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. For several years, during 5 Statewide Focus Magazine African American Day at the Legislature Continues to Promote African American Visibility in New Mexico

fill the corridors of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. The day has become more than an opportunity for the African American community to show a visible presence, but also an opportunity to introduce the stairways to change for African American youth. The day’s event was highlighted by guest speakers, entertainment, education, food, and student scholarship awards. This year’s keynote address was presented by Ed Lewis, Founder of Essence Magazine, and a graduate of the University of New Mexico. African American Day at the Legislature could not have happened without the consistent Students from Clovis,NM show up in full force for dedication of the African American African American Day at the Legislature Day Legislative Council.

The celebration of New Mexico’s African American Day at the State Legislature is a biannual event, scheduled during the 60-day Legislative session, and continues to play a very important role in illuminating the unity and the strength of the cohesive, statewide presence of African Americans in New Mexico. The participants represent a perfect blend of a cross-generational population of the African American community. African American Day at the Legislature is also an operative time for community leaders to spend some face-to- face time with decision-makers for the State to discuss the needs for the overall well- being of African Americans in New Mexico. It is also an opportunity for participants from around the State to take this time to contact Pictured: Maxine Jones, President; Jessie Waddles; Lanthia their Senator or Representative to discuss Walker, Secretary; Harold Bendaw, Treasurer; Joycelyn Jackson, Scholarship Awards Chairperson; personal needs of their respective county. Scott Carreathers, Ed Lewis, Special Guest Speaker; The dream of prominent Civil Rights Schuyler Michael; and Lena Celestine Activist, Ms. Alice Faye Hoppes, continues to www.oaaa.state.nm.us 6 African American Day at the Legislature Continues to Promote African American Visibility in New Mexico The Look of African American Day at the Legislature

Governor Susana Martinez is escorted Keynote speaker The Alice “Faye” by Director Yvette Kaufman Bell into the Ed Lewis prepares to Hoppes scholarship joint session, the Governor stops to greet speak to as Lt. Governor award winner Keynote speaker Ed Lewis John Sanchez looks on Grace Ignew

www.oaaa.state.nm.us 7 2015 African American Women’s Empowerment Summit

On Saturday, March 28th, 2015, the New Mexico 21st Century Professional Development Office of African American Affairs and collaborating partners, held the agency’s first African American Women’s Dr. Sandra Empowerment Summit. The goals of the Summit were Taylor-Sawyer, to advance the importance of sisterhood, bridge existing Ed.D., brings years of generational gaps through connecting collegiate women to experience operating professional women around the state, encourage collegiate a business and women to seek professional pathways in New Mexico educating business by introducing them to professional women in the state owners on the roller who have successfully advanced in their career fields, coaster ride of being and increase the understanding of how African American a Business Owner. women continue to evolve to revolutionize our country. She and her husband, During the Summit, leading professionals in Retired Master fields of economics, healthcare, education, community Sergeant Donald development, history and life coaching facilitated T. Sawyer, Jr., own sessions to address how African American women not Dream Givers, LLC, only empower families, but impact today’s society. a business which Presentation sessions and the respective facilitators markets legal and included: identity theft services and provides mediation services. Taylor-Sawyer serves The Power of the Purse as the Director of the New Mexico Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Clovis Community Amy Whitfield, College and is a Legal Shield Independent Associate. President & CEO of the Y.W.C.A. History of African American Women in New Mexico, joined New Mexico the Y.W.C.A. team for an opportunity Rita Powdrell is to further work an Historian, Business toward the mission, Owner and President “Eliminating racism of the African and empowering American Museum women.” and Cultural Center of Ms. Whitfield New Mexico. After graduated with her researching early Master’s degree in African American Social Work from the History with the Griot University of Maine Society in 1995, she and has since worked helped to form the in numerous fields including anti-sexual violence, Museum’s first exhibit substance abuse treatment, teen pregnancy and parenting, called New Mexico’s leadership mentoring, community organizing and non- African American profit program development. Legacy: “Visible, Vital, and Valuable”, which featured www.oaaa.state.nm.us 8 2015 African American Women’s Empowerment Summit original founding families, churches, social organizations, A resident of Santa Fe for the past 22 years, Dr. entrepreneurs and the social patterns of segregation and Padilla was employed by the Los Alamos National integration in the city of Albuquerque. Laboratory, a past Director of Open Hands, Inc. (a non-profit social service agency), and the Santa Fe Social Determinants of Community Health Community College.

