Raashan Ahmad is a hip-hop artist and DJ in Santa Fe who is the executive director of Vital Spaces and co-founder of Earthseed Black Arts Alliance. He joins “Conversations Different” to discuss his path to Santa Fe and his passion for the community. Ahmad touches on the history of African Americans in New Mexico and previews the upcoming Juneteenth celebration on the Plaza, which takes place Saturday, June 15. The event, which goes from 3-9 p.m., will feature vendors, food and live performances including the Hot 8 Brass Band from New Orleans.

Ahmad also talks about his work with organizations that provide resources to people in the community to help them express themselves through art. “What I’m excited about is providing access and resources to folks who don’t have it,” Ahmad said. “If that’s throwing free dance parties, if that’s throwing a free event, if that’s opening up a community theater, all of it is in line with the underlying goal of just trying to make sure that folks who are not seen get seen.”

Learn more about Vital Spaces at https://www.vitalspaces.org/ and Earthseed Black Arts Alliance at https://www.earthseedblackarts.org/.

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Robert McCormick created the Santa Fe Foodies Facebook group in 2018 and it has grown into a lively forum of more than 41,000 members who are passionate about the city's food scene. McCormick has also launched a website, santafefoodiesnm.com, to help residents and locals navigate the area's hundreds of dining options. McCormick joins "Conversations Different" to talk about the work he's put in to build Santa Fe Foodies into a full-time job and the community that's grown under its umbrella. He also discusses some of the most popular topics in the Facebook group and how Santa Fe Foodies has impacted his life.

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Sam LeDoux won his first political race in March when he was elected a city councilor of his hometown of Española at age 32. LeDoux joins "Conversations Different" to discuss his path into politics at an early age and the influence John McCain had on him when he worked for the former U.S. senator. The Republican talks about the extreme polarization in U.S. politics and how he has chosen to follow his values even if it means breaking from the party line. LeDoux also discusses the crises Española faces and the urgency that is required to addresses them.

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Located on the portal of First National Bank 1870 on the Santa Fe Plaza, Bienvenidos Visitor Information has been providing information on the culture, history and amenities of the nation’s oldest capital city to tourists and locals since 1961. Joella Mortillaro, executive director of the volunteer organization, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the history of Bienvenidos Visitor Information and the dedication of its volunteers. She also talks about some of the crazy questions visitors have asked volunteers, and the need for the organization to continually adapt to the evolving types of visitors who come to Santa Fe.

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The Santa Fe International Literary Festival has been a big draw in its first years of existence, and the 2024 gathering May 17-19 is expected to continue that trend. Author and journalist Carmella Padilla, a co-founder of the festival and a native New Mexican, joins "Conversations Different" to talk about how the event came to be and how it has had success in attracting world-renowned authors. She also previews this year's stacked lineup of storytellers and shares the story of how she became a writer.

To learn more about the Santa Fe International Literary Festival and purchase tickets to the event, visit https://www.sfinternationallitfest.org/.

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State Auditor Joseph M. Maestas joins "Conversations Different" to talk about the role and importance of his office. Maestas discusses the authority of the State Auditor’s Office, the workload his staff faces, and the responsibility of being accountable for the safeguarding of taxpayer money. He also talks about his background as an engineer, a former mayor of Española and a former Santa Fe city councilor, and why he felt compelled to become the state auditor.

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Russell Baker, executive director of National Dance Institute New Mexico, and NDI New Mexico alumna Kristen Martinez join "Conversations Different" to discuss the impact of the nonprofit organization that offers in-school and after-school dance programs to instill values and habits in its students. In its 30 years of existence, NDI New Mexico has served 150,000 students across the state through residencies and after-school programs. Martinez talks about how NDI New Mexico has impacted her life and Baker delves into the history and reach of the organization.

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Jamie Schulze, executive director of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, joins “Conversations Different” to preview the inaugural SWAIA Native Fashion Week in Santa Fe and talk about how the event has grown over the years since the first Indigenous fashion show at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2014. The four-day SWAIA Native Fashion Week, the first Indigenous fashion week in the U.S., takes place May 2-5 and will showcase the diversity of Indigenous designers from across North America. Learn more about SWAIA Native Fashion Week at swaianativefashion.org. 

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Barak Wolff, a longtime public health leader in New Mexico and board member with End of Life Options New Mexico, talks about how we choose to face the end of our lives and our health care decisions. He also discusses the Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act, which was signed into law in 2021 and makes medical aid in dying available to the terminally ill in New Mexico, if they so choose. 

Tuesday, April 16, is National Health Care Decisions Day, a day dedicated to educating the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. For more information, visit endoflifeoptionsnm.org.

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New York Times best-selling author Anne Hillmerman joins “Conversations Different” for a discussion on the Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, Bernadette Manuelito mystery series and her upcoming novel “Lost Birds.” Hillmerman talks about the pressure she felt in continuing the beloved series that was created by her father, Tony Hillerman. The former journalist also speaks on how she uses research in her storytelling and shares her thoughts on the critically acclaimed television series “Dark Winds,” an adaptation of the Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito series.

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