Supporting the Black community in New Mexico was more important than ever in 2021. The New Mexico Black Leadership Council reviews major successes in Black community development and continues the work in 2022.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) is committed to working with Black communities to achieve positive collective change, racial and educational equity, and economic independence. At the beginning of 2021, we thought we’d have a chance to exhale after surviving dual pandemics— COVID-19 and racism. What we learned this year is that neither of the pandemics is over and there are many more steep hills to climb. We are proud of what we accomplished in 2021 in our five areas of impact:
- Advocacy and Civic Engagement
- Health: Physical, Financial, Behavioral
- Leadership and Workforce Development
- Cultural Vibrancy
- Positive Youth Development
NMBLC’s Guiding Principles
- Carter G. Woodson’s Philosophies
- Community-Based Activism
- Participatory Democracy
- Arts/Events-Based Community Development
- Assets-Based Community Development
Community-based activism and participatory democracy are attributed to Ella Jo Baker.
“Give light and people will find the way.”
—Ella Jo Baker
Carter G. Woodson’s philosophies are built on inclusion, multiculturalism, racial harmony, and the knowledge that Black history is American history.
“What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”
—Carter G. Woodson
Advocating for the Black community in New Mexico and fostering civic engagement with forums and redistricting
Congressional and Mayoral Forums
The New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative (NMBVC) held two informational political forums in 2021. The goal was to inform the community on the plans and positions of candidates running for office.
The New Mexico CD-1 Congressional Candidate Forum, held on April 20, 2021, featured candidates running to fill the US Representative vacancy left by Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Participating candidates included former State Representative Melanie Stansbury, former Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn, and U.S. National Guard Veteran Chris Manning. The 90-minute discussion focused on questions submitted by local organizations and community members, and was hosted virtually and broadcast live to Facebook.
The City of Albuquerque Mayoral Candidate Forum, held on September 27, 2021, featured candidates running for mayor of the City of Albuquerque. Participating candidates included incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel “Manny” Gonzales III, and radio talk show host Eddy Aragon. NMBVC hosted this forum in-person at Highland High School. It was also broadcast live to Facebook.
Juneteenth Meet and Greet
NMBVC hosted a public meet and greet with elected officials at the City of Albuquerque’s 2021 Juneteenth celebration. NM CD-1 Representative Melanie Stansbury, State Senator Harold Pope Jr., and Chief Public Defender Bennett J. Baur hung out to talk to festival goers face-to-face about how they serve the public as elected officials.
Redistricting Task Force
NMBVC organized the Black Community Redistricting Task Force to focus on identifying Black/African-American communities in New Mexico. With support from the New Mexico Black Central Organizing Committee and community members, the task force created a map proposal that preserved Black/African-American interests and voting power within several House Districts across the state. The proposal was presented to the Citizen Redistricting Committee in October and then integrated into the one created by the Center for Civic Policy to become CRC Map Recommendation E-1. This recommendation was presented during the 2021 Special Session Legislature as House Bill 8 to be signed by the governor.
“The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.”
—John Lewis
Treating health holistically by addressing behavioral, physical, and financial needs in the Black community in New Mexico.
Racial Reckoning Mental Health Conference
NMBLC spotlighted behavioral health with the 2021 virtual town hall “Racial Reckoning: True Equity in Mental Health.” Dr. Jamal Martin, Director of Peace and Justice Studies at UNM, presented a “State of the State” epidemiology report on a public health model-approach to improve behavioral health in BIPOC communities. Keynote speaker Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Executive Director of the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty, Policy and Research, gave an electrifying report on the crisis of Black youth suicide in America.
Black/African American Health Association (BAAHA)
Medical patriarch Dr. William McIver addressed a group of doctors about the need to continue convening and building coalitions to improve physical health for Black/African-Americans in New Mexico. Dr. Duane Ross, retired Medical Director of True Health New Mexico, and local ER physician Dr. Stephanie Garcia approached NMBLC voicing similar concerns. NMBLC helped them launch the Black/African American Health Association (BAAHA). The association’s mission is to improve wellness opportunities for every Black citizen of New Mexico through access to coverage, quality healthcare, and education. BAAHA held its first meet and greet in October 2021.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”
—World Health Organization
Financial Committee
NMBLC board members created the Financial Committee to promote financial wellness in New Mexico’s Black communities. The committee is in the process of collaborating with other local Black organizations to provide and promote youth entrepreneurship opportunities, home ownership information, and life skills training. The goal for 2022 is to strengthen engagement in the Financial Committee’s mission.
