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INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT EDITION: March 2024
Adolphe Pierre-Louis
GAME CHANGERS: WHO’S SHAPING OUR ’HOOD? SENATOR HAROLD POPE, JR. New Mexico Senate, District 23 Passed The Crown Act, which prohibits discrimination in schools based on hairstyle or cultural or religious headdress
REP. JANELLE ANYANONU New Mexico House of Representatives, District 16 Represents Albuquerque’s International District Primary concerns include housing stability
REP. PAMELYA HERNDON New Mexico House of Representatives, District 28 KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change Passed the Bennie Hargrove Gun Safe Storage Act that requires firearms be stored safely and out of the reach of minors
“ NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED THE ART OF THE TRADE HOW THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE WE JUST ASSUME THAT IT HAPPENS BUT NO ONE ELSE IS IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS” —excerpted from “The Room Where It Happens,” Hamilton
by Cathryn McGill Politics is often described as a game. In some instances, it is a blood sport. For most people, the rules of the game are unfathomable. Who benefits? Who pays? Who sets the agenda and makes the decisions? For Black/African Americans in the state of New Mexico, the rules of engagement have been almost impossible to decipher, and representation in the political arena has been elusive. To paraphrase Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit “The Room Where It Happens,” most laypeople don’t know how the sausage gets made, and most of us haven’t ever been in the rooms where the game is played. In the heart of New Mexico’s political landscape, however, three trailblazers—Rep. Pamelya Herndon, Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, and Senator Harold Pope Jr.—are redefining that narrative. Their journey reflects the transformative power of being at the forefront of decision-making, where history is crafted,
and futures are shaped. In this arena, they stand out as game-changers, navigating the intricate dance of politics with the resolve to bring forth change that echoes the diverse voices of their communities. In essence, they are shaping our hood… The UpLift Chronicles had an opportunity to sit down with these officials during New Mexico’s 2024 legislative session, and they all talked about their determination to ensure that all New Mexicans gain a better understanding of the political process. Specifically, each of them wants the public to know about key deadlines, how legislation gets moved through the House and the Senate, and how HB 2, the state budget—and we’d say its moral compass—is planned for and enacted. They want to ensure people understand how to start planning an agenda now and deciding what could and should be debated in next year’s session. Stay tuned on our website, nmblc.org, and to these pages for a post-session 2024 wrap-up and a ramp-up for 2025 in-person and virtual meetings.
WHAT’S INSIDE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT EDITION
VITALITY VIBES 2 COMMUNITY + CLASSROOM 3 NAFSI KUJALI / SOUL CARE 4 LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP 5 NICHOLE ROGERS Q&A 6 TRYING THE TRADES ON 7 BLACK BIZ + MORE 8