Letter from the President – April, 2026

Our beautiful planet continues to provide all she can for our survival and enjoyment—and nowhere is that more evident than in New Mexico. As we celebrate Earth Month and reflect on our relationship with the natural world around us, it is important to recognize that local actions and care for our immediate environments can have as much, if not more, impact than national political efforts. 

While the idea of “environmentalism” is often politicized, the responsibility of stewardship is not. Caring for our planet is a shared human obligation that calls for daily action on every scale. Every action counts. Over time, I have come to appreciate the reciprocal relationship we have with the Earth: when we take care of her, she takes care of us. When we fail to do so, we experience the consequences. 

At the New Mexico Community Foundation, we have been on a journey to better understand our role in supporting communities as they care for their local environments. As a result, we have formally adopted Thriving Environments as a core funding priority and will soon begin implementing this focus to help steward New Mexico’s landscapes and communities for generations to come. 

Justin Kíí Huenemann
President and CEO
New Mexico Community Foundation