National nonprofit and local makerspace link Las Cruces, NM, schools with scientists, entrepreneurs & artists — & offer $500 grants for class projects
Even prior to COVID-19, student engagement in New Mexico was in a crisis state. In Las Cruces, a city of 110,000 on the Rio Grande, just above the U.S.-Mexico border — as in many places around the country — students did not view school as relevant to their lives, communities and career goals. They had passions, but many, particularly lower-income students, didn’t have equitable access to social capital. This means a network of community members who could help make learning relevant to their lives and aspirations, and assist them in translating their interests into real-world projects and future career paths.
Social capital is a critical predictor of educational attainment, academic achievement, health, happiness and economic…
