Enterprise Bank & Trust President – Los Alamos Region & Director of Community Engagement Liddie Martinez, receives the 2025 Community Builder Award from The Family YMCA CEO Chris Daniels. Daniels presented the award in appreciation for the significant investment in the Lowrider Art Program from Enterprise Bank & Trust of Los Alamos, which teaches local youth to modify RC cars, study electric and nitro power systems, and apply math and physics. Photo by Donavan Price
Scene from the ‘Cruzin’ 2 Success Community Day’ event Saturday at the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum in Santa Fe. Courtesy/YMCA
From the Family YMCA:
Teens from the Española YMCA Teen Center showcased custom, 1:10-scale lowrider cars at the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum on Saturday in Santa Fe, blending engineering with New Mexico’s “low and slow” tradition. During the free “Cruzin’ 2 Success Community Day”, visitors saw working mini-hydraulics, brushless motors, custom paint and upholstery—proof that culture and STEM can cruise side by side.
The program, launched with a significant investment from Enterprise Bank & Trust of Los Alamos, teaches local youth to modify RC cars, study electric and nitro power systems, and apply math and physics—while learning classic lowrider arts from pin-striping to chrome detailing. Enterprise Bank & Trust Los Alamos Region President Liddie Martinez explained why the bank continues to support the Teen Center:
“Ben has created a safe space for our kids in the Valley. They are free to play, compete, create, and make friends in a healthy environment that promotes the celebration of our culture and heritage,” Martinez said. “Ben and his family make this happen every day without fail. This stable environment is often the only one our kids can count on, and Ben is steadfast as their advocate.”
Building on the success of the Teen Center’s Lowrider Art Program, teens also work with local artists to design original murals, chrome patterns, and custom interiors inspired by Española’s rich heritage. The program teaches airbrushing, linework, and color theory, while encouraging personal storytelling through visual art. By pairing traditional craftsmanship with modern tools, the Lowrider Art Program empowers youth to see lowriding as both an art form and a pathway to creative careers.
Organizers reported strong community turnout and hands-on demos throughout the afternoon, with teens explaining their builds and answering questions about wiring, gearing, and suspension. The initiative expands on the Teen Center’s Lowrider Bike Club and builds confidence, career-ready technical skills, and pride in cultural heritage.
“On behalf of the teens of northern New Mexico, we appreciate the investment that Enterprise Bank & Trust has made in our youth. You have opened new doors and opportunities to teens that may have otherwise not had access to this level of programming,” said Director Ben Sandoval of the Española Teen Center.
Española YMCA Teen Center combines youth development, arts, and STEM programs rooted in community and culture. The stated mission of the Española Teen Center is to strengthen the efficacy of community youth. Its purpose is to value youth and seek to fulfill a commitment to provide support, educational opportunities, and recreation resources to the teens of Española and surrounding communities.
Teens from the Española YMCA Teen Center showcased custom, 1:10-scale lowrider cars at the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum on Saturday in Santa Fe. Courtesy/YMCA
Enterprise Bank & Trust President – Los Alamos Region Liddie Martinez, left, chats with guests, staff and officials at the ‘Cruzin’ 2 Success Community Day’ on Saturday at the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum in Santa Fe. Courtesy/YMCA