Dear Members of the Board,
We are writing to you as the collective staff, instructors, volunteers, members, and stakeholders of Make Santa Fe.
We care deeply about Make and its mission, its members, and the wider community it serves. Every day, we work directly with the people who rely on Make not only as a creative space, but also as a place of learning, connection, and, in many cases, professional livelihood. We see firsthand the impact that board decisions, and the absence of board action, have on the health of the organization.
Over the past several months, and in some cases years, we have grown increasingly concerned about the organization’s governance, accountability, and transparency.
Recent events have intensified those concerns. The removal of a board member who sought to hold the board accountable, combined with the board’s refusal to participate in mediation, engage in governance training, or communicate transparently with staff and community, has created a significant breakdown in trust.
We have also observed an ongoing lack of meaningful engagement from board leadership in the life of the organization. Repeatedly, the board has agreed to support fundraising, public events, and strategic initiatives, but these responsibilities have too often fallen back onto an already overloaded staff. As this pattern continues, the day-to-day realities of Make become harder to sustain, and trust in governance erodes.
Make deserves better.
Effective governance requires more than formal authority. It requires:
- active engagement
- informed decision-making
- visible participation
- accountability to the community
- and a willingness to steward the organization in practice, not just in title
At present, it has been proven those standards are not being met.
We are requesting the following immediate actions:
- Board Resignations and Governance Reset
We are requesting the immediate resignation of the following board members due to sustained disengagement and an inability to effectively serve the needs of the organization:
Sage Morris-Greene
We are requesting Sage Morris-Greene’s immediate resignation due to a sustained lack of engagement with the organization. Over the course of her tenure, participation in community events, fundraising activities, classes, and member programs has been minimal if not non-existent. Effective board service requires active participation, relationship-building, and a working understanding of the organization’s programs and needs. That level of engagement has not been demonstrated.
Barry Kane
We are requesting Barry Kane’s immediate resignation due to concerns regarding engagement, alignment, and collaborative governance. He has constantly demonstrated lack of familiarity with Make Santa Fe’s programs, initiatives, and operations, as well as multiple instances in which requests for meetings with staff leadership were declined. Effective governance requires both informed decision-making and collaborative engagement with the people carrying out the mission. Those conditions have not been present. - Governance and Conflict Resolution
- Engage an independent, third-party mediator to support conflict resolution and trust rebuilding
- Require nonprofit governance training for all remaining board members within a defined and timely period
- Establish and adopt enforceable board engagement standards, including fundraising, participation, presence in the space, and support of staff and programs
- Require annual accountability review based on established board agreements.
- Transparency and Communication
- Issue a written statement to staff, instructors, members, and stakeholders acknowledging the present situation
- Schedule regular, transparent communication with staff leadership and the wider Make community
- Publish a public-facing summary of board initiatives, decisions, and progress on major organizational priorities
- Organizational Structure and Operations
- Hold quarterly board meetings, scheduled at least one quarter in advance
- Distribute board meeting agendas at least one week in advance, in collaboration with the Executive Director
- Ensure clear task ownership, follow-through, and measurable progress on board responsibilities
- Develop and adopt a realistic plan for board contribution to fundraising and community engagement
- Community Engagement and Stewardship
- Establish quarterly member town halls for transparency, questions, and community feedback
- Require each board member to maintain an active relationship to the organization through paid membership, volunteer participation, or another approved pathway of direct engagement
- Organize at least one annual board-led fundraising effort independent of staff-led efforts
- Organize at least one quarterly board-supported community presence initiative, event, or engagement effort
We are requesting a written response to these items within 14 days.
This letter is written in good faith, with the intention of strengthening the organization we all care about. However, we want to be clear: the current trajectory is not sustainable. Without meaningful action and accountability, we anticipate continued staff burnout, loss of instructors, declining member trust, and further erosion of confidence in the organization’s governance.
We remain committed to Make Santa Fe and to a stronger future for the organization. But that future requires change.
Sign the Petition
| Name: First | Name: Last | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | Redding |
|
| Todd | Zonderman |
|
| Michael | Giblin |
|
| john | vanhoozer |
|
| Yali | Amit |
|
| Molly | Hodosko |
|
| Kathryn | Haltom |
|
| James | Romberg |
|
| Rosanna | Dill |
|
| Eloisa | Rivera |
|
| David | Branecky |
|
| Jim | Wheeler |
|
| Anya | Slepyan |
|
| Carrie | Quade |
|
| Philip | Neufeld |
|
| Vanessa | Garcia |
|
| Hernán | Gomez Chavez |
|
| John | Buhr |
|
| Lori | de Ravello |
|
| Lauren | Goode |
|
| Charles | Brunn |
|
| Steve | Dulfer |
|
| Paul | Clauss |
|
| Robert | Bennett |
|
| Lisa | White |
|
| Richard | LeSar |
|
| Semberlyn | Crossley |
|
| Manisha | Paralikar |
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| Sharon | Markwardt |
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| Logan | Ford |
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| Ralph | Cole |
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| Graham | Murtough |
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| Gabriel | Debeaupuis |
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| David | O’Connor |
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| Peggy | Diggs |
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| John | Layne |
|
| Enoch | Cincotta |
|
| Jeff | Herrera |
|
| John | Mack |
|
| Marcie | Becker |
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| Jessica | Miller |
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| Christopher | Szutenbach-Gallo |
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| Loren | Vladem |
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| Andrew | Goode |
|
| James | Johnson |
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