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The South Valley, the Environment and Future Development

Seminar Leader: Teresa Córdova

Seminar Description:

The South Valley is an unincorporated, low-density area adjacent to and south of Albuquerque in Bernalillo County. The population is approximately 60,000 and 80 percent identify as Hispanic origin. The 1996 average per capital income in the South Valley was $8,246, less than half the average for the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The 1998 unemployment rate for the same area was more than 10 percent.

Nearly one-fifth of Valley residents live at or below the poverty level. Approximately 40 percent of the households have incomes below the poverty line, while 62 percent of households with children under five are below poverty level. Thirty-two percent of the Valley population is under 18 years old. Of those aged 25 and up, almost 50 percent did not graduate from high school and 77% have an education level of high school or less.

The South Valley community faces a number of challenges including: insufficient jobs in the Valley and a low labor force participation rate due to poor education and job preparation. In numerous plans and community settings, residents affirm their desire to strengthen small business activity and agricultural production while preserving cultural and natural resources of the Valley.

This seminar will study development issues in the South Valley in the above context as it relates to the social, economic, cultural and natural environment. The purpose of this seminar is to provide teachers with an interest in the South Valley an opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of the community in which they teach. Specifically, the seminar is intended to: 1) increase teacher ability to understand their students and families in the context of community development issues and 2) provide information to assist in developing relevant curriculum to increase the interest and excitement of classrooms. Each of these can contribute to increasing graduation rates.

The seminar will include the following topics: historical background, land use, water and acequias, agriculture, economic activity (e.g. industrial, small business, commercial), environmental (e.g. ecology of the area, contamination)

We will examine these and other topics by studying current development issues facing the South Valley community. The course will include field trips. Seminar requirements include attendance at classes, readings, and the completion of curriculum for respective classes. Professor Teresa Córdova, from the Community and Regional Planning Program at UNM, will direct the Seminar. She is also Director of the Resource Center for Raza Planning, a research and policy Center based in the School of Architecture and Planning.

Readings:

Acosta, Angela. 1996. Planning in the South Valley: Previous Efforts, Obstacles, & Plan Implementation Strategies. Albuquerque:              Resource Center for Raza Planning.

Gonzales, Moises. 1997. Methods, Strategies, and Implementation of Agricultural Preservation in the South Valley: A Guide for              the County of Bernalillo, South West Area Plan. Albuquerque: Resource Center for Raza Planning.

Bernalillo County Planning Department. 2000. Draft Southwest Area Plan.

Rivera, Jose. 1998. Acequia Culture: Water, Land, and Community in the Southwest. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico              Press.

Monroe, Lorraine. 1997. Nothing’s Impossible: Leadership Lessons from Inside and Outside the Classroom. New York: Public              Affairs.