Moving Arts Española Chief Executive and Co-Founder Salvador Ruiz, left, and Creative Director and Co-Founder Roger Montoya inside their facility at 368 Eagle Drive in Ohkay Owingeh. Courtesy/MAE
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
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Moving Arts Española transforms the lives of more than 700 children and youth annually in Northern New Mexico. The non-profit organization also serves more than 50,000 free healthy meals to students and their families and offers more than 40 unique classes to children and youth weekly.
Its mission is to cultivate a vibrant community where creative expression and experiential learning thrive. Moving Arts fosters the empowerment, resilience, and well-being of New Mexico’s youth and children. Its vision is a world where young people grow into future leaders for the community and the world beyond.
“Moving Arts Española has been a longstanding nonprofit partner delivering outstanding youth programs that immerse the valley’s children in athletic, cultural and creative activities tied to their heritage,” Enterprise Bank & Trust Region President Liddie Martinez said. “It is beautiful to see our children blossom under outstanding leadership in a nurturing environment. Sal and Roger are gems in our community.”
Salvador Ruiz and his partner Roger Montoya co-founded Moving Arts Española in 2008. The nonprofit provides access to creative and experiential learning in a holistic environment. A place where children and youth can safely explore their interests, expand their knowledge, and grow into confident contributors within their community. Moving Arts offers an engaging set of learning experiences to spark the imagination and strengthen the body. Its creative offerings are specifically geared for participants from 3 years old to vibrant young adults.
“We are indeed grateful for the support we have received from Enterprise Bank & Trust throughout the years to sustain our program working with the children and youth and families here in the beautiful Española Valley,” Ruiz said.
Montoya shared his partner’s gratitude saying, “It is a relationship that is invaluable to us as a nonprofit and we thank Enterprise Bank from the bottom of our hearts for the support they give to us and our children and youth and families.”
Ruiz earned the prestigious Univisionario recognition in 2022 as a top ten entrepreneur among Hispanic Americans. His leadership and commitment has established access to this remarkable arts-based non-profit in one of the nation’s most underserved regions.
Montoya is an American humanitarian recognized in 2019 as a CNN Hero for the visionary programming at Moving Arts Española.
Moving Arts has occupied a facility at 368 Eagle Drive in Ohkay Owingeh for the last decade and Montoya wanted to assure everyone that while they will be moving to a new location by the end of the year, they will be providing their programs for years to come.
“Moving Arts has flourished over the last 10 years under its partnership with TSAY Corporation, which has provided the facility for the magic to happen. Their generosity and support have been the cornerstone of our success, allowing us to reach new heights and touch countless lives through the power of art. We extend our deepest gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve shared,” he said.
“We have been invited to Taos and we have been invited to Santa Fe but we are dedicated to Española,” Montoya said. “We want to build a legacy campus that will outlive Salvador and myself. We have former students coming back now so we step back incrementally over the next five years.”
Negotiations are underway with Northern New Mexico College to possibly lease space on the campus, he said.
Ruiz and Montoya explain that their mission to inspire, educate, and empower through the arts remains unwavering. They invite everyone to learn more at https://movingartsespanola.org/.
Moving Arts Española Chief Executive and Co-Founder Salvador Ruiz, right, and Creative Director and Co-Founder Roger Montoya in the culinary arts class, which teaches essential cooking techniques, recipe execution, and meal presentation, allowing students to develop confidence and creativity while exploring various cooking methods. Courtesy/MAE
