed citizens downtown sound of cathedral bells muffled in snow, wafting During three years of grant making, the funds have gone to support communities like wafers onto wrought iron and woolen elbows? Has not like the Savannah River Site, Hanford, the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, the looked up from St. Michael’s Drive to the Sangres to search for Santa Susana Field Laboratory and all three of New Mexico’s nuclear facilities: the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) the snow-covered horse’s head? Hasn’t found a kitchen off San and Sandia National Laboratory. Ildefonso Road just to get out of the cold, down a half-dozen In 2013, biscochitos, or knead the dough for sufganiyot? Hasn’t sipped a free organizations cup of homemade cocoa on , a gift from residents that focused who live along Canyon Road? Has not walked the ice-milked on training the “next generation sidewalks of Water Street and found themselves flat on their of informed back then pulled up by some stranger saying, “Whoa—you went citizens” were down like a ton of adobe bricks!” And who hasn’t left town for given funding priority. the heart-bending dances at Santo Domingo then driven back Communities to mark the little pines on the I-25 median, tinseled by some

© Anna C. H ansen across the group of anonymous daredevils? Has not seen a kiva fireplace Area G, an active 63-acre Los Alamos National Laboratory low-level nation are facing radioactive waste dump, is located about five miles from theR io Grande, having an aging adorned with advent calendar, Menorah, bear fetish and ceramic which supplies some of Santa Fe’s drinking water. population of Santa Claus? Hasn’t feasted on turkey with piñon and green-chile citizens who stuffing, red-chile mashed potatoes, tortillas on the side? And who traditionally have been involved in activism and know the history and legacy of these sites. The criteria for this year’s grants challenged nonprofits to come up with hasn’t followed their grandmother lugging a wooden crèche from unique ways to involve a younger generation in the issues surrounding clean-up house to house during , the holy family looking for a of these sites and to inform them of the potential risks of ongoing operations. place to stay, setting it down on someone’s porch then driving Amigos Bravos, focusing on Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Citizen Action, away? And the dry colds so cold you want to drench them, and focusing on Sandia National Laboratory, were both awarded a grant to get youth and college-age stakeholders involved. the stars so close you want to lick them? He who hasn’t; she who

Both organizations will also be focusing on engaging outreach to disenfranchised has not, they who never have but are looking for a place to stay communities. Citizen Action has made it a priority to provide on some bone-cold Santa Fe night—follow me; materials in Spanish to neighborhoods in Albuquerque this is the place; this way is the way. i which might otherwise not hear about meetings and provide information in Spanish to those who wish to learn about the Valerie Martínez is a poet, educator, playwright and librettist.

clean-up efforts and potential risks from historical and ongoing She was the Poet Laureate of Santa Fe for 2008-2010. She (2) R offman operations at Sandia National Laboratory. i is currently executive director and a core artist with the interdisciplinary art collaborative Littleglobe. Seth © Denise Gonzales is special projects manager at the NMCF.

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 23 New Mexico Photographs by Don Usner

24 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Native New Mexican Don Usner, one of the 2013 Luminaria awardees, is an extraordinary photographer and historian. For over two decades he has captured the spirit of New Mexico’s people, land and cultures for NMCF’s media publications.

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 25 Native American Programs and Funds at NMCF Renee Villarreal © Seth R offman

he New Mexico Community Foundation has a long history of working student support programs at the secondary, pre-collegiate level, as well as programs with Native communities, and has partnered on various programs and to support students during college years. The Foundation is also seeking greater Tinitiatives, with generous funding support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, impact in this area by growing an endowment, building capacity within Native Ford Foundation, Tides Foundation and other national and local funders. communities and working with tribes to come up with solutions to increase the number of students who graduate from college. In 2013, NMCF has completed two multi-year programs that have supported Native American education and leadership. The SPARK program, led by the NMCF’s non-permanent funds that support a variety of initiatives in Native Pueblo of Jémez, focused on early childhood development, with special emphasis communities include: The Laguna Rainbow Non-Permanent Fund, the Santa on home language retention and family and community engagement. The other Clara Pueblo Tree Fund, the Santa Clara Pueblo Fund, the New Mexico Native program, Collaborative Leadership, began in 2007. It has supported collaboration American Scholars Athlete Fund and Laguna Community Foundation. and capacity building amongst diverse communities. NMCF also acts as the fiscal sponsor for the Native American Community The Foundation currently holds nine endowments for Native entities. These Academy in Albuquerque, Keres Children’s Learning Center at Cochiti Pueblo, include: Earth Circle/Wings of America, Institute of American Indian Arts, Laguna Community Foundation at Laguna Pueblo, and the Community Learning Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Pueblo of Jémez Endowment, Laguna Pueblo Exchange, a 3-year program that emphasizes reclaiming cultural wisdom and Rainbow Fund and Laguna Education Foundation. collective leadership as a source of community well-being to better address critical social issues. Another initiative supporting Native education is through NMCF’s Native American Preparatory Scholars Fund, which was created to increase the number NMCF’s NewMexicoWomen.Org program has also provided grants to various of New Mexico Native American students who aspire to, are prepared for and nonprofits serving Native women and girls. graduate from the nation’s colleges and universities. Funding targets include Native

The SPARK Program: Joining Hands at the Pueblo of Jémez Rhiannon Toya

SPARK-Supporting Partnerships The Pueblo of Jémez is one of the 19 early-childhood to Assure Ready Kids was an early- Pueblos of New Mexico and is situated development, childhood program at the Pueblo of approximately 50 miles northwest of including Jémez designed to increase family Albuquerque. The population consists health, language engagement and ease the transition of 3,600 people with 2,500 residing and social from Head Start into kindergarten, on the reservation. Jémez people are development. The with a focus on language and early- rich in culture and tradition with a goal also included childhood development. The SPARK high rate of homeland Towa language increasing program, an initiative of New Mexico speakers. The Pueblo houses four professional Community Foundation, began in schools: Walatowa Headstart, Jémez development © Don U sner 2009 and was part of a nationwide BIA Elementary, San Diego Riverside trainings for early-childhood program funded by Charter School and Walatowa High teachers in all the the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Special Charter School. There is also Jémez schools. Director of Education for the language, so the program could be emphasis was made by the Pueblo of Valley Public School, situated eight Pueblo of Jémez, Kevin Shendo, had an more culturally oriented. That meant Jémez SPARK staff to sustain their miles off the reservation. idea in mind when approached to see if bringing in the Pueblo’s resources to Towa language with support from Jémez would like to house the SPARK support the program. It also meant The goal of the program was to their Jémez Language Team and other program. His idea was to conduct that, in order to conduct the program increase parents’ understanding of community partners. the program in Towa, the homeland smoothly and have the Towa language

26 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com at the forefront, the people in charge children would would have to be fluent Towa speakers. most benefit f rom. Two young Towa speakers were hired to oversee the program and work In order to have closely with the director of education, a high level the community and the local schools. of parental involvement, Our Towa Language the coord- inators knew makes us who we are as activities would © Seth R offman need to be Jémez people. Figurines of Walatowa (Jémez) elders by Kathleen Wall, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (www.indianpueblo.org) conducted on a They did networking and outreach with monthly basis. Hawai’i Language and reinforces the importance of the schools and tribal programs so the They were able to establish partnerships Immersion Training and grounding the children in their program could be known and supported. with the principals, all of whom offered Site Visit—A delegation of 16 home language. For Jémez, the Tribal Once the coordinators were able to get their facilities to host events and people representing the SPARK Council Resolution will also impact the support of the schools, they started trainings. These included: Program, school teachers, tribal elders, the transitions, curriculum, vertical implementing key components of the Transition Fairs—which gave Jémez Language Team, Jémez Tribal alignment and practices of all the program and sustainable key elements parents an opportunity to meet with Council, Jémez Education Department schools. This will lead to a more were established. The intention was st the kindergarten teachers to see which and 1 Lt. Governor Juan Toya spent focused professional development school would better suit their child a week in Hawai’i learning about the language revitalization and retention Kinder Camp—a weeklong programs in place there in schools. camp before school commenced to allow incoming kindergarteners to Pee Wee Basketball get a feel of what their kindergarten Tournaments—110 preschool and environment would be like kindergarten kids participated

Professional Develop- Field Days—gatherings for the ment Training for children during school, which included Teachers—around the topics traditional games, dances, storytelling of Social/Emotional Development, and food Brain-based Learning for parents and The SPARK program clearly impacted Jémez students at SPARK field day teachers, and Facilitation Training the collaborative efforts of all teachers Walatowa Language regarding the effects of early-childhood Lynette Jordan, SPARK Program to bring all schools together so the Symposium—organized to development and partnerships in this Coordinator; Kevin Shendo, Jémez Department of Education Director teachers had the same goal in mind. A educate the public and specific tribal arena. Joining Hands team was established, communities about the importance of consisting of a kindergarten teacher home languages and the significance Professional and training effort on the effective from each school, including eight of teaching them to ensure their development and implementation of the Common Core Jémez Language Team members. The survival. Presenters came from different training that honors State Standards in a way that actually formation of this team was vital in tribal communities, institutions of honors local language and culture. order to have input from each school higher education and the island of local language and This policy implementation sets a strong to share ideas about what monthly Hawai’i to share their work and precedent, as it will be one of the first activities, events and engagement the culture strategies. What has been most impactful for the federally funded Head Start programs Pueblo of Jémez has been the efforts to move its instruction from English to made by SPARK staff, community the home language of the community. partners and tribal leaders to promote This will set the stage for other tribal, a Tribal Council Resolution that minority and migrant communities to would transition the tribal Head Start do the same and to develop the home programs to full language immersion languages of their children through the programs this fall. Because of the education provided at their local Head passage of a resolution in December Start programs. of 2012 by Tribal Council, the Towa Because of the great partnerships language will now be the medium established with the schools, SPARK of instruction, and the schools have lives on and will continue to be a official authority to conduct all business cornerstone of Jémez Education in the Jémez language. Department’s success. To this end, This policy outcome supports the the Department will be awarded a goals and objectives of SPARK in small grant from NMCF in 2014 to implementing programs with schools go towards implementation of the

© Don U sner immersion programming, providing in the home language of the children, continued on page 29

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 27 A Teacher’s Perspective on a Small Navajo Town Juliana Ko

came out to New Mexico in 2008 in seemed like almost every day my students search of an adventure. I had never were asking, “Ms. Ko, what’s the point? Ibeen to New Mexico before, and as I Why should I live?” drove west from Albuquerque towards Gallup I was in awe of the natural beauty This experience turned my life upside that shone through the red rocks and the down. I was grief-stricken and in way the sun danced off the faces of the shock. This was not the adventure I was mesas, lighting up the different colors of expecting. orange and red and setting the sky on fire. As a new teacher with little experience I didn’t know what to expect, but I was in the region or with Native people, eager to find out more about the people I didn’t know that completed suicide and youth I would serve as a pre-algebra was 72 percent more common among teacher at Thoreau Middle School. North American Indigenous people than among the general US population. I didn’t Within six months, 14 know that there were already resources other teenagers had dedicated to my community and students for suicide prevention. I didn’t know that taken their lives. what I thought was an anomaly was As a corps member with Teach For actually part of a horrific trend studied America, I was able to help my students and targeted by the Substance Abuse and grow tremendously in their math skills, Mental Health Services Administration and by the middle of my second year, of the federal government.

