Education

Result: All children and youth succeed in education and are prepared for a career.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

• School readiness • Reading proficiency • Math proficiency • High school graduation rates • Opportunity youth* engagement (*Youth ages 12–24

struggling with school, not enrolled in school, and/or not working)

Through direct services, policy advocacy, and/or collaborative efforts, priority strategies will address:

• Integrated student and family supports for at-risk/ vulnerable populations with strong place-based solutions supported by a network of caring and appropriately trained adult and peer relationships • Access to quality, affordable early childhood education and out-of-school (after school and summer) opportunities • Targeted interventions to close the academic achievement gaps across key milestones from birth to career • Work-based learning and career technical education through real life and personally relevant education, including career exploration and alternative pathway opportunities • Education/provider/family training and support so they can be strong advocated and supporters for children and student success—especially in high-needs areas

Armand Hammer United World College of the American West (UWC-USA)

uwc-usa.org

Mission | UWC-USA makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Proposal | We partner with local Native American schools and pueblos, assisted by educational and Indigenous consultants, to build our capacity and deliver programs and activities for local youth and students in UWC-USA's signature experiential education. All participants receive full scholarships to take part in programs on constructive engagement of conflict, wilderness leadership, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, and annual summer Global Leadership Forum. Noteworthy | 13% of Native Americans hold a college degree, compared to 28% of the general population. We aim to increase access to educational opportunities in the younger years by partnering with Native American schools and pueblos to build pipelines for local Native American students to be better prepared for academic success through collaborative learning, exposure to stimulating academic challenges, and experiential education.

Breakthrough Santa Fe

breakthroughsantafe.org

Mission | To support motivated public middle school students whose identities have been historically excluded from higher education on their path to college. In addition, the program provides high school and college-age young adults with a rewarding experience as teachers and mentors. Proposal | Breakthrough Santa Fe requests funds to support our ongoing work with young people who will be the first in their families to go to college. We provide a six year intensive academic program, one on one college counseling, tutoring services, and advocacy support for students and their families. Please help us close the college access gap in Santa Fe! Noteworthy | According to the 2020 Pell Institute's "Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States," 20% of New Mexican low-income students enroll in college.

Bridges Project for Education

bridgesproject.org

Mission | To expand access to college and vocational training, with an emphasis on students who are from historically underrepresented groups. Postsecondary access is a community issue. Inequality hurts us all. Bridges takes steps to level the playing field. Demystifying the path to postsecondary education helps clients find their way forward in education and in life. Proposal | Since 1997, Bridges has helped over 3,200 clients in northern New Mexico access postsecondary education. We respectfully request support for our continuum of free services. Bridges increases access to college and vocational training by providing: free individualized counseling, free early engagement outreach through our College Connections presentations and workshops, and free alumni outreach for clients enrolled in their program. Noteworthy | It’s predicted that by 2027, 70% of jobs will require some postsecondary education. Many in Taos may find themselves unqualified. Validated research confirms that disparities in college access disproportionately affect minority, low-income, and first-generation students, and we see that played out, grievously, in our community. The majority of Bridges clients are from these groups which are two-thirds less likely to enter postsecondary education.

Cañones Early Childhood Center

Mission | The Cañones Early Childhood Center is a small nonprofit organization bringing early childhood education and emergent literacy services to a population of rural, isolated, minority families in northern New Mexico. The mission of this program is to interrupt the cycles of rural isolation and poverty, by reaching out to preschool children and their families, fostering confidence, a positive cultural identity, and a basic, literacy-rich foundation for future achievement in school. Proposal | This program provides early childhood services to an under-served population of families in remote areas of Rio Arriba County. These children are living in isolation, and considering the current pandemic, the need for our services continues to be even more important in their development. Noteworthy | New Mexico’s children are among the least likely in the nation to find opportunities for success. Substandard academic performance and high rates of dropping out, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, and other issues impact the state’s children at unacceptable levels (Daniels Fund 2015). The area targeted by this project has no Headstart, PreK, or other early childhood programs, and, in addition, no libraries.

