Was it the state of the economy, or is it that Santa Feans' highest priority for the future is a diverse business climate — and painting that climate green?

Several dozen people gathered Oct. 15 to talk about what they would like to see in our community's civic affairs and environment. They were nonprofit leaders, business people, faith-based representatives and public servants. And they gathered to inform the Santa Fe Community Foundation what community members would like this place to look like over the next five years.

The ideas flowed. They included community gardens, dark skies, no child left inside, water audits, eco-tourism and holding Los Alamos National Laboratories more accountable.

When consensus came to the conversation, participants said they want every culture valued. They want local energy. They want people to eat locally grown food — even if it's not certified organic — so that it doesn't burn fuel in transit. They want the public schools to teach children to value the environment, especially wildlife and water. They want land use policies in place for smart growth.

And they want a green economy.

In fact, a green economy got a ranking of seven, compared to 10 for local energy. People said they want to see green industry as a mainstay of the state's economy, people trained for green jobs and a "green-collar youth corps."

Environmental views, voiced in the morning, didn't stray far from the afternoon's opinions on civic affairs. Top consensus builders were:

• A strong economy to drive a diverse tax base.

• Decentralized food production.

• Green technology and jobs.

And people want youth trained to meet that challenge: to know what career opportunities are and to be able to study technical and vocational subjects. In fact, education repeatedly was raised as critical issue in Santa Fe.

"Let's spend our oil and gas revenue on children and not on buildings," said one participant, referring to the State Permanent Fund that can go toward bricks and mortar but not into the classroom.

Again, they want to join diverse voices and have an economy rooted in the local culture and local values.

"I'd like," said one, "a community that knows the definition of enough."

Five more community gatherings are scheduled: From 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 29 in Santa Fe on health and human services; from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 5 on education and 1 to 4 p.m. on the arts. In Española, the gatherings will be Nov. 6 in the morning for health, environment and civic affairs and in the afternoon for education and the arts. To participate, call 988-9715, ext. 3.

The results of these sessions will help the Foundation make decisions about what to support with money and meetings.

Billie Blair, president of the Santa Fe Community Foundation, can be reached at bblair@santafecf.org.