Educational Success & Career Pathways

WE INVITED REQUESTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS 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 in school, and/or not working

Through direct service, policy advocacy, and/or collaboration efforts, priority strategies will address:

• Family engagement with training and integrated student and family supports • Mentoring and tutoring with strong place-based solutions • Access to quality, affordable early childhood education and out-of-school (after school and summer) opportunities • Work-based learning and career technical education through real life and personally relevant education including career exploration and alternative pathway opportunities • Youth capacity building to develop strong advocacy and supports for student success • Targeted interventions to close the academic achievement gaps across key milestones from birth to career

Amy Biehl Community School

Santa Fe | amybiehl.sfps.info

Mission | To increase confidence and competency in fundamental math skills in the elementary school population of Santa Fe. Proposal | This project requires funds to reward elementary school students for mastering the core competency of multiplication tables and for outstanding performance in an end-of-year math competition. Noteworthy | Results from the May 2021 iStation Math Assessment indicate that only 24% of 6th grade students at Amy Biehl were proficient in Overall Math, and only 11% were proficient in Computation and Algebraic Thinking.

Armand Hammer United World College of the American West

Montezuma | uwc-usa.org

Mission | UWC-USA makes education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Proposal | UWC-USA high school students, representing some 90 countries, are actively involved in extensive community service to support provision of free tutoring and educational support programs to Las Vegas youth on a weekly basis in school and after school, as well as a number of other local agencies addressing hunger relief and animal welfare. Your gift helps support coordinated, collaborative efforts to provide engaging educational enrichment for northern New Mexico youth. Noteworthy | Youth in San Miguel County face a number of obstacles, including low educational attainment, a 37.3% poverty rate and 83.3% high school graduation rate. In Las Vegas, graduation rates have steadily risen from 72.6% in 2017 and 74.5% in 2018 to 82% in 2020. The last time graduation rates were this high was in 2013. UWC-USA would like to continue to be part of the solution and help increase educational attainment and graduation rates to reach at least the national standard of 88%.

Breakthrough Santa Fe

Santa Fe | breakthroughsantafe.org

Mission | Breakthrough Santa Fe helps motivated students in grades 7–12 from underserved public schools be the first in their families to go 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 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 2018 Pell Institute's "Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States," only 22 percent of New Mexican low-income students enroll in college.

Bridges Project for Education

Taos | bridgesproject.org

Mission | To increase access to postsecondary options for people of all ages, especially those who are among the first generation in their families to pursue certificates, vocational training, and two-year and four-year degrees. Postsecondary access is a community issue. Inequality hurts us all. Bridges takes steps to level the playing field. Demystifying the path to postsecondary education and helping clients find their way forward in education and life. Proposal | Founded in 1997, Bridges respectfully requests funds to continue offering a continuum of postsecondary access services for people of all ages focused primarily on first generation to college students. In a typical year, 60% of Bridges clients are from underrepresented groups and are Pell grant eligible. Bridges provides free individualized counseling, presentations, and workshops guiding clients through the admissions and financial aid process for college and vocational programs. Noteworthy | It’s predicted that by 2027 70% of jobs will require some postsecondary education. In Taos County, 24% to 31% of adults have bachelor’s degrees. Underrepresented students are 66% less likely to pursue and complete postsecondary programs. First-generation students lack a parent’s experience to help them. Families are empowered as they navigate admissions and financial aid processes. Clients increase self-sufficiency and improve the socioeconomic welfare of the community.

College and Career Plaza

Santa Fe | collegecareerplaza.org

Mission | To provide college and career guidance and education to high school students in Santa Fe. Proposal | College and Career Plaza respectfully requests funding to continue providing 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 we meet the needs of the 3,000 students and their families who have access to our two centers in the Santa Fe Public Schools, but it will also support program growth in additional schools identified by the CCP strategic plan and needs assessment. Noteworthy | The National Skills Coalition projects report that 80% of all job openings between 2014 and 2024 in the United States will be middle and high-skill jobs requiring a workforce certification, college certificate, or degree. At Santa Fe High School, 75% of young people are Hispanic and 52% are on the free or reduced lunch program. At Capital High School, 94% of students are Hispanic and 100% of students are on free or reduced lunch.

Collins Lake Autism Center

Cleveland

Mission | To provide meaningful opportunities to people with developmental disabilities and the community who helps support them. Proposal | We have partnered with the Mora schools to offer education services at the Ranch and are requesting funding to expand our campground and outdoor education facilities. Noteworthy | The Mora County population is 81% Hispanic. 62% of households have computers and only 53% have internet services. During the past year, we opened up our campground facility to any student that was having difficulty with remote learning. We provided internet connectivity and staff for struggling students. Approximately 25 students attended at various times. This coming year, we have partnered with the Mora schools to offer enrichment classes here and will offer supported learning as needed.

Community Learning Network

Santa Fe | communitylearningnetwork.org

Mission | CommUNITY Learning Network (CLN) was established based on the recommendations of a Navajo co-founder who advised: "wellbeing is nourished by being accountable to a people and a place." CLN is dedicated to building stronger communities through real-life learning and is committed to supporting community resiliency. In 2016, CLN launched the New Mexico TechWorks initiative to expand tech access, education, employment and enterprise development in northern New Mexico. Proposal | CLN is strengthening equity and diversity in tech and STEAM career pathways by connecting local underserved and underrepresented students with wellpaying careers and professionals through "NM Career Academy" real-life learning experiences that are easily accessible, regionally aligned, community driven, culturally relevant, creatively engaging, highlight local industries and careers, and focused on professionals that are female, Hispanic, and Native American. Noteworthy | It is critical to reach students at the middle school and high school levels to build tech and STEAM career and career pathways awareness as well as local, real-world community connections. Research has identified middle school as a time when students can benefit the most from career exploration (Association for Career and Technical Training). In 2018-19, the student-to-school-counselor ratio for New Mexico was reported at 473 students to one counselor (American School Counselor Association report).

