HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 27

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Rick Miera

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 6, 2009 AS "ENLACE NEW MEXICO DAY" AT THE NEW MEXICO 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 seven years, the organization engaging Latino communities for education, better known as ENLACE New Mexico, has established a great many community partnerships, including partnerships with institutions that prepare students for careers in law, medicine and other professions; and

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

     WHEREAS, the work of ENLACE New Mexico 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, grassroots 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 New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 6, 2009 be recognized as "ENLACE New Mexico Day" at the New Mexico 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 the various regions of ENLACE New Mexico statewide.

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