Climate Advocates Voces Unidas

cavu.org

Mission | Climate Advocates Voces Unidas (CAVU) utilizes educational programming and visual storytelling to support locally-led solutions to the climate crisis. Proposal | In CAVU’s free STEAM program, the Climate Innovation Challenge, New Mexico students join peers from around the world to create locally-led, culturally-responsive solutions to the climate crisis as they learn storytelling techniques and video production skills so they can share those ideas with decision-makers. CIC gives a sense of agency and possibility to a diversity of students including underrepresented youth as they move into their educational and professional futures in a climate-challenged world. Noteworthy | “Today, many teachers have little or no formal training about climate change, much less about how to teach it, and what students learn about climate change can vary widely from state to state and even classroom to classroom…A 2014 survey found that 57% of science teachers had no formal training about climate change” (Youth Today: After a win for U.S. climate change education, classroom implementation is off to a slow start).

College and Career Plaza

collegecareerplaza.org

Mission | To provide career and college mentoring and strategic guidance to high school students in Santa Fe. Proposal | College and Career Plaza respectfully requests funding to continue providing professional, bilingual college and career guidance and educational services directly to students enrolled in Santa Fe's high schools. Funding will not only go toward ensuring our current programs continue to meet the needs of the 3,000 students who have access to our school-based centers, but it will also support program growth into additional schools. Noteworthy | Santa Fe’s public high school students are experiencing inequity in the secondary education system for socio-economic reasons, language differences, and challenges with the immigration status of themselves and their families. Recognizing that approximately 25%–75% of the high school population at CHS and SFHS are ELL students, and 75%–100% are on the free or reduced lunch program, CCP has ensured that our program staff is culturally and linguistically responsive.

Communities in Schools New Mexico

cisnm.org

Mission | To surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Proposal | Communities In Schools of New Mexico works inside northern New Mexico’s high poverty public schools to ensure that all students—regardless of socio-economic status —have the support, resources, and guidance they need to stay in school and achieve in life. Noteworthy | Per U.S. Census, 22% of Santa Fe County children and 27% of Rio Arriba County children live in poverty. Research shows that children growing up in poverty suffer disproportionately from multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences, including hunger, housing instability, abuse and neglect, family dysfunction, and exposure to violence at home and in the community. They are also five times more likely to drop out of school than their more fortunate peers.

Dual Language Education of New Mexico

dlenm.org

Mission | To develop, support, and advocate for high-quality dual language enriched education in NM and beyond. New Mexico’s rich linguistic and cultural resources must be developed as assets. Four decades of research provide a road map for developing a multilingual, multicultural citizenry. Providing an enriched multilingual education combined with high expectations has the greatest potential to close the achievement gap and prepare students for success in the 21st century. Proposal | We request support for the development of inperson and virtual mathematics modules for K–8 educators to identify what it takes for students to be mathematically proficient and the strategies to support students in meeting grade-level standards. Specific attention will be given to those working with academic language learners and emerging bilingual students with strategies and activities designed to build deep mathematical understanding and the language needed to articulate their learning. Noteworthy | On the national 2019 NAEP assessment, 29% of New Mexico’s fourth graders performed at or above the proficient level in math. When disaggregated, 44% of white students, 24% of Hispanic students, and 17% of American Indian students tested proficient or above. 23% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch tested proficient in math versus 51% of students who were not eligible.

El Rito Public Library

elritolibrary.org

Mission | To further the aims of education for the public by serving as a portal through which individuals and families may obtain information, and acquire skills and experience for enlightenment, enjoyment, and empowerment. Proposal | Our small, nonprofit-accredited library seeks funds to purchase heritage fruit trees and native pollinator plants for our ongoing development of the landscape around our library. Teens will help in our effort to inventory existing fruit trees locally. We will be co-offering workshops for fruit tree care in an effort to support long established fruit tree cultivation in our region and to help establish pollinators needed for fertilization. Noteworthy | Our library functions in a region with many deficits: in education (i.e. Mesa Vista School youth grade three have only 27% of students proficient in reading or math), in jobs, in rates of child poverty (24–26%). We’re in a food desert, in an area of few affordable internet services, and in a region of high levels of opioid addictions. Our goal of lifelong learning attempts to address these deficits and give people skills to find resources for solutions and enrichment.

