SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — For the first time in the district’s history, students from the Gadsden Independent School District will travel to the New Mexico State Capitol to advocate for the district’s dual-language program and learn more about state government.

Fifty students will make the trip alongside teachers and Superintendent Nubia Tarazona.

The visit will also include sightseeing, and students will not pay anything out of pocket. The trip is fully funded through support from Project Jupiter.

The district said the itinerary includes transportation and lodging, meals, a visit to Meow Wolf and other sightseeing. The students will also receive advocacy support at the Roundhouse. The Capitol visit will include a guided tour led by GISD alumnus Jose Ibarra, the community outreach organizer for Borderplex Digital Assets.

This is going to be a whole new experience for these students, and we can’t wait to broaden their world view and their belief in what the future could hold,” Tarazona said. “This is an incredible educational opportunity for our students to learn about how policy is made and about how to advocate for programs and policies they care about.

Gadsden Independent School District is located in southern New Mexico near El Paso, Texas. The district serves what it described as a high-poverty community, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The district said its student population is 96.5% Hispanic and that 47% of students are identified as English language learners, reflecting what it called the linguistic richness of the community. Many of those students participate in the district’s growing dual-language program.

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