$121,263.31 in Small Grants Awarded to Education and Community Programs
(photo: Mesa Prieta Petroglyth Project)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation recently awarded 51 grants totaling $121,263.31 in the first of two annual cycles in its small grants funding process. Grants of up to $2500 support the work of schools, nonprofits and community programs in Northern New Mexico.
Based on programmatic information provided by applicants, it is estimated that nearly 90,000 Northern New Mexicans will be positively impacted by the programs funded by LANL Foundation small grants.
Education Outreach Grants worth $74,937.31 were awarded to the following 32 programs that directly support K–12 public school education, students, and teachers.
Acequia Madre Elementary School, STEM Education in the Natural World: 26 handheld microscopes and curriculum to supplement STEM education in a weekly garden class
Algodones Elementary School, School Based Explora Experience: hands-on classroom science experiences for elementary students and two parent/family nights
Anansi Day School, Anansi Charter School Robotics Program: Sphero Robots and STEAM activities including coding and access to robotics competitions for students in grades 5–8.
Arroyos Del Norte Elementary School, Expanding K–5 STEAM Lab: robotics equipment and a library of science and engineering texts based on the Next Generation Science Standards to support hands-on learning for students
Bernalillo Middle School, Outdoor Learning Garden and Science Center: hands-on learning through gardening in all academic disciplines including sciences, math, and language arts
College Horizons, College, Career, Culture & Community Project at Bernalillo High School: culturally responsive college and career readiness curriculum for Native American students in grades 7–12, in collaboration with the seven central Pueblos
Community for Kids, Educational Field Trip to the Grand Canyon: experiential program including hiking, camping and field research to supplement the Inquiry Science Education Consortium curriculum and kit for students in grades 5 and 6
Compassionate Touch Network, Breaking the Silence—NM Changes the Conversation About Mental Illness: interactive presentations in middle and high school health classes in Taos, Peñasco, Los Alamos and Santa Fe on mental illness, suicide and stigma
Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA), Hands-On Science Education, Youth Development and Community Asset Awards: science activities and demonstrations for elementary students in classrooms and at the Los Alamos Science Fest and Bradbury Science Museum, with youth leadership development and annual community awards ceremony to recognize volunteers and contributions to improve the community and world
Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc, Tribal Youth Environmental Summer Camp: holistic, hands-on experience for high school students with a focus on scientific methods used in environmental science-related jobs and activities exploring cultural significance of the students’ location and environmental issues in their communities
Elevate Santa Fe, Elevate Kids—Developing a Growth Mindset: enrichment program for elementary students using indoor rock climbing to teach life skills and incorporate physical challenges with classroom concepts
El Rito Public Library, Youth STEM Exploration of Our Watershed: Saturday STEM program promoting observation, description and modeling of local phenomena with projects that characterize El Rito Creek’s aquatic micro-organisms and creation of a 3D model of Sapawe prehistoric Pueblo ruin
Escalante High School, Lobos in the Garden: outdoor learning space for applied science activities including a garden, ramada and composting area
Flower Hill Institute, Four Elements Native Youth Summer Camps: camps at Jemez Pueblo educate and engage Native American youth in stewardship of Tribal lands, protection of water, honoring of fire and preservation of clean air while incorporating STEM and traditional cultural
Jemez Mountain School District—Lybrook School, Technology Resources: blended-learning resources that provide engaging materials for differentiated student instruction and offer teachers opportunities to personalize student intervention and enrichment
Localogy, Universal Elements—Intersecting Science and Art Education: integrated science and art education program in Questa, Costilla and Red River offering hands-on, multi-sensory, grade-appropriate enrichment activities
Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, Giving LAHS Students a Voice in Improving Their Education: two opportunities for students to write grant applications and receive teacher mentorship to implement their ideas
Los Alamos Women in Science (New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering), STEM Conference for Girls: Northern New Mexico Expanding Your Horizons conference for girls in grades 5–8 offering hands-on workshops in STEM such as cryptography, earthquakes, water resources, robots, DNA, light and lasers, engineering and veterinary science
Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project: bilingual STEM curriculum for students, field trips to a petroglyph site and teacher professional development workshop and classroom training
Millicent Rogers Museum, Teen Art Show and Summer Drawing Classes: summer art instruction and show of work for teens in Taos
National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM), Dancing to Success in Rio Arriba County: school-aged children build skills for academic success and good health through movement-based learning
National Ghost Ranch Foundation, Ghost Ranch Spring 2019 STEAM Camp—Earth to Herb: one-day STEAM camp incorporating geology, herbal medicine and botanical drawing
New Mexico Consortium, 2019 Summer Physics Camp for Young Women in Northern New Mexico: two-week summer physics camp at Pojoaque Valley High School for high school women including lectures, hands-on experiments and tours of LANL and NMC bio lab led by female scientists
New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Teenage Orienteering Course: trainings in the Jemez and Santa Fe Mountains to teach at-risk teens problem solving and life skills through use of orienteering compasses and nature
Peaceful Project, Freedom to Be You: social, emotional learning program for teen girls with sessions that explore topics that develop skills to handle peer pressure and mistakes, build positive relationships and assertively set boundaries
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Learning Lab Program: youth program based on community service, personal accountability, specialized academics, teamwork and life-skills that provides customized and culturally appropriate alternative education to middle and high school students at risk of expulsion from Taos Municipal Schools
Roots & Wings Community School, Staff Wilderness First Responder Training: certification training for personnel to support backcountry field trips with students
Soulful Presence, Leadership Camp for Youth with Disabilities: three-day camp for youth with disabilities and their parents/guardians that emphasizes self advocacy and abuse prevention
Sundance Educational Consulting, Educational Conference: resources, education and materials to support student learning in STEAM, reading, performing arts, culture and wellness for Native American parents, staff, students and community members
Taos Adaptive Outdoor Sports, Inc (TAOS), Equine Therapy Education Project: education by PATH-certified trainers to allow TAOS staff to offer equine therapy to persons with disabilities and support other horse therapy programs in Northern New Mexico
Truchas Services Center, Summer Science and Arts Program for Youth: summer program offering daily science and art activities, weekly field trips to cultural destinations, martial arts and classes in healthy eating and animal care
Wood Gormley Middle School, Tall Box Tales—A Pop-Up Illuminated Garden: multi-tiered, illuminated 3D sculptures using art materials and electronic circuits culminating in a school-wide community arts and science exhibition with demonstrations of student-directed robotics
Additionally, 19 Community Outreach Grants totaling $46,326 were awarded to programs aligned with the LANL Foundation’s mission and vision of innovative programming, collaboration, and advocacy for lifelong learning but are not closely tied to K–12 public education.