Eleanor Daggett Memorial Library

Chama | eleanordaggett.booksys.net

Mission | To advance literacy, promote lifelong learning, and to enrich the lives of our community. Proposal | Our library serves our communities across approximately 600 square miles. The funds requested will allow for additional staff to create and implement educational and enrichment programs for children and adults. Since we have fiber optic cable installed in our library, we are able to provide faster and better internet for our community. Our new website will be able to reach more community members and give us more flexibility in allowing more people to know what is going on at the library. Noteworthy | We distribute books for our youth and our adults in our community. The books we weed out and get as donations are distributed to our free libraries as well as individuals wanting and needing these for others.

Explora Science Center & Children's Museum of Albuquerque

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 | Funding for Explora will provide science education outreach programs for 500 underserved children (birth to age five) and their parents/caregivers, with an emphasis on those in Mora, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel counties. This investment will increase young families’ interest, understanding, and engagement in STEAM while building communities’ capacity to provide experiential STEAM-based learning, preparing young children for kindergarten and beyond. Noteworthy | New Mexico ranks near the bottom of all states in education and economic well-being. Within our state, test scores routinely show significant disparities along regional, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines, resulting in wide achievement gaps and a lack of diversity in STEAM fields. Explora works statewide, offering STEAM programming in local schools and libraries, and engaging students in STEAM learning that builds the foundation for success in school and beyond.

First Serve - NM, Inc.

Santa Fe | firstservenewmexico.org

Mission | First Serve - New Mexico exists to strengthen the lives and enhance the character of Santa Fe’s children through education, life skills, and tennis. It is founded on the belief that the combination of these activities in a supportive environment can change a child’s total trajectory from mediocre to excellent; transform a child’s life from apathy to involvement and from shyness to confidence in communication; and give each child a stronger sense of self, and an inherent respect for others. Proposal | To support a year-round, structured, after-school program for 70 to 100 public school students annually in grades three through 12 by providing highly qualified tutors, trained life skills coaches, and tennis instructors in an environment of strong, collaborative peer groups where students return year after year and genuine leadership skills are fostered. Participating students commit to daily attendance for the entire academic year, alternating days between academic tutoring and tennis instruction. Noteworthy | Despite the recent increase in the SFPS graduation rate to 86.3%, data show that graduating students are ill prepared to enter college based on the number of students requiring remedial coursework (Pollard, Jessica. Santa Fe New Mexican, 24 July 2021). Students involved in academic and tennis programs, such as First Serve - New Mexico, are more likely than their peers to report grade averages of "A" and state they are "definitely" attending college (Women's Sports Fdtn. How Tennis Influences Youth Development, 2019).

Girls Incorporated of Santa Fe, Inc.

Santa Fe | girlsincofsantafe.org

Mission | Girls Inc. of Santa Fe inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We provide girls ages five to 18 with real solutions to the unique issues girls face by addressing the whole girl — her mental and physical health, life skills, and academic achievement. Girls Inc. gives girls the tools and support they need to succeed, including trained professionals who mentor and guide them in a safe, girls-only environment; peers who share their drive and aspirations; and research-based programming. Proposal | As we look forward to returning to in-person programming, GISF seeks funds to increase program delivery staff in order to meet the growing requests for our services. Program staff not only implement our field-tested programing, they also work with the girls, their families, and our school partners to ensure that our curricula respond to the girls’ needs. Engaging more girls in our hands-on activities will require an increase in supplies and equipment. $.88 of each $1 goes to girls’ development. Noteworthy | The need for out-of-school support for Santa Fe students is very great; in the most recent Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count rankings, New Mexico was again last in the nation for children’s education and on-time high school graduation and 49th in the nation for teens not in school or working. Girls Inc. of Santa Fe works to give girls the resilience they need to stay in school and to set and achieve goals, boldly confront challenges, resist peer pressure, and see college as attainable.

The Homeschool Classroom

Santa Fe | thehomeschoolclassroomsantafe.com

Mission | The Homeschool Classroom will continue to serve families with children five-14, helping them to become lifelong learners. Hundreds of children who have been unsuccessful in regular or private school settings have discovered their love of learning at THC. Specializing in the acquisition of math and reading skills, we teach the whole child. Families new to homeschooling due to COVID-19 closures find their way with provided academic curriculum and emotional support during these hard times. Proposal | After ten years of growing the Santa Fe Homeschool Community at The Homeschool Classroom, more families than ever are seeking guidance in successfully teaching their child in a home setting. Every year, 15–25 students who been unsuccessful in regular education settings have sought out assistance in developing an academic and also emotional health curriculum in order to re-enter public school at a later date. Failed families find community support and a renewed love of learning. Noteworthy | The number of children registered with the state as homeschoolers almost doubled from around 8,800 before the pandemic to around 15,400 this past school year, according to Public Education Department data. The Homeschool Classroom is attempting to meet the needs of these new families who are overwhelmed with juggling full-time jobs and their child’s learning needs.

Ignited Minds

Santa Fe | ignitedmindsnonprofit.org

Mission | To provide free tutoring to advance students’ academic learning and increase the New Mexico graduation rate. Our values are that we respect and honor every student’s learning needs. Our vision is to establish tutoring centers at New Mexico public, charter, and rural schools. Proposal | Ignited Minds supplies school clients with the skill set needed to fill the current gaps in the state’s public school system and reduce challenges imposed by the learning lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ignited Minds tutors are experts in their respective fields, many of which have obtained their PhDs, have experience as university level professors, and/or have demonstrated mastery in the STEM disciplines. Noteworthy | The New Mexico public school system is ranked last in the United States due to high dropout rates and overall low math and reading test scores. New Mexico’s graduation rate of 74.6% is the lowest in the nation. Contributing to the state’s performance, the National Assessment of Educational Progress reports only 21% of eighth grade students in New Mexico are proficient in math and science, which is 12 points below the national average.

