By Darius Lee Smith and Deanna Aquiar
New Mexico’s strength has always come from its people — from their resilience, creativity, and ability to adapt in the face of change. Nowhere is that more evident than in our Native communities. For decades, Native-led workforce development programs have quietly but powerfully helped build strong families, skilled workers, and local economies across our state.
Today, that work faces uncertainty.
Federal funding for Native workforce programs remains unstable, putting proven pathways to education and employment at risk. But here in New Mexico, we are not powerless. Our state has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to act now to protect and expand workforce development programs that are already delivering real results.
At the Native Professional Advancement Center (NPAC), powered by the National Indian Youth Council now on its 65th anniversary, we’ve seen firsthand how culturally grounded, community-based workforce programs change lives — not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
Take Preslie Sherman, a recent graduate of the Solar Technician Program offered through the UNM-Gallup Community Education and Workforce Development Program in partnership with NPAC and Purpose Focused Alternative Learning. Preslie entered the program after hearing about it on the radio. Like many New Mexicans, his barrier wasn’t motivation or ability — it was transportation.
Through NPAC’s support, Preslie received help with transportation, materials, and training costs. Today, he is the first graduate of the program, holding a nationally recognized solar installation certification. That credential opens doors to a growing clean-energy sector — one that keeps talent local while supporting New Mexico’s transition to renewable energy.
Or consider Alysha White, who participated in the NBCUniversal Traineeship Program in Albuquerque, gaining hands-on experience as a Props Trainee on the feature film HIM, produced by Monkeypaw Productions and filmed right here in New Mexico. Through this opportunity, Alysha learned essential on-set skills — from prop organization and actor preparation to post-production wrap-out — in an industry that continues to bring millions of dollars into our local economy.
For Alysha, this traineeship was more than a job. It was the realization of a dream she had held since high school — and a clear example of how targeted workforce pathways can connect Native talent to high-wage, high-growth industries already thriving in New Mexico.
These stories are not exceptions. They are outcomes of intentional investment in programs designed to meet people where they are, remove barriers, and align training with real job opportunities.
When workforce development works, families gain stability. Employers gain skilled workers. Communities retain talent. And the state benefits from a stronger, more resilient economy.
The uncertainty at the federal level should not be a reason to retreat. It should be a reason for New Mexico to lead.
Through agencies like the Department of Workforce Solutions, the state can ensure that Native workforce programs — especially those with a proven track record — are protected, funded, and included in long-term planning. Doing so honors our state’s commitment to equity while recognizing that Native-led programs bring expertise, trust, and cultural understanding that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
NPAC stands ready to continue this work — and to partner with state leaders, policymakers, and employers to build the workforce New Mexico needs today and tomorrow.
Investing in Native workforce development is not charity. It is a smart policy. It is an economic strategy. And most importantly, it is an investment in the people who have always been at the heart of this land.
Deanna Aquiar is the Director of Programs and Development, and Darius Lee Smith is the Executive Director of the Native Professional Advancement Center (NPAC).