Dr. Anne Luncheon Simpson received Keynote Speaker her undergraduate degree from Rutgers Attorney Pamelya P. University and her Herndon is the Executive medical degree from Director of the Southwest the U.N.M. School of Women’s Law Center and Medicine. Following a former Deputy Cabinet medical school, Dr. Secretary and General Simpson remained at Counsel in New Mexico U.N.M. to complete State government. She her post-graduate train- received her Bachelor of ing, an internship in Business Administration Psychiatry, residency degree from Howard in Internal Medicine and a Fellowship in Geriatric medi- University in Washington, D.C., and her Juris Doctor cine. She then joined the faculty in the Department of degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Internal Medicine/Division of Geriatrics. She is now Passionate about the rights of women and the development the University of New Mexico’s H.S.C. Associate Vice of girls in professional and economic growth and Chancellor for African American Health, a School of development, Herndon’s insights covered the diaspora Medicine (S.O.M.) Professor of Internal Medicine and of women’s issues and concerns. Geriatrics, Rust Professor of Ethics, Director of the S.O.M. Institute for Ethics, Executive Director for the H.S.C. Black Health Resource Center and Chair of the Luncheon Ethics Consultation Service. Mistress of

Sister-2-Sister Mentorship Session Ceremonies Dr. Wanda Ross Padilla is a Holistic Life Stephanie Claytor Coach, Professional is a Reporter with Speaker/Facilitator, a KOB Eyewitness small business owner News 4 and has also (General Construction) appeared as a Weekend and author of three Multimedia Journalist in books (two of which Binghamton, New York. were recipients of book Additionally, She has served as a Weekend Anchor/ awards in the Arizona/ Producer/Multimedia Journalist, in Kirksville, MO, and New Mexico Writing as a Multimedia Journalist in Shreveport, LA. Competition). 9 Statewide Focus Magazine 2015 African American Women’s Empowerment Summit

Ms. Claytor believes it is her job to keep the Outstanding Women Honored community informed, to let constituents know that life has options, and that decisions have consequences, by Local Organizations positive or negative, and she greatly enjoys giving a voice to the invisible, all while helping others.

Out of 114 Summit participants from Clovis, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas and ZETA Honors: Albuquerque, 65 agreed to participate as a mentee Quinci LaGardye (right) or mentor in a yearlong ‘Sister-2-Sister’ mentorship

collaborative that will be structured and led by the Summit organizing committee. If anyone was not able to attend the Summit, but would like more information on the Initiative, please contact the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs at (505) 222-9405. A HUGE thank you is extended to the following women who comprised the Summit Organizing Links Honors: Committee and who work daily to enhance the quality Helen Asbury of life for New Mexico’s families. (left)

WE SALUTE YOU!

- Dr. Danielle Riddle, President Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Attorney Pamelya Herndon, Director Southwest Women’s Law Center/Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Delta Sigma - Kimberly Greene, Director Theta Honors: Brenda Steele New Mexico MLK, Jr. State Commission (center) - Bianca Thongchua, President Zeta Phi Beta - Beverly McMillan, President Albuquerque Chapter of the Links, Inc. - Amy Whitfield, President & CEO Young Women’s Christian Assoc. - Cecilia Webb, President National Council of Negro Women Alpha Kappa Albuquerque Section Alpha Honors: - Miriam Ray, Member D’Nienne Hatch A l b u q u e r q u e C h a p t e r o f t h e L i n k s , I n c . Sanders (center) - Yvette Kaufman-Bell, Director New Mexico Office of African American Affairs

www.oaaa.state.nm.us 10 2015 African American Women’s Empowerment Summit

National Council of Negro OAAA Honors: Women Honors: Cathy McGill Charlotte Shelby (right) (center)

Martin Luther OAAA Honors: King Jr. Dr. Bahati State Myhelatu Ansari Commission (center) Honors: Theresa Gonzales (center)

Southwest Women’s Law Center Honors: Sunshine Muse (right) OAAA Conference Committee Honors: Yvette Kaufman-Bell (center) Entertainment for the day was provided by an amazing trio of gifted women

Cathy McGill Dr. Sina Soul Bowe Lady Rosalind Jones 11 Statewide Focus Magazine 2015 Women of Influence

Albuquerque Business First’s 11th Annual Women of Influence event brought together some of the most powerful and innovative women in New Mexico for an inspirational awards dinner. From over 450 nominations, a panel of judges selected 30 honorees across six industry categories. These women come from diverse fields, and their journeys show that they are experts in the art of transforming challenges into opportunities. There were two African American women recipients in 2015.