Institute for Computing in Research

Santa Fe | computinginresearch.org

Mission | The Institute for Computing in Research is a consortium of students, scientists, and educators in the Santa Fe area who work together on computational scientific research. The program's primary goal is to train students for college and careers in research, computer programming, and computational science through our minicourses, teacher professional development, and summer internship program for students. Proposal | The Institute for Computing in Research requests funding to purchase equipment for classes in computer programming and computational research and fund one Intern for our summer internship program. The grant will pay for equipment and stipends for low-income students. Noteworthy | The under-representation of females and people of color in the field of computing is a social justice issue and is our area of greatest passion. Given the most generous statistics, women represent about 20% of those working in computer science, while racial and ethnic minorities represent 30% in this field. These statistics are not due to a lack of interest, but rather a lack of access. The Institute for Computing in Research works to address that gap in equity and access in our community.

Lensic Performing Arts Center Corporation

Santa Fe | lensic.org

Mission | The Lensic Performing Arts Center enriches lives by bringing diverse art and people together in the historic Lensic Theater, a cornerstone of downtown Santa Fe since 1931. The Lensic puts equal emphasis on performing arts, arts education, and community service. We present and support local, national, and international artists and serve as a center for education, community events, and youth events by providing accessible and affordable programming. Proposal | The Lensic serves 18,000 K–12 students annually with free arts education programs that engage and inspire, support curriculum, and introduce careers/provide handson training. Programs include student matinees, technical theater training, low-sensory performances, workshops, a photo and film competition, and tickets for youth organizations. We reach students with limited access to the arts, including those from low-income families, at-risk youth, and students with autism/developmental delays. Noteworthy | Studies show that 1) students with high arts participation have a dropout rate five times lower than their peers; students with access to music education programs scored more than 20% higher on English and math tests; students involved in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement; and students engaged in the arts are more than twice as likely to graduate from college (Americans for the Arts-Arts Education Navigator, 2013).

Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe

Santa Fe | lvsf.org

Mission | To provide free tutoring to adults in reading, writing, and speaking English to strengthen communities, families, and the workforce. Our vision is a literate, thriving community where words can be read, written, spoken, and understood and where people can attain their goals and fully participate in society. Proposal | LVSF requests support for our growing Literacy Tutoring Program. LVSF is the only program in Santa Fe that provides free, quality tutoring services to nearly 400 adults seeking to improve their basic literacy skills or learn English as a second language. Our programs give students the skills they need to prepare for meaningful work or access to education to provide them with economic mobility that leads to a successful and happy life. Noteworthy | LVSF targets adults with reading, writing, and/ or math skills below the sixth-grade level. For example, recent data indicates that in Santa Fe County, 24 percent of adults function at literacy Level 1 (equivalent to approximately a first-grade reading level) and 29 percent at Level 2 (equal to roughly a second to fourth-grade reading level). To put this into perspective, with a population (ages 16–74) of 111,852, nearly 60,000 adults in Santa Fe County require Basic Literacy tutoring services.

MANA del Norte a Chapter of MANA National

Santa Fe | manadelnortenm.org

Mission | Empowering Latinas through education, community service, leadership development, and advocacy. Proposal | MANA del Norte is requesting funds to provide an avenue to the underserved Latinas in northern New Mexico to attend college and to assist them in providing a means to higher education. They will be more self-assured and passionate about what they plan to be in the next years. A lot of Latinas are working full-time jobs during the day and taking night classes. Therefore, they understand the importance of a good education that will benefit themselves and their families. Noteworthy | Latinas are very much under-represented in northern New Mexico when it comes to continuing their education. Although they want to stay in school, sometimes their home life (oldest, pregnancy, sole provider, children) does not allow them this luxury. Therefore, MANA del Norte is addressing the high school Latinas to achieve their dream of receiving financial literacy training, counseling, and other related topics, along with knowledge of how to apply for college and continue their education.

MathAmigos

Santa Fe | mathamigos.org

Mission | MathAmigos is a registered New Mexico non-profit and Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) partner dedicated to helping teachers inspire kids to love math. Our goal is to build math proficiency in nine Title 1 SFPS schools through teaching and learning strategies that excite students and deepen their mathematical thinking. Our all-volunteer team of mathematicians, educators, and community members has provided 12 well-evaluated teacher workshops since 2017. All grant funding supports teacher stipends. Proposal | MathAmigos requests funding to support teacher stipends for our innovative professional development programs, including five teacher workshops with follow-up support for teachers in the classroom, our Literacy and Math program for K–4 teachers, and Math Circles for teachers and after-school students and parents. These programs build teaching skills, confidence, and capacity by providing engaging state-of-the-art strategies and practice using games, puzzles, and math-themed books and discussions. Noteworthy | 2019 SFPS data show only 17% of students were on grade level in math, now with a further pandemicrelated five-month or 5%–10% math learning loss. Recovering math skills is critical for attaining mid- and high level jobs in the 21st century workplace.