talked with and listened to other veteran with other organizations, the county teachers and to staff workers at the school. government and foundations. New I talked with and listened to parents Mexico Community Foundation was and to people I met at the corner store. one of the first foundations to support Through all of those conversations, it our work, and it continues to support our seemed like everyone was saying the work today. As none of our community same thing. board of directors or staff had much experience with nonprofits, NMCF In Thoreau, there were no libraries or helped us think about how we could computer labs outside of school. There sustain our organization and learn how were no safe public places for kids to reach resources we didn’t know existed. to gather and socialize with positive adult supervision. No homework help In addition to their technical support, we I saw an average of 30 percent growth Due to the crisis, resources poured outside of school tutoring, no enrichment received the NMCF’s Chispa Award in in my students’ skills. But just as I was in from the state, federal and tribal activities or community gardens. There 2012 for our accomplishments with few beginning to see this growth and really levels, providing programs to help in were no gyms or fitness opportunities. As resources. We also are currently partnering feeling comfortable with classroom the short-term, but it seemed like very everyone said, there just wasn’t a lot to do. with the foundation for an anti-hunger management, one of my students ended little was being done to prevent youth project that incorporates a greenhouse and While we’re still working on expanding his life. It was so tragic to lose him, but suicide in the long-term. For me, this community garden into our after-school our programs, the Thoreau Community even worse to find that he was not the was unacceptable. In the classroom, and community programs and helps to Center has now been operating for over only one. Within six months, 14 other I listened to my students talk about build capacity within our staff. three years, providing many positive teenagers had taken their lives, and it what they wanted in their community. I activities for youth and families, including Without the help of NMCF, it is doubtful after-school tutoring and enrichment that we would be where we are today. activities, access to counseling and a We have reached over 5,000 community variety of programs relating to health, members through our programs and well-being, education and recreation. We continue to think about how we can have hosted skateboarding competitions reach more people and further our to engage with youth, provided GED mission to inspire hope, joy classes and hosted summer reading and progress. i programs. Juliana Ko is the founder and As a community effort, our organization former executive director of the Thoreau Community Center. is sustained by a variety of partnerships

28 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com The Thoreau Community Center Priscilla Manuelito

have been blessed to be able to work gatherings to give our condolences. to inspire hope, joy in a place where I am helping my We (the community) had to make a and progress within children.I In the Navajo-Diné culture change. We needed to step in and help the surrounding areas we have a clan system that ties us our children. by providing resources together, and we use our clan to see and special programs And so we created the Thoreau how we are related. My grandparents focused on health, Community Center. It has been a home and great-grandparents have lived in well-being, education away from home for many children, a this area for generations, so I have many and recreation. place for them to better themselves and relatives in Thoreau, and many of their a place to just get away. We have been One of the many children are related to me. a resource for support, programs we are encouragement and currently planning guidance for our is our anti-hunger youth and community project. We are members. We have implementing a literally saved youths’ greenhouse to provide lives and intervened fresh foods. Our youth when other youth were will be encouraged contemplating suicide. to participate in the The staff here at TCC construction and is encouraged daily to maintenance of the interact and socialize greenhouse, and to with the youth to help attend healthy cooking When our community was going inspire them, truly get to know them demonstrations when through the traumatic event of 15 youth and let them know they are cared for. the produce can be harvested. These We are very thankful for the funding suicides, it was very overwhelming efforts will help decrease the high to help our youth and community We have at times struggled financially for families, friends and our whole percentages of obesity, high blood members. i to keep our doors open, but with community. We couldn’t even grieve pressure and diabetes in our community. wonderful support from the New Priscilla Manuelito is executive properly for the last child that passed Mexico Community Foundation director of the Thoreau away because we had to make more grants, we have continued our mission Community Center. funeral arrangements or attend family

SPARK rogram continued from page 27 professional development sessions for Those questions were all I needed to what makes us who we are as Jémez teachers to integrate the Towa language hear to kick-start and develop the people. Therefore, I am always stressing and culture curriculum in the school, SPARK program. Of course I wanted to students that they need to continue and to continue Kinder Camp. the very best for my two beautiful speaking our native language. I tell children, Kai Toya, eight years old, and them, “If we lose our language, we can’t A Former SPARK Coordinator’s Ailana Toya, 11. As a parent I tried get it back.” erspective P my best to expose them to different My name is Rhiannon Toya, a member of activities to promote their learning, Jémez Pueblo and SPARK coordinator starting at a young age. I thought SPARK inspired me to for the first year and a half of the program. it would be very beneficial for our become a teacher. SPARK has been an instrumental community children to have the same component of getting me to where I am opportunities as my own children. That SPARK also inspired me to become a today. It has guided me in a direction is how we came up with most of our teacher. Never in my wildest dreams that I had never dreamed of; I call New Mexico Community Foundation, list of events. I had a blast working for did I think of becoming a teacher! I it a blessing in disguise. As I started Gilbert Sánchez, helped me structure the SPARK; I learned so much, and I made loved working with the students so working for the program, I was very program in a way that would be positive, lasting friendships and partnerships much that I was hired as a teacher nervous about building everything fun, welcoming and full of learning. He with different organizations in and technician at Jémez Day School, from the ground up—being in charge helped the assistant coordinator, Lynette outside of my community. and I am now in school to become of a massive budget, networking with Jordan, and me in so many instrumental a teacher. I am currently enrolled in the principals and getting out in the ways. I remember him telling me, “You Our Jémez tradition and culture is very the Elementary Education Program community to promote the importance are a parent. What types of events would important to me. That is what makes at New Mexico Highlands University of early-childhood learning. It was a lot you have liked to see happen in your us unique among people around the pursuing my bachelor’s degree. I will be of work, and I am very thankful that I had community when your children were in world. I am proud of where I come graduating in the spring of 2015. My very supportive people to work with who preschool? What would you want your from, and that is what I teach my kids plan is to work at Jémez Day School guided me along the way. As the program children to learn? As a parent, what at home and in the classroom. Our and continue my education. i took off, the former program officer of would you like to learn?” Towa Language is so important; it is www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 29 30 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com NM Community Foundation Donor Profiles Wise Words on Personal Wealth: Live and enjoy what you need. Be generous with the rest. Bruce Rolstad It was a windy summer day in Dusty, New Mexico, where Bruce Rolstad, a key Brewer moved to Santa Fe in 1993. “After I had become successful and made founding member of NMCF in 1983, learned to play “cowchip poker.” “Well, you some money, I realized that some of my profits belong to my community. I knew see, there were very few people and a lot of cattle in much of NM 30 years ago,” it was right to give back. Originally, I invested about $200,000 in NMCF early he says. “And so I guess it made sense to spend time placing wagers on just where childhood development programs. Diane Denish would attend the big summer a cow would place her next ‘chip’!” Rolstad also attributed that disproportionate soirees I hosted at my home to raise funds for the foundation, and she became ratio of livestock to citizens as a chief barrier to fundraising for charitable aims. very interested in our work.” Eventually, the Lt. Governor worked with NMCF to create a statewide early childhood education program modeled after the Brewer- “Back in those days, the concept of private funded program. philanthropy was not even conceived yet in NM, so we had a real hard time finding money. But the Brewer has proudly supported NMCF for 20 years. “Everyone who is down on needs in rural NM were so great. All these little their luck or who has met hard times needs a champion. That’s what the NMCF places—Hillsboro, Tierra Amarilla, Thoreau—no does. It’s the champion for so many people and causes that just need a little lift, one was looking out for them. We wanted to a little support, a little money to do miraculous things. I have seen it happen, and provide resources from the private sector because it brings tears to my eyes!” government and business would not do it.” Peggy Driscoll Rolstad eventually became part of a cadre of likeminded, forward-thinking social NMCF’s first steps as a statewide activists who formed NM’s first statewide community foundation to fill a gap in community foundation were both the education, economic, health and human services sectors with a special rural inspired and tragic. In 1983, Peggy focus. “We crisscrossed the state; we were out on the road finding out what the Driscoll, actress and heiress of the needs were and trying to find resources to meet those needs.” Rolstad is especially Weyehauser Family, and Bruce Rolstad, proud that NMCF made a humble grant as seed money for Ganados Del Valle plotted with another friend to start a (Shepherds of the Valley), a now thriving grass-roots organization in the Chama foundation to “pool resources and serve Valley centered around a dying sheep industry where sustenance and spirituality NM’s most vulnerable communities.” go hand in hand. Driscoll planned to endow the foundation with a $20 million gift. Tragically, she Harlan Flint died in a car crash soon after the idea was In 1990, Harlan Flint, retired Director of External Affairs for British Petroleum- hatched. Rolstad and his friend took a US operations, returned to NM, where his experience and influence in corporate leap of faith and decided to proceed with philanthropy on a national scale inspired him to survey the social landscape of the foundation without an endowment, his new home. What he saw both concerned and energized him. Flint witnessed though the Weyerhauser family donated an expansive, awe-inspiring rural NM that was in dire need of basic services in some of the initial funds. health, economics, education and agriculture. For the first five years, all NMCF staff were volunteers, and the only significant Flint was deeply impressed by NMCF’s commitment to rural and small town funding received was a $40K NEA grant to start a church restoration project that concerns, and in less than one year he became Board Chair. “I was the Chair of would later transform to Cornerstones, a signature program in the earliest years the Foundation when we struck the deal with the Ford Foundation,” he recalls of NMCF, partially funded by Faith Meem. with pride. Over the course of two decades, the Ford Foundation along with other national funders like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has contributed tens of Due to the vision, persistence and faith of Driscoll, Rolstad and NMCF’s other millions of dollars to NM with NMCF as the steward of many of those grants. founders, NMCF has survived 30 years, and is now managing almost $25 million in assets, still pooling resources to support NM’s most underserved populations. “It was always my hope for NMCF that we would become less dependent on external funding sources so we could grow according to our vision and pursue the Foundation’s own personality. Unfortunately, we were ineffective in generating Four Ways to Give to large gifts from within the state,” Flint wistfully lamented. “But that has changed New Mexico Community Foundation in a significant way!” Flint is impressed by the strides made to build NMCF’s endowment and by the resources that have been allocated since his time on the Start a fund: The NMCF is home to more than 250 charitable funds and board. “That is the Foundation’s biggest success,” he says. foundations created by generous individuals, families, business, and organizations Terry Brewer to support the causes they care about in New Mexico and beyond. As a young college student, philanthropist and Give to the New Mexico Matters Fund: This fund supports the retired restaurateur Terry Brewer got his start in NMCF’s innovative programs, publications and services that help philanthropists, the business world selling homemade sandwiches nonprofits and others learn more about and address community needs. door-to-door in late night dormitories to hungry Plan ahead: If you are not able to make a substantial gift to charity now but want undergrads. “I learned at a young age that successful to leave something for New Mexico, consider including NMCF in your will or living businesses are like a horse and rider: you need a trust. You can leave a stated dollar amount, a property, a percentage of your estate, or really good idea, which is the horse. But you have to the remainder after distributions to other beneficiaries. have the right management team—the right rider– Give to an existing program or fund at NMCF: Learn to turn the idea into something. Today, NMCF has more about the issue areas where NMCF and its partners are currently focusing exactly that right combination!” philanthropic resources. You can make a donation to any of these funds right now and make a difference. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 31 New Mexico Community Foundation’s Chispa Awards

