Through the Native Workforce Partners (NWP) Initiative, LANL Foundation is supporting one of the first regional Tribal workforce collaboratives in the nation. NWP brings together fifteen Tribes, Nations, Pueblos, and Native-led nonprofits across New Mexico and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in Texas to expand culturally grounded education, training, and career opportunities.
With fiscal sponsorship from the New Mexico Community Trust, NWP is building the infrastructure and partnerships needed to:
- Strengthen Tribal workforce programs and providers,
- Coordinate with employers, schools, and state partners to expand access,
- Leverage federal, state, and philanthropic funding, and
- Create inclusive career pathways for Native youth and adults.
The LANL Foundation has supported NWP since 2023 by providing technical assistance, funding access, and backbone coordination. Together with partners like the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this initiative has already mobilized over $1 million in new funding to advance Tribal workforce development.
By connecting peer programs across Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations, NWP amplifies Native expertise and cultivates a shared vision for sustainable economic opportunity rooted in community and culture.