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Female Cyborg

The Futures of Santa Fe

A petroglyph of several human figures and a spotted animal, possibly a deer, that seems to be playing a flute.
Ohkay Owingeh petroglyphs north of Santa Fe

Santa Fe, New Mexico is famous for its past

Founded by Spanish conquerors in 1610, Santa Fe is nestled by a mountain range with converging rivers on unceded indigenous territory called Oga Po’geh in Tewa, translated as White shell, Water place in English.


Notably, twelve regional tribes coordinated to expel the Spanish settlers in The Pueblo Revolt of 1680, taking back their lands and lives for 12 years. The city has had a dominant Spanish, and now mixed, population since.


A romantic painting of the Santa Fe Plaza shortly after New Mexico was ceded by Mexico to the United States in 1850. In the foreground is a covered wagon being pulled by 4 cattle, and several white and Mexican men are standing by it. There's also a burro loaded with wood being led by an indigenous woman wearing red. A stagecoach is racing into the Plaza by four horses in the middle ground. The background shows the Pueblo-style cathedral, the low mountains with lots of green, and a thunderhead in the sky.
Painting of the Santa Fe Plaza in 1850

However.


Santa Fe should also be famous for its future

Most families with generations in the Santa Fe area are rightfully proud of their deep roots in the place and its cultures. In many, there is a sense of obligation to carry the bitter memories of disruptions freighted with systemic, traumatic injustices and poverty evidenced even now. The understandable resistance to changes reflects a desire to be left alone. It has also resulted in cognitive inertia.


cognitive inertia: a lack of motivation to generate distinct cognitive processes needed to attend to a problem or issue - leads to resistance against adopting new information or revising understandings.


Santa Fe, then, has a problem. External forces have and will inevitably change fundamental aspects of life in the city. And yet, holding onto tradition bolsters self-identity and a sense of belonging to a people and place - valuable characteristics for resilience.

A pueblo courtyard with a contemporary fountain in the center and a blue sky. I think it's at IAIA - the Institute for American Indian Art, a large gallery just south-east of the Santa Fe Plaza. Free admission on Fridays!
A present-day courtyard in the Pueblo style

As a state capitol city with a population under 100K, Santa Fe could be a model for resilience in similar cities and regions. We need imagination and courage to make our dreams happen.


What does Santa Fe dream of for itself? What makes us a socially cohesive and healthy place to live, work, and play? What does a vibrant economy look like for all? How might Santa Fe be sustainable for generations to come?


"Santa Fe has choices to make about our future. Having a good way to think about those choices can make a big difference about how we feel about the future that actually takes place."  Alan Webber, Mayor of Santa Fe

A Framework for Futures Thinking

Futures Thinking is a widely practiced, systematic way to apply data + imagination to envision and prepare for multiple possible futures. Where hopelessness is common, there is hope when we feel empowered to strategically anticipate and positively respond to changing conditions over time.


Addressing an undercurrent of risk aversion would be a great start. Going beyond assumptions and using evidence to understand what might happen or will happen no matter what will be foundational to the process of adapting to changing conditions.


Just imagine.

  • Beautiful, safe, and convenient neighborhoods

  • A thriving, diversified economy

  • An excellent education system

  • Renown, affordable healthcare with easy access

  • Plentiful clean water and fresh air

  • Energy production and distribution that’s sustainable

  • More attractions that are enjoyable for residents and visitors

  • A growing population comfortably accommodated

  • A strong, unique, and shared sense of community


We are not helpless

Santa Fe has urgent needs, but the city is not in a foxhole fighting for survival.


Like anything else that’s worthwhile, Futuring takes practice. Many life experiences and educational backgrounds must participate for Futuring to be effective. Many more open minds can become skilled at truly considering the possible.


Santa Fe can be a blazingly successful city. It’s up to the city itself to imagine and create its best future.



Notes

1/ I am grateful to Alan Webber who offered valuable comments during drafting. The OpEd piece was originally published in The New Mexican January 13, 2025.


2/ The phrase "There are no Futurists in foxholes" comes from the J. Peter Scoblic piece "Learning from the Future" in the Harvard Business Review, June 2024.

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