From a grassroots beginning, Luna County’s HELP-NM Early Childhood Development program is thriving in the southwest corner of the state. Tricia Gutierrez, regional program coordinator, is drumming up enrollment for children up to 5 years old across her regional reach. Prior to joining HELP-NM, Gutierrez was a preschool teacher for a private agency for more than 19 years. “We empower children inside and outside the classroom by building essential foundations for early learning,” Gutierrez explained. “There is only one center in each of our cities in our region, but they also have more classrooms and are able to accommodate more children and families,” Gutierrez explained.