Mentoring Kids Works NM

Santa Fe | mentoringkidsworksnm.org

Mission | To improve students’ literacy, competence, and confidence through mentoring. Proposal | Mentoring Kids Works NM hires, trains, and develops high school and college mentor/tutors to work with children whose reading and math scores are below grade level. Many of those young adults decide to go on to become teachers or assume careers in fields that support our state's children. MKWNM is in need of funding for two main purposes. First, for paying the mentors for their work with the children after school. Second, for hiring highquality trainers for the mentor/tutors. Noteworthy | New Mexico is last in the nation for reading and math proficiency. 85% of the children participating in our programming see an increase in proficiency in both areas on their end-of-year standardized testing. What's more, teachers and parents report that the children's behavior and interest in school improves as a result of their mentoring and tutoring experience. Many of our mentor/ tutors decide to become teachers as a result of their experience in the program.

New Mexico Appleseed

Santa Fe | nmappleseed.org

Mission | New Mexico Appleseed is dedicated to attacking the root causes of child and family poverty and cultivating systemic change that prevents it. We seek to remove structural barriers to exiting the cycle of poverty by addressing root causes, including hunger, homelessness, and child maltreatment. We research and identify issues that impact stability, opportunity, multi-tiered support, social justice, and equity. Our work brings life-changing improvements to low-income and underserved populations. Proposal | "1,2,3 Eyes on Me" is Appleseed's collaborative, community-driven intervention that provides the framework and support so communities can create a responsive and tightly woven safety net for vulnerable families who need extra support due to the COVID pandemic. 123 leverages our statewide relationships and connects families to bundled services including food boxes, health, dental and vision care, legal aid, mental health services, and vaccines at food distribution sites or school locations. Noteworthy | During COVID, the number of New Mexico children experiencing food insecurity increased to one out of three, up from one out of four in 2018. In rural communities, the numbers are estimated to be as high as one out of two. While the economic shocks from COVID continue to reverberate, a growing number of families struggle to meet their basic needs, specifically the needs met by our 1,2,3 intervention. To date, we have organized 10 events with over 30 statewide partners, serving roughly 4,000 children. The need grows.

New Mexico Center for Therapeutic Riding

Santa Fe | nmctr.org

Mission | To expand and enrich the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children, youth, and adults with special needs through equine-assisted activities and therapies. "Changing Lives One Stride at a Time" Proposal | Funds will be used to expand programming and provide scholarships for children and youth with unmet needs by enhancing their mental and physical wellness through two equine-assisted scholarship programs. Our proven School Outreach Program serves under-served, low-income students with disabilities (Down Syndrome, ADHD, autism, PTSD, etc.) and our research-based Self-Mastery Program serves at-risk youth experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, substance use, bullying, aggression, etc. Noteworthy | According to the 2016 US Census, the percentage of the New Mexico population living below the poverty line is almost double that of the overall US population (19.8 versus 12.7%), affecting both children with disabilities and at-risk youth. And according to NM-IBIS, the prevalence of feelings of sadness or hopelessness among children and youth in New Mexico (32.5%) was higher than that of the US as a whole. Providing scholarships to these children and youth give them an opportunity to receive our services.

New Mexico High School Musical Theatre Awards

Albuquerque | nmhsmta.org

Mission | We are an awards program once a year but an education program every day. We recognize individual and communal artistry in performance and honor teachers and their schools’ commitment to performing arts education. We present our state's talented young performers with a unique opportunity to advance their education and careers in musical theatre, all while supporting the inclusion of musical theatre performance specifically and drama generally in our state's high schools. Proposal | We seek support in extending our reach to as many New Mexico high schools as we can, offering workshops with the Broadway artists or New Mexican artists who we work with in our program. Theater provides challenges and rewards to students; musicals multiply those challenges with more roles and greater technical demands. When students meet those challenges, their rewards are magnified. We amplify those successes by sending the very best of our students to represent our state on a Broadway stage. Noteworthy | We are one of 46 programs in the US sending students to the Broadway League's national Jimmy Awards. We've had one award winner (Best Performance in an Ensemble), one finalist for their top award, and two semifinalists. We accomplish this despite having a budget 10 times smaller than the other programs. We are committed to finding New Mexican students who deserve to stand on that national stage and help them take advantage of the professional and academic opportunities the Jimmy Awards affords.

New Mexico Highlands University Foundation

Las Vegas | nmhufoundation.org

Mission | The Mission of the Conservation Science Center at Highlands University (CSC@HU) is to build the capacity of Hispanic and Native students to actively lead the stewardship of local landscapes. The NMHU Foundation's (NMHUF) mission is to provide support to benefit students of the University and the University as a whole through the acquisition, development, and administration of financial and other resources. The Foundation has a dedicated restricted fund for CSC@HU. Proposal | To support equitable and accessible pathways to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) for Hispanic and Native youth, from middle school through early career employment. Programs include place-based, standards-aligned engagement; career and science identity exploration; leadership and resiliency capacity building; hands-on internships and mentorships with STEM professionals of color; citizen science research in local watersheds; and cultivating equitable STEM employment opportunities. Noteworthy | New Mexico’s stewardship of natural resources does not represent the cultural and intrinsic values of local communities. Yet these same communities are disproportionately affected by climate change degradation. Our placed-based programs combine cultural relevancy, leadership, and socio-emotional development to increase persistence in STEM while building resilience in our youth as they navigate enriching and challenging interactions in the diversification of the STEM workforce.

New Mexico School for the Arts - Art Institute

Santa Fe | nmschoolforthearts.org

Mission | NMSA provides 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 provides 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. The Art Institute requests funding to implement accelerated learning and project-based learning into the arts curriculum to address the effect of the pandemic on our students as they return to in-person learning. Noteworthy | During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 21,000 New Mexican students disenrolled from public schools with 12,000 of those students who are unaccounted for and have reported no plans to enroll in another school. In a year when many schools were struggling to maintain their student enrollment rate, NMSA had a retention rate of 95% and no students were unaccounted for. NMSA’s four-year graduation rate is 88%, significantly higher than the state’s average of 77%.

