Special to KRTN Radio
Raton, NM – El Raton Media Works announced that it has been awarded a $5,000
Community-Based Grant from The Encantado Foundation to expand the Youth Coding League
(YCL) at Raton Intermediate School. This funding will empower 5th and 6th graders in the rural
community of Raton to explore coding and technology careers through an innovative
after-school program.
As a nonprofit dedicated to building workforce skills in media arts and technology, El Raton
Media Works is committed to fostering career opportunities for youth and adults in Colfax
County. The organization’s mission to empower the community aligns perfectly with the goals of
the YCL, which provides invaluable access to the fundamentals of coding and computer science
within a dynamic, industry-informed, and competitive environment. By providing foundational
coding skills, this program offers students pathways to high-tech skills and encourages local
talent to thrive.
The Encantado Foundation’s Community Based Grant award will allow El Raton Media Works to
continue YCL programming at Raton Intermediate after a successful pilot season, which was
recently completed by students in the fall semester, with six students ranking in the top half
nationally and the team ranking the highest in New Mexico.
The Community Based Grant will fund two semesters of the Youth Coding League, covering
costs for coaching, team T-shirts, headphones, gear, and prizes for outstanding participants.
Students will engage in hands-on coding activities and compete nationally, gaining critical
problem-solving and technical skills. “Our goal is to increase access to STEM learning
opportunities and build awareness about career pathways in STEM through the Community
Based Grant funding program. El Raton Media Works’ partnership with Raton Intermediate
School and the Youth Coding League aligns with the goals of the Foundation’s community grant
program and helps amplify our digital workforce development mission, serving Central and
Northern New Mexico,” said Louis Jeantete, Executive Director of The Encantado Foundation.
Geneva Sandoval, RIS After School/Enrichment Coordinator, said about the fall team, “They did
not want it to end and have voiced that they will be returning. I love the ease of how they were
able to jump right into the coding concepts, build up their computer skills and work
collaboratively with other students and coaches. Students designed and implemented their
coding concepts each week as they built their projects. Not only did their self confidence grow
but so did their enjoyment of competing. We can’t wait to continue competing and implement
what they do in the world of coding!” Stacy Dohogne Lane, Youth Coding
League Director, said “Myself and my teammate Liza were thrilled to get to work with El Raton
Media Works and their local school community in the Fall of 2024. Their coders and coaches
were engaged and ready to excel on day one, and they even helped us generate coder-led
educational videos for next season using their knowledge in video production.”
“Career options are often limited in rural areas, leading many young people to leave for
opportunities elsewhere,” said Ann Theis, Founder and Executive Director of El Raton Media
Works. “By expanding the Youth Coding League, we aim to inspire local students to dream big
and prepare for careers in technology, and give them remote-work career options as access to
technology and broadband in our community grows.”
To learn more about the YCL program at El Raton Media Works and how to sign up your 5th
and 6th grader, visit: www.elratonmediaworks.org/youth-coding-league-raton
To learn more about about the organizations listed in this announcement, visit:
https://www.youthcodingleague.com/
https://theencantadofoundation.org/
About El Raton Media Works
El Raton Media Works (ERMW) is a nonprofit Arts2Work workforce development and career
opportunity hub serving Colfax County and surrounding areas. The organization empowers the
community to thrive in a technology and media-driven world by providing access to tools,
training, and careers in media arts and production. ERMW is committed to promoting community
engagement, creative self-expression, and life and career skills for youth and adults, offering a
range of community workshops, after-school programs, and Dual Credit Film Certificate classes
credited through Santa Fe Community College. For more information about ERMW and its
programs, visit www.elratonmediaworks.org, or follow us on social media:
● Facebook: El Raton Media Works
● Instagram: @elratonmediaworks
● LinkedIn: El Raton Media Works
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