Keeping an Eye on Behavioral Healthcare in New Mexico
Behavioral Health treatment and facilities in New Mexico have gaps in service. There is a need for a collaborative plan that will create a coordinated focus on those in need of behavioral health services. When we improve our behavioral health services, we also reduce crime. A bi-partisan group of legislators, commissioners and city councilors are working to develop legislation that will
will help improve access to behavioral healthcare in New Mexico.
2025 – An Important Year
The year 2025 has presented many challenges to our Constitution, the Rule of Law and respect for the three branches of government. For every election in 2025, we want to make sure that every eligible person is registered to vote. During ther 2024 election cycle, there were too many people who did not cast their vote and now the health and welfare of our country is being challenged. The Black Caucus is looking to grow the membership of the organization, as we work together with other orgnizations and advocates to stand together to seek ways to protect the democracy that has been the fabric of our country.
If you are a member of the Black Caucus, please renew your membership. If you are not a member of the Black Caucus, please join. When we all work together, the well-being of every person in the state is lifted, and tomorrow is more than just another day.
The purpose of the New Mexico Black Caucus is to remain current on political and social issues affecting African American communities throughout the State of New Mexico at local, state and national levels, and to work in collaboration with other organizations and advocates to ensure that good policies, laws and regulations are passed for the greater well-being of the people in all our communities.
DPNM_BlackCaucus Bylaws (pdf)
DownloadMembership Renewal
Our Black Caucus, with the help of every member, is helping to develop strong policies for the benefit of every person in New Mexico. We look forward to your continued participation in the great work of the New Mexico Black Caucus where we are helping to build a state guided by strong collaborations.
Thank you for your generous donations and/or dues which enable us to achieve our purpose and goals.
Representative. Pamelya Herndon has worked diligently to help pass laws that benefit our communities and raise the well-being families and communities throughtout New Mexico. She supported individuals who use bicycles as their major source of transportation; birthing centers and by making sure that birthing centers are reimbursed at the same rate as hospitals when there are no complications during the bir of a child; and she made sure that individuals who are hurt or injured on the job will always have access to an attorney to help them through workers compensation issues.
Representive Herndon was one of the lead sponsors of legislation to prevent the release of sensitive data focused on the status, gender identity and financial status of people New Mexico. She is a champion for democracy, for making sure that policies and laws that are passed work for the people and not against them.
“No matter where you come from or what side of the aisle you are on, we all want our families to be safe at school, at work, and in our communities,” Rep. Herndon said. “It is my honor to represent New Mexico in important conversations around crime, the environment, healthcare and housing. I look forward to bringing home common sense solutions to continually raise the well-being of the people in our state.”.
Nichole Rogers is fighting for Guaranteed Basic Income for families to lift them out of poverty and help them reach their goals.
Representative Herndon is still planning to introduce legislation to create a Task Force to study the creation of the Department of African American Affairs. The Task Force study will be looking at creating a Cabinet Level Department with five divisions: (1) The Office of the Secretary of the Department; (2) the Administrative Services Division -HR, Procurement and Financial Services (3) the Division of the Martin Luther King Commission; (4) the Division of the Performing Arts Center; and (5) the Division African American Health and Policy, The Department of African American Affairs is long overdue.
Combining the Office of African American Affairs, the African American Performing Arts Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr Commission will allow the three organizations to seek one operational budget with Division Directors who would be responsible for meeting the overall goals of the Department with each Division also having its own goals. The three organizations would continue to be housed in the Offices of the African American Performing Arts to become more efficient with greater access to resources
Join the effort to create the Department of African American Affairs in New Mexico. Let's make history.
Caucus Monthly Meetings
The Fourth Thursday of Each Month at 6:00 PM via Zoom
( Your ideas/topics for monthly meetings welcomed)
We welcome you to our monthly meetings. - Email at NewMexicoBlackCaucus@gmail.com
Mon | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Tue | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Wed | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Thu | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Fri | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |
The Second Session of the 56th Legislature: January 2 - February 15 2024
January 16 - Opening day (noon)
January 31 - Deadline for introduction
February 15 - Session ends (noon)
March 6 - Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed
MLK 53rd Anniversary Breakfast - Marriott Pyramid, 5151 San Francisco Road, NE - Monday, January 15, 2024 8:00 am.
2. Annual MLK Commemorative March -Saturday, January 13 - 10:00 am - Location: MLK &University Blvd., NE
3. SCLC MLK Luncheon - Monday, January 15, 2024 -12 noon - Community of Joy Lutheran Church 841Saratoga Drive, NE, Rio Rancho, NM, Tickets: $35.00 Link to Purchase Tickets: https://sclcnm.org/mlk-2024-celebration
4. Black History Month Kick Off Brunch-Saturday, January 27, 2024 - The Sub at UNM - 10:30 a.m.
Link to buy tickets: https://www.unmtickets.com/events/detail/39th-annual-black-history-month-kickoff-brunch-blm
Tickets are $58.50 each - Please let me know by Friday, January 5, if you would like to sit at the Black Caucus Table
Speaker- Aja Brooks, First African American elected to serve as President of the NM State Bar Association
5. The Office of Equity & Inclusion and Office of Black Community Engagement is proud to sponsor MLK Week 2024! MLK Week 2024 starting on Saturday, January 13 with the MLK Commemorative March, followed by MLK Sunday Services on Sunday, January 14 and then concludes on Monday, January 15 with the MLK Breakfast.
Protecting our water is a primary focus for our legislature. We must support their efforts..
The legislation to provide alternative methods for children to testify who have been abused, other than being in the same room as their abuser, traumatizing these children again and again.
Permitting an individual to bring a claim against a public body or person acting on behalf of or under the authority of a public body for a violation of the individual's rights, Privileges or immunities arising pursuant to the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of New Mexico.
Creating Department Liaison; creating an advisory council; providing powers and duties; requiring racial sensitivity and anti-racism training or professional development for school personnel.
Prohibiting discipline, discrimination or disparate treatment in schools treatment in schools based on the hair or culture headdress of a student.
Help ensure that previously incarcerated individuals had access to voting after they completed their prison sentences.
Legislation to act on capping interest rates so low income families could have access to financial resources at reasonable rates.