On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana Padilla.  

Secretary Padilla joins the podcast to discuss the state’s free summer reading program and how it has correlated to literacy improvements among children — a problem area New Mexico has struggled with for years. Padilla says the initiative is part of a larger goal, championed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, to get kids reading at a proficient level at an early age, so they are set up for future academic success. And this year, free math tutoring is in the works for students as well.  

In the episode, Padilla also shares how parents can best support their kids at home and why keeping them engaged during summer months matters when back-to-school time rolls around in the fall.  

To learn more or register for the free summer reading program, visit literacy.nm.gov

On the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana Padilla.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Secretary Padilla joins the podcast to discuss the state&rsquo;s free summer reading program and how it has correlated to literacy improvements among children &mdash; a problem area New Mexico has struggled with for years. Padilla says the initiative is part of a larger goal, championed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, to get kids reading at a proficient level at an early age, so they are set up for future academic success. And this year, free math tutoring is in the works for students as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the episode, Padilla also shares how parents can best support their kids at home and why keeping them engaged during summer months matters when back-to-school time rolls around in the fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To learn more&nbsp;or register for&nbsp;the free summer&nbsp;reading&nbsp;program, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.literacy.nm.gov/">literacy.nm.gov</a>

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.

Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.
Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

New Mexico PED secretary talks free summer reading program, child literacy gains 

The Zia Singers return this week for a concert in Santa Fe honoring the legacy of women who have shaped American politics across administrations, movements and branches of government.  

John Tiranno, artistic director of The Zia Singers, said the concert is titled “She the People” and will be a 12-movement choral song cycle that features the writings and perspectives of 16 influential women from both political parties. He said the concert isn't focused on partisanship but will showcase a greater message of hope, unity and togetherness.  

Featured figures include Abigail Adams, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and Sandra Day O’Connor.  

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” Tiranno joins host Inez Russell Gomez to discuss what people can expect from the performance, why the all-female chorus chose to focus on political women for this concert and what lies ahead for The Zia Singers as they head into their seasonal break.   

“She the People” will be performed May 30–31 at Christ Church in Santa Fe.  

Visit theziasingers.org for tickets.  

The Zia Singers&nbsp;return&nbsp;this&nbsp;week&nbsp;for a&nbsp;concert&nbsp;in Santa Fe&nbsp;honoring&nbsp;the legacy of&nbsp;women who have&nbsp;shaped&nbsp;American&nbsp;politics&nbsp;across&nbsp;administrations,&nbsp;movements&nbsp;and&nbsp;branches of&nbsp;government.&nbsp;&nbsp;
John Tiranno, artistic director of The Zia Singers, said the concert is titled &ldquo;She the People&rdquo; and will be a 12-movement choral song cycle that features the writings and perspectives of 16 influential women from both political parties. He said the concert isn't focused on partisanship but will showcase a greater message of hope, unity and togetherness.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Featured figures include Abigail Adams, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and Sandra Day O&rsquo;Connor.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; Tiranno joins host Inez Russell Gomez to discuss what people can expect from the performance, why the all-female chorus chose to focus on political women for this concert and what lies ahead for The Zia Singers as they head into their seasonal break.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;She the People&rdquo; will be&nbsp;performed&nbsp;May 30&ndash;31 at Christ Church&nbsp;in Santa Fe.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theziasingers.org/">theziasingers.org</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;tickets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘She the People’: The Zia Singers to honor American political women in concert

A new edition of Bienvenidos magazine is now available, and this year’s theme pays homage to Route 66, the beloved highway that has connected travelers and towns near and far for a century.  

To discuss the magazine’s release, Ashley M. Biggers, magazines editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican, joins host Inez Russell Gomez on the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different.”  

Biggers shares her editorial process of putting the new edition together and talks about the people and places featured along the historic route in New Mexico. Among the subjects profiled are Miss New Mexico USA Dominique Ehrl, Meow Wolf and Santa Fe’s Margarita Trail.  

In the episode, Biggers also previews what readers can expect in Legacy and International Folk Art Market magazines ahead of their summertime release. The magazines serve as guides to Santa Fe's Native and Spanish arts scene that is put on full display during the International Folk Art Market and SWAIA’s Indian Market.  

