Albuquerque’s diversity makes it a community of rich differences – differences that create a stronger whole when individuals, organizations, companies and communities bring new perspectives together and establish common ground for the greater good of Albuquerque. At the Foundation, we see how nonprofit organizations have varying missions or serve different populations, but at the heart of what they do lies the dedication to support the people of Albuquerque and the passion to make our community thrive for generations to come.
This year’s Great Grant Giveaway theme is Common Ground. The benefitting organizations all demonstrate how their work is not theirs alone, but is a product of finding commonality among other organizations, stakeholders or partners to address a need or leverage an opportunity – together.
Barelas Community Coalition (BCC) - $20,570
BCC is focused on enhancing the quality of life in Barelas through intergenerational organizing and building community alliances that strengthen education; promote economic development and job opportunities; advocate for affordable housing; ensure the responsible redevelopment of the Barelas Railyards; and preserve the community's heritage and historical resources. In 2018, BCC is focused on reopening the B. Ruppe Drugstore as the B. Ruppe Center for Traditional Healing, a thriving Barelas cultural and culinary center, which will feature local food businesses and artisans. This Center is just one aspect of the Barelas Mainstreet project, which will revitalize the 4th street corridor through the Calle Cuarta business incubator, the Coronado garden, 4th street mural projects and various locally-based food, art, and culture-related start-up businesses.
Encuentro - $27,445
Encuentro’s Home Health Aide program aligns a workforce of primarily Latina immigrants with the fastest growing industry in New Mexico – senior home health services. Participants in the Home Health Aide program enroll in a rigorous 15-week course, developed in partnership with CNM. The course is the only one of its kind that aligns educational attainment, employment matching and culturally-responsive partnerships with industry and higher education institutions for Latina immigrants. The EnCasa Care Connections employee matching website connects graduates of the Home Health Aide program with families across Albuquerque in need of medical care. Since its launch in 2016, the Home Health Aide program has a 100% retention rate and there is currently a waiting list of 200 people to enroll in the program.
Junior Achievement - $34,050
Junior Achievement works in partnership with schools to prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to manage finances and apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities through programs like JA Be Entrepreneurial, JA Career Success, JA Economics and JA Job Shadow. In 2018, JA is working specifically with Bernalillo High School, APS Indian Education Department and Native American Community Academy (NACA) to extend financial literacy and work readiness curricula to Native American high schoolers in the Greater Albuquerque Area. By collaborating with these schools, JA has the opportunity to reach the seven northern pueblos, as well as many Native American youth living within the Albuquerque city limits.
New Space New Mexico - $23,465
In the past 12 months, Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket shot into space, producing five million pounds-force of thrust and more than twice the lift capacity of the NASA Space Shuttle. Jeff Bezos, claiming we are in the “golden age of space exploration,” founded Blue Origin, a company which will launch the New Glenn rocket, capable of lifting satellites and, eventually, people into orbit. Reports show that the commercialization of space will be a $2.7 trillion industry by 2024 – and Albuquerque is uniquely positioned at the forefront of the final frontier. With science, technology, national research laboratories and universities all colliding to lend resources and vision to the swiftly developing space industry, a group of public-private collaborators has established celestial common ground to analyze the impact that the new commercial space industry could have on Albuquerque and the strategies that will help promote, attract, support, and sustain a stronger aerospace industry in Albuquerque and New Mexico. In 2018, the New Space New Mexico group will craft a comprehensive, near-term strategy for Albuquerque to be the innovation hub for new entrepreneurial space.
Working Classroom - $28,945
Working Classroom is a multi-ethnic, inter-generational community of student and professional artists, writers, actors and directors with a commitment to supporting new and diverse voices and visions in the arts. Programs like the I CREATE Fellowship and 21st Century Learning/New Media Workshops are geared toward youth striving to enter careers in the arts. Students at Working Classroom are paid for their work and internships so they can invest their earnings in continuing education or build their creative entrepreneurial skills. To ensure financial capability for their students, Working Classroom works in partnership with Prosperity Works where students and their families can open matched Child Savings Accounts, Individual Development Accounts and save money to buy a home, go to college or start small businesses.