New Mexico Office of African American Affairs Staff Directory Yvette Kaufman-Bell Executive Director Office: 505-222-9447 Cell: 505-690-4990 [email protected] Nicole Byrd Deputy Director Office: 505-222-9443 Cell: 505-221-9171 Office staff members from (l-r), Tanya Montoya-Ramirez, [email protected] Beverly Jordan, Yvette Kaufman-Bell, Nicole Byrd, and Cecilia Webb Beverly Jordan Executive Assistant Office: 505-222-9476 Cell: 505-221-2863 [email protected] Contact us: New Mexico Office of Tanya Montoya-Ramirez Budget Analyst African American Affairs Office: 505-222-9441 [email protected] Cecilia Webb 1015 Tijeras NW Suite 102 Community Outreach Specialist Albuquerque, NM 87102 Office: 505-222-9442 Cell: 505-221-9016 1-866-747-6935 Toll-Free [email protected] (505) 222-9405 Vacant (505) 222-9489 Fax Community Outreach Specialist Office: 505-222-9405 website: www.oaaa.state.nm.us Vacant Community Outreach Specialist Office: 505-222-9405 www.oaaa.state.nm.us 2 Table of Contents Director’s Message•••4 Clarence Fielder, longtime Las Cruces leader, dies at 87•••5 African American Day at the Legislature Continues to Promote Publication Staff African American Visibility in New Mexico•••6 2015 African American Women’s Empowerment Summit•••8 Publish Layout & Design 2015 Women of Influence•••12 Ron Wallace A Special evening at the Lensic Performing Arts Center•••14 Editor OAAA Staff The 2015 ‘Go Red for Women’ Luncheon•••16 Cecilia Webb Recognizing the Contributions of African American Teachers at Indian Schools•••17 Contributors of Articles and President of NM Black Lawyers Sworn Photos for this issue in as Board of Bar Commissioner•••18 AKA 2015 Debs & Gents•••19 Beverly McMillan, Albuquerque, NM The Fab Three: Stirring Conversations of a Dynasty•••20 Harold Washington, Photos, Albuquerque, NM YWCA Eliminating Racism Empowering Women Wanda Bell, Hobbs, NM Steve Ramirez, Las Cruces, NM Twenty-Ninth Annual Awards 2015 YWCA Women on the Move•••22 Robin Zielinsk— Sun-News file photo The Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Las Cruces, NM Recognizes Selmus Price•••24 George Geder, Santa Fe, NM Prison Chaplains Unsung Difference Makers•••25 Luke E. Montavon, Photo, Santa Fe, NM Coach Mike Smith Returns Excitement to Basketball Pamelya Smyth, Photo, Santa Fe, NM in Hobbs, New Mexico•••26 Booker T. Washington School: Special Time, Location and People•••28 United, Tested and Purified Through Trials of Faith•••30 Tikia Fame Hudson•••31 The Ladies of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Hold their Regional Conference in Albuquerque The Iota’s first-ever conference in New Mexico, included honoring local Business and Professional women - Eloise Gift, Beverly McMillan, Gloria Waddles-Perry, Lanthia Miles Walker, and Cecilia Webb. Districts represented were CA, CO, MN, NM, WA, along with the National President-Elect 3 Statewide Focus Magazine Community organizations can apply for funding reimbursement from the OAAA Juneteenth Fund to assist Director’s Message with celebrations in the state of New Mexico. Contact our office for more information or visit our agency website at www.OAAA.state.nm.us to download a funding request form. Please see following listing for a celebration near you: Alamogordo NAACP Saturday, June 20 Contact: Rev Warren Robinson [email protected] A l b u q u e r q u e & V i c i n i t y M i n i s t e r s F e l l o w s h i p F r i d a y, J u n e 1 9 a n d S a t u r d a y, J u n e 2 0 Contact: Reverend N.D. Smith [email protected] Carlsbad NAACP S a t u r d a y, J u n e 2 0 Contact: Anna Johnson [email protected] Yvette Kaufman-Bell, Executive Director Clovis NAACP S u n d a y, J u n e 2 1 Juneteenth Celebrates 150 years Contact: Selmus Price [email protected] Juneteenth today celebrates African American Farmington San Juan County NAACP freedom and achievement, while encouraging Date: TBD continuous self-development and respect for all Contact: Diane McCants [email protected] cultures. As Juneteenth takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective 150 years later, Hobbs Juneteenth Celebration Committee the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten. Fri – Sun, June 19-21 Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration Contact: Cathy Marshall [email protected] commemorating the ending of slavery in the United Las Cruces NAACP States; dating back to June 19, 1865, when Union F r i d a y, J u n e 1 9 a n d S a t u r d a y, J u n e 2 0 soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived Contact: Dr. Bobbie Green [email