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EMTech Creatives
New Mexico is teaming with Emerging Media & Technology Creatives!

In the Spotlight:
​
Lauren Henriksen from Creative Santa Fe 

New Mexico TechWorks had the chance to interview Lauren Henriksen from Creative Santa Fe. Lauren is the development and outreach coordinator for Creative Santa Fe and has years of experience with nonprofit organizations and community arts. Lauren explains how  art and technology can be utilized to find creative solutions to critical issues in the community.  

Picture
Name: Lauren Henriksen

Business/Organization: Creative Santa Fe

Where were you born: Galveston, Texas

Where do you live now: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Email: lhenriksen@creativesantafe.org

Phone:   505-288-3531



Where are you from and how did you end up in Santa Fe?

I’m originally from League City, Texas. I had access to and engaged deeply with the art programming within my public school education, which carried me into college at the Maryland Institute College of Art. During my education there I became very involved with the community arts program the school offered, thus gaining experience in a variety of nonprofit arts programs. Over the last few years I have continued my passion for making art and supporting the arts in various positions, leading me to Creative Santa Fe two years ago where I manage outreach and development projects. Santa Fe is the first place I have ever lived where everything I am passionate about is met and encouraged, and I have fallen deeply in love with this community.


How did your personal and professional background influence where you are today?

My background as an artist really ignited my passion for community work. I was always drawn to art, particularly contemporary art, for the way it put you face to face with new stories and perspectives. I have always been moved by the conversations that come from interacting with these creative glimpses into other people’s emotions and experiences. I believe that the arts have the power to connect us to each other and to open our minds to new perspectives, and that it can be used as a powerful community building tool in this way. This belief has fueled the programming I have developed around the country and in our community, where I strive to highlight the creative talent that exists to build bridges between people and to encourage creative problem solving around critical community issues.


What kind of work do you do?

Currently I manage the outreach and development programs at Creative Santa Fe. Through the outreach programs I work with community members and artists to create tools and resources to promote civic action and engagement around issues critical to our community. For instance, I have worked with science fiction writers and artists to encourage imagination of future of affordable housing and anti-displacement practices in our city. The creative medium of science fiction opens new opportunities to interact with this critical subject, and opens up spaces for people to imagine what solutions they see. I’m applying similar methods of merging arts and civic issues throughout the year. It’s a pretty fun job!


What business or organization do you work with?

Creative Santa Fe


Why did you decide to work in tech, or this kind of work?

Creative Santa Fe’s mission and practice very much aligns with my interests and practice. The organization truly believes in the power of the arts to shape positive futures, which is something I am excited to work towards with them.  


Describe your perspective on technology and its capabilities for the future.

I think technology is opening really exciting doorways for new kinds of creativity, storytelling, and connecting with each other as humans. Through digital media, game design, film, etc. we can find new opportunities for connecting around important issues and backgrounds and perspectives. I am striving to highlight digital creative mediums through my community building work as we move into the 21st century.


Do you use social media? Why or why not?

Absolutely. It’s an easy way to build connectedness with groups of people, and to stay up to date with events and community news. I think social media really is the most important way of communicating in our current cultural climate. It’s also pretty amazing how it is strengthening social justice groups such as Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement, giving voices to those who have been traditionally underrepresented.


What advice would you give to younger people that are interested in entrepreneurship and technology or living and working in Santa Fe?

This is a really exciting time to be exploring how technology is advancing communities, and Santa Fe is the most incredible city to bring those tech talents to. The creative energy of the city, the deep histories of the people, and the new science and technology emerging from this area all combine to make an incredibly inspiring and meaningful place to live and work.


How has using technology helped you move forward?

New technology has allowed for me to find new people and new organizations working on the ground in critical issues i’m exploring. When they use social media, the internet, film and video, graphic design, etc. I can learn about their work and their stories quickly and in meaningful new ways, and then contact them to start building a relationship between our areas of work. It has made a huge difference in how organizations connect and collaborate to create positive change.


What role do you think technology will play in Santa Fe? How do you see Innovation as a part of our current or future economy?

I think most importantly technology can be used to connect new people to each other, and allow them to share ideas and experiences in meaningful ways. By building collaborative, digital environments to bring new minds and ideas to the table, there is opportunity to improve the wellbeing of our communities in a wholistic and equitable way. I am very excited for the future of how we communicate our creativity and intelligence through digital mediums moving forward.





Interview by New Mexico TechWorks, Emily Cole 

    Enjoy meeting local EMTech Creatives? Leave Your Contact Information and we will add you to our mailing list to receive updates and interviews on others and even invites to events where you can meet local EMTech Creatives in person!

