Rural students learn how to code by participating in a supercomputing challenge.
State of Change
In small towns in New Mexico and the West, life is changing quickly. More young people are moving away from rural places than into them. Some New Mexico communities are trying to escape generations-long boom-and-bust cycles, while others struggle to retain their identity in an economy flooded with tourists and newcomers. Internet connections that could power remote businesses in rural places lag behind urban centers.
New Mexico, along with the rest of the rural West, is in a state of change. Over the past year, a group of New Mexico news organizations investigated the challenges to building resilient rural communities, and found a lack of high speed internet holds communities back. Now, they bring you stories about the complex barriers to launching internet connections in most rural areas, and show you the tribes, towns and schools who are doing it better. This project is supported by High Country News and the Solutions Journalism Network, and is funded by the LOR Foundation.
Communities are embracing faster internet but rejecting better cellphone reception.
Across sovereign governments, a group of Southwest tribes prepares to launch their own network.
By expanding into broadband, Kit Carson Co-op provides high-speed internet to thousands.
A group of New Mexico newsrooms examines the future of broadband access in rural communities.
A ‘micro’ economic development program bolsters a community of telecommuters.
A former coal mining town takes measured approach to economic recovery.
The criollo cow can thrive in hot, dry conditions that are difficult for other breeds.
Local businesses keep jobs and money circulating within their communities.
To build a sustained community, the Navajo Nation experiments with entrepreneurs.
Booms and busts withered Farmington, New Mexico, but new initiatives could revitalize it.
A growing number of tribes manage their own clinics and behavioral programs.
An influx of immigrants is preventing economic stagnation in the Borderlands.
Rural towns explore ways to diversify their economies, from tourism to hospitality.
Truth or Consequences looks for ways to attract a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Some counties in the region buck the aging trend.
Cities may seem inevitable, but rural communities are finding ways to hang on.
A project looks at how communities are faring in rural New Mexico.
Featured stories
-
DESCHUTES LAND TRUST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Deschutes Land Trust, based in Bend, Oregon, seeks a collaborative and strategic Executive Director to lead us in pursuing our mission: to conserve and care...
-
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Job Title: Development Manager Supervisor: Senior Director of Development Effective Date: May 17, 2021 Job Status: Full-time (40 hours/week), exempt Location: Within the Colorado Plateau...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT FRIENDS OF CEDAR MESA - The Land, History, and People of the Bears Ears Region - The Bears Ears and Cedar Mesa region is one of the most beautiful,...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Job Title: Executive Director Reports To: Board of Directors Compensation: $75,000 to $80,000, plus generous benefits and paid leave. Funding for relocation expenses available. Classification:...
-
WATER DIRECTOR Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Application review will begin on April 2, 2021 and will continue until the position has been filled....
-
CLIMATE JUSTICE FELLOW High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks applicants for a climate justice fellowship. The fellowship...
-
VIRGINIA SPENCER DAVIS FELLOWSHIP High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, is offering a fellowship for early-career journalists interested in...
-
COLORADO WILD PUBLIC LANDS VIDEO CONTEST Please submit your video of 30 seconds or less, taken on public lands, to [email protected] by May 15th for a chance to win in one...
-
WMAN NETWORK COORDINATOR 
WESTERN MINING ACTION NETWORK (WMAN) CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY CLOSING DATE: Feb. 19, 2021 WMAN is seeking a team member to coordinate the various network activities to...
-
FRIENDS OF THE INYO IS HIRING TRAIL AMBASSADORS FOR THE SUMMER OF 2021 Friends of the Inyo's Trail Ambassadors (TAs) support the Inyo, Sierra, & Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests and other partners by providing positive public service, outreach, interpretation,...
-
LAND & CABIN ON CO/ UT LINE 18 ac w/small solar ready cabin. Off grid, no well. Great RV location. Surrounded by state wildlife area and nat'l parks.
-
MANAGER PERMACULTURE LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Permaculture / Landscape Company Manager / Site Lead Red Ant Works, Inc. - 20+ year landscape construction and horticultural care company seeks manager and site...
-
CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE Field seminars for adults in natural and human history of the Colorado Plateau with lodge, river trip and base camp options. Small groups, guest experts.
-
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER San Juan Citizens Alliance is looking for a passionate, dynamic, organized, and technology-savvy communications professional to help grow our membership and presence in the Four...
-
ENERGY AND CLIMATE PROGRAM ASSOCIATE San Juan Citizens Alliance seeks an Energy and Climate Program Associate to focus on public outreach, education and organizing to advance campaigns to mitigate climate...
-
REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST
This position provides professional real estate services and is responsible for managing and completing real estate projects utilizing a project management database that is designed...
-
WILDFIRE MITIGATION SPECIALIST The Wildfire Mitigation Specialist is responsible for delivering wildfire risk mitigation information, recommendations and programmatic resources to wildland urban interface homeowners, community members and partners....
-
DEVELOPMENT POSITIONS
Thorne Nature Experience is hiring for a Development Director and Senior Individual Giving Manager. Individuals will work collaboratively with Thorne's Executive Director to develop and...
-
WESTERN NATIVE SEED
Native plant seeds for the Western US. Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and regional mixes. Call or email for free price list. 719-942-3935. [email protected] or visit...
-
THE LAND DESK: A PUBLIC LANDS NEWSLETTER Western lands and communities--in context--delivered to your inbox 3x/week. From award-winning journalist and HCN contributor Jonathan P. Thompson. $6/month; $60/year.