To read Bienvenidos and all Santa Fe New Mexican magazines, visit enewmexican.com

A new edition of&nbsp;Bienvenidos&nbsp;magazine&nbsp;is now&nbsp;available,&nbsp;and this year&rsquo;s theme&nbsp;pays homage to&nbsp;Route 66,&nbsp;the&nbsp;beloved&nbsp;highway that&nbsp;has&nbsp;connected&nbsp;travelers&nbsp;and&nbsp;towns&nbsp;near and far&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;century.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To discuss the magazine&rsquo;s&nbsp;release, Ashley M. Biggers,&nbsp;magazines&nbsp;editor at the&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican, joins&nbsp;host Inez Russell Gomez on&nbsp;the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Biggers&nbsp;shares&nbsp;her&nbsp;editorial process of&nbsp;putting the&nbsp;new edition&nbsp;together and&nbsp;talks about&nbsp;the people and places featured&nbsp;along the historic route&nbsp;in New Mexico.&nbsp;Among the subjects profiled are&nbsp;Miss New Mexico USA Dominique Ehrl,&nbsp;Meow&nbsp;Wolf&nbsp;and&nbsp;Santa Fe&rsquo;s Margarita Trail.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the episode, Biggers&nbsp;also&nbsp;previews&nbsp;what&nbsp;readers&nbsp;can expect&nbsp;in&nbsp;Legacy&nbsp;and&nbsp;International&nbsp;Folk Art Market&nbsp;magazines&nbsp;ahead of&nbsp;their summertime&nbsp;release.&nbsp;The&nbsp;magazines&nbsp;serve as guides to&nbsp;Santa Fe's&nbsp;Native and Spanish arts&nbsp;scene that is put on full display during&nbsp;the International Folk Art Market and SWAIA&rsquo;s Indian Market.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To read&nbsp;Bienvenidos&nbsp;and&nbsp;all&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;magazines, visit <a href="https://enewmexican.com/">enewmexican.com</a>

New ‘Bienvenidos’ magazine cruises Route 66, featuring people and places along the historic highway 

There’s a lot to love during this year’s Santa Fe International Literary Festival which takes place May 15-17 at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.  

Authors from around the country and of diverse literary backgrounds will descend on the City Different to engage in conversations around their beloved works. They will also participate in literary day trips for festivalgoers to experience some of Northern New Mexico’s scenic places.   

To preview the 2026 festival, organizers Megan Mulry and Susan Burks join host Inez Russell Gomez on the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different.”  

In the episode, Mulry and Burks discuss the lineup of events both leading up to and on the official days, who will be headlining and the work it takes to plan and execute a large-scale event that has proven success since its inception. Mulry and Burks also talk about some of the new festival features that will make peoples’ experience safe and enjoyable.  

Isabel Wilkerson, Rebecca Solnit, Ocean Vuong and Judy Blume are among this year’s festival talent. Visit sfinternationallitfest.org for more information.

There&rsquo;s&nbsp;a lot to love&nbsp;during&nbsp;this year&rsquo;s Santa Fe International Literary Festival which takes place May&nbsp;15-17&nbsp;at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Authors&nbsp;from around the country and of diverse&nbsp;literary&nbsp;backgrounds&nbsp;will descend on the City Different&nbsp;to&nbsp;engage in&nbsp;conversations&nbsp;around their beloved&nbsp;works. They will also&nbsp;participate&nbsp;in literary&nbsp;day trips&nbsp;for festivalgoers to experience&nbsp;some of&nbsp;Northern New Mexico&rsquo;s scenic&nbsp;places.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
To preview the 2026&nbsp;festival,&nbsp;organizers Megan Mulry&nbsp;and Susan Burks join&nbsp;host Inez Russell Gomez on&nbsp;the latest podcast&nbsp;episode&nbsp;of &ldquo;Conversations&nbsp;Different.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the episode, Mulry and Burks discuss the lineup of events both leading up to and on the official days, who will be headlining and the work it takes to plan and execute a large-scale event that has proven success since its inception. Mulry and Burks also talk about some of the new festival features that will make peoples&rsquo; experience safe and enjoyable.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Isabel Wilkerson,&nbsp;Rebecca Solnit,&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;Vuong&nbsp;and&nbsp;Judy Blume&nbsp;are among this&nbsp;year&rsquo;s festival&nbsp;talent.&nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sfinternationallitfest.org/">sfinternationallitfest.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

New Mexico PED secretary talks free summer reading program, child literacy gains

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