Black feminist icon, Audre Lorde, embodied what it means to speak out and express dissent about the harmful forces of structural oppression that steal and deprive Black and other communities of color of vitality and life-giving energy. Lorde’s scholarship and intellectual contributions made a lasting mark on feminist thought--, one that holds deep relevance and meaning for us today as we navigate all manner of “anti-life surrounding us”: from genocide to ecocide to matricide to homicide.
The writings, stories, and voices of Black women and gender-expansive leaders have catalyzed and inspired social movements for centuries, shaping feminist discourse to reflect the lived experiences of femmes of color and reclaiming the narrative and original meaning of identity politics with the concept of intersectionality. To honor Black history is to honor this legacy. From introducing reproductive justice frameworks to organizing around racial, economic, and climate justice, those of us working for a liberatory future owe many policy, organizing, and academic wins to Black feminist thought and leadership. This month we celebrate the power, creativity, and brilliance of Black feminists.
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We are honored to be in partnership with Black-led organizations that serve and represent a rich tapestry of the Black New Mexican community, as well as other communities of color. Their phenomenal work includes: investing in sustainable leadership for Black New Mexican communities, providing invaluable social-emotional and arts-based learning for Albuquerque youth of color, convening community-engaged self-esteem building summer camps for Black girls and gender-expansive youth in Santa Fe, and engaging in maternal health policy and reproductive justice advocacy work that centers the voices of Black women. We encourage you to invest today, and all year long, in our local Black organizations and movements working for a future of liberation and equity.
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Last month, our team attended, "Connecting Community and Creating Impact," Groundworks New Mexico's annual conference. Executive Director, Sarah Ghiorse, alongside thought leaders from the New Mexico Asian Family Center, Together for Brothers, and the Albuquerque Community Foundation, hosted a session called, Centering Wellness at Work, where participants discussed specific ways to create care-centered workplaces that disrupt the harmful patriarchal norms of 'grind culture'.
In another session titled, Fostering Gender and Racial Justice and Healing in Philanthropy, NMW.O joined our philanthropic peers to discuss our experience as part of a community of practice that sits at the intersection of race, gender, and philanthropy. Representatives from NMW.O, McCune Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and others shared about the dynamics of racial and gender justice within philanthropy and society. These conversations are vital to driving courageous collective action when it comes to dismantling systemic inequalities. We’re excited to harness the momentum generated at the Groundworks Conference to propel us forward in our collective pursuit of healing and gender justice within philanthropy and across New Mexico.
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From Left to Right: Sarah Ghiorse, Carla Romero, Ernesto Torres, and Michelle Gutierrez |
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From Left to Right: Danielle Griego, Lyn Wilson, Sarah Ghiorse, Sachi Watase and Madalena Salazar. |
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New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session delivered a mix of victories and challenges. While advocates passionately championed Paid Family Medical Leave, ultimately, the failure of SB3 to pass the House vote was a setback for gender justice. However, hope persists as the coalition (@nmpfml) continues the fight for New Mexican families of all kinds.
Progress was made with new firearm regulations, which could mean a small start to addressing the gun violence epidemic. After five years of focused advocacy, we saw a win for sexual violence prevention in higher education through the passing of HB 151, which will ensure that colleges and universities include affirmative consent education in student orientation and utilize trauma-informed policies in supporting students who are survivors of abuse. Additionally, some of our partners advocated for SB 145, which aimed to halt human rights abuses in detention centers. Unfortunately, this did not pass. Advocates also rallied for healthcare affordability and sustainable growth across key industries via HB7 and HB177.
In this session, we witnessed deep coalition work, diverse partnerships across issues, and pointed intersectional analysis throughout. You can read more about these bills and others here. Stay tuned for the final verdict on each bill as we’ll know which ones the Governor signs off on, or pocket vetoes by March 6th!
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Would you like to be part of a team working for gender justice and healing in New Mexico? NMW.O. is looking for new folks to join our team! We have the following two positions open:
Self-identified women of color and LGBTQ+ folks are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about these opportunities and how to apply visit our website here.
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