hispa means “spark,” and the Chispa Awards are given annually to nonprofits provides a wide range of opportunities for rural residents to access integrated that shine a light in the communities they serve. Through this award, the health, education, career and cultural preservation services. The center also serves CNMCF recognizes nonprofits across the state that accomplish a lot with very little, as a site for family-related activities for communities along the Pecos River and helping to improve New Mexico communities. Ten organizations each receive a nearby towns. $7,000 unrestricted grant to use for their general operations. Farmington Municipal School District There is no process for organizations to apply or for the general public to make Parents as Teachers Program (Farmington/San Juan County) nominations. Nominations are made by community leaders and final decisions by This initiative helps a volunteer selection committee. None of the recipients knows their organization parents learn to become has been selected until the day they are presented with the award and grant. Half the primary teacher in of the organizations selected specifically support issues directly relating to women their children’s lives and girls, aligning with NewMexicoWomen.Org, NMCF’s initiative to advance through research- opportunities for women and girls. It is especially fitting that the NMCF makes based programs, home these grants during National Philanthropy Week and Community Foundation visitations and group Week, a national celebrations of philanthropy and philanthropic partnerships that meetings. Early screenings community foundations make all across the country. to identify developmental and health problems are Parents as Teachers staff in Farmington, NM also offered. Sixty percent 2013 Chispa Awardees of the families served have Breath of My Heart Birthplace (Española) two or more high-need characteristics such as low income, low educational This community-based clinic provides midwifery attainment, domestic violence or unstable housing. Over a third of the participating in a culturally traditional and relevant way. The parents are Native American. San Juan County, due to parental meth use, has the organization celebrates pregnancy and birth as a highest number of children in protective custody in New Mexico. sacred rite of passage, serving women in Española, What Would U Give dba Heroes Walk Among Us (Statewide) Pueblo communities, and the many northern rural Breath of My Heart staff and and frontier communities that rely on the Española board members with Sarah Heroes Walk Among Us was created to Valley for health services. Ghiorse (r), director of NMW.O serve veterans, their families and the families of the fallen. Founded in Albuquerque in Casa de Peregrinos (Las Cruces/Doña Ana County) 2004 by US Navy veteran Shane D’Onofrio, This nondenominational emergency food program today the organization operates the Veterans serves as a safety link for those unable to purchase Community Resource Center, which is nutritious food due to an emergency or unforeseen equipped with a computer lab, gym and personal crisis. Free supplemental groceries are recreation room. Services include therapy provided to individuals and families at risk of for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) hunger. and traumatic brain injury, a support group Shane D’Onofrio, executive director Casa de Peregrinos board members for families of deployed and fallen service (center), with two other veterans who members, and Pets 4 Vets, which has reached volunteer at the Veterans Community El Refugio (Silver City/Lordsburg/Grant County) 4,000 New Mexico veterans. With the Resource Center This agency operates the Casa acquisition of a motel and a storefront, the Carmel Shelter for battered agency is able to provide housing, job education and training, whole-body healthcare, women and their children. In veterans’ assistance and other benefits, and greater community involvement. addition to safe temporary housing, El Refugio (the refuge) Impact Personal Safety (Northern and Central NM/Pueblos) provides individual, group, child This agency empowers children and adults by teaching them and adolescent counseling, to prevent and defend themselves against verbal, physical parenting classes, domestic and sexual violence through experiential classes that teach violence education, domestic hands-on interpersonal skills, thus helping prevent domestic violence offenders’ treatment and sexual violence towards women and girls. Through partnerships with schools and other nonprofits, community and intervention, plus victim L-R: Jaclyn Gerleve, Angela Arroyos, Angela Mend, advocacy. Because the area served Amy Wagner, Silvia Madrid. Seated: Renee Villarreal groups and pueblos, as well as classes for the public, the agency is able to reach a wide and diverse group. is vast and the need is great, El of the NMCF, and Selah Lee Bencomo. Not pictured: Alena Schaim, executive director of IMPACT Refugio has opened a second executive director Maria Morales-Loebl location in Lordsburg. Keres Children’s Learning Center ochiti ueblo El Valle Community Center (C P ) This school opened in 2012 after a few years of (San Miguel County) Located in the former Villanueva developing resources and fine-tuning its plan to Elementary School, this community center be a model for early childhood education with El Valle Community Center volunteer Lana a focus on language retention. The center is Gallegos (l) celebrates the news of the facility steeped in the Montessori approach, while also receiving a $7,000 unrestricted grant from the incorporating the Whole Pueblo Child, which NMCF. With Lana (l-r) are volunteers Becky L-R: NMCF’s Renee Villarreal Sálazar, Jim Ballard, Betul Ozmat of the NMCF, supports the natural use of the Keres language. with Keres executive director and volunteer Patricia Gallegos. By promoting the role of parents as teachers with Trish Moquino and Olivia Coriz

32 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com New Mexico Community Foundation’s Chispa Awards

bilingualism and biculturalism, parents are provided tools to be an advocate for Jardín de los Niños (Doña Ana County) their children’s lifelong learning. This organization’s mission is to create new possibilities for homeless and near- homeless children and their families through loving childcare, education and La Plazita Institute (Bernalillo County) effective use of community resources. This grassroots organization serves incarcerated and adjudicated youth by engaging the youth, elders and wider communities in a comprehensive holistic and cultural Masada House (San Juan County and surrounding areas) approach designed around the philosophy that “La Cultura Cura,” or culture heals. Masada House establishes transitional housing to serve people who have achieved La Plazita’s programs draw from an individual’s roots and histories to express core sobriety through approved substance-abuse treatment. traditional values of respect, honor, love and family. The organization’s Making a Permaculture Guild (Statewide) This organization supports the permaculture community and encourages the spread of more conscious ways of growing and distributing healthy, nourishing foods, while promoting the use of renewable sources of energy.

Boys & Girls Club of Roswell Since 1965, this organization has been committed to enabling and inspiring children to realize their full potential to become productive, responsible and caring citizens.

Spirit of Hidalgo (Lordsburg and surrounding areas) Spirit of Hidalgo provides support and inspiration for women and youth to L-R: Sarah Ghiorse, NMCF; Andrew Lucero, Community Outreach for La Plazita; make positive differences in their own lives, for their families and within their Russell Urban, Youth Ourtreach/Ceramics; Albino García, Executive Director of La Plazita, Christian Bass, Youth Outreach for La Plazita; Renee Villarreal, NMCF communities. Taos County Economic Development Corporation Change Program encourages the development of nontraditional leaders. People TCEDC supports the food, land, water and cultures of the people of northern who have been incarcerated or are familiar with life on the street or in a gang have New Mexico, helping to maintain equity and land ownership, overcome poverty, chosen a life of service to the community as a result of this initiative. and to provide access to education and business opportunities.

Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services Thoreau Community Center (Grant County/Hidalgo County) This community center is dedicated to bringing resources related to health and well- This agency provides survivors of sexual being, education, and recreation to this rural community, welcoming all but supporting violence in Grant and Hidalgo counties with the 96 percent Native American population in Thoreau and surrounding areas. i much-needed support including medical accompaniment, legal advocacy, individual and group therapy, advocacy and community The Agnes Williams education. SRSASS is developing expanded Delgado Street Compound Bequest services in the isolated areas of Cliff, Hahira After graduating from Cornell University in 1945, New Mexico Community and San Lorenzo in Grant County and Animas, Foundation donor Agnes Williams traveled west to northern New Mexico Playas and Rodeo in Hidalgo County. The L-R: Kristy Rogers, SRSASS to work on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. As a single woman, she agency also serves as a coordinating group for executive director Collen Boyd purchased a home in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos in pastoral Nambé. other service providers. and Villarreal Soon thereafter, she purchased the Santa Fe Business College, then located behind the Scottish Rite Center, and operated the school until 1986. In 1986, 2012 Chispa Awardees Agnes purchased a complex of buildings located at 110 Delgado Street near Bootheel Youth Association (Hidalgo County) historic Canyon Road in Santa Fe, where she moved the college operations This group comprises individuals of all ages and backgrounds who have united in until 1990 when the school closed permanently. the interest of creating and implementing youth-development programs. Agnes had a clear vision: to provide commercial property at reasonable prices to Cochiti Youth Experience (Cochiti Pueblo) small businesses that needed opportunity to grow and excel. Later in her life, she This program is dedicated to encouraging young people to make healthy life choices. decided to look for a worthy partner as beneficiary of her philanthropic wishes. Her prerequisite was to find an organization that would put the assets to good use Coming Home Connection (Santa Fe area) and carry on her legacy of entrepreneurialism in the spirit of hard work, integrity This program trains and coordinates volunteers to provide personal support and and generosity. in-home care for adults, children and their immediate families. The Agnes Williams Southeastern New Mexico Down Syndrome Foundation Delgado Street Compound The mission of this foundation is to provide support and education to individuals is comprised of four with Down Syndrome and their families. separate, historic adobe buildings on a half-acre Enlace Comunitario (Central New Mexico) with heirloom fruit trees, This is a social justice organization led by Latino immigrants. Its mission is to a walled courtyard, grassy eliminate domestic violence in Latino immigrant communities and to promote lawns and ample parking. healthy families. Agnes has bequeathed this property to NMCF. NMCF plans to move the foundation offices to the compound one day in the future.