protected] in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war was ended, freeing the enslaved. Note that this was two and a R i o R a n c h o N A A C P half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation S a t u r d a y, J u n e 2 0 Proclamation; which had become official January 1, Contact: Dr. Linda Johnson [email protected] 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation, at the time of its inception, had little impact on the Texans due Roswell Juneteenth Committee to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the Saturday, June 20 new Executive Order. However, with the surrender Contact: Alice Wagoner [email protected] of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, forces were finally strong Santa Fe NAACP enough to influence and overcome resistance. S a t u r d a y, J u n e 2 0 Contact: Cedric Page [email protected] In 2006, legislation was passed making New Mexico the 19th state to recognize Juneteenth as a In the Spirit of Freedom, holiday. With the passage of House Bill 228 sponsored by Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Yv e t t e R . K a u f m a n - B e l l supported by fellow legislators, “Juneteenth Freedom Executive Director Day” was established. Learn more about the act by New Mexico Office of African American Affairs visiting www.nmlegis.gov. www.oaaa.state.nm.us 4 Clarence Fielder, longtime Las Cruces leader, dies at 87 segregation, Phillips Chapel doubled as Lincoln High School, the only school in the community where African- American students could get an education. “He was a very articulate man about a group of people who were pretty invisible,” O’Leary said. “He provided people with an understanding of how important (African American) people were — and are.” Fielder was born and raised in the neighborhood, now known as the Mesquite Historic District, where Phillips Chapel sits. His mother, Gertrude Hibler Fielder, was the first African-American child born in Las Cruces, in 1909. “We’ve been friends for many, many years,” said Las Crucen Grover Pettes. “Clarence was a brilliant student in school. He was with Phillips Chapel for as Fielder is seen here in this 2010 photo in long as I can remember. He was a nice fellow and an front of his Las Cruces home. honest person.” Fielder earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico A&M College. He By Steve Ramirez later returned to earn a Master’s degree in Education Robin Zielinsk— Sun-News file photo from New Mexico State University. Fielder taught in the Las Cruces Public Schools for 32 years, from 1949 LAS CRUCES : Often remembered by many Las until 1983, and was also an Adjunct Professor of Black Crucens for his work in the classroom, thoughts Monday History at N.M.S.U. from 1970 until 2004. of Clarence H. Fielder, a native Las Cruces resident “He taught that particular history in a way African- himself, were of the lessons of life he taught by example. Americans and others could relate to this grand sweep Fielder, 87, passed away April 3, 2015. Visitation of our country,” said N.M.S.U. History professor Jon for him was held at Phillips Chapel C.M.E. (Christian Hunner. “He was able to bring that history alive. He lived Methodist Episcopal), 630 N. Tornillo, in Las Cruces through segregation and integration. He lived through and the funeral services were held at St. Paul’s United wars. He saw some of the key events of our nation’s Methodist Church, 225 W. Griggs Ave Mr. Fielder history. He influenced so many of his students to go on was entered, April 20th, at Hillcrest Memorial Garden and get not only their graduate degrees but even their Cemetery. Ph.D.’s.” Pettes added, “He taught so many people and Fielder’s visitation was held in the small, touched so many hearts. We’re very proud of his service. neighborhood chapel his grandfather, Daniel Hibler, He left a legacy that will be hard to fill.” built in 1910. It is the same chapel Fielder worked hard, Fielder’s significance as an educator was highlighted in recent years, to restore. in 1971 when he was recognized as Las Cruces’ Teacher “He had complete faith it would be finished,” said of the Year and the New Mexico Teacher of the Year. Beth O’Leary, a retired New Mexico State University He taught at Booker T. Washington Elementary School anthropology professor who worked closed with Fielder, and Court Jr. High and Alameda Junior High school. since 2009, to refurbish the old church. Phillips Chapel is now included on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as one of Continued on page 15 Las Cruces’ oldest churches.