Embudo Valley Tutoring Association

embudovalleytutoring.com

Mission | To provide free tutoring/mentoring support to children in financial need in an area where the child poverty rate hovers close to 30%; help reduce the high school dropout rate by helping children become proficient readers and acquire foundational math skills in the primary years; strengthen the quality of education by providing trained tutors to schools; and help dyslexic and other learning disabled students succeed by training tutors to provide specialized support. Proposal | We seek funding to address the widened learning gaps experienced by high priority students due to loss of learning opportunities during the COVID-19 school shutdowns and subsequent quarantining requirements. EVTA tutors and mentors help K–12 students work toward grade-level reading and math proficiency. Support is offered through targeted interventions that address specific learning holes as identified through fall baseline testing. EVTA monitors students to ensure consistent progress. Noteworthy | New Mexico is ranked 50th among the states in childhood education. According to the Anne Casey Foundation's Data Kid's Count Data Book 2022, 76% of New Mexico's children are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade and 79% of New Mexico's youth are not proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. 50% of students at Dixon Elementary are not proficient in reading and 46% are not proficient at math (GreatSchools.org).

Explora Science Center & Childrens Museum of Albuquerque

explora.us

Mission | To create opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Proposal | Explora’s “Growing a Scientist” program provides STEAM-focused early childhood education for preschoolers and support for grandparents raising their grandchildren in northern New Mexico. In partnership with groups such as the Las Cumbres Community Services, Explora will engage families in group learning events at local community spaces and distribute STEAM Kits for continued engagement at home, guiding our youngest learners in hands-on STEAM discovery while fostering family-centered learning. Noteworthy | New Mexico is now ranked 50th in overall child well-being and education (2022 Kids Count Data Book). Amber Wallin, Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children, argues that progress in education access will continue “only if we keep up those investments in our kids and keep creating opportunities.” At Explora, we work to eliminate learning opportunity gaps and provide services that drive economic development and support educators so that we can work together to dismantle barriers to education.

Future Focused Education

futurefocusededucation.org

Mission | To create healthier and more prosperous communities by advancing the best education for the students who need it the most. FFE envisions schools as sites of innovation and opportunity, where students become the creators of healthy and more prosperous communities. Proposal | We request funding to scale the X3 internship program for underserved youth in Santa Fe in collaboration with Communities In Schools, diverse employers, and secondary and post-secondary institutions. Our initial pilot in 2021 placed three students in paid internships; we have now placed 91 youth, and we envision a future when all young people participate in work-based learning as a stepping stone to viable careers that contribute to the health of their families and the Santa Fe community. Noteworthy | New Mexico’s young people need workforce skills to compete in careers wrought by the pandemic, technological growth, and demographic shifts. As a result of COVID-19, workers under age 25—concentrated in low-skill jobs—experienced the greatest employment loss of any demographic (NCCI “Research Brief,” 2021). Time, money, and social capital are all major hurdles for youth in accessing traditional career preparatory programming, which FFE aims to address with quality paid internships.

Global Give A Book, Inc.

ggab.org

Mission | To provide youth literacy by giving award-winning books to children in need. Proposal | Global Give A Book is determined to address the underserved, economically disadvantaged youth population with a commitment to their literacy growth—specifically by providing quality award-winning books to children in most need through food banks and food pantries and Title 1 schools. Noteworthy | There is one book for every 300 children in low income neighborhoods. By age four, low income children have heard 30 million fewer words than children from middle income families.

Growing Up New Mexico: The Early Childhood Partnership

growingupnm.org

Mission | To engage the whole community, bringing together people and resources to create increased opportunities for young children and the adults in their lives to achieve their dreams and aspirations. Proposal | At Growing Up New Mexico we envision a community where children and families are supported. Inherent in our mission is the guiding principle that all families are capable of success if given the right opportunities at the right time. We employ a multi-generational, or "whole family," approach that supports children and caregivers through a series of high-quality early childhood programs, prenatal to age five, designed to empower families and prepare children for success in school and beyond. Noteworthy | Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 4,497 public and private slots for Early Childhood Care and Education Services—home visiting, PreK, Head Start, centerbased care, licensed/registered home-based care, etc.—in Santa Fe County. However, there are close to 7,000 children under the age of five currently living in our community. This leaves many families eternally on waiting lists, where many “age out” and are unable to access the opportunities, resources, and tools they need for success.

