How One FUSE Member is Getting a Fresh Start with Welding

Kinley Yazzie is working on his associate degree in welding at CNM, where he learned about FUSE from the college’s FIRST (Formerly Incarcerated Reintegration Students’ Success Team) program. Prior to coming to CNM, he was incarcerated for eight years. He started out in HVAC, but couldn’t find work because of his record. Companies didn’t want to hire him because they thought that customers wouldn’t want him coming into their homes. He switched to welding, with the goal of working in the oilfields and becoming a better role model for his family.

In February, Kinley applied for and received one of FUSE’s Light the Way scholarships that provide memberships for individuals who were formerly incarcerated. “I use it as a place for me to go and not get into trouble,” says Yazzie. “Plus I love welding.” He has been coming between his classes to get extra time to work on his projects. Right now, he’s working on an iron cross.

“CNM has a lot to do with who I am today. It’s all because of CNM. They kept helping me,” he says.

Kinley is one of over forty people who received a Light the Way scholarship, which was supported by PNM | TNMP Foundation.