Española, NM – The LANL Foundation joins the New Mexico Native Workforce Partners (NWP) in celebrating a major milestone in the evolution of their workforce-focused coalition – signing a fiscal sponsorship agreement with New Mexico Community Trust.
Since 2023, the LANL Foundation has stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with NWP, a coalition representing fifteen Tribes, Nations, Pueblos, and nonprofits across New Mexico and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso, Texas. NWP works to create opportunities for all Native Americans to achieve economic security and prosperity by coordinating with employers, schools, and local organizations to provide quality training, education, and support. Achieving fiscal sponsorship by the New Mexico Community Trust (NMCT) is a testament to the vision of NWP leadership and powerful demonstration of the sustained partnership with the LANL Foundation.
“We are profoundly grateful for the invaluable support from the LANL Foundation, which has been instrumental in fortifying our collaboration with New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Our recent fiscal sponsorship agreement with NMCT marks a significant milestone, broadening our capacity to pursue additional funds. This expanded financial opportunity is pivotal in advancing our tribal workforce initiatives, ultimately creating robust pathways for indigenous people within our communities across New Mexico,” said Bernadette Panteah, Co-Chair 477, of Native Workforce Partners.
The LANL Foundation has provided technical assistance, funding access, and infrastructure support to strengthen collaboration among Tribal providers, deepen partnerships with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, and expand Native access to employment, training, and career pathways.
“Securing fiscal sponsorship from the New Mexico Community Trust marks a powerful step forward for Native Workforce Partners as we advance one of the first regional Tribal workforce collaboratives in the country. With the partnership and leadership of 14 member Tribes, NWP is committed to building inclusive, community-rooted pathways into education, workforce training, and careers for all grantee communities to thrive,” said LANL Foundation Policy & Impact Manager Dr. Bonavita Quinto-MacCallum, PhD.
By connecting peer programs from pueblos, nations, and tribes across the region, the NWP amplifies Tribal expertise in workforce development and cultivates a shared vision for sustainable economic opportunity. Through its member‑driven strategic planning, NWP is forging pathways for youth and adults alike—combining culturally grounded services with cutting‑edge training to meet the unique needs of Native communities. Formed by Tribal entities receiving federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 166 and Public Law 102‑477 funds, NWP was created to help Native communities reclaim prosperity and build collective power among Tribal workforce providers.
“We are proud to serve as fiscal sponsor for Native Workforce Partners, whose mission to empower Native communities through culturally grounded education and workforce development aligns with our shared commitment to equity and opportunity in New Mexico,” Marisa Magallanez, Chief Operating Officer of the New Mexico Community Trust, shared.
Although NWP’s origins lie in Tribal leadership and federal funding, the LANL Foundation embraced the initiative as an effort aligned with its mission to advance equity, education, and community health. With the support of funding partners like the W.K. Kellogg Foundations, the LANL Foundation has contributed staff time, expertise, and coordination capacity, helping NWP secure over $1 million in new funding and building the administrative infrastructure needed for growth. From strategic planning and event coordination to contractor management and communications systems, the Foundation’s stewardship has created a strong base for NWP’s evolution into a fiscally independent organization.
“Native Workforce Partners has been instrumental in helping Native workforce programs connect to resources, develop a peer network, and leverage various forms of funding in support of youth and families,” said Megan Elkins, Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “I am thrilled to see their expertise and leadership grow as they branch out on their own.”
As NWP moves toward fiscal sponsorship, the coalition is poised to expand its membership, deepen policy advocacy at the state level, and cultivate industry partnerships that create meaningful career opportunities.
To learn more about Native American Workforce Partners, visit https://nativeworkforcepartners.org.
To learn more about the LANL Foundation, visit lanlfoundation.org.