Ignited Minds

ignitedmindsnonprofit.org

Mission | To provide free tutoring to New Mexico students to advance their academic achievement and self-esteem through school success. Our values are that we respect and honor every student’s learning needs. Our vision is that the New Mexico graduation rate will increase and surpass the 88% national high school graduation rate. Proposal | Ignited Minds aggressively recruits and markets directly to New Mexico families and students to provide free online tutoring services in every school subject by matching each student with a compatible dedicated tutor for an entire school year. We will provide a variety of student online workshops covering study and test taking skills and drafting college applications. Our goal is to tutor 2,000+ student sessions. Noteworthy | We tutored 1,389 student sessions in the 2021–2022 academic year—10% of the Santa Fe Public School student population. Our tutoring services improved students' failing grades to passing with As and Bs. One of our students earned the National Achievement Scholarship as a result of our direct tutoring SAT tutoring for a full annual year. The goal this year is to tutor 2,000 student sessions towards achieving academic success.

Institute for Applied Ecology

appliedeco.org

Mission | To conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research, and education. Our vision is a world where all people and wildlands are healthy and interact positively, biological diversity flourishes, and environmental challenges are met with a social commitment to solving problems with scientific principles. Proposal | We hope to offer more educational programs to Santa Fe youth where students have the opportunity to examine their own relationships with plants and the environment, gain practical conservation skills, foster stewardship for local forests, and connect with experts in the conservation field. We hope that this can get more youth outside and contribute to diversifying the conservation field. Noteworthy | In 2017, parents of children between ages eight and 12 said that their children spent three times as many hours with screens as they do outside. The same study found that there were more barriers for minority groups and young adults (EE360 2017). According to the Outdoor Foundation, children and young adults have drifted away from frequent participation in outdoor activities since 2015. In 2020, the Census reported that 90.3% of conservation scientists and foresters are white (non-Hispanic).

May Center for Learning

maycenter.org

Mission | To empower students with learning differences to be successful, confident learners who recognize the importance of communication, collaboration, and community. We accomplish this goal by focusing on four specific success attributes: literacy, empowerment, advocacy, and principles. May Center is committed to developing the understanding of literacy and learning differences by providing consultation and professional development to educators in New Mexico. Proposal | Our vision is to ensure that every student in New Mexico has access to evidence-based literacy instruction from highly skilled teachers who have deep knowledge of best practices based in the science of reading. With unrestricted funding, we would be able to fully implement the May Way model in public schools across the state as beacons for best practice for their regions. Noteworthy | In the state of New Mexico, only 34% of students are proficient in reading at their grade level or higher (New Mexico Public Education Department, https:// newmexicoschools.com/state/999999/student-performance).

Mother Tongue Project

mothertongueproject.org

Mission | To teach young parents critical academic reading and writing skills so that they can effectively give voice to their thoughts and experiences, pursue educational and career goals, and support the school readiness of their children. Proposal | Parenting secondary and post-secondary students are disproportionately women of color experiencing generational poverty. Mother Tongue Project’s new Santa Fe Community College programming confronts this cycle and its inequities via a highly supportive, cohort-based, topicallyrelevant English sequence that expedites college-level student literacy. The two-semester program takes parenting students from developmental English through the collegelevel English course required for degree completion. Noteworthy | Roughly 11% of U.S. undergraduates are single, female, parenting students, according to Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Yet, “only 28% of single mother learners earn a degree or credential within six years, but each additional level of education they complete decreases their chances of living in poverty by 32%.” The Casey Foundation Kids Count Data book consistently puts New Mexico between 48th and 50th in reading proficiency, teen births/ young parenthood, thus this need is large across our state.

