Matachine dancer Eddie Rivera performs in front of La Capilla de San Antonio in Alcalde, New Mexico on December 27, 2017. Los Matachines de Alcalde perform the traditional dance that is observed by both hispanic and Native American communities in northern New Mexico. Though many variations of the dance exist, they all share similar elements. It is believed that the annual tradition, normally performed in honor of feast days or Christmas, is a choreographed reenactment of the forced conversion of indigenous people to Catholicism.

Matachine dancer Eddie Rivera performs in front of La Capilla de San Antonio in Alcalde, New Mexico on December 27, 2017. Los Matachines de Alcalde perform the traditional dance that is observed by both hispanic and Native American communities in northern New Mexico. Though many variations of the dance exist, they all share similar elements. It is believed that the annual tradition, normally performed in honor of feast days or Christmas, is a choreographed reenactment of the forced conversion of indigenous people to Catholicism.

An inmate enters his pod where the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan, blessed prisoners on Ash Wednesday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "You couldn't come to me today in the cathedral, so I came to you," said Sheehan.  

An inmate enters his pod where the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan, blessed prisoners on Ash Wednesday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "You couldn't come to me today in the cathedral, so I came to you," said Sheehan.  

Flames rise high in the air as a pile of non-native tree species burns near the Pecos River in efforts to clear the thicket in the area on July 26, 2016.

Flames rise high in the air as a pile of non-native tree species burns near the Pecos River in efforts to clear the thicket in the area on July 26, 2016.

Debra Trujillo stares at the destruction to her ex-husband's home where emergency responders found Gene Garcia asleep on his couch while the home was still in flames. A chimney fire spread to the roof and neighboring rooms causing the roof to collapse moments before he was rescued. 

Debra Trujillo stares at the destruction to her ex-husband's home where emergency responders found Gene Garcia asleep on his couch while the home was still in flames. A chimney fire spread to the roof and neighboring rooms causing the roof to collapse moments before he was rescued. 

Deborah Holden was stabbed in her abdomen by a drunken and mentally ill neighbor, Benjamin Vigil, on the night of July 25, 2005. Holden's small intestine was pierced causing fecal mater to flow into her blood stream sending her to nearly fatal sepsis. Holden was not expected to live. Seventeen surgeries and eight years later, Holden looks at her stomach in the mirror admiring the work of the surgeons  who she refers to as her "angels." In November 2006, Vigil was committed to the New Mexico Behavioral Institute in Las Vegas, New Mexico after being declared as incompetent and a danger to society.

Deborah Holden was stabbed in her abdomen by a drunken and mentally ill neighbor, Benjamin Vigil, on the night of July 25, 2005. Holden's small intestine was pierced causing fecal mater to flow into her blood stream sending her to nearly fatal sepsis. Holden was not expected to live. Seventeen surgeries and eight years later, Holden looks at her stomach in the mirror admiring the work of the surgeons  who she refers to as her "angels." In November 2006, Vigil was committed to the New Mexico Behavioral Institute in Las Vegas, New Mexico after being declared as incompetent and a danger to society.

Guadalupe County Sherif Michael Lucero stands with his gun drawn during an "active shooter" drill that tested the emergency responders communication and protocols in the instance a shooter were at large at the elementary school in Vaughn, New Mexico. 

Guadalupe County Sherif Michael Lucero stands with his gun drawn during an "active shooter" drill that tested the emergency responders communication and protocols in the instance a shooter were at large at the elementary school in Vaughn, New Mexico. 

“It isn’t enough, we’re not doing enough, we have to do more,” said Russell Lowery-Hart, the President of Amarillo College. He spent two-days and two-nights in a homelessness simulation in Waco, Texas in attempts to better understand a way to serve students who are entrenched in poverty that impedes their ability to perform and succeed in the collegiate arena. Since becoming president of the college in 2014, Dr. Lowery-Hart has been implementing a new approach to community college education and increasing the student body.

“It isn’t enough, we’re not doing enough, we have to do more,” said Russell Lowery-Hart, the President of Amarillo College. He spent two-days and two-nights in a homelessness simulation in Waco, Texas in attempts to better understand a way to serve students who are entrenched in poverty that impedes their ability to perform and succeed in the collegiate arena. Since becoming president of the college in 2014, Dr. Lowery-Hart has been implementing a new approach to community college education and increasing the student body.

A man paints the firehouse in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. 

A man paints the firehouse in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. 

Truck driver Marlin Terry answers questions from Santa Rosa Police Officer Joseph Martinez as a power pole dangles from his big rig after he ripped down power lines with his trailer.

