Check out the New Mexican's My View about the Midtown Engagement Partner's Midtown Block Party on Saturday, October 23! READ HERE What if you had a party and no one came? Fortunately, that’s not what happened Saturday in Santa Fe, when the city and others threw a block party to consider the future of a critical 64 acres right in the middle of town. Obviously, we’re talking about the midtown campus. More than 800 community residents showed up to ponder the possibilities for redeveloping what once was the College of Santa Fe, and later, the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. More heartening about the attendees? Many were not the usual suspects. Though Santa Fe has a vigorous community of people who like to comment, write letters and speak up in public hearings, there also is a silent majority who are either too busy or too skeptical of the system to participate. They sometimes have good ideas, but they share them only at the kitchen table or on Facebook, not with the mayor or City Council in public hearings. If the campus is to realize its potential, a broader section of the community must be involved in envisioning the best future for this slice of Santa Fe. On Saturday, unlike previous efforts, it looks like efforts to engage underrepresented communities paid off. As impatient as we have been with the many delays, Santa Fe has to get this right. That includes both the planning for what might be built at the abandoned campus and improvements to the nearby roads and other infrastructure that are critical to any redevelopment. Preliminary observations, interestingly, still show that people have a consistent vision for the former campus. Final results will take a few weeks to compile, but people who participated on Saturday — including those from low-income communities, families with small children and people of color — wanted affordable housing at the top of the list and developments that would lead to jobs. Partygoers thought of the whole, too, wanting community services as part of the development. That would mean services for young children and senior citizens close by, as well as public spaces for civic gatherings and programming for cultural events. Participants also value parks and green spaces, and think the campus should be connected to Franklin E. Miles Park in an eco-friendly manner. There remains an interest in repurposing Fogelson Library as a public library and a desire to create a mixed-use district that will feel like an organic part of Santa Fe. In other words, the city gathered much information with which to work. Although we still don’t see a great grassroots desire to move City Hall to the middle of town, a plan that seems to be gaining favor in some quarters, that’s also a possibility. In any case, planning is ongoing, and anyone who wants to be part of the process should visit midtowndistrictsantafe.com. These are baby steps, but progress. We wait anxiously for the action portion, when a vital center of Santa Fe experiences rebirth and renewal.

🗳🗳Did you know local elections are happening now throughout the state until Election Day on Tuesday, November 2? Well, they are & they are important from City Council to Mayor to local bonds to school board!  Same Day Voter Registration 👉If you're a new voter or have not registered, you can do so up until the last day of Early Voting in-person (Sat Oct 30)!! You do need proof of residency! Early Voting Locations Local Voter Guides Here are two Voter's Guides to help you in your research this election season. You can also go to NMVOTE.org to both check out what's on your ballot and confirm your registration. 👨‍💻👉Check out Chainbreaker Collective's Voter Guide - READ HERE 👉Check out the League of Women Voter's Guide for Santa Fe County! - READ HERE Pro tip: the League of Women Voter's puts out voting guides all over the state! Election Day - Tuesday, November 2 Tony E. Quintana Elementary18670 US 84/285, Espanola, NM, 87532 Benny J. Chavez Community Center251 Juan Medina Rd, Chimayo, NM 87522 San Ildefonso Visitors Center74 Povi Kaa Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87506 El Rancho Senior Center394 County Rd 84, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Pojoaque Middle School1574 State Rd 502 W, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Nambe Community Center180 NM-503, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Nambe Pueblo Tribal Admin.15A NP102 W, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Tesuque Pueblo Intg. Center39 TP 804, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Tesuque Elementary1555 Bishops Lodge Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87506 La Tierra Fire Station6 Arroyo Calabasas Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Montezuma Lodge431 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Atalaya Elementary721 Camino Cabra, Santa Fe, NM, 87501 Glorieta Fire Station366 Old Denver Hwy, Glorieta, NM, 87535 Gonzales Community School851 W Alameda St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 St. Johns Methodist Church1200 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505 Salazar Elementary1231 Apache Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87505 Chaparral Elementary2451 Avenida Chaparral, Santa Fe, NM 87505 Christian Life Church121 Siringo Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87505 SFE County Fair Bldg.3229 Rodeo Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87507 El Camino Real Academy2500 S Meadows Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87507 Nina Otero Community School5901 Herrera Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87507 La Cienega Community Center136 Camion San Jose, Santa Fe, NM 87507 Turquoise Trail Charter School13 San Marcos Loop, Santa Fe, NM 87508 Hondo Fire Station21 Seton Village Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87508 Max Coll Corridor Community Center16 Avenida Torreon, Santa Fe, NM, 87508 Galisteo Community Center39-41 Ave Vieja, Galisteo, NM, 87540 Stanley Cyclone Center22 W Kinsell Ave, Stanley, NM, 87056 Town Of Edgewood Admin Building171A NM-344, Edgewood, NM, 87015 Amy Biehl Community School310 Avenida Del Sur, Santa Fe, NM 87508  

