OPINION: From violence to hope: How education and storytelling can transform Española

New Mexico is in crisis. A state of emergency has been declared in Rio Arriba County, where Española — home to Northern New Mexico College — faces daunting crime rates and some of the highest overdose deaths in the nation. Like every community in America, we also live under the shadow of horrific school and campus shootings that continue to devastate families. Parents everywhere are asking the same urgent question: How do we keep our children safe and give them hope?

At Northern, we believe the answer lies in education — and in the power of storytelling. Stories are more than entertainment. They shape how young people see themselves, their culture and their future. In times of fear, storytelling can be a force for resilience and healing.

Growing up in Wagon Mound, I remember watching television tales of frontier heroes like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Rarely did I hear about leaders from my own culture. That absence mattered. When young people do not see their heritage reflected in history, they can lose faith in their own potential.

That is why Northern is proud to host events that recover these hidden histories. On Thursday, our Española campus will screen “Singing Our Way to Freedom,” a documentary about Ramón “Chunky” Sánchez, a musician who stood alongside César Chávez and used his songs to inspire justice and solidarity.

Award-winning filmmaker Paul Espinosa will not only present his film — he will mentor Northern students, offering insights into careers in film and storytelling. Espinosa is also developing a project on Padre Antonio José Martínez of Taos, the 19th-century priest who brought the first printing press to the West, opened schools and launched the region’s first newspaper. Martínez believed that knowledge, not censorship, was the foundation of democracy.

The lives of Sánchez and Martínez remind us that heritage is not a burden — it is a source of strength. Their stories prove that education and storytelling are stronger than violence, overdoses and despair.

Every day at Northern in Española, we see this truth. We serve first-generation students, working families and underserved communities. We provide affordable, high-quality education that creates upward mobility and prepares students for workforce readiness. Española’s youth poverty crisis deepens the risks of crime and substance abuse for our next generation. That is why Northern is training holistic nurses who can heal body and spirit, preparing trauma-trained teachers who can guide children through the effects of violence and addiction, and fostering filmmakers who can tell the stories of our communities with authenticity and power. At Northern, we are building a workforce that heals, teaches and creates.

Yes, Rio Arriba needs immediate action from law enforcement and policymakers. But without education, those fixes will never last. Storytelling gives students a reason to believe in themselves. Education gives them the skills to enter the workforce, support their families and transform their communities. Together, they are the antidote to crime, overdoses and the climate of fear caused by campus violence.

That is why I invite alumni, business leaders, and families to stand with Northern and with Española. Support a scholarship. Mentor a student. Partner with us to build a stronger workforce. Together, we can reclaim our heritage — and in doing so, reclaim our community.

At Northern New Mexico College, we believe heritage, education and storytelling can build resilience and opportunity. By empowering students in nursing, teaching and filmmaking, we will not only strengthen our college — we will build a safer, healthier and stronger Northern New Mexico.

Hector Balderas is the former New Mexico attorney general and president of Northern New Mexico College.