New Mexico's Rio Arriba County has one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country. Artist Roger Montoya is making sure young people can find a different path through his nonprofit, which provides arts classes, free meals, tutoring and support.
Española, New Mexico Growing up, Aaron Martinez watched both of his parents struggle with addictions. Ultimately, his older sister died from a heroin overdose and his father overdosed from prescription painkillers.
At times, it was hard for Martinez to imagine another future."People would tell me, 'You're going to be a drug addict, you're going to be a tecato , you're going to be worthless,'" said Martinez, now 22."For the longest time, I believed them just because of what I was seeing in my life."In northern New Mexico's Rio Arriba County, stories like these aren't unusual.
CNN Heroes: Mosaic of dance 03:46But artist Roger Montoya is making sure young people like Martinez can find a different path through his nonprofit, Moving Arts Española. Since 2008, his community arts center has provided arts classes, free meals, tutoring and support to more than 5,000 children and youth. Read MoreIt's not the path Montoya originally envisioned.
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