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34 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 35 NewMexicoWomen.Org Advancing Opportunities for Women and Girls Sarah Ghiorse

omen and girls in the United States have made great strides since the Indicator’s Report gathers statewide data related to the current health and first and second waves of the feminist movement, yet they continue to well-being of New Mexico’s women and girls. The purpose of this report is to faceW complex issues that require dedicated funding. In 1972, the Ms. Foundation stimulate conversation and to build a case for why to invest in women and girls. was the first fund created to serve the needs of women and girls. Since then, 160 For communities, the data can help substantiate a call to action; for policy makers, funds have sprouted up around the globe with a combined total of $535 million donors and other funders it offers information to guide decisions. For others it in assets1. In spite of this progress, only 7 cents of each philanthropic dollar in the serves as an educational tool. Ultimately, we hope that the Indicator’s Report will US is directed toward women and girls issues. The Women’s Funding Network1, a provide a baseline for discussion and a trusted source for unbiased information national network of women’s foundations, has set a goal of reaching $1.5 billion about the status of women and girls in our state. in combined assets for women and girls by 2018, and NewMexicoWomen.Org (NMW.O) wants to do our part to get there. When women and girls thrive, families and communities thrive. NMW.O also facilitates alliances among nonprofits, funders and other sectors in order to concentrate resources and foster collaboration. In February 2013, NMW.O hosted a group of grantees at the Legislature, connecting the delegates with their representatives and advocating on behalf of women and girls. NMW.O encouraged our constituents to support a range of topics from sexual assault prevention to substance abuse treatment for pregnant women to Title IX monitoring to pay equity and family-friendly work places. The legislative day was a huge success, and the planning for the upcoming 2014 session is currently in the works.

Under our investment strategy NMW.O helps to build resources and leverage investments through our donor education and grant-making efforts. Over the past two years NMW.O has awarded $285,709 to groups all over New Mexico who are advancing opportunities for women and girls. Our most recent grantees received a Chispa award. Many of the Chispa recipients are smaller organizations © Seth R offman that can do a lot with a little. They are nominated by committee and receive a More than 1,000 women, men and children, including Felice González (center), former surprise $7,000 award (See story, page 32-33). Breath of My Heart Birthplace in director of NewMexicoWomen.Org, gathered outside the Roundhouse in Feb. 2013 Española, a 2013 Chispa grantee, provides prenatal care and birthing services to to protest violence against women. women in the Española Valley who are seeking an out-of-hospital birth. Their target population is mostly Chicano-Hispanic, the six Tewa pueblos and the Women comprise over half of our country’s population, 16 percent of whom 3. Spanish-speaking immigrant community. Breath of My Heart’s powerful work live in poverty2. Of the top wealthiest people in the US, 43 percent are women includes a birth model that is culturally relevant and in keeping with traditional Meanwhile, the population in New Mexico consists of 51 percent women, 24 ways of knowing. percent of whom live in poverty. Our teen pregnancy rate is second in the nation. Even in 2012, a woman in New Mexico is paid only 77 cents for every dollar La Plazita Institute, another 2013 Chispa awardee, located in the South Valley of paid to her male colleagues. Shockingly, 1 in 4 of our New Mexico women will Albuquerque, is designed around the philosophy of “La Cultura Cura” or culture experience sexual assault during her lifetime. In other words, many women in New heals. La Plazita’s program encourages community participants to draw from their Mexico face huge challenges with limited access to resources. At the same time, own roots and histories as they transition out of a life of violence and create their there is a passionate cadre of women and men who are committed to supporting own pathways to healing. Sisters Making Change, a program at La Plazita for female empowerment. young women who are incarcerated, offers health programs, talking circles, dance workshops and other educational opportunities for girls who would otherwise New Mexico Community Foundation’s initiative, NewMexicoWomen.Org, the have little or no access to spaces of empowerment. first women’s fund of its kind in the state, seeks to define issues affecting women and girls, to increase the amount of philanthropic dollars that are directed towards NMW.O is about improving the lives of all women in New Mexico. We invest in gender issues, and improve outcomes for women and girls. Evolving over several women and girls who are in underresourced communities. We also serve donors years out of our Women Building Community program, the mission of NMW.O and funders who support women and girls through our donor education series. is to advance opportunities for women and girls statewide, so they can lead self- In 2013, New Mexico Community Foundation hosted several Philanthropy sufficient, healthy and empowered lives. Our three strategic goals are to strengthen Dialogues. In 2014, NMW.O will run a series geared specifically for those women’s capacity across the state by supporting cross-issue organizing and interested in supporting women and girls. collaboration; serve as a hub and a statewide educational resource around pressing issues that impact women and girls; and increase philanthropic understanding and We believe that when women and girls thrive, families and communities thrive. investment in women and girls issues. From all vantage points, the work being done on behalf of women and girls in New Mexico is potent, creative and impactful. Yet much of it is NMW.O’s three-pronged strategy of “educate, lead and invest” guides all of our underfunded. In these tight times when resources are shrinking work. Under our educate strategy we seek to influence philanthropy and policy in the face of rising community needs, efforts to increase through our research and communications efforts. Our soon to be released awareness about and to expand the amount of funding directed toward women and girls is paramount. i 1 Women’s Fund Network website www.wfn.org. 2 NMW.O Indicators Report 2013. Sarah Ghiorse is director of NewMexicoWomen.Org, a program of the 3 Belkin, Lisa. The Power of the Purse. New York Times, August 18th, 2009. NMCF.

36 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Breast Wishes Fund

Cheryl James

n Oct. 24, a Santa Fe boutique, Cupcake Clothing, and Breast Wishes Fund sponsored “An Evening of Wellness,” dedicated to providing information onO integrated, alternative care for cancer treatment and prevention in Safety for Girls and Women honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Over 40 loyal patrons and Joan Brooks Baker friends gathered to participate in a dialogue. Cupcake owner Kate Kruger s a photographer all of my life, I have often photographed women, including said, “There are so many simple a project on The Black Madonna. Celebration of feminine energy has been everyday things we can do to stay anA important focus for me. But it is an energy that must be encouraged. healthy in today’s hectic world. When Voice is a key issue. How does one find her voice when faced with poverty, lack someone is diagnosed with cancer of education, lack of food and bad health? Cultural beliefs that keep women and there isn’t one right treatment, but girls down lead to problems, not the least of which is low self-esteem. many that can be blended to create what feels right for an individual. In my experience most oncologists look at treatment as one size fits all, and it becomes more about standard protocol and less about the individual. I support Breast Wishes because I believe in their mission of helping women find their path through cancer with information and a sense of empowerment and choice.” Finding a path through cancer with a sense of empowerment and choice

The evening opened with guests mingling over a cup of antioxidant-rich green tea provided by Karen Gardiner, owner of Artful Tea. When the tea cups were put away, the boutique transformed into a space of learning as Breast Wishes Fund founder and executive director Lexie Shabel showed an eight-minute trailer of her self- It was gratifying for me to join NewMexicoWomen.Org and be part of its mission produced “the ME film,” depicting her personal journey. to advance opportunities for women and girls, so they can lead self-sufficient, Shabel began filming the day of her diagnosis of stage healthy and empowered lives. It was particularly exciting and rewarding to join four breast cancer, and the film follows her through a team delivering Chispa Awards. Chispa Awards are surprise grants given to chemotherapy, to a radical decision to not have surgery, nonprofits that accomplish a lot with a little. radiation or more chemotherapy, despite the opinions of her doctor. Instead, Shabel decided to live with her cancer, One of the recipients of the 2013 Chispa was IMPACT Personal Safety, a group and change her life through diet and alternative therapies. that teaches children and adults to prevent and defend themselves against verbal, Karen Gardiner She said that this decision has given her eight years of physical and sexual violence. We walked into their offices having said we were quality life, compared to the prognosis, after surgery, of coming for a tour—as they did not know they were to receive the award. Executive only five years. The film excerpt had a powerful impact on all. Director Alena Schaim explained with great clarity how they teach participants to find their voice by standing up and defending themselves. The film screening was followed by a presentation by Dr. Heidi Lucas, ND, FABNO, RYT, a Seattle-based As one girl graduate said: “I knew I should value myself, but I didn’t know how naturopathic physician specializing in Integrative to go about it. This class has helped me find my value and know that I can and Oncology. Dr. Lucas provided information on simple, should defend myself.” naturopathic approaches to improve overall well- It was an exciting moment when we presented being and increase optimal health for cancer care, IMPACT with the award (which included a post-treatment recovery and prevention. She also $7,000 check). It was totally unexpected by discussed the benefits of healthy lifestyle changes, the small staff, but I could feel the wheels stress management techniques, nutrition, herbs, yoga Dr. Heidi Lucas turning about ways the money could be spent. and meditative breathing techniques.

That was a great moment for IMPACT Breast Wishes Fund helps women and their families help themselves with breast Personal Safety and a proud day for cancer treatment and prevention. Breast Wishes offers alternatives to invasive-only L-R: Joan Baker, NMCF partner; NewMexicoWomen.Org. cancer treatment modalities by providing information on viable holistic therapies Alena Achaim, IMPACT executive before, during and after a diagnosis. We are dedicated to cancer prevention and Joan Brooks Baker is a Santa Fe–based writer and director; Renee Villareal of NMCF; health education, which we share through special events, workshops, informational photographer who is committed to supporting the Nicole Lovato, program coordinator, health and well-being of women and girls. articles and films. i IMPACT Cheryl James is the program director for the New Mexico Acequia Association and communications director of the Breast Wishes Fund. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 37 Ask us about Zirconium Implants for people with metal allergies!

38 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Business Movement continued from page 9

The New Mexico Infant Team Program A New Fiscal Sponsorship Under the NMCF Jane Clarke and Deborah Harris

he New Mexico Community Foundation has a long history of supporting and country. The health of our future is literally the health of our children…or their families and vulnerable young children. Starting in 2002 with Strengthening demise. TNew Mexico Families, then with the Kellogg-funded SPARKS program and now by providing a home for the New Mexico Infant Team, the NMCF continues its A developmental disaster for babies is a disaster critical attention to the needs of the state’s most vulnerable population. for the family, community, state and country. The New Mexico Infant Team serves infants in the custody of the Children, Because of the explosion in developmental psychology and brain research, we Youth and Families Protective Services. now have important information about human infancy and early-childhood Zero to Three, the national center for development that bears on the critical matters the family court addresses. The court infants, toddlers and families, clearly needs a greater understanding of the needs of all developing infants, as well as an characterizes this population: “Every appreciation of the unique relational context of each case. The developing baby is seven minutes a baby or toddler in America not a cognitive machine but an emotional being with a developing mind. There is a is removed from his parents’ care because wide range of variation in infant temperaments, so there is no “one-model-fits-all” of alleged abuse or neglect. At a time solution. The NM Infant Team offers a highly individualized approach to each baby’s when these children are first exploring the temperament, experiences and current situation. Assessment and interventions are world, when their lives as learners are just focused on the primary caregiving relationships and developmental support that beginning, they are learning that the world will provide the optimal opportunities for infants at risk. is a dangerous and frightening place. Their brains are assaulted by stress hormones We direct the NM Infant Team Program and are also statewide consultants for that can diminish their IQs and social infant teams in the Sixth Judicial District, Doña Ana County and Bernalillo interactions. Their need to find safe, trusting County. The Infant Teams are funded by CYFD to bring appropriate services that relationships overrides their curiosity. Their address the needs of babies and young children in protective custody and to develop © Don U sner future and the future of their communities collaborative partnerships with Protective Services, Part C (FIT) and the judiciary. are compromised. These young children, a We have extensive clinical and teaching experience that focuses on infants, toddlers disproportionate percentage of whom are children of color, are often overlooked in their and pre-school-age children who have been exposed to trauma, display regulatory communities’ efforts to improve the early learning environments for poor children. What differences and who are experiencing multiple risk factors that require specialized ensues is a developmental disaster for babies.” developmental and dyadic mental health treatment protocols. We provide a unique The Zero to Three literature goes on to point out that, despite these grim and comprehensive approach to assessment, intervention and treatment of the most circumstances, research confirms that it is possible to effectively intervene with vulnerable babies and their caregivers. i very young victims of maltreatment during their early years, but it is a very time- Jane Clarke, PhD, SLP/SpEd, IMH-IV, and limited window of opportunity. Informed decision-making, combined with Deborah Harris, LISW, IMH-E®IV, co-direct the developmentally appropriate services, can change the odds for these babies and First Judicial District Infant Team. Harris has toddlers. This is the kind of intervention that the NM Infant Team provides, in order worked with the NMCF on Strengthening NM Children since 2002. to avoid the alternative, which is a developmental disaster. And clearly, whatever is a developmental disaster for babies is a disaster for the family, community, state Jane Clarke Deborah Harris

