{"id":807054,"date":"2026-08-08T17:46:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/807054\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:46:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:46:29","slug":"how-justice-ramos-turned-need-into-entrepreneurship-for-kids-in-cortez-and-on-the-navajo-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/807054\/","title":{"rendered":"How Justice Ramos turned need into entrepreneurship for kids in Cortez and on the Navajo Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Just like in a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel<\/a>, Justice Ramos was given a name that intertwines with his destiny.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old grew up in Cortez to a mom who spent her childhood on the Navajo reservation, in the town of Rock Point, Arizona (Ts\u00e9 Nitsaa Deez\u02bc\u00e1h\u00ed in Din\u00e9) about 90 miles southwest of Cortez. Ramos\u2019 grandparents were both teachers in Rock Point, which also influenced his fate.<\/p>\n

After graduating from the University of Colorado, he had plans to join the Peace Corps. But the pandemic ruined that, so he had to change direction.<\/p>\n

In 2020, he turned to helping people on the Navajo Nation, and with some assistance from his family, founded the nonprofit Fundamental Needs<\/a>, which helps address critical gaps in accessing clean drinking water, electricity, education and vocational opportunities in underserved communities. The idea is that community-led approaches combined with practical solutions can empower individuals and families to overcome systemic barriers and, hopefully, create lasting change.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, Fundamental Needs delivered relief to Navajo citizens in lockdown, including water, food boxes, firewood, clothing and personal protective equipment or PPE. These were critical back then but they remain a scarcity for many, with 30% to 40% of households on the Navajo Nation lacking access to running water <\/a>in their homes and around 10,050 to 13,000 households lacking electricity<\/a> on the 17.5-million-acre reservation that spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.<\/p>\n

\"AA happy customer standing next to her new water system installed by high school students working with Fundamental Needs in Cortez. (Courtesy of Fundamental Needs)<\/p>\n

Ramos also wanted to help kids living in Rock Point, Cortez and Kirtland, New Mexico, another town just outside of the reservation that sits along the San Juan River.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to build towards something more long term, so we started building off-grid water systems,\u201d he said. They partnered with DigDeep, <\/a>an organization that believes everyone deserves water, and built their first three systems in 2021. A year later, Ramos started a high school program dedicated to doing the same at Rock Point Community School<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now both Rock Point<\/a> and Kirtland have school-based programs in which Indigenous students build and donate these systems to needy households within an hour and a half of their schools. To date, more than 240 systems have been installed, Ramos said.<\/p>\n

The project trains and hires local high school students to build and install those systems themselves, turning infrastructural work into a pathway toward future careers. Students learn plumbing and electrical\/solar installation and study topics like agriculture and financial literacy before receiving hands-on experience working in the field. They\u2019re paid $100 stipends for every install and $50 for every repair.<\/p>\n

\"AKids work on their creations at the Cortez Makerspace, an innovation hub created with the help of high school kids working with the nonprofit organization Fundamental Needs. Justice Ramos founded Fundamental Needs in 2020 to partner with underserved communities to address critical gaps in access to clean drinking water, electricity, education, and vocational opportunities. (Courtesy of Fundamental Needs)<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom there, the work grew,\u201d Ramos said. \u201cFood delivery, firewood distribution, and the planting of apple trees in the Rock Point area all followed. But the thread connecting everything was the same: Find the need, find the people and build something that lasts.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also created a youth entrepreneurship program<\/a> in Cortez that teaches high school students how to develop their own business plans and lets some test their concepts in internships through the organization.<\/p>\n

And last year, he let students identify the next big issue that they wanted to solve and build a big project around that, he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids in Cortez wanted a place to hang out that was safe, a place where they could learn new skills, and something that would give them more opportunities. So we translated that to opportunities for higher education or in industry, and that\u2019s what the newest project is.\u201d<\/p>\n

To support the program\u2019s participants, Fundamental Needs built Cortez Makerspace<\/a>, a 14,000-square-foot building at 209 W. Main St. adorned with a beautiful mural of workers harvesting baskets of bright orange peaches. Inside is access to creative tools, technology and shared workspace. The center has 3D printing, laser cutting, textiles, silversmithing, virtual reality programs, large-format printing and digital design resources, along with space for workshops, classes and collaborative projects (see this video<\/a> for a walkthrough).<\/p>\n

