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On this episode of Community Matters, we welcome Laurie Merrill, Founder and Executive Director of Free Flow NM. Recipient of the 2025 “Courageous Innovation” Piñon Award, Free Flow NM has been tackling period poverty and menstrual stigma across northern New Mexico since 2020. Laurie shares the barriers New Mexicans face in accessing period products and highlights recent triumphs.

On this episode of Community Matters, we welcome Ona Johnson to discuss Dollars4Schools, an initiative of the Santa Fe Community Foundation that is making a meaningful difference in local classrooms. Ona shares how the program connects public and charter school educators in Santa Fe with the resources they need to bring creative projects to life and meet essential student needs, ensuring teachers can focus on what matters most — their students.

The second installment of our special two-part Community Matters episode continues the conversation with leaders of the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s identity-based giving circles. Jhane Myers (Native American Advised Fund), Marsie Silvestro (Envision Fund), and Raashan Ahmad (Empower! Black Futures Community Fund) return to share the recent milestones and explore common threads that connect their work. From celebrating cultural resilience to advancing equity and joy, this episode shines light on the power of community-led giving to shape a more inclusive and vibrant New Mexico.

In the first of a special two-part Community Matters episode, host Sandra Session-Robertson sits down with Jhane Myers of the Native American Advised Fund, Marsie Silvestro of the Envision Fund (LGBTQ+), and Raashan Ahmad of the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund to explore the origins and guiding values of these powerful identity-based giving circles. Together, they discuss how each fund supports historically underserved communities to build a more equitable future for all of New Mexico.

This month on Community Matters, we speak with Miles Tokunow, Executive Director of Santa Fe Dreamers Project, a nonprofit providing high-quality legal services to immigrants across New Mexico and West Texas. A movement builder and justice dreamer, Miles leads with heart and strategy to uphold the dignity of immigrants and forge liberatory futures rooted in equity and care.

On this episode of Community Matters, we’re honored to speak with Sherman Allen, Executive Director of The Friendship Club, the 2025 recipient of the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s Quiet Inspiration Piñon Award. For more than four decades, The Friendship Club has provided a safe and welcoming space for individuals in recovery from alcohol and drug addictions. Today, the Club hosts fifty 12-step meetings each week, produces a podcast with 20,000 listeners worldwide, and offers a hybrid Zoom Room that keeps its community connected while supporting mental, spiritual, and physical well-being.

This month on Community Matters, we speak with Leah Ricci, Interim Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, and Nina Listro, Director of Quivira’s Carbon Ranch Initiative, about the importance of regenerative agriculture in New Mexico. They share their collaborative approach to supporting healthy working lands and resilient food systems — and explore how shifting priorities at the federal level are impacting local farming and ranching communities.

On this episode of Community Matters, we have the pleasure of speaking with Patti Ward, a seasoned nonprofit consultant with over 25 years of experience helping organizations build the skills and strategies they need to thrive. Join us as we discuss key trends and challenges in New Mexico’s nonprofit sector, practical tips for crafting a compelling case for support, and what participants can expect from Patti's upcoming Fundraising Immersion program.

In honor of MLK Day, we share a portion of our conversation between renowned activists Dr. Opal Lee and Ms. Dione Sims — both instrumental in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally-recognized holiday — and Hakim Bellamy, the inaugural Poet Laureate of Albuquerque and advisory committee member of the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund at Santa Fe Community Foundation.

On this episode of Community Matters, we speak with Kim Brown, the dynamic CEO of Girls Inc. of Santa Fe. In 2025, Girls Inc. celebrates 70 years of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. This is a special year for Kim as well, who reaches an incredible milestone of 20 years with the organization. Listen as Kim reflects on her journey, shares the organization’s impactful work, and discusses how Girls Inc. continues to inspire and equip the next generation of confident young women.