New Mexico Community Foundation New Mexico Community Fiscal Sponsorship Program AIDS Partnership Established as a fund of NMCF in 1993 and now a fiscal sponsorship, the New Mexico By providing fiscal and administrative support, the NMCF Community AIDS Partnership collaborates with a variety of organizations and programs offers a unique partnership that helps new community charitable to support the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS in New Mexico, projects without nonprofit status get off the ground. To assist these including those that provide emergency financial support and information to help unincorporated groups in incubating their ideas, programs and community members keep up to date on legislative and political developments that services, the Foundation’s Fiscal Sponsorship Program serves as affect the care and services they need. an umbrella tax-exempt agent, so they can receive donations from NMCAP supports high-quality, culturally individuals, foundations and governments. appropriate, community-based HIV/AIDS programs that target New Mexico’s most NMCF currently has nearly 50 fiscal sponsorship clients for whom the underserved and vulnerable populations. foundation provides the “back office” function of banking, bill paying, and Through its annual Challenge Grant cycle, financial oversight. NMCF includes these groups in the Foundation’s own NMCAP has awarded more than $1.4 audit, so that there is transparency, accountability and legal responsibility million to community-based projects and for the groups’ work. This allows them to grow their resources, so they organizations across New Mexico, making can one day meet their longer-term mission of incorporating as New NMCAP the state’s largest private funder Mexico–based organizations making a difference in the state. of HIV/AIDS programs and services. i

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 39 Iman Aoun Leads Theater of the Oppressed Workshop Shebana Coelho orthern New Mexico CEC Artslink Fellow It’s like plugging us in to be recharged.” Iman Aoun, a Palestinian and director of Ashtar “It gives me sense of the voice inside each of us that is TheatreN in Ramallah, led participants in a two-day coming out,” said Candelario Vásquez, who works on Theatre of the Oppressed workshop in Santa Fe last radio/media projects for Encuentro, an immigrant- month to trigger self- and group awareness about serving organization. “I think that hope is coming critical issues, ways to combat oppression and bring alive through these performances.” about social transformation. Brazilian director and educator Augusto Boal, who believed “theatre is a “These are such valuable tools,” said Aoun, “they can language and so it can be used to speak about all be used across the board for all kinds of issues— human concerns, not to be limited to theatre itself,” political, social, psychological. They can be tools established the Theatre in the 1970s. Aoun’s Ashtar for working with community and youth and to Theatre (www.ashtar-theatre.org) uses Theatre of learn how to help groups the Oppressed methodologies to create plays that look at their problems or promote interactive dialogue about change within challenges differently, to Palestinian society. create open discussions and debates about critical Co-sponsored by New Mexico Community Foundation, the workshop opened issues between participants with a series of sensory and physical games that had participants walking, and to learn that discussion running, creating “human knots” and disentangling them, following sounds with might bring transformation; eyes closed, arranging bodies in the form of tableaus and machines—all “to get that’s what it’s all about— us deeper into ourselves,” said Aoun, “because in playing you open up without transformation.” realizing that you are opening up. It works on the subconscious.” “For me,” said Renee Villarreal, On the second day, participants were divided into groups that matched the type director of programs and of oppression each had encountered, including cultural oppression/racism, peer community outreach at the oppression, parental oppression and workplace oppression. “Each participant NMCF, “this workshop is wrote their individual stories,” Aoun explained, “shared them with their group also a wonderful example of intercultural collaboration because various partners came and created a ‘story of the stories’ collective story. Each group performed its story, together to make it happen. Some hadn’t worked together and some had. Thinking which featured a moment of oppression between the oppressor and oppressed. about all the moving parts to put an event like this together is pretty amazing. It is a This piece of the workshop is called The Forum, one of Theatre of the Oppressed’s good example of what collaborative leadership is about.” core events. After the performance, we opened the floor for the audience to interact with the scene and become spect-actors. As a spect-actor presented The Theatre of the Oppressed workshop was sponsored by an alternate solution to the scene of oppression, he/she was invited onstage to New Mexico Community Foundation, DNAWORKS, Moving replace the protagonist in order to help overcome the oppressive moment and Arts Española, New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe Art create a strength.” Institute, Littleglobe and Performing Arts Conservatory of the Southwest. i “This is like food, like nourishment,” exclaimed Rosalia Triana, director of Española’s newly opened Main Street Theatre. “It is exactly what we need here. Shebana Coelho is a Santa Fe-based writer and filmmaker.

Public Allies New Mexico Tamara Watkins came on board with New Mexico Community Foundation as a program with the status quo and change the paradigm. This was a great opportunity for the coordinator this past September. I’ve been doing work on both the Collaborative participants, from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, to put themselves LeadershipI and NewMexicoWomen.Org programs. in each other’s shoes and transform the way we address oppression and trauma through community involvement and awareness. I was recruited through a government program called Public Allies. This subsidiary of AmeriCorps started 21 years ago and has been operating in New Mexico for In the spirit of supporting and honoring communities, NMCF went around the the past seven years. Public Allies is a national organization that partners with state giving out Chispa Awards. Being a part of the delivery of these surprise grants various nonprofits throughout the country for a 10-month internship. Through inspired me. It was great to know that the organizations receiving the awards had these partnerships, Public Allies directly focuses on transforming communities their feet on the ground, working in communities that are often through leadership development, youth empowerment and in assisting underserved forgotten. It was quite an experience witnessing the recipients’ populations in their work towards self-determination. I felt this program would be expressions when they were given the grants, knowing that they beneficial to my personal growth and understanding of New Mexico’s complexities. will use the money to further their missions.

As an Ally working with the NMCF, I have a unique opportunity to use my The benefits can be great when groups collectively work together skills in program development, fundraising, community outreach and organizing for the advancement of our state and society in general. I would marginalized people. Recently I helped organize the Theatre of The Oppressed like to thank Public Allies and NMCF for their dedication in workshop, facilitated by Iman Aoun, a Palestinian and director of Ashtar Theatre ensuring that all voices are recognized and heard. i in Ramallah. During two days, participants were taken through a series of group Tamara Watkins is a program coordinator at the NMCF. exercises identifying oppressive behaviors and various counter-reactions to deal

40 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com The New Mexico Community News Exchange Tom McDonald

love my chosen profession. I believe struggle just to stay afloat. But they’re • In 2014, we plan to be create additional CNEx already has the support from in what I’m doing. Newspapers— run by people with a vested interest revenue streams, specifically through several community newspapers around writtenI into the US Constitution as in their communities, by publishers advertising and subscription services, the state, because their owners see its “a free press”—are cornerstones for who see their newspaper as more than to help participating newspapers and value. Heck, they didn’t even have democracy, and on our better days, we a business. They’re a voice for their build CNEx into a self-sustaining to ask a corporate higher-up for serve our democratic republic well. I’m communities, and for their readers, and service. permission to join. Now, that’s what I proud to be a part of such an industry. they’re proud of that. call a free press. i • We’re also going to expand with a I’ve become increasingly concerned, Of course, corporations take pride in legislative service during the upcoming Tom McDonald is editor of the New Mexico however, with the direction my chosen their products too, but when it comes to New Mexico session. It’ll be unique in Community News Exchange and owner- profession has taken in recent years. running a newspaper, it’s sort of like the its emphasis on rural issues. manager of Gazette More and more newspapers are now difference between renting and buying. • And we will generate more original Media Services LLC. owned by far-off corporations instead He may be reached Last May, I launched—with the support content, using freelance reporters to of local people. And when an outside at 505.454.9131 of 11 locally owned newspapers—the write about issues of importance to corporation owns a newspaper, a certain or tmcdonald@ Community News Exchange, or small towns in New Mexico. amount of autonomy goes with it. And gazettemediaservices.com CNEx, as a news-sharing service for autonomy is an essential ingredient for small-town papers around the state. keeping newspapers free. Now there are 14 newspapers, mostly Advertise in weeklies, participating. Independent GREEN FIRE TIMES Here’s how it works: With permission Support our work for a more sustainable world. newspapers are a from the newspaper owners, every week Call Skip at 505.471.5177 or Anna at 505.982.0155 I go through the week’s newspapers in voice for their search of stories of interest to a broader communities. readership. I then edit those stories into news briefs and “stand-alone” stories, throw in some original content of By “free” I mean independent. An my own, and distribute it back to the independent newspaper is, for the participating newspapers and other most part, one that’s owned and CNEx subscribers. controlled locally. Sometimes, several nearby newspapers have the same So, every Monday, I transmit around local owner, which I’ll call a “cluster” 20 news briefs, four to eight full-length Supporting Local Business in Southern of independents. At an independent news stories and features, a Dispatch New Mexico newspaper, business and editorial New Mexico column I write about decisions are made locally, for the good issues of importance to rural New 221 N. Main Street, Las Cruces. 575-­‐323-­‐1575 of the newspaper and the community Mexicans, and anything else on that it serves. I’m not saying a corporate- week’s news budget. owned newspaper can’t operate that way too—in fact, some do—but a The service has been well received, but lot of newspapers have lost their it hasn’t generated much revenue. And independence to a corporate takeover. as my revenue needs grew, so did my concern that I didn’t have the resources I write this with the insight of someone to build it into a long-term news service who has done his time in the corporate for small towns. world. I ran, but didn’t own, the Las Vegas Optic for eight years, before Enter the New Mexico Community starting my own media services business Foundation, which helped me secure earlier this year. When I left the Optic, a grant through the John S. and James I left that corporate structure, but I’m L. Knight Foundation by matching happy to report that I haven’t strayed the one-year grant with some of its too far from the profession I love. own funds. Their financial backing has given me what I needed most—time There are more than 50 newspapers (specifically, one year). CNEx needs in New Mexico, and about half of time, and a good development strategy, them are what I call independents. to get to the point when it can stand These newspapers, mostly weeklies, on its own two feet. run the gamut in both quality and viability—some are among the best Now it’s a basic news-sharing service, and most successful weeklies in the but over the next year we’re going to nation, and they’re thriving, but others turn it into more: www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 41 * Foreclosure defense

42 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com NEWSBITEs Senators Propose National Renewable Energy Standard release, the Valencia County facility is capable of producing enough electricity for US Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Udall (D-CO) have introduced a bill to about 2,600 homes. establish a national Renewable Energy Standard, the first national threshold. The bill would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their power from wind, solar, biomass As part of the utility’s obligation to comply with New Mexico’s renewable-energy and other RE sources by 2025. Six percent would be required by 2014, followed by portfolio standards, PNM brought five utility-scale solar power plants online between gradual increases thereafter. Municipal and other publicly owned power plants and 2011 and 2012. Another array is planned near Tularosa, and a wind farm is coming rural co-ops would be exempted from the requirements. to the base of Mt. Taylor in western New Mexico.

