Help the New Mexico Black Leadership Council move into its new office space December 19, 2022.
NMBLC needs volunteers for the upcoming office move. For the past several years, the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) had its headquarters in the center of Albuquerque’s International District at 1258 Ortiz Drive SE. On January 10, 2023, NMBLC will close on its new location: still in the International District, and just a few blocks away from the old location.
Why is NMBLC moving?
NMBLC leased an office at the Ortiz Building for a few years. As the mission and outreach of the organization expanded, so did its physical space. Administrative and operations staff, a community and press meeting room, the UpLift Initiative, and the Roots Summer Leadership Academy (RSLA) were all housed at the Ortiz Building. NMBLC had hoped to eventually buy the Ortiz Building and incorporate a training center and resource hub into the space.
In the fall of 2022, the owners of the Ortiz building accepted an offer from an out-of-state buyer. They informed NMBLC that the lease would be terminated by the end of the year.
When one door closes, another opens. NMBLC is pleased to announce it bought a new building! In January of 2023, NMBLC will move into 1314 Madeira Dr SE. It’s only a few blocks from the old location. It’s just north of Gibson, between Twisters and Stripes Burritos, and across from Sonic. NMBLC will still be in the same neighborhood. It will be in proximity to its signature community initiatives such as the outdoor RSLA camp and Pamoja Run/Walk. On top of that, NMBLC will be able to continue serving those in the vicinity.
Another benefit of the move is that NMBLC will be severing ties from a landlord tenant situation that had become untenable. Maintenance failures on the part of building management were an ongoing issue. Basic building functions such as maintaining the restrooms and fixing the heating and cooling systems were routinely ignored by the management company. This situation will be remedied at the new office building.
Volunteer to help NMBLC move onward and upward.
On Monday, December 19, 2022, NMBLC will be moving out of the old building. The NMBLC staff needs help packing up, loading, and unloading supplies, artwork, and equipment into a temporary storage location. If you have the time, energy, and capacity to help out, sign up to volunteer at the form below.
Volunteer with NMBLC Sign Up Form
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, and to yourself. I started out as a volunteer back when NMBLC was the New Mexico Black History Organizing Committee (NMBHOC). NMBHOC was a coalition of community volunteers who came together to create an annual Black History Festival in the state of New Mexico. When the founder Cathryn McGill said that we needed a Facebook presence to share the festival events, I said, “I can do a Facebook page!” Little did I know it would turn into a years-long, almost daily endeavor.
Nor did I anticipate how much I would benefit from that volunteer work. The connections, opportunities, skills, and friendships I gained as a volunteer are invaluable. Because of my volunteer work, I got to go to the Santa Fe Opera for the first time in my life. I attended shows, poetry readings, and art exhibit openings. I broadened my skills as a writer, blogger, and content creator. I met people I never would have met otherwise, and fostered new friendships. Trust me when I quote a Jimmy Stewart movie: you can never have too many friends. Those friends I made as a result of my volunteer work came back threefold during my time of need. They were there for me when I got sick and couldn’t do things on my own. I cannot fully comprehend and appreciate all the blessings that have come to me because I decided to volunteer.
Volunteer with NMBLC!
When: Monday, December 19, 2022, 8am to Noon. Pizza for lunch will be provided.
Where: NMBLC Office at 1258 Ortiz Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
What else: Sign up at the volunteer registration form below.
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Shannon Moreau is the Editor of the NMBLC EQ Blog