Siena Sanderson, Candy Allen, Andy Greif with cookies and cookie jar
The sound of a cookie jar brings the anticipation of a tasty treat and the feeling of home and comfort. In Taos, New Mexico the sound of a cookie jar creates the sense of a safe place for many children who have had their security placed in limbo. Las Cumbres’ Nurturing Center in Enos Garcia Elementary School gives children a safe place to express what they are going through. In a county where, for example, the incarceration rate has been steadily increasing since 1999 ; children are in need of Las Cumbres services for the trauma they are experiencing at such a young age. The Las Cumbres’ Nurturing Center is a space created from the Family Navigation Program in an effort to better reach families where they are already gathering. Upon entering the Nurturing Center children are greeted with a bunny cookie jar that has the unforgettable sound of the deep porcelain clink one may have fond memories of at their grandparent’s home growing up. Children are also introduced to tea to complement their sweet indulgence. Art projects color the space and a reading nook is filled with pillows and teddy bears giving the Center an additional home-like feel. Siena, Andy, and Candy are the smiling faces with whom children have found comfort at school. Teachers have commented that they are called “rock stars” on campus. While children look for reasons to go to the Nurturing Center, the ultimate goal of the Center’s work is to keep children in class. “Sometimes a child is just trying to navigate a complex social situation at home and an outburst happens in class. Should that child be disciplined by the principal or should they have a place to work out their emotions?” asks Siena Sanderson, Nurturing Center Program Director, “Teachers and staff appreciate the added resource to assist in providing counseling and social-emotional services so they can better concentrate on academics.”
Reading nook with teddy bears and pillows
One of the first partnerships coming out of this vision is that of the Robert T. Keeler Foundation and Las Cumbres Community Services in the creation of the Nurturing Center on the campus of Enos Garcia Elementary School. Taos has expanded this vision with their Community School concept. Recently, Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation has joined the partnership and has provided a wealth of resources and connections to other organizations that can help facilitate the Nurturing Center for years to come. Other partners include: Taos County and Taos Community Foundation, Taos Municipal Schools. The goal is to create a model that can be replicated in other schools and communities facing similar challenges.
Learn more about Las Cumbres Nurturing Center
Support Las Cumbres Nurturing Center