The bill is intended to help make the US more energy independent, hold down utility ReneSola Ltd., a photovoltaic-module manufacturer, recently completed three rates and boost private investments in state economies. The senators, who are first months of construction on a 2.5-megawatt solar farm. The array, which will cousins, introduced a similar initiative in 2002 while members of the US House of provide power to the Roswell area, has 7,000 250-watt PV modules. Representatives. They built a coalition in the House and won passage of an RES amendment in 2007. Arizona Approves Solar Grid-Connection Fee In what may be the start of a national assault on net metering policies by the utility “The global clean energy race is increasingly competitive, and our bill is the best industry, which is seeking to maintain its dominance as distributed generation erodes way to help America take the lead and build a thriving clean-energy economy,” its traditional business monopoly, last month the Arizona Corporate Commission, Tom Udall said. “A national RES will get America running on homegrown clean in a 3-2 vote, agreed to charge ratepayers a precedent-setting monthly fee of 70 cents energy, create almost 300,000 jobs and help revitalize our rural communities—all per kilowatt of solar energy installed on their roofs. while fighting global warming.” PRC Deals Blow to NM’s Renewable Energy Arizona is one of 43 states required to buy solar power from customers with rooftop panels. The Commission agreed with Arizona Public Service Company that the commission reduces renewable portfolio standard policy unfairly shifts some of the utility’s costs to people without panels. The investor- and undercuts state’s solar industry owned utility, which generates most of its electricity from coal, nuclear, gas and oil, On Nov. 20, with a vote of 3-2, the Public Utility Commission adopted amendments spent $3.7 million to promote its argument, compared with about $335,000 by the to its renewable energy rule that essentially cut in half the amount of solar energy solar industry. An estimated 1,000 people were at the Commission’s meeting, almost that New Mexico utilities are required to produce and also reduce the amount of RE universally opposing the fee. Solar advocates say that rooftop solar can reduce strain the utilities are required to add in the future. on the system and in the long-term avoid the cost of building new power plants. Commissioners Becenti-Aguilar, Lyons and Hall voted to allow utilities to receive Imposing a fee to address this issue will likely prompt power companies in other two Renewable Energy Credits (RECS) per kilowatt-hour for solar and three RECs states to follow suit, threatening the surging residential solar market. “It’s totally for energy such as biomass and geothermal. Commissioners Espinoza and Montoya unfair to put any charge on customers that are simply reducing demand,” said Court voted no, citing concerns about lack of public comment on the proposal and overall Rich, an attorney with the Rose Law Group in Scottsdale, Ariz., which represents reduction of RE production. solar companies. The companies allege that APS, which was seeking a much higher rate, was attempting to “tax the sun and erase the financial incentive for using solar.” The rule passed in December 2012 requires that 20 percent of a utility’s renewable resource portfolio be from solar power and 5 percent from renewable resources Innovate ABQ Receives Grants other than wind or solar. The new rule change will effectively reduce the required The University of New Mexico has received a $1.5 million grant from the US amount of solar energy generated to 10 percent and other resources to 1.5 percent. Economic Development Administration to help the school build its Innovate The Renewable Energy Act requires utilities to provide 15 percent of renewables in ABQ high-tech research and development center in downtown Albuquerque. The 2015 and 20 percent by 2020. But the 2-for-1 credit for solar would reduce the total initiative is a collaboration of businesses, government leaders and educators. UNM percentage by giving solar and other resources credit for generation that was not has received $6.5 million in support of the effort, a combination of public and private actually produced. The effective reduction would be approximately 3.5 percent to funds, including $3 million over three years from the NM Educators Federal Credit the required amount of renewables. The Commission had this multiplier method in Union and about $2 million from a recent city bond issue. On Dec. 6, the university’s place once before, prior to the Legislature implementing percentage requirements. Board of Regents will review proposals to invest $13 million in the project. It did not result in any non-wind resource acquisitions. State Energy Policy To Be Revised The plan is to establish a center where researchers, students and entrepreneurs, together with Albuquerque’s business community, will grow existing companies, At a gathering at Santa Fe Community College last month, one of five “listening shorten the cycle of business development and job creation, and attract out-of-state sessions” around the state being hosted by David Martin, New Mexico’s secretary business. The center will also house the school’s technology transfer office and will of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, experts in renewable energy, finance, be a one-stop shop for investors to acquire intellectual property to commercialize land management and education offered advice on revising the state’s energy policy. new technologies. The policy, which can impact legislation, tax incentives and regulations, hasn’t been appreciably changed since the early 1990s. Santa Fe Innovation Park Receives Funding Barriers to boosting renewable energy and energy efficiency mentioned included Three projects of the Santa Fe Innovation Park, a nonprofit web-based business financing, inconsistent long-term policies and lack of streamlined regulations. model, have received startup funding, according to economist David Breecker, SFIP’s An example cited was New Mexico’s green building tax credit, which provides a president. The projects include the Microgrid Systems Laboratory, a venture capital boost for builders and buyers of energy- and water-efficient homes. The cap on this project focused on impact investing, and a social media project that links institutions. tax credit will be reached in 2014. Utility-scale RE projects were also discussed as more attractive for financiers than smaller distributed generation projects, and RE The Microgrid Systems Lab received $30,000 from Los Alamos National Security production tax credits were advocated to help make this possible. Robb Hirsch of to develop its initial technology. Breecker says that the lab, which has about a dozen Energy, Sustainable Development and Leadership Consulting suggested having the partners, is very close to positioning New Mexico as a world leader in that technology. number of jobs created be a factor in expanding the production tax credit. The SFIP will seek an appropriation of $500,000 from the 2014 state legislature for the second phase of the project to build, staff and equip the lab. Other meetings will take place in Albuquerque regarding general energy issues, The SFIP’s Place Sourced Impact Investing Project will be a fund that will invest Hobbs regarding oil and gas and Las Cruces to discuss biofuels. Contact the in companies that provide social, as well as financial, benefits. Portray.it, the third Department at [email protected]@state.nm.us for details. project, received $15,000 in crowdfunding seed money. Portray.it will be a social NM Solar Facilities Completed media site that leverages artistic talent. All three projects are still seeking additional investments to take the next steps. A solar power plant has been completed in Los Lunas. PNM’s Manzano Solar Energy Center consists of 108,000 panels spanning 60 acres. According to a news Breecker is also working with Santa Fe County on an updated economic development plan. www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 43 2885 Trades West Road (off Siler) Santa Fe, NM 87505 960-C Highway 550 Bernalillo, NM 87004

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44 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com NEWSBITEs David Versus Goliath, Again The New Mexico Environmental Law Center, on behalf of clients in Silver City, is • High rates of rare cancers, renal failure, lupus and hyperthyroidism have been fighting to overturn the recently enacted “Copper Rule” that exempts copper mining documented in indigenous communities living downstream from tar sands operators in New Mexico from adhering to 40 years’ worth of water-quality protection extraction. legislation. The “Copper Rule” allows unlimited contamination of any groundwater • In the last decade, there have been over 2,500 pipeline mishaps, including recent in New Mexico, no matter where that water is located—on private property, tribal tar sands pipeline breaks in Kalamazoo, Mich. and Mayflower, Ark. land or public land. If mining operators are exempt from water-quality standards, then a host of other businesses, including large diary operators, will also apply for Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners exemptions. The NMELC is running its first online fundraising campaign to offset Approves Carbon Fee Resolution legal costs associated with saving this precious natural resource. To watch a brief On Nov. 26, the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution calling video about the need for the lawsuit and to make a donation, visit www.crowdrise. for a federal revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend program. A similar resolution com/nmelc was passed by the city of Santa Fe two weeks earlier. Mora County Commission to Defend The proposed program would levy a fee on the carbon in each kind of fossil fuel Ordinance That Bans Fracking (coal, oil, natural gas) at the point of production or import. Funds collected would On Nov. 20, in response to a lawsuit filed by three corporations and one individual, then, except for federal administration costs, be returned to taxpayers. The intent, the Mora County Commission voted unanimously to hire legal counsel to defend advocates say, is that putting a price on carbon as one way to address climate change its Community Water Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance, which was will add an incentive for people to decrease their use of fossil fuels, curb carbon passed into law in April 2013, banning oil and gas extraction and other hydrocarbons emissions and help drive contemporary societies toward a renewable-energy future. within Mora County. The plaintiffs are asserting their corporate “rights” that the This approach, which has support on both sides of the political spectrum, is simpler ordinance challenges through the 1st, 5th, and 14th Amendments, which point to and more efficient than the failed cap-and-trade program. More than 30 countries the privilege of “corporate personhood.” have adopted a carbon taxation program.

