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SENATE MEMORIAL 68

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING MARCH 9, 2007 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

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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, students, parents and communities must define

programmatic and policy issues necessary to effect systemic

change; 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 SENATE OF THE STATE

OF NEW MEXICO that March 9, 2007 be recognized as "ENLACE New

Mexico Day" at the legislature and that recognition be extended

to ENLACE New Mexico for increasing opportunities for academic

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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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