From Violence to Hope: How Education and Storytelling Can Transform Española
New Mexico is in crisis. A state of emergency has been declared in Rio Arriba County, where Española—home to Northern New Mexico College—faces daunting crime rates and some of the highest overdose deaths in the nation. Like every community in America, we also live under the shadow of horrific school and campus shootings that continue to devastate families.
Parents everywhere are asking the same urgent question: How do we keep our children safe and give them hope?
At Northern, we believe the answer lies in education—and in the power of storytelling. Stories are more than entertainment. They shape how young people see themselves, their culture, and their future. In times of fear, storytelling can be a force for resilience and healing.
Growing up in Wagon Mound, I remember watching television tales of frontier heroes like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Rarely did I hear about leaders from my own culture. That absence mattered. When young people do not see their heritage reflected in history, they can lose faith in their own potential.
That is why Northern is proud to host events that recover these hidden histories. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, our Española campus will screen Singing Our Way to Freedom, a documentary about Ramón “Chunky” Sánchez, a musician who stood alongside César Chávez and used his songs to inspire justice and solidarity.