Youth Rally for Change @ The Gorge Bridge
On Friday, September 26 2025, the TK1 Youth Council organized a Youth Rally for Change @ the Gorge Bridge for about 75 participants. With three suicides in three weeks, the time has come for students, parents, elected officials, and community leaders to collectively demand improved safety measures. We captured speeches and photos, all on our Instagram page.
Announcing TK1 Studios -- our new, in-house and dedicated photography studio. We specialize in portraiture, perfect for back-to-school or graduation photos... up first are our Mini Sessions. You get 15 minutes in our studio and seven edited photos for $50.
2025-26 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Monday–Thursday 3-6pm at our HQ
Our after-school programs are drop-in, hands-on, project-based and ALWAYS FREE mentorship events. We believe in throwing together our instructors, our resources (from laptops to our Production Studio) to YOU, giving it a shake and a stir, and see what happens! Come join the fun.
Want more info? Drop us a text at 575-425-0222 or better yet, come by in person!
The TK1 Youth Council. Mondays
Lead Instructor: Sandy Campbell
Amplifying youth voice on civics, with a special focus on the coming municipal elections; on Public Spaces, especially for youth; and on Teen Mental Wellness.
Ages: 15 and up. 3-5pm
Queerious. Mondays
Lead Instructor: Dani Cervantes
Tell your story. Find your community. For LGTBQIA+ youth and our allies.
Ages: 13 and up. 3ish-6pm
Animation. Mondays
Lead Instructor: Kiki Siebenaler
Bring characters and stories to life - with and without AI.
Ages: 12 and up. 3ish-6pm.
Video Lab. Tuesdays & Thursdays
Lead Instructor: Pete Monro
Want to be a filmmaker? A social media star? Learn your craft.
Ages: 14 and up
Podcasting. Wednesdays
Lead Instructor: Dani Cervantes
Bring characters and stories to life - with and without AI.
Ages: 13 and up. 3ish-6pm.
Sports Journalism. Thursdays
Lead Instructors: Augie Abeyta and Sandy Campbell
Go to games and take photos -- then interview the athletes for social media. Learn from a THS legend!
Ages: 14 and up
Middle School Photography. Thursdays
Lead Instructor: Kiki Siebenaler
Come and shoot in our brand-new photography studio!
Ages: 12 and up. 3ish-6pm.
TK1 Studios. Most of the Week
Lead Instructors: Miquela Polanco and Augie Abeyta
Our brand-new studio has props galore to learn all about the arts of portraiture
Ages: 14 and up
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Albertsons Parking Lot
In this excellent short piece, we see where Taos teens really choose to gather -- at the Albertson's Parking Lot. Shot by incoming President of the TK1 Youth Council, Lucy Schreiber.
PIECES OF TAOS: A MEDIA CONTEST
THIS WAS A BIG ONE!
What an amazing event our Pieces of Taos Youth Media Extravaganza was! We gave away over $5k in prize money to middle- and high-school students across Taos County for the top entries exploring the people, places, and things in our magical community. Best in Show went to two young filmmakers who explored Mante's Chow Cart!
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
THE FUTURE OF OUR BRIDGE
In this fascinating short doc, the outgoing President of the TK1 Youth Council, Angie Burns Diaz, investigates the duality of the Gorge Bridge -- on the one hand a thing of scenic beauty, on the other a suicide destination. What should we do to address the future of this iconic bridge?
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
KIDS, SCREENS & PHONES
How can we guide our children to better balance in their online lives? Our near-peer model of teens talking with K-8 kids about apps, privacy, screen addictions and more is now live across Taos.
With support from the NM Google Kids Initiative
and the Keeler Foundation
INITIATIVES
Future Dialogues
A major initiative of the
TK1 Youth Council
These are formal events convened at the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA), featuring food, photographs, podcasts, and then student video investigating aspects of our collective future. These have been:
- The Future of our Water. Dec 2022
- The Future of our Food. May 2023
- The Future of our Forests. Dec 2023
- The Future of our Community. May 2024
In December 2022, eleven student videos explored The Future of our Water.
In May 2023, student videos asked: what is the Future of our Food? In December 2023, we asked, what is the Future of our Forests? And in May 2024: The Future of our Community
In-School Programs
During the school year, TK1 has a robust set of in-school programs.
Every classroom has its own media-and-technology projects. TK1 staff work directly with teachers across northern NM to design an approach that satisfies specific and tailored learning objectives.
After-School Programs
When school is in session, TK1 offers after-school instruction in media and technology.
Call or text us to see what's a fit for you: 575-425-0222. Or drop an email: admin@truekids1.org
TK1 SUPPORTERS
The Mary & Wint Winter, Jr. Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation
The J3 Advised Fund
The New Mexico Broadband Equity Fund