Tuesday, October 19 @ 6-7:30 PM Nancy Rodriguez Community Center (1 Prairie Dog Loop) This Santa Fe County town hall on Tuesday! Many of us do not know that the roads by our homes & schools have been used to transport radioactive waste from the Waste Isolation Power Plant (WIPP) to Los Alamos National Labs (LANL)!  There are plans to expand WIPP in Carlsbad and that can lead to even more trucks transporting waste! One accident can be disastrous! Let's not risk our safety & health! If you live anywhere off of 599 from the houses & trailers off the Frontage Road to the trailers & apartments lining the highway you're at risk!  Attend the meeting & learn more & express your concerns.  RSVP HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-V15eGMdfoiHJoUz6gsFu-AYG4cSOBkuObn4ujnRxsf3aIg/viewform  Martes 19 de Octubre @ 6-7:30 PM Lugar: Nancy Rodriguez Community Center (1 Prairie Dog Loop) Este es el ayuntamiento de la ciudad de Santa Fe! Muchos de nosotros no sabemos que las carreteras cercanas a nuestros hogares están siendo usadas para transportar desechos radioactivos de la Planta de Energía de Aislamiento Radioactivo (WIPP) a los Laboratorios de Los Álamos (LANL)! Existen planes para expandir WIPP en Carlsbad y ello puede repercutir en una mayor tránsito de desechos. ¡Un accidente podría ser desastroso! ¡Evitemos el riesgo a nuestra salud y seguridad! Si vives en una área cercana a la carretera 599 de las casas y remolques (parqueaderos) enfrente de Frontage Road a las casas móviles que bordean la carretera estás en peligro!  Asiste a la reunión, aprende más y expresa tus preocupaciones para reservar su asistencia visite https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-V15eGMdfoiHJoUz6gsFu-AYG4cSOBkuObn4ujnRxsf3aIg/viewform   

Earth Care Member Meeting [SIGN UP HERE] You're Invited to our second 2021 Member Meeting! We're hosting monthly Earth Care, YUCCA, Poder Familiar & Santa Fe Mutual Aid Member Meetings. We're eager to figure out how toget regular membermeetingsgoing & building our membershipstructure with you all. Learn how to get involved & tell us what you’d like to see from us! When: Saturday, November 6 - 1:30-2:45 PM Where: Zoom (due to rising delta cases) Reunión de miembros de Earth Care! [Regístrese aquí] ¡Está invitado a nuestra reunión de miembros de Earth Care! Estamos desarrollando reuniones mensuales con los socios/integrantes de Earth Care, YUCCA, Poder Familiar y de la Red de Ayuda Mutua. Estamos ansiosos por encontrar la manera de regularizar las reuniones y asistencia, estructurar la membresía de todos ustedes. Aprenda a involucrarse y piense que le gustaría que se ofreciera a los miembros del trabajo comunitario.  Cuándo: Sábado 6 de noviembre - 1: 30-2: 45 PM Dónde: Zoom   

La Fiesta de Barrio de Midtown  Sábado 23 de octubre @ 10 AM-5 PM Lugar: 1600 St. Michaels Drive @ Midtown Únase a nosotros para los talleres de empoderamiento de la comunidad, una búsqueda del tesoro, música, comida, juegos para adultos y niños, proyecciones de películas Y brinde sus opiniones y visiones para el futuro de la propiedad de Midtown. ¡Mostraremos obras de arte de los estudiantes de nuestras escuelas públicas de talleres dirigidos por maestros maravillosos! Organizado por SFAI y los Socios de Participación en Midtown Chainbreaker Collective, Earth Care, Littleglobe, YouthWorks) y UNM Design and Planning Assistance Center (DPAC) Midtown Block Party SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 @ 10 AM-5 PM [SHARE ON FB] 1600 St. Michaels Drive @ Midtown Join us for community empowerment workshops, a scavenger hunt, music, food, games for adults and children, film screenings AND provide your opinions & visions for the future of the Midtown Property! We will be displaying student artwork from our Public Schools from workshops led by wonderful teachers! Hosted by the Midtown Engagement Partners: Santa Fe Art Institute, Chainbreaker Collective, Earth Care, Littleglobe, YouthWorks & UNM Design & Planning Assistance Center. 

