The ground is frozen, legislators are in session – it is Black History Month. In addition to following bills that support families and communities and honoring the power and beauty of the Black community, NMW.O is deep in the soil of annual planning. Just as the bulbs and blossoms prepare to push forth, and as the sap rises, we look forward to sharing our new initiatives with you in the spring.

Meanwhile, February remains. Our news this month includes a legislative roundup, a celebration of Black freedom, love, and futures and the launch of Fostering Gender and Racial Justice and Healing, a community of practice for grant makers. Your ongoing support nourishes the soil in which we grow. As always, we are grateful to be in community with you! 
At NMW.O we believe that gender justice is racial justice. Learning about the stories of resistance and resilience this Black History Month, we are thankful for the Black leaders paving the way for gender, racial, environmental, and economic justice. We were also excited to see the call for racial justice in Philanthropy News Digest. Funding for Black feminist organizations should be at the center of racial and gender justice. This work and the movements we seek to support are always intersectional.

This year we’re celebrating Black History Month by featuring our Black-led grantee partners. Follow our socials­­ and be sure to check out and support the incredible work of Black-led organizations happening here in New Mexico!  
First inaugural Community of Practice Cohort meeting in Santa Fe. February 13th, 2023.
On February 13th, in partnership with the McCune Foundation and Community Connects Consulting, NewMexicoWomen.Org launched the inaugural Fostering Racial and Gender Justice and Healing community of practice for grant makers. This group of funders will engage in transformative conversations around race and gender and explore how to collectively assert a justice and healing agenda within the philanthropic sector. Inspired by community-based organizations and leaders throughout NM, unpacking issues of privilege, power, and identity is at the center of this conversation.

The impetus for this initiative was based off findings from two reports, Racial Justice in New Mexico Report: A Call to Action for Foundations and Philanthropy and The Heart of Gender Justice in New Mexico: Intersectionality, Economic Security, and Health Equity. This is a space for donor education and organizing with healing activities and movement practices woven throughout. One of the only cohorts of its kind to gather in our state, this group will convene ten times throughout 2023.
"Leaders and staff of foundations and philanthropic circles/organizations need to commit to long-term racial equity trainings themselves. Long-term internal racial equity work should be a requirement for all foundations and philanthropists and embedded throughout their own practices and organizations." Racial Justice in New Mexico Report: A Call to Action for Foundations and Philanthropy. Dr. Virginia Necochea (2021)
During this legislative session our grantee and community partners are hard at work advocating for policies that are paving the way for gender justice futures! Here’s a calendar of some of the key days of action! We know state level policies and politics have profound impacts upon our lives.

If you’re excited about participating in this legislative session, you can follow our grantee and community partners daily legislative updates. You can also find out who your legislators are and how to contact them here. 
 Follow along for daily legislative updates from our grantee partners.

New Mexico Voting Rights act passed the House!
Girls Inc. of Santa Fe supporting girls in Advocacy!
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