Dona Ana Village Historic Preservation Committee
Grants Awarded
The Village will educate local youth about the significance of the national historic trail through engaging outdoor activities, such as community gardening, walking tours, and the restoration of historic irrigation channels (acequias). This program will foster a deeper appreciation for local history and strengthen community ties, ultimately empowering participants and enriching the surrounding area.
The non-profit organization DAVA (not expanded as no information is provided) plans to maintain its outdoor youth engagement programs. These will enthrall local youth about the significance of the national historic trail through community outdoor activities and participation in planning an outdoor space south of the community, facilitated by the Rivers Trails Conservation Assistance Grant. Furthermore, DAVA will persist with projects like community murals, bike rides, walking tours, and historic acequias' restoration. Encouraging youth involvement and community interest are the key desired outcomes.
1. Successfully led community nature walks with federal leaders including the U.S. Secretary of Interior. The youth identified an open space that was unused that could be converted into an accessible outdoor recreation space and identified the leaders who would be important to see this location to support its conversion. Youth and community led tours with US Senator Martin Heinrich, staff of Senator Lujan, and the US Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. 2. Engaged youth in community in dialogue and mural projects regarding untold indigenous histories of the area. This included education around the pre-european indigenous footpaths that existed before the camino real and helped expand youth and community’s understanding of the indigenous peoples who lived and currently live in the area. 3. Successfully worked with the county and local flood commission to reevaluate a plan to create a flood pit adjacent to the village to include community input, which the youth and community will help design. Successfully applied and was awarded the Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Grant from the National Park Service, as a direct result of the outdoor equity organizing we were able to do as a part of this grant.