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 downtown public library building in Santa Fe could undergo renovations in the coming years, helping the space meet the modern-day needs of Santa Feans.   

The Pueblo-Spanish style building on Washington Ave., which once housed municipal offices and a fire station, has seen little updating since the library moved into the building in 1986. The city’s Library Division Director Margaret Neill says improvements are long overdue and believes preplanning efforts could get the project moving. 

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Neill to talk about the community feedback process the library is conducting for future building improvements and shares what she’s learned from the public so far.  

In the episode, Inez and Neill also discuss some of the programs and services the library system has to offer and why taking advantage of them is worthwhile.  

If you have suggestions or comments that you want considered for the downtown library project, email them to library@santafenm.gov or call 505-955-6786. 

The downtown public library building in Santa Fe could undergo renovations in the coming years, helping the space meet the modern-day needs of Santa Feans.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Pueblo-Spanish style building on Washington Ave., which once housed municipal offices and a fire station, has seen little updating since the library moved into the building in 1986. The city&rsquo;s Library Division Director Margaret Neill says improvements are long overdue and believes preplanning efforts could get the project moving.&nbsp;
On the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Neill to talk about the community feedback process the library is conducting for future building improvements and shares what she&rsquo;s learned from the public so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In&nbsp;the episode,&nbsp;Inez and Neill also discuss some of the programs and services the library system has&nbsp;to offer&nbsp;and why taking advantage of them&nbsp;is&nbsp;worthwhile.&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you have&nbsp;suggestions&nbsp;or comments&nbsp;that you want&nbsp;considered&nbsp;for the&nbsp;downtown&nbsp;library&nbsp;project,&nbsp;email&nbsp;them to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:library@santafenm.gov">library@santafenm.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 505-955-6786.&nbsp;

Santa Fe’s library director discusses upcoming improvements to downtown library building

The missing, murdered, Indigenous people crisis has long plagued Native American communities throughout the country, especially here in the Southwest. According to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, it is estimated that 4,200 reported cases have gone unsolved. The result? It has left many questions unanswered, families with grief and documentarians like Amanda Erickson on a mission to share stories.  

Erickson, a longtime true crime tv producer now director, has decided to shine light on this crisis in her new documentary film titled She Cried That Day. The film focuses on the story of an Arikara, Dakota and Diné woman who died from injuries caused by an alleged domestic dispute in Gallup. It follows the backstory of her case and shows the world how difficult it is to get justice in what Erickson calls an emotional and dark movement.   

Erickson joins the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” to reflect with host Inez Russell Gomez, the years-long production of the film, how her producing background inspired her to tackle this type of project and what’s next as the film makes its way to festivals and small screenings across the state.  

Learn more by visiting shecriedthatday.com 

The missing, murdered, Indigenous people crisis has long plagued Native American communities throughout the country, especially here in the Southwest. According to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, it is estimated that <a href="https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis">4,200&nbsp;reported&nbsp;cases</a> have gone unsolved. The result? It has left many questions unanswered, families with grief and documentarians like Amanda Erickson on a mission to share stories.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Erickson, a longtime true crime tv producer now director,&nbsp;has decided to&nbsp;shine light on this crisis in her&nbsp;new&nbsp;documentary&nbsp;film&nbsp;titled&nbsp;She Cried That Day. The film focuses on the story of an Arikara, Dakota and Din&eacute; woman who died from injuries caused by an alleged domestic dispute in Gallup. It follows the backstory of her case and shows the world how difficult it is to get justice in what Erickson calls an emotional and dark movement.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Erickson joins the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; to reflect with host Inez Russell Gomez, the years-long production of the film, how her producing background inspired her to tackle this type of project and what&rsquo;s next as the film makes its way to festivals and small screenings across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Learn more by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shecriedthatday.com/">shecriedthatday.com</a>&nbsp;

‘She Cried That Day’ director Amanda Erickson on film’s making; its ties to missing Indigenous women

Did Texas steal El Paso from New Mexico? Depending on who you ask, the answer is likely straightforward. However, for Blake Gumprecht, an Albuquerque-based writer and longtime geographer who once lived and worked in the borderlands, the answer is a matter of delving into historical records to find the facts.  

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez talks with Gumprecht about his efforts to find out if Texas did in fact steal El Paso from New Mexico. The two discuss Gumprecht’s findings on this unusual topic and how he used them to write an article published in the Western Historical Quarterly.  

The premise of the article suggests El Paso may not have originally belonged to Texas when it was incorporated into the state because of geographical changes brought by westward expansion. A lack of credible sourcing to corroborate any claims regarding incorporation, especially those of Robert S. Neighbors, is also raised in the article.  

Throughout the episode, Inez and Gumprecht also reflect on the political and cultural significances El Paso has had in Texas and how different it would be today had the Sun City been a part of the Land of Enchantment.  

Check out more of Gumprecht’s work by visiting his website blakegumprecht.wordpress.com 

Did Texas steal El Paso from New Mexico? Depending on who you ask, the answer is likely straightforward. However, for Blake Gumprecht, an Albuquerque-based writer and longtime geographer who once lived and worked in the borderlands, the answer is a matter of delving into historical records to find the facts.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez talks with Gumprecht about his efforts to find out if Texas did in fact steal El Paso from New Mexico. The two discuss Gumprecht&rsquo;s findings on this unusual topic and how he used them to write an article <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/whq/whaf074">published</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;the Western Historical Quarterly.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The&nbsp;premise of the article&nbsp;suggests&nbsp;El Paso&nbsp;may not have originally belonged to Texas&nbsp;when it was incorporated into the state&nbsp;because of&nbsp;geographical&nbsp;changes&nbsp;brought&nbsp;by&nbsp;westward expansion. A lack of&nbsp;credible&nbsp;sourcing&nbsp;to corroborate&nbsp;any&nbsp;claims&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;incorporation, especially those of&nbsp;Robert S.&nbsp;Neighbors,&nbsp;is&nbsp;also&nbsp;raised&nbsp;in the article.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Throughout the episode,&nbsp;Inez and&nbsp;Gumprecht&nbsp;also&nbsp;reflect&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;political&nbsp;and cultural&nbsp;significances&nbsp;El Paso has had&nbsp;in&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;and&nbsp;how&nbsp;different it&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;today&nbsp;had the Sun City&nbsp;been a&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;the Land&nbsp;of&nbsp;Enchantment.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Check out more of Gumprecht&rsquo;s work by visiting his website&nbsp;<a href="https://blakegumprecht.wordpress.com/">blakegumprecht.wordpress.com</a>&nbsp;

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

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