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund “We need to put a price on carbon, so we don’t continue to pay the environmental (CELDF) assisted a citizen committee made up of local cost of carbon,” said Maria Rotunda, leader of the local Citizens Climate Lobby business leaders, land-grant heirs, acequia parciantes, chapter. “Only massive grassroots efforts will pressure Congress to act on climate grazing permittees, an elected official and other change.” More information: 505.570.7586, [email protected], www. community members to draft the ordinance. CELDF citizensclimatelobby.org and the NM Environmental Law Center and have been hired (pro bono), along with Santa Fe attorney Daniel Navajo Nation Environmental Workforce Brannen to defend the new law. Development Program There are currently over 160 communities across the With a $200,000 grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Institute US that have passed CELDF Community Rights for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University ordinances. Mora County’s is one of the 19 ordinances in Flagstaff, Arizona, will train Navajo Nation tribal members in environmental that ban “big oil” while asserting rights to local cleanup, including the safe handling of radioactive materials. The training will take place in the tribal capital of Window Rock. ITEP will also provide job-placement

© Sharon Stewart self-governance and self-determination, and the first to be sued for banning drilling and fracking. assistance. The program specifically targets unemployed or underemployed Navajo tribal residents, particularly those living in and around communities impacted by “The focus of the lawsuit won’t be on fracking, but on challenging the current fact uranium mining activities. There is no cost to qualified participants. that corporations have more rights than the people of Mora County. In other words, we don’t have a fracking problem, we have a democracy problem,” stated Kathleen The unemployment rate in many areas of the Navajo Reservation is about 50 percent. Dudley, CELDF NM Community Rights organizer. Mora County Commission About 4 million tons of uranium ore were mined there from 1944 to 1986 for the Chair John Olivas stated, “It is unfortunate that counties and municipalities cannot production of weapons of war. Families and their livestock are still impacted by say ‘no’ to corporate development without the threat of litigation.” contaminated lands, abandoned uranium mines and leftover waste. The Northeast Church Rock Mine near Gallup, NM, is one of the top priorities. Some water SF City Council Passes Resolution supplies, such as those around Tuba City, Arizona, have high levels of radionuclides. Requesting Denial of the Keystone XL permit ITEP is working with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency and Last month, the Santa Fe City Council passed a resolution respectfully requesting the Navajo Nation Department of Workforce Development to recruit 20 tribal that President Obama deny the permit application by TransCanada to construct the members for each training cycle, leading to the education and certification of up to Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The Council also strongly endorsed public expression 40 graduates over the first two years of the program. The application deadline for the of resistance to approval of the pipeline, “up to and including peaceful, nonviolent first cycle is January 31, 2014. and dignified expressions of civil disobedience.” Shiprock Chapter Opposes “Climate change is happening, we see it with drought and forest fires,” said Mayor Navajo Mine Waiver David Coss. “Santa Fe needs to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.” “There’s nothing in the Keystone XL pipeline for the people of the United States,” The Shiprock Chapter of the Navajo Nation has voted to support a resolution stating said Councilor Chris Calvert. “We take all the risk and don’t benefit from any of opposition to the waiver of all liabilities the tribe has granted to BHP Billiton, the the rewards.” “Our Charter charges the Governing Body with the responsibility: to coal company the tribe has signed a purchase agreement with for the Navajo Mine. protect, preserve and enhance the City’s natural endowments,” said Councilor Patti The Navajo Nation Council approved the waiver on Oct. 31. It covers all past, present Bushee. “It is incumbent upon us to act boldly when dealing with the real threat of and future claims, demands, indebtedness, liabilities, obligations, costs, expenses climate change and its impact on our environment.” and actions for BHP Billiton. The purchase agreement is not finalized until the US Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, signs its approval. The resolution discusses several statistics, including: • 830,000 barrels of tar sands oil proposed to be carried daily from Alberta, Canada, Chapter members have asked why tribal leaders did not ask tribal members to vote to the Gulf Coast would increase climate-changing emissions yearly by 24.3 million on the purchase and have expressed their concerns about environmental effects tons, the equivalent of Americans driving an additional 60 million miles per year. of the mine on the land and people in the vicinity. Shiprock is the only chapter to • Over the course of the project’s lifetime, carbon emissions would increase by issue a resolution that opposes the waiver. Other chapters have issued resolutions up to 1.2 billion metric tons. This comes at a time when the World Bank and supporting the purchase of the mine. International Energy Administration are warning that 66 percent of known fossil fuel reserves must be kept in the ground if we are to have even a small chance at stopping the climate crisis.

www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 45 What's Going On! Events / Announcements

Dec. 8, 4-7 pm Daily Dec. 4, 5:30 pm Big Bosque Bash Degrees of Change: NM’s Cli- Camino Real National Historic Tortuga Gallery, 901 Edith SE mate Forecast Trail Project A music benefit to keep the bosque natural NM Museum of Natural History & La Cienega Community Center featuring Le Chat Lunatique, Sage & Jared’s Science, 1801 Mountain Rd. NW Informational open house for the development Happy Gland Band, Strange Magic featur- With a focus on NM and the SW, this exhibit of a Conceptual Master Plan for the Retracement ing Javier Romero and more. $10 suggested reveals current and predicted impacts on hu- Hiking Trail along El Camino Real de Tierra Ad- admission. Facebook.com/mim.fm mans, landscapes and ecosystems. Tickets: entro Historic Trail (Buckman Road segment). $7, $6, $4. Info: 505.841.2800 505.992.9857, [email protected] Dec. 9, 4-8 pm www.nmnaturalhistory.org Engaged Citizen Awards Dec. 4, 6-8 pm NM Museum of Natural History March 5-7, 8 am-5 pm Santa Fe Conservation Trust ALBUQUERQUE and Science 3rd International Meeting on Holiday Party Dec. 3, 7:15-8:30 pm A statewide award program. Categories: Indigenous Women’s Health SF Women’s Club, 1616 Old Pecos Trail Growing Fruit Trees “Visible Accomplishments” and “Behind Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town 20th Anniversary celebration. Learn about Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 the Scenes” efforts resulting in increased Healthy Generations: Integrating Tradi- the SFCT’s current work and plans for com- Meadowlark Lane, Rio Rancho engagement with the outdoors. Reception, tions and Science to promote well-being. ing years. RSVP: 505.989.7019, [email protected] Gardening with the Masters lecture present- awards ceremony, music. Sponsored by the An opportunity for physicians, midwives, ed by certified arborist Elizabeth Gardner. NM Outdoors Coalition, a collaboration nurses, community providers and others who Dec. 5, 5-6:30 pm Free. 505.867.2582, www.sandovalmaster among federal and regional public lands work with indigenous women to share, sup- SF River Trail Crossing Public gardeners.org agencies, private and nonprofit organiza- port, network, learn and build partnerships Meeting tions. Free. RSVP: newmexicooutdoors to improve the health of indigenous women onzales chool ibrary Dec. 4, 5:30-7:30 [email protected], Info: 505.435.2356, G S L and their families. 505.272.3942, kbreck 851 W. Alameda Green Drinks Holiday Social [email protected], www.newmexico [email protected], http://som.unm. outdoorscoalition.wordpress.com Discussion about a key part of the develop- Hotel Andaluz, 125 2nd St. NW edu/cme ing urban trail network for bicycles and pe- 2nd Annual Reuse, Re- Dec. 27, 4 pm destrians at St. Francis Dr. and W. Alameda. cycle, Re-gift fundrais- Polyphony: Voices of NM SANTA FE Ask questions and share ideas. er. Network and mingle Dec. 3, 4 pm [email protected] with people interested Cathedral of St. John, 318 Silver Ave. SW Professional vocal ensemble and chamber Sustainable Land Development Dec. 5-8 in local business, clean Code Public Hearing energy and other green orchestra performs Handel’s Messiah–part Historical Buddha issues. Free admis- one, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio–part one County Commissioner Chambers Relics Exhibit and Buxtehude’s 8-part setting of the Mag- 102 Grant Ave. sion. Silent auction to Immaculate Heart of Mary Retreat nificat. Tickets $35-$10. 505.821.1956, SF County Board of County Commissioners benefit the Green Chamber. 505.244.3700, and onference enter t polyphonyvoicesofnewmexico.com consideration of adoption of SLDC regula- C C , 50 M . [email protected], http://nm armel oad greenchamber.com/events/ www.polyphonynm.com tions to guide future growth and development C R in the County. There is also a regular meeting of Nonsectarian public exhibit of ancient and Dec. 4, 6:30 pm Jan. 27-Feb. 1 the commissioners on Dec. 10 at 2 pm to con- sacred Buddhist relics, including some res- Climate Action Watch Party Holistic Management sider the code adoption. Info: 505.995.2717, cn cued from Tibet in 1959 by the Dalai Lama. for “Chasing Ice” in Practice Course [email protected]. The draft can Drepung Monks will chant at the open- be viewed at www.santafecountynm.gov/sldc ing ceremony: 12/5, 6-7 pm. 505.603.8084, Jewish Community Center Location TBA [email protected] 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE Understand and manage stressed ecosys- www.maitreyarelictour.com/media-coverage tems, learn about financial, land, agricul- Dec. 3-4, 8:30 am-4:30 pm Free screening of award-winning film fol- Collaborative Forest Restora- lowed by panel discussion featuring physicist tural and people resources with certified Dec. 6, 1-4 pm Mark Boslough, former PRC commissioner Holistic Management International educa- tion Programs Workshop Cannupa Hanska Luger: De- Jason Marks, Kara Peterson of Sandia Labs, tor Kirk Gadzia. 505.867.4685, kirk@rms SF Community College Jémez Rooms stroying the Stereotype UNM Earth and Planetary Sciences profes- gadzia.com, www.rmsgadzia.com A diverse group of stakeholders and for- Museum of Contemporary Native sor Zachary Sharp and Bill Spotz, climate est restoration experts will come to- Jan. 30-Feb. 2 rts athedral lace modeling at Sandia Labs. http://alibi.com/ gether to discuss forest restoration on A , 108 C P Clean Economy Conference Performance will destroy the stereotypes em- events/60830/Chasing-Ice.html, www.Abq public lands in NM. Info: 505.982.9805, bodying Luger’s sculptures. 505.983.1666, ClimateAction.us ABQ Embassy Suites [email protected], www. www.iaia.edu/museum 1000 Woodward Place fs.usda.gov/detail/r3/workingtogether/ Dec. 5-8 Building Resiliency through Sustainable grants/?cid=fsbdev3_022022, Registration: Dec. 6, 5-8 pm Festival of Trees Fundraiser Practices. Keynote speaker: Joel Salatin of http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp Poeh Cultural Center Sandia Resort and Casino Polyface Farms. 1/30: Gourmet Steward’s Exhibition Opening Benefits the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foun- Dinner; 1/31: Pre-conference full-day work- Dec. 4, 5-8 pm Opening ities of old oad ojoaque dation, which helps children with disabili- shop on Local Food Production; 2/1-2 (9 GLOW—A Winter Lights Event 78 C G R (P ) “Doing, Being, Sharing, Laughing” Runs through ties and their families. Dozens of beau- am-5 pm): Conference with plenary sessions Santa Fe Botanical Garden at 1/31. 505.455.5041, www.poehmuseum.com tifully decorated trees with photos and on wise water use, regenerative agriculture, Museum Hill, 715 Camino Lejo stories of the children. Entertainment. zero-waste, organic food production, com- A glowing winter wonderland designed by Lisa post tea, strategies to shrink our carbon Dec. 7, 7 pm Opening night gala 12/5 at 6:30. Tick- Samuel. 5 consecutive weekends. $8/$5. Children Moving People Dance ets: $50. carrietingleyhospitalfoundation. footprint, seed saving, creating an agricul- 12 & under free. Tickets online or at the door. org/festival-of-trees/get-tickets/ For more tural production center, community gardens, 505.471.9103, [email protected] Railyard Performance Center, info, visit carrietingleyhospitalfoundation. urban farming, sustainability tradeshow and 1611 Paseo de Peralta org/festival-of-trees/hours-and-activities/ more. $125/day or 3 days/$275. Dec. 4, 5:30-7 pm Student choreographers will present “Scat- www.carboneconomyseries.com Santa Fe Green Drinks tered Pieces.” $10 suggested donation. Dec. 7, 10:30 am-12:30 pm 505.670.2152 Eating for Your Health Feb. 5-6 Inn and Spa at Loretto, Fossil-Free Film Festival 211 Old Santa Fe Trail Dec. 8, 12-4 pm Highland Senior Center Network and mingle he uild inema entral ve Winter Traditions 131 Monroe NE T G C , 3405 C A . NE with people interest- The best new films about climate change Community-based workshop facilitated by ed in local business, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and what you can do about it. 505.350.3839, Susan Clair, MCRP/MPA, for people heal- clean energy and oth- Gallery tour of Woven Identities at noon, [email protected] ing through cancer. Workshop addresses er green issues. Chil- Arnold Herrera (Cochiti Pueblo) and fam- elements of a healthy lifestyle, plant and Feb. 25 ean/Cuban singer/ ily – willow wicker basket weaving, Ed Kabo- tie (Santa Clara Pueblo/Hopi) lecture and animal-based proteins, organic and con- Crawford Symposium: Green songwriter/recording ventional foods, antioxidants & systemic music; Ice Mountain Dance Group (Ohkay Trails for the Next Generation artist Consuelo Luz alkalinity, health benefits of herbs & spices, will perform. Free Owingeh Pueblo); Bea Duran (Tesuque fats & sweeteners, easy & delicious reci- Bosque School admission. Bring a non-perishable food of- Pueblo) 505.476.1250, www.indianartsand- pes. Free. Advance registration required. Info: 505.898.6388, Rebecca.belletto@ fering for the Interfaith Shelter. glenn@ culture.org 505.321.8649, [email protected] bosqueschool.org nmgreenchamber.com

