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May is AAPI Heritage Month- an incredible opportunity to listen to and learn from AAPI communities in New Mexico. We encourage you to explore upcoming events hosted by the University of New Mexico in recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, as well as view a schedule of documentaries premiering through New Mexico PBS that focus on themes of storytelling, resilience, and activism within the AAPI community. There are also a number of events listed on the City of Albuquerque’s website that are designed for a variety of ages and audiences, including “Working with Asian & Pacific Islander Communities Learning Session,” hosted by the City’s Office of Equity & Inclusion in collaboration with longtime AFP-New Mexico partner, RACED Consulting, LLC. This workshop promises to be a fantastic resource for nonprofit professionals, board members or volunteers, and the community at large.

“Our volunteers provide valuable skills and work and help to strengthen our community. We must appreciate our volunteers as much as we appreciate donors.” (Community Centric Fundraising – Principles)

Does your organization rely on volunteers to fulfill its mission? If so, how does your organization show appreciation to these folks providing critical support to your work? Is the appreciation for volunteers comparable to that shown to donors? 

These suggestions from WildApricot (originally developed by Volunteer Canada), summarized below, mirror ways in which donors are often appreciated; perhaps you’ll find some inspiration!

• Make it a priority
• Do it often
• Do it in different ways
• Be sincere
• Recognize the person, not the work
• Make it appropriate to the achievement
• Be consistent
• Be timely
• Customize it

March is Women's History Month! We encourage you to read the following article, "Women’s History Month: An intersectional approach" by Kelly Luc. 

“March is Women’s History Month in the United States. It’s a month intended to celebrate the often-overlooked contributions women have made to United States history, culture, and society. However, it can also evoke skepticism, criticism, and even controversy.

Kimberly A. Hamlin, historian and scholar, writes, “Women’s History Month unintentionally reinforces the prevailing idea that when women do something, it is called ‘women’s history,’ and when men do something, it is called ‘history.’” History shapes every facet of our everyday life, so why do we continue to omit women – who make up half of the United States population – from the main narrative?

It’s a rhetorical question, as women have been intentionally excluded from the official history of many countries and cultures. When the Founding Fathers wrote the U.S. Constitution in 1887, women’s rights were not a strong consideration. Throughout U.S. history, women have had to fight for the right to vote (1920), to own property (1700s ~ 1970s), for bodily autonomy (1973 ~ today), to access equal education (1700s ~ 1980s), and much more. Although progress has undoubtedly been made, the United States still has a long way to go before achieving true gender equality.

This is especially apparent when we look at the cumulative disadvantages and erasure faced by – for example – women of color, undocumented women, women with disabilities, women with children, queer and transwomen, and women who live at the intersections of multiple identities. For example, the 19th amendment (1920) granted women (i.e., White women) the right to vote, but most Black women would remain disenfranchised for another five decades due to state laws requiring poll taxes and literacy tests.

These compounding disparities remain in play today, which is why an intersectional lens is essential for meaningfully recognizing and honoring all women and their contributions throughout history. Moreover, true progress requires a future-focused and sustained commitment to taking action on gender equity and inclusion – not just a month-long celebration that frames the fight for women’s rights as a fragment of the past.”

Read more here.

February is Black History Month! We hope you will take time within your respective organizations to recognize this annual celebration of Black history and culture. We encourage you to visit the New Mexico Black Leadership Council’s website, as their calendar of local events is an incredible resource throughout the year. We also encourage you to explore the resources available through the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Their digital exhibitions, activity booklets, reading lists, and curator chat series provide endless education that would be engaging for any audience or age group.