Cultivating the next generation of leadership and recruiting for on the job workforce development and training
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
NMBLC is partnering with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions to implement an on-the-job training program for underserved members in our community. This initiative is a component of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA’s aim is to improve preparation, access, and success in adult basic education, career pathways, postsecondary education, and workforce development. WIOA targets low-income and low-skilled adults, disconnected youth, public assistance recipients, and those with limited financial means. Using
WIOA Title I funds for subsidized work experience, the state will pay half the salary of staff that NMBLC hires under this apprenticeship program. This arrangement allows NMBLC to recruit for crucial positions in the organization while mentoring and training those in the community who would otherwise not have access to gainful employment opportunities or the education to become sought after members of the workforce.
The African American Community Economic Transformation Study (AACETS) led to the following recommendations:
Create a Hub Organization
Generate a Leadership Development Institute
Establish a Communications Network Infrastructure
Chisholm Table
Assets-Based Community Development is about elevating and utilizing our strengths and assets rather than focusing on supposed lack and deficiency. This philosophy is exemplified by the Chisholm Table, a component of our collective impact organizing strategy and communications infrastructure network designed to build operational capacity among Black, volunteer-led organizations.
Check out the article in the Albuquerque Journal about the Chisholm Table!
UpLift
UpLift is another initiative that launched in 2021. It’s funded by a grant from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Under this program, NMBLC and partners have created a one-stop resource hub to provide help, resources, and information for the community.
As part of the NMDOH grant to support long-term resiliency, NMBLC plans to award five microgrants to New Mexican groups serving Black communities:
- Nu Rho chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- New Mexico Black Lawyers Association
- UNM African American Student Services
- Beyond the Chair Initiative
- Albuquerque Black Economic Security and Solidarity (BLESS)
Succession-planning and sustainability is a critical component of any organization. In 2021, NMBLC took positive steps to develop our leadership pool and ensure our longevity and viability with the advancement of two of our team members:
 |  |
| Kindra Hill promoted to Deputy Director | Mason Graham promoted to Policy Analyst |
Continuing our tradition of cultural vibrancy through celebration, music, and recognizing the contributions of the Black community.
DECADES: Past, Present & Future
DECADES: Past, Present & Future commemorated the 10th anniversary of the New Mexico Black History Festival. The 2021 festival was offered exclusively online due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions; however, attendance at the events was robust and the NMBLC staff and volunteers replicated in-person energy with an engaging online events schedule. Promoting the knowledge that Black history is American history and therefore can be celebrated 24/7/365, the NMBLC announced a slate of cultural events running from February through July.
The Asante Awards
The Asante Awards: Barrier Breakers ceremony honored important “firsts” for New Mexico. 2021 recipients included Honorable Judge Shammara Henderson, New Mexico State Senator Harold Pope, Jr., District Attorney Gerald Byers, US Eagle Federal Credit Union President Marsha Majors, NMDOH Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins, and NM Veteran Affairs Secretary Sonya Smith.
Kumbuka Celebration
The 2021 Kumbuka Celebration: DECADES Deep featured a lively review and discussion with cast and crew members of the award-winning, critically-acclaimed show “Roots Revival, Our Struggle, Our Story, Our Glory” and was viewable via the New Mexico Black Leadership Council’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
— Maya Angelou
Expanding our positive youth development programs from Roots Summer Leadership Academy to juvenile justice initiatives.
Roots Summer Leadership Academy (RSLA)
Summer festivities kicked off with the Roots Summer Leadership Academy’s ninth year of helping youth learn academics, social emotional skills, and cultural identity. RSLA is a rigorous three-week summer arts and science camp for youth ages 8-16. The theme for 2021 was “Nishati,” meaning “energy” in Swahili. Activities were geared to give students strategies to increase effectiveness in their personal and academic lives. The program culminated in a community-wide Harambee showcase where students stepped into their confidence and demonstrated their accomplishments. NMBLC pivoted to a hybrid teaching model in 2020 due to the pandemic, and successfully managed the new outdoor in-person and online format for two years in a row. 52 students enrolled in RSLA in 2021, transforming the outdoor camp into a visually inviting attraction for residents of the International District. Students employed entrepreneurial skills and raised $900 from their outdoor art installation to fund the Roots Roller Skate Reunion.
