Overview

Date: September 21, 2012
Time: Friday 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: Marriott Pyramid North, 5151 San Francisco Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

The African American presence in New Mexico dates back to the first wave of explorers and adventurers from across the ocean. The community has grown throughout the state’s history and has made significant contributions to our cultural, business, community, family, and civic traditions and heritage. This presence continues to thrive, but the community also faces challenges, especially disparities in educational advancement, health, and economic empowerment.

For this reason, the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs will convene a one-day summit to identify priorities and ensure statewide coordination in addressing key needs of the African American community. This statewide collaborative planning session will produce a platform of recommendations to strengthen quality of life in African American communities.

Who Should Attend?

Community members
Business people
Advocates
Educators
Healthcare professionals
Public officials
Government employees
Students

Seating is limited. The summit can accommodate a maximum number of participants. Early registration is highly recommended.

What Happens at the Summit?
This will not be a typical conference with a series of presentations. There will be a panel of speakers to outline available community resources, but the bulk of the summit is comprised of small group discussions among participants who care about the issues and want to create practical recommendations for change.

Prior to the summit, participants will receive a background report that provides a basis for the discussions held during the summit.

What Happens after the Summit?
The recommendations will not sit on a shelf. Immediately after the summit, an implementation team organized by the Office of African American Affairs will get to work advancing the summit’s platform.

Note: We strive to accommodate the accessibility needs of our registrants. If you require any physical accommodations to participate, please register by September 1 so we can respond to your request.

Agenda

Tentative Agenda

8:00 AM	Check-in and Networking
8:30 AM	Welcome and Overview Yvette Kaufman-Bell, Executive Director, New Mexico Office of African American Affairs John Sanchez, Lt. Governor, State of New Mexico Heather Balas, President and Executive Director, New Mexico First
9:00 AM	Small Group Discussion A: Challenges Discussion Guidelines Introductions Question 1: Drawing on the background report indicators and your own knowledge of the issues, what is happening that would lead to the disparities we see for our African American community in: Economic empowerment? Education advancement? Health?
10:00 AM	Small Group Discussion B: Economic Empowerment Question 2: Given our analysis, what are the most effective economic empowerment priorities we need to focus on over the next three years?
11:30 AM	Lunch & Resource Panel Yolanda Berumen-Deines, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department James Lewis, Treasurer, State of New Mexico Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, UNM Health Sciences Center Dr. Anne Simpson, Executive Director, African American Health Network
12:30 PM	Small Group Discussion C: Education Advancement Question 3: Given our analysis, what are the most effective education advancement priorities we need to focus on over the next three years?
2:00 PM	Break
2:15 PM	Small Group Discussion D: Health Question 4: Given our analysis, what are the most effective health priorities we need to focus on over the next three years?
3:45 PM	Small Group Discussion E: Resources Question 5: What are ways the following resources can be leveraged to meet our priorities: Organization alliances? People? Funding?
4:15 PM	Plenary Session: Priorities Review Heather Balas, President and Executive Director, New Mexico First
5:15 PM	Closing Yvette-Kaufman Bell, Executive Director, New Mexico Office of African American Affairs
5:30 PM	Adjourn

Speakers

Welcome

Yvette Kaufman-Bell, Executive Director, New Mexico Office of African American Affairs

John Sanchez, Lt. Governor, State of New Mexico

Panel

Yolanda Berumen-Deines, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department

James Lewis, Treasurer, State of New Mexico
Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, UNM Health Sciences Center
Dr. Anne Simpson, Executive Director, African American Health Network

Reports

Background Report

New Mexico First and the UNM Center for Education Policy Research developed a background report on African American issues and policies. This report will provide the foundation for the discussions during the summit. We ask that participants read the report beforehand.