Phi Beta, N.A.A.C.P., Homecoming Court, and the Speech and Debate Team. Upon graduation from Eastern New Mexico University, Kaufman-Bell began work to improve the quality of life for New Mexico’s communities by serving in various professions such as youth development, college recruitment and domestic violence prevention. She has also served 10 years as a Commissioner with the New Mexico Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Commission. Prior to her appointment to the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs, Kaufman-Bell was with the Y.M.C.A. of Central New Mexico and the Y.M.C.A. of the U.S.A., where she held several upper management positions during her 13 year tenure, including Business and Fiscal Manager, Youth Development Director, Risk Management Director, New Employee Training Director, Diversity Change Agent/Trainer, Associate Executive Director and Association Childcare Executive Director. She developed and managed a budget of $3.5 million, supervised a staff of more than 100, coordinated 42 programs in Literacy, Health and Wellness, curriculum with STEM focus, Summer Food program, Early Childhood, After School and Teen programming, Summer Day Camp, Higher Education, Older Adult Yvette Kaufman-Bell programming, Family Engagement, among others, and collaborated with numerous community partners. Yvette Kaufman-Bell is a native of Clovis, N.M. Ms. Kaufman-Bell was selected by Albuquerque where she grew up and graduated from Clovis High Business First as a ‘Woman of Influence’ Honoree and School, where the familiar cheer, “GO WILDCATS!” is a certified state/national trainer and public speaker. is a mainstay of the town. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree She has facilitated and addressed audiences in New in Speech Communication and Religion from Eastern Mexico and national settings. In 2012, Kaufman-Bell New Mexico University (E.N.M.U.), Ms. Kaufman-Bell published her first book entitled, A Paradigm Shift, served the student body and administration in various In the Presence of the Lord! She is married to Daryl leadership capacities during her matriculation. Campus Bell and has a beautiful daughter, Mercedes Bell, who activities included tenure as an African American attends the University of New Mexico. Student Affairs Advisor, service on the Multicultural Education Council, Student Legislative Council, Nu www.oaaa.state.nm.us 12 2015 Women of Influence

board of governance. A member of the Iota Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Ms. Herndon spearheaded the Emerging Young Leaders Program, helping middle school girls develop leadership skills to prepare them to close the wage gap. She obtained a Proclamation from the Office of the Governor to establish ‘Emerging Young Leaders’ Day’ to focus on leadership opportunities. New Mexico’s State Legislature declared the Emerging Young Leaders’ Day, now known as the ‘Young Leaders of Promise Day’ in New Mexico. Under Herndon’s direction, the S.W.L.C. established a Sports and Leadership Summer Camp for middle school students. An underlying goal of all of these activities was to help reduce teen pregnancy in New Mexico, which has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the nation. Ms. Herndon and the Southwest Women’s Law Center have helped narrow the wage gap, resulting in passage of a Fair Pay for Women Act, and led the effort to establish a Title IX reporting law requiring public schools to demonstrate how they provide equal access to girls’ athletic programs. Herndon Pamelya Herndon serves as Treasurer of the Albuquerque Section of the National Council of Negro Women, as well as Treasurer of Emerge New Mexico, an organization Pamelya Herndon currently serves as the which helps train women to run and win public Executive Director of the Southwest Women’s office. She has received several Community Service Law Center (S.W.L.C.), the only women’s policy Awards, has been named ‘Outstanding Lawyer’ by and advocacy law center in the Southwest. She is the Albuquerque Bar Association and was selected married to Prof. Alfred Mathewson. Ms. Herndon by Albuquerque Business First as a 2015 ‘Woman is a graduate of Howard University and University of Influence.’ A former Staff Tax Attorney for the Texas School of Law. Always a working mother federal government and Internal Revenue Service, of two daughters, Eryn and Amber, and son, Justin, Ms. Herndon is licensed to practice law in Colorado Herndon also serves as New Mexico’s delegate and New Mexico and is licensed in Texas as a to Vision 2020, sits on the Board of Directors for Certified Public Accountant. the Girls Scouts of New Mexico and serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union where she established a Junior Board of Directors to help teach young ‘Millenniums’ the fundamentals of leadership, how to run a financial institution and experience sitting on a corporate