My Little Horse Listener, Inc

mylittlehorselistener.org

Mission | We use miniature therapy horses and evidencebased equine facilitated learning practices to support indigent children and adolescents in their recovery from the impact of domestic violence, bullying, parental separation due to substance abuse, social isolation and reading impairments. Proposal | We seek funding to enable miniature therapy horses to travel into low-income communities, including schools, in Santa Fe and offer equine-facilitated learning and support to youth silently coping with domestic violence and without the means to travel to our corral. Our trained miniature equines have repeatedly demonstrated the uncanny ability to help youth find their voice and share their untold story—the very first step to escaping from the shadows of domestic violence. Noteworthy | Victims of domestic violence experience an average of 50 attacks before reaching out for help. The New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data Center estimates that 7,850 children witnessed violence, and 5,500 of those children had not received support services. The Data Center Report emphasized that better and different community responses are needed to identify and reach youth. We believe miniature equines can help find youth who, along with their victimized parent, struggle in shame and silence.

National Dance Institute New Mexico

ndi-nm.org

Mission | NDI New Mexico is founded with the knowledge that the arts have a unique power to engage and motivate children. The purpose of our distinctive programs is to help children develop discipline, a standard of excellence, and a belief in themselves that will carry over into all aspects of their lives. Proposal | Using the joy and exuberance of dance and music, NDI New Mexico provides access to transformational educational enrichment to primarily low-income students at elementary schools in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico and at our Santa Fe teaching facility, The Dance Barns. NDI New Mexico’s Outreach program is offered at no cost to students and participating children make gains in academics, social-emotional learning, and physical well-being—learning self-discipline, confidence, and teamwork. Noteworthy | In 2022, New Mexico ranked last in our nation in education. Our state’s high school graduation rate is 71%, and only 29% of fourth graders and 23% of eighth graders scored at or above proficient in reading (Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation). Graduation rates are even lower in Española at 65.5% (NMPED, 2020). A UNM study found that NDI New Mexico students earn higher grades and standardized test results than non-participating peers.

New Mexico School for the Arts— Art Institute

nmschoolforthearts.org

Mission | To provide access to a rigorous mastery arts and academic high school education for youth with passion and aptitude for the arts, leading to post-secondary learning, careers in the arts, and lives that contribute to society. Proposal | New Mexico School for the Arts—Art Institute requests funding to provide high school students across the state of New Mexico with two-three hours per school day of arts education at New Mexico School for the Arts. NMSA’s intersection of the arts and academics leads to improved social, emotional, and academic outcomes for our students, regardless of race, ethnicity, and other factors that limit educational equity. Noteworthy | Low income students that have access to indepth arts education perform better academically, have higher college-going rates, and are more likely to hold professional jobs than their peers in the same socio-economic group that have low access to arts education (https://www.arts.gov/sites/ default/files/Arts-At-Risk-Youth.pdf).

Ojo Sarco Community Center

facebook.com/OjoSarcoCommunityCenter

Mission | To sustain the only public space in Ojo Sarco, to remain open, to have a place that fosters community pride and enriches the lives of the people of Ojo Sarco and neighboring villages through programs and activities as resources allow. To achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, create social and physical environments that promote good health for all. Proposal | In support of children and youth, OSCC works to increase protective factors using a Community That Cares (CTC) social development strategy. This evidence-based program gives young people opportunities, skills and recognition which strengthen bonding with family, school, and community. Strong bonds motivate young people to adopt healthy standards for behavior. In support of education and rural literacy, we have been working toward the goal of becoming a Rural New Mexico State Library, which will be accomplished this year. Noteworthy | New Mexico children have fallen to last place in the U.S. for child wellbeing. Rio Arriba County has too many indicators that are among the worst in the state, which already has a very low bar. OSCC focuses on Ojo Sarco children, striving to provide them and their carers the skills and resources to help them rise above the current status.

R4 Creating

R4Creating.org

Mission | To take STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education to the next level and turn “learners into leaders” through creative hands-on approaches in STEM-related activities and career readiness opportunities. Our programs include statewide camps, community robotics teams, outreaches, mentoring for students, and internships with business partners. We strive to offer students a competitive advantage that links their potential to a strong and successful future. Proposal | Funding will help provide R4 Creating with the needed program support to house, staff, and supply programs that are helping change the future of New Mexico's youth and turn "learners into leaders." Noteworthy | As it did in 2018, New Mexico ranked 50th in the education domain, but this year the state fell to 50th in the family and community domain, dropping from 49th. The state ranked the same this year as last in the other two domains, economic security (49th) and health (48th).

