La Plazita Institute

I would have never found this amazing organization if it wasn't for Yelp Helps!! So glad I did!They give NM's troubled youth a second chance at life, getting through school and learn and grow their skills and talents. They teach healthy living starting from nutrition not only in books but in a way of GROWING FOODS. I LOVE that. They get to work and learn how to grow food, eat healthy, have a place to hang out and express themselves via music, poetry, spoken words, and art. They were prepping for an upcoming show and there were some seriously talented youth thereI got to work in the fields for a bit and got to see their beautiful greenhouse they call the wind tunnel. Right now they have kale greens, spinach, beets, lettuce, and carrots. On the outside the had garlic, onions, and sugar snap peas so far. How amazing that they do all this?!?!The people who work there are passionate about what they do and I saw the light in their eyes shine when they spoke of what they do. I was blown away by learning all that they do. Thank you for having us!!

What an amazing outreach program smack dab in the middle of the South Valley. This non-profit helps community members and teens find more useful and productive uses of their time. A GED program..check. Access to computers...check. Music and art enrichment...check. Cultural cultivation...check. Farming?...CHECK! Our Yelp Helps group spent some time slinging poo, raking dirt and digging a hole with 3 of the gentleman that run this great program. I had some great conversation with Brad. He had some insight about troubled youth and the community. I was thrilled to see all of these great helping hands. The folks at the institute were preparing for an upcoming community event. We listened to some music and spoken word poetry before heading out to the farm where we were given a tour of the area and handed a pitch fork/shovel. I enjoyed my time with other helpful yelpers and the folks at the institute.

"I never, in my wildest imagination, would've thought I'd be here, farming, man," Eric muttered, laughing to himself. We were shoveling s*it together. Manure. "I grew up in Denver, and I was always in gangs, my whole life, that was my life. But you know, it catches up with you. I went to prison. Thirteen long years, bro. And the thing is, if it hadn't been for my little brother, who knew about La Plazita, I probably would've went right back to gangbanging."We were standing in the middle of a field, prepping the dirt for planting season. I hadn't prompted this advertisement, I was just shoveling s*it with Eric. But I was locked in. He continued. "But next thing I know I'm learning how to plant a garden, and grow food, you know, to feed myself and everybody I know. They gave me this opportunity to start over, and now I got things I never thought I could have. I bought a car last week. I'm looking to buy a house. I have enough money to eat, I'm comfortable, you know?" And I had to set down the shovel. This dude was telling a pretty moving story."People think, like, farming, what's farming? Why would I want to do that? But see, I get here in the morning and get out of my truck, and it's so quiet, and there's a few cranes standing out in the field, and I say to myself, This is the best. This is the best job in the world."Albino Garcia, Jr., the President of this incredible organization, has completed his work in this realm. Thanks to his vision, people like Eric tell these kinds of stories, lots of them. The ambition and scope of La Plazita institute are far too vast to describe in an online review, but they involve rehabilitating incarcerated youth, indigenous cultural sustainability, entrepreneurial leadership, fostering artistry, and helping folks get back to their roots, especially in the soil. These people can use your help, too.

There are so many incredible non-profits here in the Duke City striving to serve the needs of our communities, and there is no shortage of opportunities to volunteer and be a part of the change we all want to see. La Plazita Institute is a place of restoration, second chances, new beginnings...they create the space for youth to plant their feet and recalibrate, to express themselves through various outlets (music, art, poetry, etc.), and to become viable, contributing members of our community. La Plazita Institute is doing important work here, let's keep investing time and resources into this wonderful organization!!!

La Plazita insitute is helping youth who want to make a change and helps to teach them life skills. This non-profit offers so much to the community. And you can feel the passion from everyone on the team.