Ramos\u2019 latest endeavor is launching a creative contest<\/a> that he hopes will raise money for Fundamental Needs. Artists, inventors and other creatives living within 150 miles of the Four Corners can \u201cbuild anything. Robotics, wood, steel, cloth, paint, sculpture, sound, code, an invention, a thing nobody has a name for yet,\u201d he said, and submit it<\/p>\n

The creations are viewable on Fundamental Needs\u2019 website. People can vote through the online portal. Come awards night, in late October, one maker will take home $5,000 and Ramos says the top creation, displayed for all to see, will become a community treasure.<\/p>\n

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Take the poll: How much does it cost to live in Colorado?<\/p>\n

Many costs have increased, but so have wages. Has it balanced out for you? Take the latest What\u2019s Working poll to help us better understand what\u2019s going on in Colorado.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here you go >> cosun.co\/WWwages2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Sun economy stories you may have missed<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Rain Enhancement Technologies\u2019 says its cloud seeding station near the La Sal Mountains in southeast Utah boosted precipitation by over 8,000 acre-feet during the 2025-2026 winter season. (Provided by Rain Enhancement Technologies)<\/p>\n

\u2794 A cloud-seeding company claims it added 2 billion gallons of water in Utah. Experts have their doubts. Communities in the struggling Colorado River Basin looking for ways to shore up water supplies after decades of drought are turning to new forms of cloud seeding. Is it snake oil or science? >> Read story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2794 Colorado regulators take swipe at Xcel Energy\u2019s claims that increases aren\u2019t that impactful. Xcel Energy uses \u201cshare of wallet\u201d to argue customers don\u2019t feel its rate increases. Regulators say the case is weak because Colorado\u2019s median income is so high. >> Read story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2794 Colorado River hits \u201cbleak\u201d new low in Palisade, straining water supplies for fish and farms. The river, which supports millions of people across the West, saw its lowest flows in over a decade this week >> Read story<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Some fronts to homes at Painted Prairie in Aurora have no lawn at all, but are instead dotted with flowering shrubs and bushes, tall grasses, and rock. (Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun)<\/p>\n

\u2794 How Aurora Water uses surveillance tech to crack down on lawn-watering violations. The Colorado city\u2019s smart meters issue a warning when homeowners water on a third day. Denver has relied on neighbor complaints. >> Read story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2794 Environmentalists can sue Suncor for its Commerce City pollution if they can prove it, US Appeals Court rules. 10th Circuit overrules US District Court and says environmental groups can seek tougher state action >> Read story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2794 Cargill workers in Fort Morgan reject tentative contract to end lockout. More than 1,700 meatpackers haven\u2019t been to work since May 20 after negotiations for higher wages and benefits broke down. >> Read story<\/a><\/p>\n

Other working bits<\/p>\n

\"ANative Roots just south of Trinidad had five cars parked in its lot on April 15, 2021<\/p>\n

\u2794 Native Roots stores have new owners; non-retail side faces 141 layoffs. Verdant Capital Partners announced Tuesday that its purchase of 15 Native Roots dispensaries in Colorado was completed on July 31. In the news release<\/a>, Verdant said it\u2019ll retain the Native Roots brand and counts Josh Ginsberg, a co-founder of Native Roots, among its principals. Verdant also plans to continue expanding the company through acquisition. Terms were not disclosed.<\/p>\n

Verdant didn\u2019t acquire the entire company. What remained was the cultivation and manufacturing business, said Myles Peck, Verdant\u2019s chief strategy officer. That part, called NR ParentCo, notified<\/a> the state labor department on Aug. 3 that it will close the facility at 4990 Dahlia St. in Denver, which will result in the permanent layoff of 141 employees by Oct. 2, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter.<\/p>\n

Many of the roles were administrative or operations. According to the Denver Business Journal<\/a>, one of the affected employees was Native Roots CEO Jon Boord, who holds the license for the Dahlia Street grow facility. Boord also sent the WARN letter to the state.<\/p>\n