 |  |
Roots Explorers Program (REP)
REP launched in 2020 as an in-school enrichment curriculum in the International District. It has since grown into a project-based, out-of-school program that concentrates on literacy, numeracy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math), SEL (social-emotional learning), and cultural awareness. In 2021, the Explora Science Museum reached out to NMBLC to implement an REP session at their facility in Albuquerque’s Old Town. NMBLC also developed partnerships with New Mexico Mesa, Biggers Farms, Emerson Elementary School, the University of New Mexico Department of Education, and many more. We’re planning to expand REP to the entire Highland cluster of schools.
Our North Star Goal is academic proficiency and empowerment for all youth!
In 2021, the New Mexico Black Leadership Council added service for juvenile detention system-impacted youth to its outreach and education engagement.
Albuquerque Justice for Youth Collaborative (AJ4Y)
NMBLC joined La Plazita Institute’s (LPI) Albuquerque Justice for Youth Community Collaborative (AJ4Y). Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the collaborative is composed of local grassroots organizations, youth justice advocates, and young people and families who have been directly impacted by the juvenile justice system. Its aim is to honor and strengthen community self-determination; reduce dependence on the juvenile justice system; and keep youth safe at home and supported by their own communities.
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
NMBLC became a member of Bernalillo County’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This group meets monthly to determine ways to reduce youth incarceration numbers. Also funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation, this project seeks to find alternatives to incarceration for all youth. Black youth, especially males, are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system. They are also incarcerated for longer periods of time than their non-Black counterparts. NMBLC is working with Bernalillo County to understand the underlying reasons for these disparities. Through our work with the Community Corrections Program and the JDAI, we are interviewing detention systems stakeholders and impacted youth and families to figure out solutions to overcome disparities and reduce the number of Black youth who have contact with the criminal justice system.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Moving forward in 2022 with an outstanding gospel concert and an open house to announce an exciting collaboration.
ONE New Mexico Gospel Concert
Join us for the sixth annual ONE New Mexico Gospel Concert on Sunday, May 15th! The ONE New Mexico Gospel Choir will perform with some of New Mexico’s most celebrated female vocalists including:
- Toni Morgan
- Aleena Sedillo
- Pat Brown
- special guest Aretha Harden from Las Vegas, Nevada
This amazing lineup of music is happening at the First Unitarian Church at 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM 87110 and starts at 3:00 PM MST.
The concert is free and open to the public.
NMBLC Open House
Save the date for NMBLC’s open house on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 4:30-6pm. NMBLC will be showcasing all of the exciting programs happening as part of the UpLift initiative.
Our fabulous donors, contributors, and volunteers make our work for the Black community in New Mexico possible.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and its work is made possible by sponsorships from forward-thinking organizations and by the generous support of community members like you. You can contribute to the NMBLC mission at http://nmblc.org/donate.
Thank you to NMBLC 2021 Foundations and Grantors!
$1,000-$4,999
- ACLU New Mexico
- Central New Mexico Community College
- New Mexico Voices for Children
- Steel Bender Brewyard, LLC
- Dion’s
- Omega Psi Phi, Nu Rho Chapter
- Los Poblanos LP
- The Verdes Foundation
- Workforce Connection of Central NM/ Mid-Region Council of Governments
- University of North Alabama
$5,000-$9,999
- Central NM Community
- The Praxis Project
- Explora Science Center
$10,000-$49,999
- Con Alma Foundation
- Thornburg Foundation
- McCune Charitable Foundation
- United Way
- New Mexico Women.Org
- New Mexico Association of Counties
- Common Cause
- AECF
- U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union
- Workforce Connection of Central NM
- University of New Mexico
- Center for Civic Policy
- La Plazita Institute
- Comcast
- Albuquerque Community Foundation
- Wells Fargo Foundation
- Facebook, Inc.
$50K+
- CYFD
- Bernalillo County
- City of Albuquerque
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
In addition, we are grateful for the numerous individual donations, which cumulatively amounted to over $30,000. Because of your generous contributions, NMBLC was able to provide all our programs to the community free of charge. Finally, NMBLC thanks the many people who contributed their time, talent, and treasure.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
Join us on our continuing journey to create a space to thrive for all New Mexicans. Contribute to the NMBLC mission at http://nmblc.org/donate.