About Us
LYDIA, Inc.
LYDIA, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering families in crisis through life coaching, skills training, and supportive community services. Our mission is to restore hope, dignity, and self‑sufficiency for individuals and families navigating life transitions.
Established: 2007
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): 20‑8174385
Empowering Families in Crisis
Founded in 1994, Summit International, our parent organization, was awarded our 501(c)3 status. In 2007, LYDIA, Inc. became a goal. In 2015, LYDIA, Inc. became a reality through Summit International.
In New Mexico, we are Summit International dba LYDIA, Inc.
Our Mission
To walk alongside families in crisis by providing practical tools, education, and compassionate support that lead to stability, confidence, and long‑term success.
Our Team
Dr. Michael F. Commini
Founding Member & Executive Director
Founding member. Executive Director: Summit International.
Emma Shows
Director
MA-HS. BS. BA. Founder and creator of LYDIA, Inc. Ms. Shows specializes in marriage and family relationships. Her heart is focused on strengthening community ties and building support between personal and city-wide community.
David Commini
OblSB, PhD. Veteran Consultant
Abigail Shows
Director of Marketing and Outreach.
Frequently Asked Questions
We do have some free, and some sliding scale services. Our Clothes Closet, Life Skills classes, Herbal Education, and The Positive Pregnancy Lite are always free. Sliding scale rates are available for life coaching, job coaching, and HypnoHerbal services.
Yes. We were originally founded in 2007 and verified with the IRS in 2014. We filed in the State of NM in 2015. You can look us up via our FEIN 20‑8174385.
Yes, it does. Summit International was founded by Doctor Michael F. Commini in 1994 under a different name entirely. We connected in 2009, and in 2010 they brought us under their umbrella. We may see about removing the Summit International part of our name in the future, or we may just keep it, because we had to file as a foreign nonprofit in NM.
While Summit has changed from services provided to no longer being active, LYDIA still remains strong and able to serve Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.
While we appreciate monetary donations (let’s be real, it helps keep the lights on), we also welcome professional clothing, in like-new or gently used condition, professional accessories (briefcases, ties, belts, shoes, scarves, costume jewelry), hangers, shelving units, rolling coat racks/closets;
office space;
supplies for the classes we teach;
gifts, toys, books, and other items during the holidays;
school supplies during our school supply drive;
Volunteers and interns. During the Winter Wonderland annual event, we need people to collect toys, gifts, books, and other donations, connect with the community, and spread awareness.
See above, but also – the clothes in the clothes closet need to be sorted, washed, dried, folded or hung; and we have many programs in development that could use people to lead/teach and flesh out.
You can send an email to hello@lydiainc.org, call or text 505.913.7160, or reach out to us on Facebook.
Because of financial constraints, we run the clothes closet and daycare out of my house for now. Our address is 2198 Candelero Street, Santa Fe, NM – we’re off Zia near the rail station. Please call to make an appointment.
