Cornerstones Community Partnerships

Cornerstones Community Partnerships is a New Mexico non-profit organization that works in partnership with communities to strengthen their cultural values by preserving historic buildings; encouraging traditional building practices and developing skills and leadership among the younger generation. We have helped plan and implement more than 300 community-based preservation projects in over 250 communities. We work primarily in New Mexico, but also in the greater southwest by providing organizational and technical assistance and hands-on training.  Cornerstones has built both a national and international reputation for the creative use of historic preservation as a tool for community revitalization.  Because the younger generation is crucial to preserving the cultural traditions of the community, we have developed special programs to teach young people traditional building skills.  Community elders serve as mentors helping youth gain a greater appreciation of their cultural heritage and values while learning the technical and leadership skills that can lead to future employment.  Our organization aims for sustainability by identifying and developing community leadership and by providing critical technical direction and organizational support which reinforces the initiative, cooperation and self-reliance of the community and encourages community “ownership” of each project.  Very simply, CORNERSTONES helps people help themselves.

We are in our 3rd year of a four year preservation project on the San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe; we plan to begin work on the Old Trading Post at Santo Domingo Pueblo this spring, and we continue to offer educational outreach on traditional adobe skills. We encourage residents and visitors to Santa Fe and New Mexico to join in this great opportunity to volunteer, get their hands dirty, and learn about adobe – the material that made New Mexico!