Reading Quest

readingquestcenter.org

Mission | To help children who are struggling to read become strong, enthusiastic readers. We accomplish this by providing individual and group tutoring to children who are significantly below grade level in reading; by providing intensive two-week reading camps to groups of children during the summer; and by providing workshops, training, coaching, and mentoring to public school teachers, and tutors for other organizations, in order to improve their ability to teach reading. Proposal | Reading Quest is seeking support for providing free one-on-one tutoring for public school students who are a year or more below grade level in reading. Noteworthy | 33% of the students in the Santa Fe public schools read proficiently at grade level. Reading proficiency varies significantly among District student subgroups. Districtwide, only 26% of Hispanic students read proficiently at grade level while 60% of caucasian students do. 74% of students in the District are considered disadvantaged, and of these students, only 23% read proficiently. 26% of Santa Fe Public School students are English Language Learners, and of these, only 14% read proficiently at grade level.

Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program

rioarribaadultliteracyprogram.org

Mission | To help community members transform their lives through enhanced literacy by providing free, one-to-one tutoring for adults reading at or below sixth grade level. Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program (RAALP) works with both Basic Literacy students and English as a Second Language learners. Proposal | We are currently striving to bring community members the opportunity to learn to read, write, and speak English. RAALP helps them become more successful individuals as well as successful family and community members. Our vision is that our students do not miss out on opportunities to improve their current living and working environments by giving them the tools and teaching them the skills to obtain more meaningful life experiences. Noteworthy | New Mexico is 49th in the nation for Literacy. Nationwide, on average, 79% of U.S. adults are literate in 2022. 54% of adults have a literacy below sixth grade level. Low levels of literacy costs the U.S. up to $2.2 trillion per year. 34% of adults who lack proficiency in literacy were born outside the U.S. New Mexico was the state with the lowest child literacy rate. Nationwide, 66% of 4th grade children in the U.S. could not read proficiently in 2020.

River Source Inc.

riversource.net

Mission | To support people advancing watershed stewardship to create significant community engagement and longlasting impacts for intergenerational learning and ecological restoration. We provide science and policy education and the building of watershed and climate resilience in New Mexico. Our goal is to be weavers, bringing together elders, youth, and land managers to spark action for caring for our water, forests, and land and leveraging the full potential of people working together. Proposal | River Source turns community watersheds into outdoor classrooms by creating learning experiences and job pathways for people in ecological restoration, water protection, and environmental protection. River Source uplifts the value of curiosity with the natural world, intergenerational learning and storytelling, and connecting traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary science and technology to build capacity rather than dependence on our services. Noteworthy | We resist the trend shown by a survey of 10,000 young people (16–25 years old) in 10 countries that 45% of those surveyed said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning and over 50% felt sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty (Sept 2021). We know that hands-on learning in the fields of ecological monitoring, restoration, and service for healing the planet creates a reciprocal benefit for restoration of people's health and well being.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps

youthcorps.org

Mission | Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a stepping stone to new opportunities. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, corps members discover their potential for healthy, productive lives. Proposal | RMYC will work with regional partners and community organizations to provide comprehensive life skills and workforce development training to deaf and hard of hearing youth and young adults. They will receive life skills training and workforce development skills through the RMYC American Sign Language Program. Noteworthy | People with a disability in Santa Fe County are much less likely to participate in the labor force. The five-year estimate of the U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey states that the employment rate for people with a disability in Santa Fe County was a staggering 23.7% compared to the rest of the population at 62.8%. People with a disability have largely given up looking for a job because of the lack of viable opportunities and training.

Santa Fe Children's Museum

santafechildrensmuseum.org

Mission | To discover the joys of learning, play, and community. Santa Fe Children’s Museum (SFCM) builds upon a child’s sense of joy and discovery by cultivating habits of inquiry in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Proposal | Funding will support complementary STEM-based field trips (in-person or virtual) for 4,000 New Mexico youth attending Title 1 schools, where children are at risk of failure, and living in or near poverty. Led by our bilingual planetary scientist, our Stargazer planetarium program provides a perfect immersive space experience for teachers and students ages five to 10. This program keeps kids engaged, motivates them to learn, and ensures they have the support they need to best meet their learning potential. Noteworthy | Children attending Title 1 schools in New Mexico indicate high numbers of ethnic and racial minorities, refugees, immigrants, English Language Learners, and children with disabilities or special needs. These kids also face barriers to access to literacy, healthy food options, and safe outdoor play and exploration. Free field trips and educational services will help 4,000 students at 108 highpoverty schools meet the same high academic standards expected of all children, contributing to student success.