46 Green Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com Dec. 8, 2-4 pm Through Jan. 5, 2014 Dec. 7, 10 am-3 pm Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-1 pm Imagine a World Without Hate New World Cuisine: Histories 2nd Annual Tamal Fiesta y Más and Saturday Campaign Celebration of Chocolate, Mate y Más Historic Downtown Pajarito Environmental Pink Church Art Center Museum of International Folk Art Silver City, NM Education Center Celebrate the Anti-Defamation League’s Exhibit focuses on the mixing of food cul- Enjoy tamales, performances, heritage ac- 3540 Orange St., Los Alamos, NM 100th year fight against prejudice and hate. tures in the Americas. 505.476.1200, inter tivities and more. [email protected] Exhibits of flora and fauna of the Pajarito ARTsmart and ADL-New Mexico have nationalfolkart.org Plateau; herbarium, live amphibians, but- teamed up to present this event. Exhibition Dec. 14, 7 am terfly and xeric gardens. Free. Pajaritoecc.org of children’s artwork by students from Swee- Through March 16, 2014 Christmas Bird Count ny Elementary and Agua Fria Elementary. Cowboys Real and Imagined Las Vegas, NM March 26-27 Children’s Choir from El Dorado Commu- NM History Museum Data are used to assess the health of bird Sustainability Summit and nity School. Hors d’ oeuvres. Free admission. This exhibit explores NM’s contribution to populations and to help guide conserva- Exhibition 505.992.2787, [email protected] the cowboys of both myth and reality from tion efforts. Bring binoculars and lunch. Wisconsin Center the 1600s to the present day. Sponsored by the National Audubon Soci- Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dec. 9, 2-3 pm ety and Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance. Successful Gardening in First Saturday of Each Month, Implementing sustainable business models, 505.425.2757, [email protected] supply-chain innovation, freshwater challenges New Mexican Soil 10 am-12 pm Dec. 18, 6:30-8 pm —global and local, sustainability opportunities SF Women’s Club SF Citizens’ Climate Lobby Winter Tree Care in global markets, sustainable food supply, the 1616 Old Pecos Trail Natural Grocers, Community Room, efficiency and nutrition revolution, sustain- Lecture by Erin Wade of Vinaigrette res- 3328 Cerrillos Road Pajarito Environmental Education able energy, climate: the global challenge. www. taurants and Los Portales Farm in Nambé. “Creating political will for a livable world.” Center, 3540 Orange St. sustainabilitysummit.us From vermicomposting to soil biodiversity, [email protected] Los Alamos, NM learn about Erin’s journey and how to create Presentation by certified arborist Laurel Río Grande Return healthy soil. Tuesdays and Saturdays Hardin focuses mostly on non-native urban Gifts from the River 8 am-12 pm trees, as well as Ponderosa, Piñon and Dec. 9, 3 pm Locally produced salsas, jams, honey, choco- Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Juniper. $8/$6. 505.662.0460, Programs@ lates, soaps, lotions, incense and more. Sup- SF Occupancy Tax Advisory PajaritoEEC.org, www.PajaritoEEC.org 1607 Paseo de Peralta (& Guadalupe) ports local farmers, producers and the conser- Board Grant Makers Forum vation of the Rio Grande. 505.466.1767, toll Northern NM farmers & ranchers bring you Dec. 19, 5-7 pm SF Community Convention Center, free: 866.466.1767, www.riograndereturn.com fresh greenhouse tomatoes, greens, root veg- Green Drinks Nambé Room gies, cheese, teas, herbs, spices, honey, baked Veterans Green Jobs Academy Forum to inform nonprofits interested in ap- goods, Southwestern body care and much Taos Mesa Brewing Co., 20 ABC plying for OTAB grant funding for market- more. www.santafefarmersmarket.com Mesa Rd., Taos, NM Northern NM College, Espanola ing major new off-season events that support Guest speaker Kris Callori, architect, LEED Workforce training and specific degree programs creative and cultural tourism and will at- Sundays, 8 am-1 pm Fellow, Biomimicry Specialist and adjunct to support military veterans in fully accredited tract younger tourists. RSVP: 505.955.6214, Santa Fe Artists Market professor at UNM School of Architecture. academic certificate and degree programs in ar- [email protected] [email protected]. Online appli- Railyard Park eas of environmental science related to renewable cation form for grant funding: www.santafe. www.santafeartistsmarket.com energy, hazardous materials response, forestry, org under the link marked OTAB Form Dec. 20, 9 pm sustainable agriculture, wildland fire science, con- Sundays, 10 am-4 pm Larry Littlebird struction trades and others. A partnership with the Dec. 11, 5-8 pm New Mexico Artisan Market with Hakim Bellamy NM Dept. of Veterans Services. For more info, call Creative Santa Fe Fundraiser/ PBS CH 5.1 Colores Dr. Biggs at 505.747.5453 or visit www.nnmc.edu/ Silent Auction Farmers’ Market Pavillion vetacademy.htm. www.artmarketsantafe.com An engaging story dialogue between Pueblo David Richard Gallery Indian storyteller/artist/farmer Larry Lit- Silent auction, music, art, fun. $50. Santa Fe Creative Tourism Work- tlebird and Albuquerque’s Poet Laureate. 505.288.3538, [email protected] shops, Classes and Experiences www.listeningground.com, www.newmex icopbs.org/productions/colores Dec. 13, 6 pm http://santafecreativetourism.org/ Cowboy Christmas Save A Ton Recycling Campaign Dec. 29, 7 pm Dinner & Dance We’ve Got the The city of Santa Fe and the SF New Mexican Power Screening La Fonda on the Plaza have launched a campaign to double recycling 6 pm silent art auction, 7 pm sit-down dinner. in Santa Fe in one year. Santa Feans score way Reel Deal Theater, Los Alamos, NM $100. Benefits Horses for Heroes-NM vet- below state and national averages. For a city Brad Marshland’s new documentary, a fol- erans. Dance to Cathy Faber’s country band. with its own recycling facility that envisions low-up to his Emmy Award-winning film 505.798.2535, www.horsesforheroes.org becoming a Zero Waste community, we can do The Next Frontier, explores alternative en- ergies. $12.. 505.662.0460, Programs@Pajar Dec. 14, 3-7 pm better! Find info on the Save A Ton campaign at www.sfnewmexican.com and click on Green itoEEC.org, www.PajaritoEEC.org Christmas Celebration for Line or on Facebook. 505.955.2209 Senior Animals Through Dec. 31 Buy Local Story Contest Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary, HERE & THERE 3749-A Highway 14 Dec. 5, 7 pm The Southwest Green Chamber of Com- 20 minutes south of Santa Fe, half a Green Fire Film Screening merce is launching a “Tell Us Your Favorite mile south of Lone Butte General Store. Buy Local Story Contest” and will follow Harwood Museum of Art, 238 505.471.5366, www.kindredspiritsnm.org with “Buy Local Awards” each month in 2014. Ledoux Street, Taos, NM 575.538.4332, [email protected] Dec. 15, 10 am-3 pm Documentary about Aldo Leopold, father of Young Native Artists Holiday the national wilderness system and a key figure Jan 2-24 Show & Sale in developing the fields of wildlife manage- Ghost Ranch Workshops ment, restoration ecology and sustainable ag- NM History Museum/Palace of the riculture. Screening followed by a panel discus- Abiquiú, NM Governors sion featuring historian Juan Estévan Arellano, Indigenous Pottery & Southwest Culture; Children and grandchildren of the Palace journalist Laura Paskus and LANL climate An Inner Journey: Still the Mind, Open the Portal artists. Free admission through scientist Nathan McDowell. Presented by the Heart; Outdoor Adventure; Photography in Washington Ave. doors. 505.476.5100 Western Environmental Law Center. $10/$8. the Desert; Southwest Weaving & Culture; http://www.aldoleopold.org/greenfire/index. Sustainability Practices in Action: Agriculture Dec. 15, 3-4:30 pm shtml, http://westernlaw.org/ and the Earth. 505.685.4333, ext. 4196, caler@ Santa Fe Poet Laureate ghostranch.org, www.GhostRanch.org Hosts Reading Dec. 6, 11:30 am-12:30 pm January 10 Submission IAIA Center for Lifelong First Friday: Your Business History Deadline Education, 83 Avan Nu Po Rd. Aldo Leopold Writing Contest Jon Davis will read his work and host “Santa The Las Cruces Green Chamber of Com- Fe Poets 2,” featuring poets Lauren Camp, merce presents speaker Beth Morgan, a Eligibility: Students grades 6-12 in public, Joanne Dominique Dwyer, Jamie Figueroa, historian who will discuss the value of high- private and home schools in NM. Describe dg anaouk okpik and Arthur Sze. Free. Info: lighting your business; its history, the people, what “wilderness” means to you and your 505.424.2365, [email protected] their role in the community and the values community. $500 prizes (total of $2,000 will held by the business. 575.323.1575, carrie@ be awarded). Info: 505.898.6388, Rebecca. nmgreenchamber.com [email protected] www.GreenFireTimes.com Green Fire Times • December 2013 47 Green48 Fire Times • December 2013 www.GreenFireTimes.com