Northern New Mexico Regional Art Center

Española | nnmrac.org

Mission | Northern New Mexico Regional Art Center enriches the quality of life in northern New Mexico through the teaching and presentation of the arts in the Española Community Arts Education Center, the visitor center, Convento Gallery and Gift shop, the Plaza and two museums. Proposal | We are providing family classes allowing the elders to share their skills with family members. We are also providing career education training to the youth to develop skills, including career exploration and alternative pathway opportunities. The Gallery has been a great area to train our youth in many skills, talking, presenting, taking pride in the community and others works of art, speaking highly about our citizens and telling visitors to about northern New Mexico's rich history. Noteworthy | The Education Center will serve 360 students in six weeks. Our Field Trips Fridays to Meow Wolf, Ghost Ranch, Toltec Scenic Train, and Santa Fe Chamber Music served 135 with kids , adults and seniors. The Visitor Center has about 100 visitors a month.

Ojo Sarco Community Center

Ojo Sarco

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 through programs and activities. To achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, create social and physical environments that promote good health for all. Proposal | Writing this application during the fourth wave of the pandemic brings home the challenges and rewards of community-based services. If OSCC didn't exist, no one and no organization would provide programs and services in Ojo Sarco. Being a small, isolated community has been an asset during the pandemic. We quickly mobilized volunteers and pivoting some programs while expanding others. We provide a library, food and essential supplies, art and educational materials to children, and tutoring over zoom and in-person. Noteworthy | The Rio Arriba overdose rate is 89.9 per 100,000 — nearly four times the New Mexico rate of 24.6 and more than four times the US rate of 21.6 per 100,000. This unacceptable loss has been among the highest in the nation for too long. OSCC doesn't want another generation of Rio Arriba children to end up in this horrific statistic. The tools used in the Community That Cares (CTC) model, a federally recommended Model That Works by SAMHSA), have been helpful in our program planning and focusing on children and youth.

Pegasus Legal Services for Children

Albuquerque | pegasuslaw.org

Mission | To promote and defend the rights of children and youth to safe, stable homes, quality education and healthcare, and a voice in decisions that affect their lives. Proposal | Pegasus is requesting funding to improve the graduate rate by representing children with or without disabilities, often children of color, who are inappropriately being suspended or expelled from school or who have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan, as mandated by federal law) that is not being honored. Noteworthy | High dropout rates are often caused by harsh disciplinary practices. Children with disabilities and children of color are more likely to experience disciplinary removals than their white counterparts. These removals are linked to lower academic achievement. By interrupting the cycle of disciplinary removal and advocating for positive behavioral support, students will have an opportunity to remain in school and graduate with their peers.

Presbyterian Ear Institute

Albuquerque | presbyterianearinstitute.org

Mission | Presbyterian Ear Institute (PEI) exists to assist people with hearing loss to better listen, speak, and integrate into mainstream society. PEI offers hope in breaking the silence for children and adults, providing a comprehensive approach to early diagnosis, intervention, education, and rehabilitation of deafness. In fulfilling its mission and through its programs and services, PEI works daily to mitigate the lifelong effects of hearing loss on literacy, education, and vocational opportunities. Proposal | Presbyterian Ear Institute changes lives by intervening in the neurological emergency of childhood hearing loss. We request funds to support our Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Parent-Infant Program, School for Oral Deaf Education, and outreach to reach families state-wide with in-person and teletherapy services. Through comprehensive listening/spoken-language strategies and early identification/intervention, we capitalize on the 90% of brain development that takes place by age five. Noteworthy | “We encounter each other in words,” writes poet Elizabeth Alexander. Over 90% of the 12,000 children born annually who are deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) are born to parents who can hear (AG Bell). PEI’s research-based programs teach D/HH children to listen and speak so these families can encounter each other through words and these children can escape other statistics: 25% greater rates of abuse/neglect (RTI), 64% un/underemployment and average 2.8–4.5-grade reading levels (NM Task Force Report).

The Reading Group (Collaborative Working Group of OSF)

Santa Fe

Mission | Guided by a single phrase, “learning to read, reading to learn,” we strive for a Santa Fe where all children are successful learners through improving literacy proficiency. Our target population is K–3rd grade students with a focus on 3rd grade reading proficiency. We work with teachers, students, and families via teacher and parent workshops, one-on-one tutoring, and providing books to build home libraries. We provide small grants to organizations to scale up their successful efforts. Proposal | New Mexico currently ranks 49th in literacy in the nation. According to latest data from the New Mexico Public Education Department, Santa Fe Public School District has an overall reading proficiency of 36%. We seek to address the needs of students at risk of not learning to read and their teachers. Without the ability to read, there are no pathways to educational and financial success. The need for literacy support in Santa Fe is beyond critical and urgent. Noteworthy | We are calling for support to train tutors in the science of reading and structured literacy and to support teachers in their efforts to teach reading. We know that if every 1st to 3rd grade student in need had tutors, we would significantly improve literacy and overall educational outcomes for Santa Fe students.

Reading Quest

Santa Fe | 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 SFPS students are English Language Learners and, of these, only 14% read proficiently at grade level.

Reel Fathers, Ltd.

Santa Fe | reelfathers.org

Mission | We engage fathers, youth, and families to build stronger, more vital relationships through a dynamic use of film, story, and creative expression. Proposal | REEL FATHERS requests support for our youth poetry program, Identity in Ink. It engages middle and high school students in a dynamic process of self-reflection, dialogue, and expressive writing centered on their identity as shaped by father and family. Students grow in emotional clarity, confidence, and courage. They build authentic voice and advance their writing skills. They visualize a positive future for themselves and focus on the next steps to get them there. Noteworthy | Today, one in three children in the US live separate from their biological father. Fatherlessness is connected with virtually every societal ill facing children and youth. Children without a father in the home account for: 71% of school dropouts; 90% of homeless and runaway children; 71% of pregnant teens; 63% of youth suicides; 85% of children with behavioral disorders; 85% of youth in prison (Irreplaceable – 2014 documentary).

Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program

Española | raalp.org

Mission | Helping community members transform their lives through enhanced literacy. Proposal | The pandemic was a reckoning that forced us to reevaluate our methods surrounding research-based educational frameworks and organizational procedures that would allow our program to be more resilient. Now, having established a footing with many of these improvements, our next goal is to grow the organization around them: creating a vibrant community work space, dynamic tutor trainings, and expanding the ways we support students. Noteworthy | Rio Arriba boasts unique and diverse literacies, such as indigenous and Spanish languages and fluency in traditional lifeways and culture, to name a few. Yet the county’s rates of English literacy (crucial for reaching key life goals in America) are among the lowest in the nation, with 35% lacking fundamental literacy tools. RAALP believes this rate and Rio Arriba’s endemic poverty (a nationally-exceptional rate of 25%) are linked; we work to improve both through free, personalized tutoring.

River Source Inc.

Santa Fe | riversource.net

Mission | River Source supports people living as good stewards of their watersheds by providing science and policy education, planning, monitoring, and ecological restoration services throughout New Mexico. Too often, people operate in silos, even in rural communities. Our goal is to be weavers, bringing together different groups — threads, so to speak — who will, through their participation and contributions, ultimately weave a web of ecological safety and community health. Proposal | River Source provides mentoring, job shadowing, and work in environmental protection, restoring rivers and damaged watersheds, and community service for youth 14–25 years old from diverse communities with an emphasis on Hispanic and Native American communities. River Source creates meaningful experiences and job pathways for youth to be professionals in resource protection and engages 2,600 people a year in watershed science and climate and water policy in New Mexico. Noteworthy | On average, children ages eight–12 in the US spend four-six hours a day on phones and TVs, and teens spend up to nine hours (Amer. Acad. of Child Psychology, 2020). Only 31% of youth engage in daily physical activity (NM Youth Risk, 2015). Youth increasingly face pressure to disconnect from nature and the knowledge that has helped their community survive. River Source resists this trend by engaging youth outdoors in ecological restoration, job skills training, and community service.

Santa Fe Alliance for Science

Santa Fe | sfafs.org

Mission | We inspire the inner scientist in Santa Fe youth by creating STEM learning opportunities through our network of volunteer scientists, engineers, and STEM professionals. Our vision is that every Santa Fe student is “STEM Ready” to explore and succeed in life. Proposal | The Santa Fe Alliance for Science seeks funding to bring scientists to classrooms so we can engage students in exciting, relevant, interactive STEM programs that strengthen their STEM capabilities. Funding supports our Adopt-A-School program at Nina Otero Community School and will help us to expand our Adopt-A-Scientist program, which pairs a teacher with a scientist or STEM expert for year-round, teacher-driven STEM support. Noteworthy | New Mexico currently ranks last in the nation (51) on the Opportunity Index, a multidimensional indicator of opportunity based on economic, education, health, and community conditions. An early interest in STEM is the greatest predictor of future educational success, thus investing in STEM pays off and opens up opportunities for students. All youth need to be technically literate and use creativity and critical thinking to thrive in today's STEM-driven world.

Santa Fe Community Educators Network

Santa Fe | sfcommunityeducators.org

Mission | The Santa Fe Community Educators Network (SFCEN) is committed to the power of collaboration to successfully impact our community by creating and sharing our resources; promoting and providing informal experiential education to address community needs; professional development as a vehicle to strengthen our community; and providing open access to our institutional experiences and content. Proposal | The Santa Fe Community Educators Network is requesting funds to provide collaborative out-of-school programs for underserved students in Santa Fe and to support classroom teachers and informal educators with resources and professional development that support our mission to provide equitable access to community resources. Noteworthy | High quality out-of-school programs are proven to improve academic success, attendance, and behavior. This is particularly important for students who are from low-income backgrounds. 70,000 students in New Mexico are enrolled in summer or after-school programs, but another 90,000 students across the state are looking for programs that meet their needs or are on waitlists (New Mexico Out-of-School Time Network).

Santa Fe Concert Association dba Performance Santa Fe

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 seeks funding for its free arts education programs, which reach more than 3,000 students aged 10–25 annually and focus on underserved populations. These include the Field Trip Series, which offers inspiring interactive matinees; the Master Class Series, which is taught by PSF mainstage artists; and Arts for Life, which brings local professional musicians into public-school ensembles for mentoring and connection. PSF also provides statewide virtual arts education programming. Noteworthy | PSF directs the majority of its programming to Santa Fe Public Schools, where 74% of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch through the National School Lunch Program, a federal metric for child poverty. The district is plagued by issues, including high dropout rates, large class sizes, and frequent teacher turnover. PSF provides high-quality enrichment options, faculty assistance, small-group student support, and outlets for self-expression through its free arts education projects.

Santa Fe Council on International Relations

Santa Fe | sfcir.org

Mission | CIR connects New Mexico and the world by engaging and inspiring global citizens through dialogue, education, and cross-cultural exchange. Our efforts stimulate dialogue and educate members, students, teachers, and the community about crucial globalization and foreign affairs issues. We do this through four interconnected program areas: our International Visitor program, our High School & College Education program, our Community Education program, and our global Journalism under Fire Conference. Proposal | We are seeking funding to continue expansion of CIR's after-school global education programming to give more underserved high school students the opportunity to discuss global and international topics, explore careers, and learn and acquire critical skills not typically taught in the traditional classroom. In 2020, CIR transitioned its highschool programming to the digital realm and, with your support, CIR will reach a greater number of students across northern New Mexico communities. Noteworthy | Globally competent students not only possess knowledge about the world, they exhibit critical thinking, innovation, empathy, and awareness of how individual behavior impacts world events (Asia Society). To prepare future employees to thrive in a global economy, the World Economic Forum (2017) recommends the values of global citizenship as an integral component of a 'future-ready' curriculum. CIR is addressing this critical gap by giving students access to quality global-education programming.