Santa Fe Concert Association dba Performance Santa Fe

performancesantafe.org

Mission | To present world-class music, dance, and theater, and to provide excellent performing arts education for our community. Proposal | Performance Santa Fe (PSF) requests funding for its educational programs, which are provided at no cost to participants. These programs include the Field Trip Series, which hosts student matinee concerts; the Masterclass Series, wherein students learn directly from world-class touring artists in a small group setting; and Arts for Life, which provides weekly mentoring in Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) arts classes. Noteworthy | In the 2022–23 school year, 73.4% of New Mexico students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, a standard federal metric for child poverty. PSF targets its free education programs to primarily Title 1 schools. These programs enrich the music programs of SFPS and host inspiring events in which students can interface with internationally-renowned touring artists. Most of the students who participate would not otherwise have access to quality arts programming.

Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association, Inc.

sfysa.org

Mission | To inspire and engage the youth of northern New Mexico's multicultural communities through excellent music education, the guidance of music professionals, and performance opportunities from small ensemble to full orchestra in jazz, mariachi and orchestra. Proposal | The Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association (SFYSA) seeks support to continue providing quality music education and sliding scale tuition. Students—especially those who are financially disadvantaged—continue to struggle in the wake of the pandemic, strengthening the need for the role models, small-group instruction, teamwork skills, self-discipline, creative outlets, and social-emotional learning that SFYSA imparts through classes in mariachi, jazz, orchestra, and chamber music. Noteworthy | One in four SFYSA students—over 60 individuals—receives financial assistance, representing $30,000 in financial aid and scholarships awarded during the organization’s upcoming 29th season.

St. John's College

sjc.edu

Mission | St. John’s is a liberal arts college known for its oneof-a-kind curriculum that immerses students in Great Books and unmediated discussion. Through close engagement with 200+ works across dozens of subject areas, including philosophy, literature, math, science, music, history, politics, and more, students grapple with the fundamental questions that confront us as human beings. With a 7:1 student to faculty ratio, St. John's is nationally recognized for its exceptional classroom experience. Proposal | In 2018, St. John's College successfully transitioned from a tuition-based business model to one that relies on philanthropy. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and community members, undergraduate tuition which once was $52,000 a year, was $36,040 for the 2021–2022 academic year. Additionally, students who are New Mexico residents receive an automatic grant from the college lowering tuition to $25,000 a year before any additional financial aid is applied, making St. John's more affordable still. Noteworthy | More than 90% of St. John's undergraduate students receive financial aid and 20% of students are Pell recipients. More than 10% of students are first generation in their families to attend college. Approximately 25% of St. John's students are students of color.

STEM Santa Fe

stemsantafe.org

Mission | STEM Santa Fe advocates for, develops and provides STEM programming, mentoring and resources for all youth, especially underrepresented groups in STEM, to realize their potential and expand their opportunities in a dynamic world. Proposal | Investing in the STEM education of New Mexico youth is more crucial than ever. We aim to increase diversity and promote equity in STEM by offering innovative STEM programming at low to no cost to families. With our inschool and out-of-school programs and our focus on middle and high school students, we are preparing New Mexico youth for the 21st-century challenges. We are inspiring them to stay engaged in their education with enriching hands-on STEM learning experiences and mentorships. Noteworthy | A 2022 report from the National Science Foundation finds that the U.S. is no longer the world leader in key measures of scientific accomplishment such as awarded patents and published papers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between now and 2030, jobs that require STEM skills will grow at a faster rate than other jobs. Women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in this segment of the labor force and does not reflect the true demographics of the country.

