Behind the scenes

Here, I'm interviewing Olivia Valdez as she spins wool at Tierra Wools in Los Ojos, N.M. This segment is part of a Frontline series about social entrepreneurs. Details in the Nov. 17, 2008, post below.

Chris Dudley, a burgeoning filmmaker, has accompanied me on a few projects. He made this image with his video camera. The lights you see are his. (I prefer ambient light, but was open to using his light kit for interviews for this series.) While we have different shooting styles, it's been a blast to take field trips around New Mexico and tell people's stories with this up-and-comer. Keep an eye on him at bullhornjournal.com.

SCC: Education, support and opportunity

"When you give a woman a paycheck," says Susan Matteucci, "she will spend it first on her family." And Southwest Creations Collaborative tests this theory by providing a living wage, education, child care and other support to Spanish-speaking women in Albuquerque, N.M.

In this video, we meet Rosa Villareal, who moved from Mexico 19 years
ago. Until she found SCC, she had difficulty securing work. She says
SCC is her support, her life.

We also meet Andrea Plaza, the programs
director, who uses feedback from the employees to help coordinate
classes and resources.

Matteucci founded SCC after moving to
Albuquerque from Chicago. She brought with her a wealth of experience
regarding women's issues and empowerment.

After spending an afternoon at SCC, where I felt a real sense of
community, I wondered, "Why can't every work environment run like
this?"

Chris Dudley photographed this piece, while I did the editing. Read his blog: bullhornjournal.com.

Tierra Wools: Tradition, community and commerce

Los Ojos is a small community in rural northern New Mexico. It has little economic opportunity for the folks who live there - save Tierra Wools, a limited liability company that began more than 25 years ago to offer jobs for local women and a market for local wool-growers.

Not only has Tierra Wools offered traditional housewives a way to make money outside the home, it's also provided a sense of community. It's given the women - Sophia De Yapp, Olivia Valdez, Lupe Valdez and Angie Serrano - a place to be and become.

By creating rugs with the wool of local Churro sheep, the women of Tierra Wools are also preserving Rio Grande Weaving, a tradition brought to the area by the Spanish several centuries ago.

This piece is part of a Frontline series about social entrepreneurs - "people whose ideas and organizations create new and sustainable markets and services that benefit underserved communities... whose ideas leap beyond charity to find systemic solutions to poverty, educations, health and social justice," in Frontline's words.

Tierra Wools certainly fits this description.

Chris Dudley wrote and composed the music for this piece. He also helped with the photography. Read his blog: bullhornjournal.com.

Pueblos under Los Ranchos

It isn't often that an archaeologist finds a significant dig in her own backyard, but Kit Sargeant did.

Her husband, Arnold Sargeant, owns a Bed & Breakfast in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, a community just north of Albuquerque, N.M. When he and his late wife purchased the adobe building in the 1970s, they had no idea what lay beneath. When the two decided to dig a pool in the backyard, they hit paydirt, historically speaking.

Kit is no longer with us. She died in 2001.

Carlton Canaday had the foresight to film Kit when the dig was complete in 1986. He was gracious enough to share this footage, and we are able to hear Kit describe her work in her own words. (Please view through the end of the credits.)

For a better viewing experience, please visit knme.org. (If it's no longer listed on right side of KNME's home page, please click "More" and scan the list on the left.)