Northern Youth Project Update

From NYP

To Our Dear Supporters,

While it is true that we have been displaced from the land that we’ve stewarded for the past 15 years, and that we are experiencing grief over having to close this chapter, we are also feeling very optimistic about the future of our organization and the new direction in which we are headed.

Northern Youth Project (NYP), was founded in 2009 by teens, for teens, empowering them to turn their ideas into action and engage in projects driven by their curiosity and passions. This has been achieved through practicing “art as activism”, tending the land through traditional agriculture, and leadership skill development. Our main priority has always been to fill a gap in our community by improving access to healthy experiences for youth in rural Northern New Mexico. NYP has served as a platform for young people to develop skills that promote personal well-being and foster investment in their communities and the environment. We have offered paid internships, often as a first employment opportunity and during the early pandemic, we provided a learning space for teens and children, who otherwise did not have a safe place to go, all at no cost to families.

This foundation that we have built will continue to live on beyond our garden here in Abiquiu. We are excited to share that we have already begun to partner with regional farmers and artists to create host sites that will provide valuable opportunities for our interns in 2025. These collaborations will continue our legacy of hands-on education and job skill development, helping to equip young people in our community with the skills they need to thrive. We believe that these connections will not only enrich the lives of our local youth, but will also strengthen our community ties in ways that extend out into our community, far beyond our beloved garden.

It has been a privilege to watch multiple generations of young people grow, in Abiquiu as well as in the many surrounding communities, by connecting with the land, the surrounding community, and each other. We are deeply grateful for the partnerships we've formed along the way, and of course, for all of you. Whether it has been through mentoring the youth, volunteering at events, or contributing your skills and energy into the garden, your support and enthusiasm have made more impact than we can possibly express. Together, we will continue to uplift and provide opportunities for youth in the region.

Thank you for welcoming us into your lives, for believing in our mission, and for being an integral part of our story. We sincerely hope you will come along with us for this new chapter and the ongoing work that lies beyond. As Lupita Salazar so beautifully wrote in her op-ed last week, “Quisieron enterrarnos, pero se les olvido que somos semillas. They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.”
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With gratitude,
The Staff of Northern Youth Project

Recurring donations make all the difference for the health and sustainability of our programs!
We encourage you to consider becoming a donor to NYP today:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/northernyouthproject/
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