The Farmington area is situated in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, in the Four Corners Region. Farmington is located where three rivers – the La Plata, the Animas, and the San Juan – converge. The Navajo people refer to the area as “Totah,” meaning “the meeting place of the waters.” Farmington was originally called “Junction City” because of this same meeting of three rivers.

Farmington currently has a population of 40,000 people, while the surrounding county population is 113,000. Farmington is known for its crops and extensive cattle and sheep raising. The entire San Juan County is also well known for its oil, gas, coal and power generating industries.

Phyllis Shingle is the site coordinator for the Community MAP project in the Farmington area. She is the parent of five beautiful young children, including five-year-old twins, and a young son with autism. She is a full-time student at New Mexico Highlands University in the Social Work Program. She also works doing outreach for the UNM Center for Development and Disability.