Teach For America New Mexico

teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/new-mexico

Mission | Teach For America finds, develops, and supports equity-oriented leaders—individually and in teams—so they can transform education and expand opportunity with children, starting in the classroom. Proposal | New Mexico urgently needs to attract, retain, and develop teachers with the passion and skills to help students achieve their dreams. Teach For America New Mexico works to increase teacher recruitment, diversify training pathways, remove barriers to entry, and ‘build the bench’ of future education leaders. Our new model allows all prospective and current New Mexico teachers to access our support, including transition-to-teaching resources and grants, 1:1 coaching, and leadership fellowships. Noteworthy | The number of teacher vacancies in New Mexico nearly doubled between 2020 and 2022 (New Mexico State University, 2021); approximately 8% of teachers leave the profession every year while nearly 50% of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years (U.S. Department of Education). Teacher retention has direct consequences on student achievement. Research suggests that low levels of teacher turnover are associated with higher student performance (Learning Policy Institute, 2021).

Think New Mexico

thinknewmexico.org

Mission | To improve the lives of all New Mexicans, especially those who lack a strong voice in the political process. We fulfill this mission by educating the public, the media, and policymakers about some of the most serious challenges facing New Mexico and by developing and advocating for enduring, effective, evidence-based solutions. Proposal | Funding supports our work to enact public policy reforms that address serious challenges facing New Mexico. Past successes include ending predatory lending, repealing the food tax, and making full-day kindergarten accessible to every child. Our new project is an ambitious agenda to transform New Mexico’s public schools, including improving recruitment, retention, and preparation of teachers, principals, and school board members, and reforming school calendars, curriculums, assessments, and more. Noteworthy | New Mexico ranks 50th in the nation for education on the 2021 Kids Count report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Nearly 40% of New Mexico high school graduates need to take remedial courses in college, which reduces their chances of earning a two-year or four-year degree. On national proficiency assessments, New Mexico’s student math proficiency is 27% for fourth graders and 20% for eighth graders, while reading proficiency is 30% for fourth graders and 31% for eighth graders.

The Tijeras Institute

tijerasfilms.org

Mission | Tijeras Institute is an educational film company that has produced award winning documentary films for PBS, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and nonprofit organizations. Recent documentaries streaming on New Mexico PBS include: Project ECHO: A Democracy of Knowledge, about a world wide health project that started in the state; The Medicine in Marijuana, what we know and don't about cannabis; and The Sun Never Sets, about the Rio Grande Sun, a weekly newspaper in Española, NM. Proposal | We are requesting funds to help in the production of a documentary film about New Mexico's rural libraries. There are 51 of them in small villages across the state, and they are essential to the educational and social fabric of their communities. We have begun filming in Vallecitos, The Pueblo of Abiquiu, El Rito, and Dixon libraries, already replete with wonderful stories of history, tradition, and their importance as centers of gathering and community. We will visit several more in other areas of New Mexico. Noteworthy | New Mexico’s rural libraries mean books, but so much more. They offer free internet access in rural areas that have none, provide GED, STEM, coding, tutoring, and after school programs. They host community events and meetings, help with computer access for jobs, health insurance, voter registration, and citizenship applications. Almost half of New Mexico’s rural libraries subsist on less than $50,000 a year, some less than $10,000. Most depend on volunteers. The Embudo Valley Library in Dixon has over 60.

Truchas Services Center, Inc.

truchasservicescenter.org

Mission | To provide leadership, administration, and organization for community action programs serving children, youth, families, adults, and senior citizens, developing community as a means of uniting the diverse cultures of the region in a common goal of community improvement and education. This includes the maintenance of facilities that serve the entire community and surrounding areas. Proposal | The Truchas Services Center seeks funding for community programs that include a rural public library, preschool (non income based), summer program for K sixth graders, and adult interest based groups. We provide meeting space for local activities and sponsor the community's annual Fiesta in July. We distribute food twice monthly in partnership with the Santa Fe Food Depot. Noteworthy | The distance to any services from Truchas are well over 20 miles in any direction. Our library services include FAX, Wi-Fi, notary services, CDs, DVDs, books, and public computers for the community. Our preschool has provided a safe place for children in the community for the past 49 years. Because of the distances to larger venues, our adult programs fill a need for local residents. We live in a food desert and provide the only source of food for miles around for over 1,000 people.