The 9th Annual Kids Count Conference, hosted by New Mexico Voices for Children, will center the well-being of New Mexico’s families and how the future can be hopeful if we embrace the need for systemic change and ensure a just, equitable, and sustainable recovery. We’ve invited notable, leading women of color speakers from inside and outside of the state to talk about the impact of the pandemic on families, promising recovery responses at the community and policy levels, and the potential game changer of the American Recovery Plan Act, including how it will impact New Mexicans as well as gaps we must fill together.
9:00 – 9:10 – Opening Remarks
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Will speak about statewide policy landscape for child well-being, how the pandemic has impacted families, what it has been like to lead as a woman of color in these times, and ways we can collaborate with our state government to ensure a better future for kids.
9:10 – 9:30 – Welcome & Event Overview
James Jimenez, Executive Director, NM Voices for Children
9:30 – 9:50 – Key Speaker: What America Needs for Transformation
Taifa Smith Butler, President, Demos
Will speak about what needs to happen in this country to support families of color and what is currently happening around the country that promises to be transformative. She will speak about considerations in anticipation of 2022 elections, and economic justice specifically for families and women of color.
9:50 – 10:00 – Break
10:00 – 10:20 – Key Speaker: Seizing the Moment for Kids & Families
Amber Wallin, Deputy Director, NM Voices for Children
Will speak about how New Mexico families fared during the pandemic, specifically how children and families of color did, and will lift up the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) to share how it will provide opportunity for better outcomes for families and children if combined with state-level changes that define new era.
10:20 – 10:25 – Announcement & Introduction to Panel
Ken Martinez, Chair, Board of Directors, NM Voices for Children
10:25 – 11:25 – Community Panel
Supporting women means supporting families, and vice versa. This panel of community leaders from throughout the state will discuss how families have done during the pandemic, their recommended community and policy solutions, and why representation of women of color in leadership in various sectors is so vital moving forward. These community-based advocates, activists, and transformative leaders will bring forward key issues of access for families and children, including translation services, reproductive health care, civic engagement/voting, redistricting, and representation.
Panelists:
- Jaime Gloshay, Project Manager, Roanhorse Consulting LLC
- Marian J. Méndez-Cera, Workers’ Justice Organizer & Policy Coordinator, El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos
- Naja Druva, Child & Family Therapist, Black Health New Mexico
- Lori Martinez, Executive Director, Ngage NM
- Suha Amer, Co-Founder, United Voices for Newcomer Rights
Moderator: Charlotte Little, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, NM Voices for Children
11:25 – 11:30 – Closing
James Jimenez, Executive Director, NM Voices for Children
Link to the Registration Page