A Conversation with Dr. Opal Lee: Event Recap
Welcoming the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth' to New Mexico
May 29, 2024 marked a historic moment for our community as we welcomed the renowned activists Dr. Opal Lee and her granddaughter Mrs. Dione Sims to New Mexico for the very first time. Together with our newest identity-based giving circle, the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund, the Santa Fe Community Foundation was humbled to host a diverse group of participants — from senators and artists to media members and caring citizens — at the St. Francis Auditorium. It was powerful to be part of an audience of hundreds engaged in active listening and learning from Ms. Opal, whose perseverance was instrumental in making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday and whose vision continues to inspire us all to create better futures.
We invite you to make a gift to the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund to support Black life, arts, and culture in New Mexico. Donate now.
Photos by Shayla Blatchford
2025 Juneteenth Recap
Thank you to all who joined the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund at Santa Fe Community Foundation for Juneteenth commemorations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We were grateful for the opportunity to come together as a community in remembrance, solidarity, and joy in honor of Black freedom and culture. This year marked a special moment for the Empower! Fund as it announced its inaugural round of grants in support of Black life, arts, and culture in New Mexico.
Empower! Black Futures Community Fund announces inaugural grants
As part of Juneteenth 2025, the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund of the Santa Fe Community Foundation is proud to announce its inaugural round of grantmaking. The grants, which total $37,500, support six organizations uplifting Black life, arts, and culture in New Mexico.
New Report Details Impacts of Federal Funding Freeze on New Mexico’s Nonprofits and Philanthropic Sector
A newly published report, “Impact of Federal Funding Changes on New Mexico’s Philanthropic Sector,” commissioned by the Thornburg Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, and Anchorum Health Foundation, examines the effects of recent suspensions in federal funding on New Mexico’s nonprofit sector. Prepared by The Grant Plant Inc, the nonpartisan report highlights how these changes are impacting the state’s communities, particularly those most reliant on federal support, and explores ways philanthropy and policymakers can help organizations adapt
