SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 32

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Carlos R. Cisneros

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING JANUARY 25, 2008 AS "ENLACE NEW MEXICO DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is committed to providing access to quality education for all students from pre-kindergarten through graduate and doctoral studies; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a rich multicultural heritage that is rooted in its unique history, geography and relations among its people with different identities, varying languages and diverse narratives; and

     WHEREAS, over the past five years, engaging latino communities for education (ENLACE) New Mexico has established community partnerships, including with institutions that prepare students for careers in law, medicine and other professions; and

     WHEREAS, ENLACE New Mexico believes in inclusivity and that a Latino-focused educational initiative will create a world-class educational system for all students; and

     WHEREAS, the work of ENLACE recognizes, validates and embraces the core cultural values of its stakeholders, namely the strength of familia, the bonds of comunidad and the mutuality of respeto; and

     WHEREAS, bottom-up change is needed in this state with students, parents and communities themselves defining the programmatic and policy issues necessary to effect systemic change; and

     WHEREAS, elected officials throughout the state have united in a bipartisan effort to support the continuation and expansion of the ENLACE New Mexico mission; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature has shown its commitment to education by demonstrating its support for improving the New Mexico educational system by funding programs such as ENLACE;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 25, 2008 be recognized as "ENLACE New Mexico Day" at the legislature and that recognition be extended to ENLACE New Mexico for increasing opportunities for academic achievement, school completion and success in higher education, not only for Latino students, but for all students in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to local chapters of ENLACE statewide.

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