San Cristobal Ranch Foundation
Taos County Electronic Neighborhood Associations Project

The San Cristobal Ranch Foundation was awarded a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Managing Information with Rural America (MIRA) initiative to assist nine mainly Hispanic neighborhood associations utilize information technology as they address the various issue affecting their quality of life.   The goal is to provide computer and Internet training, access and support for community leaders in Taos County neighborhood associations to help strengthen the democratic discussion and decision-making process vital to the environmental well being, cultural integrity and economic development of their particular neighborhood and Taos County.

The purpose of the grant is to develop an “Electronic Neighborhood Associations Project” to provide another way for all Taos County community members to participate in the discussions taking place regarding the many issue facing us in Taos County.  The eventual goal of the project is to provide an electronic communications network via the Internet, which will allow a free flow of information and opinions between citizens at the neighborhood level and elected officials and administrators of Taos County and the Town of Taos.

Meeetings have been held  thoughout Taos County with the nine selected villages and neighborhood associations.  Agreements have been made between the San Cristobal Ranch Foundation and eight of the neighborhoods.  Other funding sources are being explored to aid more neighborhoods who have requested help in providing compouter and internet access in their communities.
 
 

Representatives from Ranchos de Taos, Talpa, Cordillera and Las Cordovas learn more about the project from Nancy Montano, project coordinator.

The San Cristobal Ranch Foundation is providing the neighborhoods with the following: 1. A computer for public access.  2. Internet access and e-mail account. 3. Training to 2 individuals selected on the following: · Basic computer skills · How to set up and use E-mail · How to access information on the World   Wide Web · How to set up a web site for their neighborhood · Electronic Conferencing

Pilar Meeting

Costilla

The neighborhoods have agreed to the following: 1. Ensure the computer is accessible to members of the na. 2. Select 2 members who will attend all training sessions. 3. Participate in an online mailing list set up specifically for this project. 4. Submit a monthly report to the San Cristobal Ranch Foundation on how the na is utilizing the equipment, Internet access and mailing list. The reports are for the time period July 1 2000 to June 30, 2001.  5. The na will be responsible for any upgrades, repairs, etc. of the equipment.

"A Spanish Family Survives", family history as told by Beverly Armijo, longtime Talpa resident now working with the project to assist the local neighborhhod assocations as they get online.  Beverly will be learning about digital story telling in the training being provided in July by the MIRA initiative in Taos.  She will in turn help train others in the neighborhoods on how they can begin to archive their community and family histories.

More about the Taos County Electronic Neighborhood Associations Project.
 

For more information please contact:
Nancy Montano at nmontano@laplaza.org
Beverly Armijo at suptalpena@kitcarson.net