Most of the members of the WNMU Economic Development course and some of the presenters, who were present Sunday evening. They were applauding the musicians.

By Mary Alice Murphy

Sunday, July 17, 2016, this year's New Mexico Economic Development Course, presented by Western New Mexico University, in cooperation with New Mexico Rural Alliance, New Mexico Economic Development Department and the New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network kicked off with a course overview and a dinner.

Monday morning early, the students began the course in earnest.

At the dinner Sunday, the Beat talked to a few of the participants.

Johanna Nelson Parker of Santa Fe, who works in the NMEDD, attended the dinner with her husband, Jesse, and their 7-month-old daughter Soleil. "I hope to take away a better understanding of the different components of economic development," Nelson Parker said.

Antonio Andazola of Silver City works for Vice President of Business Affairs Brenda Findley in event management services. "I want to learn how we can help our community."

Armando Morales of Las Cruces said he works for the city economic development department. "I work with downtown revitalization and with this course, I will be able to pick up more weight in the process." He said he grew up in El Paso, but lived "all over" as an Army "brat."

Melissa Meechan from San Juan College said she is taking the course because she is overseeing a grant from the Economic Development Administration and "workforce and economic development are a big part of the grant."

Noreen Scott, course director, said the course has been happening for 24 years. "I may be the course director, but all the hard work is done by Linda McArthur," who was recognized. "The course started as the brainchild of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, because New Mexicans had to travel elsewhere to get the course."

"We put out the offer to all the universities in the state," Scott said. "Western's President Gallantine was familiar with the Heartland Institute, so he said: 'WNMU will do it.' Next came Dr. Counts, who also supported it and we're still here. This is a beautiful area of New Mexico. I urge you to explore."

Rev. Samuel Adjei of Ghana arrived.

Adjei said he had come with a "very special person. He's a king in Nigeria. When he came with me and took this course in 2013, he was a chief. He is now His Royal Majesty Josephat Ebuka Onunkwo."

"It took us 34 hours to travel from Nigeria to Silver City," Adjei said.

Ebuka said the transportation system had collapsed, but after he took the course, he brought it back.

Adjei is now serving as presidential campaign director for the People's National Convention. "If my party comes to power, I will be chief of staff."

"You have enriched this course," Scott said.

She went on to say that she believes a job makes a difference and makes a community a better place. "I believe it's a moral imperative to create jobs in our communities."

Scott said not only the knowledge from the course, but the connections made between people have made a difference when they return to their communities.

She also introduced professors from the Universidad Aut+