Through an ongoing partnership between Santa Fe Community College and Santa Fe Public Schools, students participating in the Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative are gaining paid, real-world work experience while crafting functional digital tools for local businesses and community organizations. The initiative, made possible through Apple’s Community Education Initiative, has provided students with unique opportunities to apply coding skills directly to projects with immediate community impact.
This latest collaboration highlights how young developers in Santa Fe are moving past theoretical exercises to deliver finished products that meet genuine local needs.
Community-Based Projects and App Development
The Santa Fe Public Schools Work-Based Learning Program interns and SFCCI fellows collaborated on two primary community-focused projects. The first is a neighborhood exploration tool designed for Canyon Road, developed in coordination with Canyon Road businesses and the City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development. The second project, the La Fonda Experience app, curates the art of La Fonda and is currently available for download from the App Store on iOS devices.
Community members and iPhone users had the opportunity to download and experience the Canyon Road app during the final summer walk of the Canyon Road Summer Walk series, which ran from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 9. These digital tools serve as practical solutions that celebrate local art, history, and commerce while giving students hands-on software development experience.
Leadership Perspectives on Workforce Training
SFCC President Becky Rowley, Ph.D., noted that the collaboration demonstrates what happens when education and workforce training merge.
“These young people aren’t just learning technical skills; they’re discovering what excites them, building confidence in what they can accomplish and gaining experiences that can help shape what comes next,” Rowley said, according to official statements. “We’re proud to work with Santa Fe Public Schools and our community partners to create opportunities that help students find their passions and carry them forward into college, careers and the next chapters of their lives.”
Jose Villarreal, Work-Based Learning District Coordinator for Santa Fe Public Schools, pointed to the essential role played by local entities in stepping up to support student interns. He credited the City of Santa Fe, La Fonda on the Plaza, and the Canyon Road Summer Walk for providing authentic platforms, ranging from the La Fonda app developed in 2024 to the Canyon Road app deployed over the summer.
“Together, we gave our students more than work experience—we gave them the opportunity to deliver a finished product that meets a real business need for our partners, and to walk away with skills they’ll carry into whatever career they choose next,” Villarreal stated.
Student Leadership and Mentorship
The initiative also fosters peer mentorship, allowing older students to guide their peers through complex programming challenges. Anders Burkman, who graduated from Santa Fe High last spring and now attends the University of New Mexico, took on a central role in the Canyon Road app’s ongoing development as an SFCCI fellow.
In addition to maintaining technical continuity and guiding the project as it evolved, Burkman helped mentor Work-Based Learning interns in the fundamentals of coding using Apple’s Swift programming language. His involvement allowed him to merge a long-standing interest in coding and game development with community-focused technology work. He is currently pursuing a degree in Film & Digital Arts with a concentration in gaming at UNM.
Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Christine Griffin, Ed.D., praised the participants for their dedication to problem-solving and community engagement. “Our students gained valuable experience in coding and problem-solving while creating tools that celebrate Santa Fe’s history, art and local businesses,” Griffin said. “We are proud of their work and grateful to every partner who helped make this possible.”
Looking Ahead for Student Developers
As these digital tools continue to serve residents and visitors, the partnership between Santa Fe Community College and Santa Fe Public Schools serves as a working model for modern educational outreach.