Keep Southside Open Space OPEN SPACE! The city is hosting another Early Neighborhood Notification Meeting regarding the proposed development of a promised Open Space TOMORROW Oct 14 at 5:30 pm over zoom.  Meeting information: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82748618627?pwd=QmlyeDRwNC9zMzg4SmY3SkRXQ2NsQT09 Meeting ID: 827 4861 8627 Passcode: 865084 We are getting development packed in our neighborhoods yet have very few amenities to live a high quality of life. Now the very little open space available to our neighborhoods is under threat under the guise that this is where more development needs to happen. Last meeting about 100 residents showed up & spoke out about the lack of consultation & the very real issues with packing more off of South Meadows. Thank you Santa Fe Reporter for writing and interviewing residents! READ HERE:  https://www.sfreporter.com/news/2021/10/13/land-in-limbo/

September 14, 2021 Southside Teen Center Ground Breaking Ceremony Zona Del Sol, Santa Fe, New Mexico On Tuesday, September 14, Earth Care youth leaders took part in the groundbreaking for the Southside Teen Center. Thank you Seneca from YUCCA & Alicia from the Boys & Girls Club for your leadership on this important community asset. We're excited to continue putting youth voices at the front of this development & excited for the possibilities for the solar, LEED certifications and more holistic construction! We're excited that we will finally have a space to come together as young people, and to develop awesome programs and opportunities with youth voices guiding the process every step of the way. We want to take this momentum and opportunity to ask the City and the state of New Mexico to invest even more into the development of this whole site as an intergenerational hub -- for learning, growth, and community-building. A center for civic and cultural life here on the Southside. Not the only one -- we need a lot more public investment down here. But this Zona Del Sol site, with the Teen Center - as a center point, is a critical investment. For us this is part of a larger campaign we call -  Youth at the Center -- a campaign to place young people and our voices, our needs, and our leadership at the center of development initiatives here in Santa Fe. In 2019, we led the community engagement work for the design. We spoke to 100s of youth in our Southside neighborhoods who contributed their ideas and visions -- to the design of the teen center - but also to a vision of how our community’s investment can serve our community for years to come. You can check out our Teen Center report from 2019, HERE. Thank you City of Santa Fe, City Staff, our Councilors Roman Tiger Abeyta & Chris Rivera, and our State leadership Linda Serrato, Sen. Rodriguez and all those supporting the development of the Southside Teen Center! Check out the video recording from the groundbreaking on Tuesday! WATCH HERE

Meet the first evidence-based program developed by and for Latino parents with children ages 0-5 – and adopted by diverse communities across the country. Join Earth Care and Fathers NM in a ten session course over Zoom. We will be meeting Wednesdays starting September 15 from 6-8 pm. Please register today, your children and your families deserve it. Contact Miriam L at 505-688-1191 or email [email protected] Sign up here to join   SIGN UP HERE All families desire what is best for their children. We want them to grow up healthy, happy and well educated; we want them to be prepared for the future; to be able to appreciate everything that the universe gives them, and for them to give more than they receive; that they have good friendships and form strong and united families. The first 5 years are the foundation for the rest of their lives. In these sessions, parents/guardians will learn how to support this type of development and learning process for their families and children. Alongside other families, they will participate in 10 weekly workshops that include tips, dichos (sayings), skills, resources, practice and celebration. At the end of this course, created by and for Latina families, and the only one with national recognition, parents will receive a diploma in a community ceremony.  

Education Without Borders + Educación Sin Fronteras Santa Fe’s first Plaza Comunitaria will start offering basic literacy and education classes for Spanish speakers this month La primera Plaza Comunitaria en Santa Fe va a ofrecer estudios básicos y clases educacionales para hispanohablantes este mes Cipriana, coordinator of Plaza Comunitario (Photo Credit: Santa Fe Reporter) Exciting news!! The new Plaza Comunitaria is finally underway. We just signed the MOU with our partners and will soon be bringing classes (this month!). We have so much gratitude for the Consulado de México en Albuquerque for their partnership in this endeavor. Check out this article from the Santa Fe Reporter to read more about this program. Felicidades a Earth Care/Poder Familiar & Consulado de México! Leer este artículo en español. Spanish speakers who need help with basic literacy and education, including computer skills, will now have a new place to learn here on the Southside. The program is for Spanish-speaking adults (of any nationality) to work on their elementary and secondary education, all for free. It will consist of different certified courses, including primary education and computer classes, basic literacy in Spanish and beginner English lessons. If you are interested or know someone who might be in the Plaza Comunitaria, call 505-204-1628 or email [email protected] Si está interesado o conoce a alguien que podría estar en la Plaza Comunitaria, llame al 505-204-1628 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected]