Anita’s Magical Taos

“If you think about it, creativity is the opposite of violence. It can bring social change without violence. I deliberately paint for both intellectuals and people who don’t read because a lot of my people don’t read.” My name is Anita Otivero Rodriguez and I was born and raised here in Taos. I was born…

Youth Development in the South Valley

Quote: “A lot of the times politicians don’t sit down and think about the different impacts students have. They don’t realize that kids from different high schools are going to react different to policy changes.” I was born and raised in Mexico City. The reason I moved to New Mexico was that my father was coming…

A Language of Cultural Preservation

Quote: “A lot of the culture here is a mixture of Spanish and Mexican cultures. The spirit comes from our Native blood.” Angélica Navarro Ceballos: Yo soy Angélica Navarro Ceballos y soy de Cómala, Colima, México. Soy Mexicana. Llegué aquí el 20 de Noviembre del 92 aquí a Ribera, San Miguel. Me vine a trabajar con…

Agricultural Soul of the Valley

Quote: “When people ask me “what is your religion?” I tell them: “chiles, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach, and the sun and the earth.” That’s my true religion. When you’re planting seeds, youre praying.” The Artist, The Farmer, The Dancer Every single culture, every single religion, every single model of art; it comes from agriculture. I mean,…

Vibing to “La Llorona”

  Quote: “Everybody in town seems to be really proud of New Mexico which awesome! Everybody’s rockin’ the Zia! Everybody’s feeling it. And it’s great! There is this specific pride to this state!” Growing Up With Music JAVIER SANDOVAL: My name is Javier Sandoval. I’m from Albuquerque, New Mexico. My mom is from Chihuahua; my…

Living ‘Rurally’

Name: Nazca Armentha Warren & Phil Rothwell Location: La Fragua, New Mexico Topics: Rural, Valley, Organic, Farming, Community Quote: “It was hard at first to understand how to live ‘rurally.’ Both of us coming from cities, we have had to do a lot of shedding of our layers and understanding what that looks like.” Urban Origins…

Refugee Dreams in Albuquerque

Name: Ramazani Mwanza Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Topics: Refugee, African, Youth, Education, Community Quote: “I am from the Republic of Congo. I have been in New Mexico now for 2 years. When I arrived to the U.S. for the first time I was happy! My dream had come true!” Leaving One’s Homeland My name is Ramazani…

Planting Seeds in the Valley

Name: Eileen Mulvihill Location: Villanueva, New Mexico Topics: Farming, Organic, Science, Women, Community Quote: “I’m worried about the valley. I’ve been a farmer now for 9 years and in those years I can see climate change.” Early Life My name is Eileen Mulvihill. I started off in Wisconsin. I was born in a very small town in…

Enlightening Eileen

Name: Eileen Espinoza Location: Chimayó and Pojoaque, New Mexico Topics: Hispanic, Labor, Traditions, Santa Fe Capital Roundhouse Quote: “I just completed 27 years working here at the Santa Fe Capital Roundhouse. We do everything here in the building. We clean it top to bottom!” Santuario  My name is Eileen Espinoza and I am originally from Chimayó,…

United in Hip-Hop

Name: Nightmare, Kathleen “MK” Perry, Christopher “Check-It” Lim Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Topics: Hip-Hop, Break Dancing, Music, MC, Battle, Youth, Dancing Quote: “Hip-Hop allows for my accent! Hip-Hop allows for me to say the word ‘fresh’ at my age. There are no barriers. There are no age barriers, height barriers, weight barriers, nothing! Just freedom!” Meeting…

The Evolution of Radio

Name: Paul Ingles Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Topics: Radio, Host, Music, Talk, Peace Quote: “If we can’t figure out how to resolve conflicts with people in our own neighborhood, with our smaller circles, then how can we expect other people to work things out in the Middle East or along our borders?” Listen:      College Radio Station …

Artistic Armando de Abiquiu

Name: Armando Adrian-López Location: Abiquiu, New Mexico Topics: Art, Artist, Culture, Mexican, Sculpture Quote: “They say we create our own reality. You are responsible for who you really are. You create yourself. And I really believe that.” Artistic Origins & Coming to the U.S.  I’ve been living here for the last 25 years, so Abiquiú has been…