Truck driver Marlin Terry answers questions from Santa Rosa Police Officer Joseph Martinez as a power pole dangles from his big rig after he ripped down power lines with his trailer.

A rally for then Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was held in Cuidad Juárez days before the July 1, 2018 election. Mexicans elected Lopez Obrador who will determine the direction of a country battling drug wars, corruption and a forty percent poverty rate. Since September of 2017, over 100 politicians have been killed. “The country will be cleansed,” said Lopez Obrador.

A rally for then Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was held in Cuidad Juárez days before the July 1, 2018 election. Mexicans elected Lopez Obrador who will determine the direction of a country battling drug wars, corruption and a forty percent poverty rate. Since September of 2017, over 100 politicians have been killed. “The country will be cleansed,” said Lopez Obrador.

Dillon Perez and Holly Perez sit with their lambs after a disappointing run at the New Mexico State Fair's livestock show.

Dillon Perez and Holly Perez sit with their lambs after a disappointing run at the New Mexico State Fair's livestock show.

A bloodied cigarette hangs from his mouth of Will Hern as his skins a pig in preparation for a matanza, a community celebration revolving around the shared killing, preparation and cooking of the meat,  in Anton Chico, New Mexico on December 17, 2016.

A bloodied cigarette hangs from his mouth of Will Hern as his skins a pig in preparation for a matanza, a community celebration revolving around the shared killing, preparation and cooking of the meat,  in Anton Chico, New Mexico on December 17, 2016.

Wedding guests cover their eyes as they pass a bride on her way into the ceremony on July 3, 2016.

Wedding guests cover their eyes as they pass a bride on her way into the ceremony on July 3, 2016.

A young boy climbs the Mexican and United States border fence in Sunland Park, New Mexico in the summer of 2018.

A young boy climbs the Mexican and United States border fence in Sunland Park, New Mexico in the summer of 2018.

Roberto Doming stands at the top of Tomè Hill where thousands of pilgrims hike to observe Good Friday in Tomè, New Mexico.

Roberto Doming stands at the top of Tomè Hill where thousands of pilgrims hike to observe Good Friday in Tomè, New Mexico.

The man who claims to have cut off the foot of the Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Oñate statue pictured in Alcalde, N.M. Per his story, the “foot thief” and a comrade hiked miles to the village of Alcalde and sawed the foot off the statue one wintry night in 1997 — an attempt to lambaste the celebrations of the Spanish conquest 400 years earlier by Oñate and his army.

The man who claims to have cut off the foot of the Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Oñate statue pictured in Alcalde, N.M. Per his story, the “foot thief” and a comrade hiked miles to the village of Alcalde and sawed the foot off the statue one wintry night in 1997 — an attempt to lambaste the celebrations of the Spanish conquest 400 years earlier by Oñate and his army.

An inmate stares out of his cell while on lockdown as judges evaluate the inmates' pod decorations for an annual Christmas decorating contest at the Guadalupe County Corrections Facility. 

An inmate stares out of his cell while on lockdown as judges evaluate the inmates' pod decorations for an annual Christmas decorating contest at the Guadalupe County Corrections Facility. 

Allegra Love is the executive director and attorney at the Santa Fe Dreamers Project. Love is an advocate for dreamers and migrants that cannot afford legal services.

Allegra Love is the executive director and attorney at the Santa Fe Dreamers Project. Love is an advocate for dreamers and migrants that cannot afford legal services.

Among the poorest 40 percent of Americans, only 12 percent of young people born in the 1980s earned a bachelor’s degree by age 25. But a college degree is not optional for most good jobs in today’s economy, so more and more students from low-income backgrounds are pursuing higher education, and they are most likely to end up at community colleges. 

Among the poorest 40 percent of Americans, only 12 percent of young people born in the 1980s earned a bachelor’s degree by age 25. But a college degree is not optional for most good jobs in today’s economy, so more and more students from low-income backgrounds are pursuing higher education, and they are most likely to end up at community colleges. 

President Barack Obama’s speech from 2014 on immigration reform projects on a whiteboard in the class of teacher Breezy Gutierrez at Santa Rosa High School on April 19, 2016.

President Barack Obama’s speech from 2014 on immigration reform projects on a whiteboard in the class of teacher Breezy Gutierrez at Santa Rosa High School on April 19, 2016.

A Donald Trump supporter dressed in a transgender costume taunts protesters outside a rally in downtown Albuquerque on May 25, 2016.

A Donald Trump supporter dressed in a transgender costume taunts protesters outside a rally in downtown Albuquerque on May 25, 2016.