MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Greetings everyone, I hope this message finds you all doing wonderful in this spring season. As mentioned in the March newsletter, our second deadline is fast approaching. This will be our final round of funding for 2022. Our next application deadline is May 13, 2022. We will be accepting applications for our Traditional priority areas. As a reminder, our Traditional priority areas include: Language preservation and revitalization, Traditional architecture and building, Sustainable agriculture, Traditional arts and crafts instruction (intergenerational programs), Tribal and ancestral history; oral histories and storytelling, Youth education and leadership and Intercultural Exchange and Education. If you have any questions about how to submit your application, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can apply directly online through our website, or you can download an application from our website and then email me your application package.
Below you will find information on Broadband Equity Funding which has been made available by the New Mexico Broadband Collective. They are now accepting applications, the deadline is noon on May 13, 2022. These funds are available to support community and regional efforts to develop and improve broadband in the state of New Mexico. Nonprofit organizations, Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos, organizations with a fiscal sponsor are eligible to apply. Please see the article below for more information.
And lastly, we want to bring attention to the recent loss of Marie Reyna of Taos Pueblo. She was the director for the Oo-oo-nah Art and Culture Center located at Taos Pueblo. She had been the director since 1985. As a child, myself, I remember attending art classes at the center. I learned about photography, pottery and drawing and I remember Marie being there. Many Taos Pueblo children have utilized the program over the years. She will be remembered fondly and missed greatly. May she rest in paradise.
I hope everyone has a great spring. I encourage all of you to be strong, take care of yourselves (physically, emotionally and spiritually). Be well and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Dr. Amanda J. Montoya
New Mexico Broadband Collective Announces
Application for Broadband Equity Funding Now Available
The New Mexico Broadband Collective is pleased to announce that The New Mexico Broadband Equity Fund, managed by the New Mexico Foundation, has begun accepting applications as of April 1, 2022. This fund will award grants of up to $75,000 to nonprofit organizations, Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos, organizations with a fiscal sponsor, and eligible local government entities to support community and regional efforts to develop and improve broadband in the state of New Mexico.
Approximately 196,000 homes and businesses do not have broadband which prevents them from accessing jobs, healthcare, and other opportunities. This is often because their communities lack both the funding and technical assistance they need to develop solutions that will work best for them and to enable them to compete for the unprecedented federal and state broadband funding becoming available.
Established in March 2021, the New Mexico Broadband Collective was formed to support a statewide approach to ensuring broadband services for all New Mexicans, especially in rural communities, Native American communities, and other hard-to-connect communities most impacted by the lack of sustainable digital equity and affordable broadband solutions. With backbone support from Groundworks New Mexico, the Collective is managed by a steering committee and includes representation from foundations, nonprofits, government, and private providers.
Please visit the New Mexico Broadband Equity Fund page on the New Mexico Foundation’s website to learn more and apply for funding. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Noon on May 13, 2022. For any questions about applying for funding or how to contribute to the fund please contact Erika Davila (edavila@newmexicofoundation.org).
For any questions about the New Mexico Broadband Collective please contact Danielle LaJoie (danielle@groundworksnm.org).
To learn more about the New Mexico Broadband Collective, visit: https://www.lanlfoundation.org/nm-broadband-collective
In Memory of Marie Reyna
Marie Reyna, of Taos Pueblo, Director of the Oo-oo-nah Art and Culture Center passed away on March 21, 2022, from the rare autoimmune disease scleroderma. Marie Reyna is the daughter of the late Tony Reyna, a Bataan Death March survivor from World War II, and Annie Cata of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. In 1985, Ms. Reyna became the Director for the Oo-oo-nah Art and Culture Center. Ms. Reyna was an accomplished silversmith and taught Taos Pueblo youth silversmith lessons along with other culturally relevant activities and classes. The Chamiza Foundation has been providing support to the center since 1991. We are incredibly saddened to hear of Ms. Reyna’s passing. We send our deepest condolences to the Reyna and Cata family.