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New Mexico TechWorks is an initiative launched in partnership with the non-profit CommUNITY Learning Network (CLN) and a wide range of community advocates and supporters.
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© COPYRIGHT 2016  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  • NM TechWorks
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      • Tech Triviia
    • Tech Task Force >
      • Santa Fe Public Schools
    • National IT Standards
    • Tech Women of New Mexico >
      • NCWIT Aspirations
    • By Regions >
      • Regional Chambers of Commerce
      • Maker Spaces
      • Business Incubators
      • Organizations
      • Los Alamos >
        • Project Y Los Alamos
        • Everyone Does IT
    • TechHire >
      • TechHire Santa Fe & Northern NM
      • TechHire Albuquerque
    • Internet Society - NM Chapter >
      • ISOC 25th Anniversary
      • Indigenous Connectivity Summit 2017
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    • National Center for Women & IT
    • Counselors for Computing
    • Support
  • Tech Basics
    • Digital Literacy
    • CODING >
      • CODING LANGUAGES >
        • CODING BASICS
      • CODING OPTIONS
      • LEARN CODING
    • Cyber Security
    • Drones
    • Blockchain
    • Gaming >
      • Game Development >
        • Gamestar Mechanic
      • Never Alone >
        • Eline Media Event
      • Thunderbird Strike
    • Internet
    • InternetofThings
    • Robotics
    • Computational Thinking
    • Computer Science
  • Awesome Opportunities
    • Make A Website
    • Social Media Workshop
    • Business Boost
    • Media Mavericks
    • Youth Media Program
    • Youth Ambassadors >
      • Survey
    • Opportunity Zones
    • Teeniors
    • New! Pre-Boomerang Initiative
    • Tech AIM >
      • Interns and Associates 2018
      • Social Media Interns
    • Congressional App Challenge >
      • Congressional App Challenge 2019
      • Congressional App Challenge 2018
    • APP Awards & Showcase >
      • New Mexico APPS
      • Local App Project
  • Events
    • Film Festivals
    • Tech MeetUps
    • 2020 Events
    • 2019 Events >
      • Digital Learning Conference
      • Women In Tech Celebration
      • The Dent Conference
      • Business Expo APR 2019
      • SFCC PROTEC
      • STEM Studio 2019
      • Summer Camps - Summer of Tech 2019
      • StartUp Generation
      • Human Rights Day Camp
      • Flow Science Annual Open House
      • Close It Summit 2019 >
        • Shift Happens 2
      • New Collar Workforce Summit
      • 2019 Governor's STEM Challenge
      • Hour of Code 2019
    • 2018 Events >
      • Business Expo APR 2018
      • Eline Media Event
      • CS PD Week for Teachers
      • Summer Camps - Summer of Tech 2018
      • Tech Update
      • SFCC PROTEC
      • Regional Tech Exchange
      • Hour of Code 2018
      • Coding Film 2018 >
        • Coding Video Call for Submissions
        • Student Film Crew
    • 2017 Events >
      • Indigenous Connectivity Summit 2017 >
        • ICS 2017 Speakers
        • ICS 2017 Agenda
        • ICS 2017 Photos
      • Tech Speaker Series
      • Summer of Tech 2017
      • Hour of Code 2017
    • 2016 Events >
      • Career Academy
      • Hour of Code 2016
  • Learn
    • AI Artificial Intelligence
    • GIS >
      • STEM Mapping
    • Seniors Guide to Online Safety
    • Hour of Code
    • Workshops
    • Libraries
    • CS Education >
      • Cultivating Coders
      • Dev-Catalyst >
        • Dev-Catalyst Teachers
    • Bootcamps >
      • Deep Dive Coding >
        • Web Development
        • Java Android
        • Digital Media
    • Learn Coding Online
    • College >
      • IAIA Cinematic Arts and Tech
      • SFCC & SFI Film Degrees
      • SFCC Social Media Specialist
      • NNMC IET
    • For Teachers >
      • CS Professional Development Week
      • Dev-Catalyst
      • CS First - Google
      • Professional Development
      • Expanding Your Horizions
      • Career Academy
      • CS Fundamentals
      • CS for All
      • code.org
      • Day of Cyber
      • Girls of Energy
      • Girls Who Code
      • TechGirlz
      • Hour of Code in NM
      • ConnectedED
      • Community Speakers
      • Industry Chats
      • Northern NM STEM Mentorship Collaborative
      • Supercomputing Challenge
      • Future City
      • RoboRAVE
      • STEM Video Game Challenge >
        • Make Games
      • Upward Bound
      • Video Bank
  • Careers
    • Careers with Code
    • EMTech Creatives Santa Fe >
      • Zippy Guerin
      • Melanie Lenci
      • Lauren Henriksen
      • Russel Wilie
      • Myrriah Tomar
      • Acacia Carr
      • JC Ramirez
      • Oriana Cottrell
    • Video Bank
    • Tech Business Directory
    • Tech Career Resources
    • Tech Career Possibilities
  • Storm Cloud Media
  • Donate
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