Santa Fe Public Schools - Truancy Task Force

Santa Fe | sfps.info

Mission | To ensure every student a safe, high quality, and engaging education which values diversity, equity, and social justice and fully maximizes District and community resources. Proposal | The Attendance Success Alliance [ASA] (previously known as the Truancy Collaborative Working Group) is a collaborative approach to improve chronic absenteeism. By providing avenues for positive attendance and increased engagement, the ASA creates opportunities for increased family engagement, student support, increased graduation rates, and postsecondary/career success. Noteworthy | Attendance is a key indicator for overall student success. Chronic absenteeism continues to be an area of concern within SFPS. In school year 2019–2020, 30% of students (3,895 students) missed 10% or more of the school year, qualifying as chronically absent, while 12% (1,526 students) missed 20% or more of the school year and displayed the need for system-level (intensive) intervention. For school year 2020–2021, amidst a pandemic, this rate increased to 38% (4,708) and 20% (2,451), respectively.

Santa Fe Public School District Mentoring & Tutoring Collaborative

Santa Fe | sfps.info/departments/volunteering___s_f_p_s

Mission | Engage volunteers who work to ensure student success through supporting District and school goals. The purpose of the Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) Volunteer Program is to provide support to students by capitalizing on the skills and interests of our volunteers. Volunteers increase overall academic achievement by providing targeted tutoring, offering social-emotional support, promoting healthy relationships, and creating a positive environment for our students. Proposal | The Santa Fe Public Schools Certificate of Completion: Volunteers Advancing Student Discovery & Achievement will work with 300 volunteers to offer mentoring and tutoring services to over 11,000 students in pre-k through 12th grade levels. Participants will be equipped to provide academic and social-emotional support to our youth through six to 10 training modules facilitated by a variety of SFPS departments and partners, also including experience, mentoring, and reflection. Noteworthy | The Equity, Diversity and Engagement Department is committed to working through the Volunteer Program and the Certification of Completion: Volunteers Advancing Student Discovery and Achievement to impact proficiency percentages through academic achievement, culturally responsive instruction, and social-emotional learning.

Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences

Santa Fe | santafeschool.org

Mission | Our mission is to achieve academic excellence in an environment of respect, inclusion, and diversity. We exemplify and encourage the values of compassion, leadership, and service. Reading is Magic (partnering with Reading Quest) and Math Mindset summer camps are free for public school students. The CoLab Initiative, a new service program, aims to elevate the state's early childhood workforce, boosting teacher retention through professional development on social emotional learning with educators. Proposal | We are requesting funds to serve 28 low-income Santa Fe Public School students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in the third year of Math Mindset. The grant would support two free week-long, full-day camps in the summer of 2022. Adequate math skills, a key Community Foundation Education priority, are essential for high-school success, college attendance, workplace readiness, future earnings, and health outcomes. Noteworthy | For the 2021 school year, 84% of middle school students were not proficient in math. Researchers say that almost a third of American adults do not have the math skills necessary to make effective decisions about their health and finances (Shoots-Reinhard, Ohio State University, 2019).

Sierra Club Foundation

Oakland | sierraclubfoundation.org; riograndesierraclub.org

Mission | To explore, enjoy, and protect the planet; the Rio Grande Chapter carries out this mission locally in New Mexico and West Texas. We represent 35,000 members and supporters in the region. The Sierra Club Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of our charitable work. Proposal | The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter’s charitable work is focused on moving New Mexico to a clean energy future and protecting our public lands. We are dedicated to protecting our climate, drinking water, public lands, and wildlife. We engage the public to deeply participate; dozens of volunteers lead public outings to encourage New Mexicans to explore and enjoy the Land of Enchantment, and volunteer mentors work with our Global Warming Express program to bring climate education into K–8 schools. Noteworthy | The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter is advocating to protect the 3.5 percent of New Mexico public lands that remain unleased for oil and gas extraction. In 2020, we helped win approval of 650 megawatts (MW) of solar and 200 MW of battery storage, a $1 billion investment in the Four Corners region as PNM moves away from coal. 70 percent of methane pollution in New Mexico comes from accidental waste. We are working to stop near-daily accidental spills of liquid and oil and gas waste.

STEM Santa Fe

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 | STEM Santa Fe is a mentorship organization that provides engaging hands-on STEM programs with real-world context at low to no cost to about 700 middle and high school students a year. We target students in northern New Mexico, from underserved communities and underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines, mainly girls, Hispanics, and Native Americans. STEM Santa Fe aims to address the opportunity gap and to help empower youth to become creative, productive thinkers in STEM-related fields. Noteworthy | 21st Century workforce requires essential skills, including critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2017 report states: "Employment in STEM occupations grew by 10.5% between May 2009 and May 2015, compared with 5.2% net growth in non-STEM occupations." Nationally, Hispanics make up a mere 7% of the STEM workforce. There is a need for programs to cultivate an interest in STEM topics and to meaningfully engage young people into STEM career pathways.

STEM Scaffold Santa Fe

Santa Fe | stemsantafe.org/our-programs/s3

Mission | STEM Scaffold Santa Fe Collaborative Working Group (S3 CWG) is a group of educational and youth development groups working together to recruit, train, and place caring local STEM college students and STEM professionals into sustained high school mentorship programs. Our middle and high school programs supplement students’ STEM education with in-school, hands-on STEM & STEAM projects that are designed to engage and teach 21st-century skills in small group settings. Proposal | For the past three years since its inception, our program has been successful in engaging students at Capital High School and we need funding in order to expand to other middle schools and high schools in Santa Fe and Española. Our main goals are to increase students’ interest and curiosity in STEM courses or careers; build communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills; and, for our high school students, increase enrollment in STEM college courses while in high school and/or beyond. Noteworthy | High School four-year graduation rate in 2019 for Española Public Schools was 63% and 78% for Santa Fe Public Schools. However, only 10% of students in EVPS were proficient in math and 19% in science, while 18% of students in SFPS were proficient in math and 30% in science. These statistics indicate that a very small number of students graduating have the qualifications and even the motivation to pursue a career in STEM (New Mexico Public Education Department).

Talpa Community Center Association, Inc.

Rancho de Taos | talpacc.bravesites.com

Mission | Providing programs to help Talpa's diverse community face the everchanging complexities of life today. The focus is economic opportunities for the community, continual learning experiences, and assistance with social services. Proposal | TCC needs funds for general core support to keep our community center open and operating so that our local people have a public library and all of the educational services that we offer. TCC is the hub of our rural community and we strive to have a safe place for locals to gather, interact, and learn. We offer several free programs such as preteen sewing and kids art/ceramics. We are the site for NA & AA group meetings, summer lunch program, and Shared Table food distribution. Noteworthy | The pandemic has affected all of us in one way or another. We see how it has affected our families, especially our children. School is not as we remember it. Now, with so many children being homeschooled, they have had to adjust to a new way of learning. And, sadly, some children have failed. TCC and Library strives to assist with reading, educational resources, WIFI, and computers. The rural community of Talpa is home to many low-income families that do not have internet or computers.

Teach For America New Mexico

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

Mission | Teach For America New Mexico finds, develops, and supports a diverse network of leaders — individually and in teams — so they can transform education and expand opportunity with children, starting in the classroom. Our national goal by 2030 is to have twice as many children in the communities where we work reach key educational milestones, indicating they are on a path to economic mobility and co-creating a future filled with possibility. Proposal | TFANM is seeking support to 1) create a set of publicly available resources about the benefits and pathways to becoming a teacher in New Mexico; 2) identify 100+ rising northern New Mexico leaders and encourage and support them to join the teaching profession; 3) convene a working group of school, district, and community leaders to implement short- and long-term teacher recruitment strategies; and 4) design and implement a fellowship to help effective teachers move into leadership roles. Noteworthy | This year, The New York Times and NPR both reported that the pandemic is exacerbating an already devastating national teacher shortage. In New Mexico, statistics are similarly grim; the LANL Foundation found that only 3% of northern New Mexico seniors wanted to become teachers. High numbers of vacancies, year after year, create a constant sense of urgency and prevent us from making long-term plans and working together to address the root causes of our teacher shortage.

Truchas Services Center, Inc.

Truchas | truchasservicescenter.org

Mission | The mission of the Truchas Services Center, Inc. is 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 surroundings areas. Proposal | The Truchas Services Center requests support for our programs including a full-service rural library, preschool, food distribution program, and several adult programs (weaving, quilting, art lesson). Our summer program for six to 12 year-olds includes art and science classes along with field trips to educational sites. Our programs are open to all area children and adults. These are the only public services for miles around in this remote corner of Rio Arriba County. Noteworthy | Our preschool is licensed for up to 17 children. Our library logged over 4,000 patron visits a year, including 883 computer users, 1,190 books circulated, 829 DVDs circulated, and 429 Wifi users (pre-COVID). Adult programs included 365 participants. Our food program serves about 60 families twice a month. The people who need these services come from as far away as Chimayo, Cordova, Ojo Sarco, and other small villages surrounding Truchas where we offer the only library facility and preschool.

Turquoise Trail Charter School

Santa Fe | ttschool.org

Mission | To ensure that all of our TTCS graduates finish in the top 10% of any high school they attend in New Mexico. Proposal | Our goal as a K–eighth grade school is to ensure that all TTCS graduates finish in the top 10% of their freshman class in high school, no matter where they attend. GPA in 9th grade is predictive of high school graduation and post secondary success, so we are investing in an infrastructure to support our graduates in their 9th grade year. A "Success Coyote" will be an adult at our school who will build relationships with students and high schools to keep high expectations for their future alive. Noteworthy | One in four New Mexico high school students does not graduate from high school.

YouthWorks, Inc.

Santa Fe | santafeyouthworks.org

Mission | To remain dedicated to helping youth develop the necessary life skills to become active, productive participants in their community. YouthWorks specializes in comprehensive programs designed to assist youth to develop social, leadership, and workforce skills, and to expand educational and work opportunities while achieving productivity and success. Proposal | YouthWorks provides opportunities for disconnected youth ages 14–24 to complete their education while obtaining job training and earning trade certifications to expand their employment opportunities. At YouthWorks, youth are supported by case managers and access comprehensive wraparound support services. YouthWorks delivers up to 200 graduates each year who enter college or begin jobs in their chosen career path, elevating them into roles as contributors and leaders in Santa Fe’s communities. Noteworthy | YouthWorks serves Opportunity Youth — youth and young adults ages 14–24 who are neither in school nor employed. In Santa Fe, there are 16.4% disconnected youth compared to 11.7% nationwide. YouthWorks reconnects youth through programs focused on paid job skills-training combined with G.E.D. coursework and trades certifications in the building trades, land management, farming, and the food/ hospitality industries. YouthWorks elevates youth and young adults to strength, success and resiliency.