Peck, with Verdant, said no layoffs are planned for the newly acquired retail stores. \u201cOur immediate priority is successfully operating the Native Roots retail platform while building our corporate operating team into the foundation that will support future acquisitions and long-term growth,\u201d he said in an email. Verdant\u2019s Native Roots operation will continue to be based in Denver, he added.<\/p>\n

\u2794 Water control company joins state\u2019s Rural Jump-Start program. Colorado\u2019s incentive program for smaller companies and startups gained a new member this week. SteadyFlow LLC<\/a>, which designs and makes equipment to better manage water in irrigation and stormwater systems, will call Fremont County home and add 20 employees in four years.<\/p>\n

As part of joining Colorado\u2019s Rural Jump-Start program<\/a>, SteadyFlow will receive $15,000 in grants plus tax benefits for four years. Eligible employees also get a personal income tax credit from the state. The company\u2019s stormwater headgate needs no electricity and can regulate water flow without human intervention. That\u2019s crucial during heavy storms when downstream areas are getting pounded with rain and don\u2019t need excess water from reservoirs. The company, which spun out of 3 Rocks Engineering and Surveying in Ca\u00f1on City, explains how it works in a video<\/a>. >> Details<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2794 New tariffs attract ire of Colorado AG and 24 other states. As temporary global tariffs of 10% ended<\/a> July 24, the Trump administration instituted new ones<\/a> of 10% to 12.5% on imports from more than 60 countries<\/a>. On Monday, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined a coalition of 25 states to file its third lawsuit<\/a> against the Trump administration to challenge the new round. The first two lawsuits had already ruled the tariffs were unlawfully based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Section 122 the Trade Act of 1974.<\/p>\n

The new tariffs are based on Section 301, the same policy used in Trump\u2019s first term to crack down on potential Chinese cybertheft of U.S. trade secrets and intellectual property. But this time, any \u201cunreasonable or discriminatory\u201d policies of trade partners wasn\u2019t evident, and the \u201cpurported investigation of 60 different economies in record time \u2026 that just so happen to mirror almost exactly the now-expired Section 122 tariffs \u2014 confirms that the Tariff Action is pretextual, arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to Section 301\u2019s statutorily constrained purpose,\u201d according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n

Colorado joined AGs from California, New York and several other states that are mostly led by a Democratic governor except in Nevada and Vermont. >> Read lawsuit<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Tariff refunds total $100 billion as of July 31. After the Supreme Court struck down<\/a> some of Trump\u2019s global tariffs in February, businesses that paid them have asked<\/a> for their money back. So far, $128.68 billion in refunds<\/a> for 25.1 million entries have been approved, according to an update this week from the U.S. Court of International Trade.<\/p>\n

\u2794 City of Denver has a one-stop source for small business. It\u2019s called the Denver BizHub and it\u2019s part of the city\u2019s Economic Development and Opportunity department. Links to business advising, events, small business certification and where to find free office space (the Park Hill Innovation Hub<\/a>) is all in one spot at Denvergov.org\/BizHub<\/a>. >> Check it out<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Got some economic news or business bits Coloradans should know? Tell us: cosun.co\/heyww<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks for sticking with us! ~ tamara<\/a> & tracy<\/a><\/p>\n

Miss a column? Catch up:<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Working<\/a> is a Colorado Sun column about surviving in today\u2019s economy. Email tamara@coloradosun.com<\/a> with stories, tips or questions. Read the archive<\/a>, ask a question at cosun.co\/heyww<\/a> and don\u2019t miss the next one by signing up at coloradosun.com\/getww<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Support this free newsletter and become a Colorado Sun member: coloradosun.com\/join<\/a><\/p>\n

Corrections & Clarifications<\/p>\n

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors<\/a>. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Type of Story: News<\/p>\n

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Just like in a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel, Justice Ramos was given a name that intertwines with his…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":807055,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[28,21768,239110,158,7500,275320,342566,19845],"class_list":["post-807054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entrepreneurship","tag-business","tag-cannabis","tag-cortez","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-native-americans","tag-navajo-nation","tag-rural-colorado","tag-whats-working"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=807054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807054\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/807055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=807054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=807054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=807054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}