Santa Fe Reporter Celebrates the New Year

Posted: December 30, 2025/Under: News/By: K M

Santa Fe Reporter Celebrates the New Year

The City Different’s beloved weekly, the Santa Fe Reporter, called on politicians, artists, teachers, entrepreneurs—and Kate!—to reflect on what’s in store for 2026. Santa Feans weighed in from all corners of the county, imagining the new year’s potential and kissing 2025 good-bye.

Kate wrote:

“As a teacher, I hope my students always feel empowered to let their gorgeous, unique voices shine through, spelling mistakes and all. AI has its place, but true, authentic, messy language has never mattered more.

As a Santa Fean, I hope our new mayor challenges us all to listen hard and pay attention, step forward and make our voices heard. I hope we celebrate with him when he triumphs and give him grace when he stumbles. I hope that we can learn from him, and he from us. I hope we get our hands dirty together, shaping this city into the city we want and need it to be.

And as a mom, I hope we put our phones away more. I hope we remember that dissent is patriotic. I hope to see the flicker of farolitos reflected in my babies’ faces, and I hope to watch them shrieking in the rain.”

About Kate

Hi! I'm a writer, a reader, an editor, and a teacher. When I was young, I travelled alone from Guatemala to Patagonia, making the trip mostly overland, by bus. I learned Spanish, taught English, and wrote my book, PATAGONIAN ROAD, which was published in 2017. After that, I started teaching at the college-level and took up the role of Editor-in-Chief for the SANTA FE LITERARY REVIEW, an annual journal of arts and letters published by the Santa Fe Community College. I'm at work on another book, due for release in 2027 - and I'm raising a family here in the sunny Southwest.

I stumbled and fell a whole bunch of times, but in the end, I'm here, surrounded by books and words, my days filled with writerly discussions, editorial decisions, and lots of scribbling. Here's what I've learned along the way: Don't listen to those who try to talk you out of your dreams. You're the master of your ship, so let those doubters doubt. Focus on figuring out how to get to where you want to go in life, and then just do one thing at a time to make that dream happen. The creative risks you take might scare other people, and living according to your values and goals takes real courage. But you have what it takes. You do! All is possible, as they tell you in India. Drop me a line if you want to chat more. Happy reading!