Abrazos Family Support, Pre-School Readiness Program: early-intervention program and tactile learning toys for toddlers with developmental disabilities and their caregivers
Bienvenidos Outreach, Inc, Smart Breakfasts = Smart Kids Program: ongoing nutritious breakfast foods and snacks for at-risk, school-aged children and food sacks for families twice per month
Big Brother Big Sisters, Jump Start Community-Based Mentoring Program: expansion from school-based to community-based mentoring program with recruitment of volunteers matched with children outside of school
Cañones Early Childhood Center, Project Literacy Outreach: research-based math and science programming and age-appropriate computer literacy experiences for preschool children
Española Lowrider Museum, Lowrider Historical Coloring Book: creation and printing of a historically and culturally educational reading/coloring book emphasizing a timeline of the lowrider at distinctive Northern New Mexico locations
Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum, Early Childhood Experiential Science: early childhood, intergenerational science and literacy program offered at Taos County schools and libraries to help families develop a lifelong love of learning
Interfaith Community Shelter Group, Inc, Women’s Summer Safe Haven: sheltering program for women and children offered when seasonal winter night shelter is closed, plus access to services that promote self-reliance and transition to stable housing
New Mexico Now, Universal Pre-K for New Mexico: education for parents and caregivers on the need for Pre-K programming and supportive access to services in San Miguel County
New Mexico Rural Library Initiative, Developing a Roadmap for Capacity Building and Establishment of Rural Libraries: guidelines for new libraries and capacity building for existing libraries, in collaboration with the NM State Library
May Center for Learning, Dyslexia Justice League: adult mentorship and advocacy opportunities for dyslexic youth, understanding of dyslexia among teachers and parents, collaborative student art projects and a yearly conference that promotes growth mindset and pride in self
Questa Creative Council, Questa Area Community Art Enhancement Projects: artist programs with projects to enhance the Village of Questa and community through arts installations, education, historic and cultural preservation, music appreciation and environmental engagement
Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program: recruitment, training and matching of community volunteers to adults with literacy needs and students learning English as a Second Language
Roadrunner Food Bank, Childhood Hunger Initiative: food distribution in Sandoval County schools to alleviate student hunger, improve student wellbeing and support academic process through mobile, in-school and summer pantries and weekend backpacks
Sandoval County CASA, Inc, Child Advocate Training for CASA Volunteers: new volunteer training and in-service sessions for current volunteers on educational advocacy, compassion fatigue and legislative changes including the Indian Child Welfare Act
Santa Fe Indian Center, Emergency Assistance Program: resource center for families and individuals of Santa Fe’s Native American community offering financial grants, information, advocacy and essential items to those in extreme financial crisis
Santa Fe Recovery Center, Trauma Informed and Cultural Competency Supervision for Infant/Parent Behavioral Health: training for staff working with new mothers who struggle with substance abuse addiction
Santa Fe Dreamers Project, Family Unity Program: free legal representation for immigrant families with a focus on citizen cases
Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, Take Action! Protect our Youth through Sexual Violence Prevention: community education on sexual violence prevention for youth, parents and caregivers using content focused on consent, navigating digital age relationships, healthy masculinity and empowerment for young women
United Way of Santa Fe County, Dolly Parton Imagination Library: free high-quality, age-appropriate books in Spanish for young children in Spanish-speaking families, mailed to the home each month from birth through the child’s fifth birthday
LANL Foundation accepts grant applications from public school districts, nonprofit New Mexico educational institutions, IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies, and Pueblo/Tribal communities with programs serving one or more of the seven Northern New Mexico counties of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, or Taos.
The deadline to apply for the second cycle of LANL Foundation small grant funding is August 15, 2019. Application form and instructions may be found online at www.lanlfoundation.org/grants.
For more information, contact LANL Foundation grants manager Sylvan Argo at 505-753-8890, ext 120, sylvan@lanlfoundation.org.