13 Statewide Focus Magazine A Special Evening at the Lensic Performing Arts Center

Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michele Norris

Ta-Nehisi Coates appeared on stage at the Lensic The much-lauded piece set a single-day traffic record Performing Arts Center, Wednesday, April 8th, 2015, as for a magazine article on The Atlantic’s website and the part of the Lannan Foundation’s “In Pursuit of Cultural attention it has garnered has given Coates a greater forum Freedom” series, a lecture series on political, economic, to wrestle with questions of identity — both blackness environmental, and human rights issues featuring and whiteness. social justice activists, writers, journalists, and scholars Norris said, “Ta-Nehisi is a treasure that we are discussing critical topics of our day. so fortunate to be able to have with us tonight. The Serving as host for the evening was Michele Norris, significance of the night for the students in the audience, an award-winning journalist who reported for ABC I would compare to my experience, as a college student, News and has written for the Washington Post, Chicago being in the same auditorium with legendary writer James Tribune, and Los Angeles Times before hosting National Baldwin. That’s how significant Ta-Nehisi is.” Public Radio‘s longest-running program. Norris directs In addition to his writings on reparations, Ta-Nehisi’s “The Race Card Project,” an on-line social experiment 2008 memoir, The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and which seeks to foster a wider conversation about race in an Unlikely Road to Manhood, paints himself as an awkward, America and which won a Peabody Award in 2014 for often alienated youth growing up in Baltimore with an Excellence in Electronic Media. activist father who ran a small press that turned out Morris introduced Ta-Nehisi Coats in these terms, monographs, diaries, and other documents from Black acknowledging, “Ta-Nehisi is a writer, a journalist, an writers, going back to the time of slavery. educator, a student and a professor, and an Oracle. He’s Ta-Nehisi opened by speaking about current events a sage and a seer and he’s a compass at a very important involving police shootings and what is needed to happen moment in American history.” to change the state of affairs in America. “A major Ta-Nehisi Coates also has an official title of Senior problem with this happening in America is how we are Editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about cultural, dealing with social services issues. There is a theme political, and social issues. His recent piece titled “The running through the last 30 or 40 years in terms of how Case for Reparations,” intricately and provocatively we deal with issues that should be social service issues traces the history of racism in the United States from in our cities. slavery to recent examples of housing discrimination. Continued on page 15 www.oaaa.state.nm.us 14 A Special evening at the Lensic Clarence Fielder, longtime Las Cruces Performing Arts Center leader, dies at 87

Continued from page 14 Continued from page 5 His role as the educator was interrupted when Fielder served in Korea. It was a brief military career, but a distinguished one. On Oct. 25, 1951, while serving as a First Lieutenant with the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, F Company, Fielder was wounded by sniper fire in both legs as his platoon was trying to dislodge Chinese troops from a hill. Although wounded, Fielder refused to leave his fellow soldiers behind. His gallantry earned Fielder the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, the third highest military award in the U.S. George Geder and his wife Cynthia having “That is such a big-time recognition,” Mayor Ken their book signed by Ta-Nehisi Coates Miyagishima said. What we have decided is that we were cut back on Returning to Las Cruces after his military service social services and we would send in police to deal with in Korea, Fielder became active in community affairs. those issues. Using police to solve all of our problems He belonged to many organizations, including Phi Delta causes results in people who are authorized to kill and Kappa, at N.M.S.U., the Doña Ana Chapter of the Aggie use as much force as they deem necessary to take care Alumni Association, the Branigan Memorial Library of issues. If an individual is mentally ill, we deploy the Board of Directors; the Las Cruces Jaycees, the Board of police; if an individual has a drug addiction problem, we Directors of the Las Cruces Boys and Girls Club, and the deploy the police. The problem is we are deploying force New Mexico Association of Classroom Teachers. Fielder to solve social service issues. Police are not caseworkers, also had memberships in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the they are not drug counselors. I tell you that this didn’t Veteran of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the happen by mistake; that movement followed right at the Disabled American Veterans. end of the Civil Rights Movement.” From 1996 until 2002 he served on the Las Cruces Ta-Nehisi said that he decided to write to his son Public Schools Board of Education. about growing up in America as if he were having a “I knew Clarence for more than 52 years,” said conversation with him. He wrote an explanation to Las Crucen Alfred Rucks, who has served on the U.S. his son about the events happening around him. He Board of Directors of the National Association for the then proceeded to read a chapter of his book, which Advancement of Colored People. “He was one of the was addressed to his son. He talked about his struggle most committed gentlemen I’ve ever met. His love and of leaving the right information for his son to better compassion for his community was admirable. There were understand the world that is being left to him. He talked so many issues he and I were able to work on together.” to his son about his own life and the experiences that Miyagishima added, “Clarence Fielder was an icon had shaped it. A single line does a good job of capturing of our community. Las Cruces has lost a kind and gentle Ta-Nehisi’s feelings of his responsibility to his son, man, a great educator, and a great mentor.” declaring, “My job is to match the incredible intelligence I see within you with wisdom.” Following his presentation, the author was interviewed by Michele Norris. Afterward, Ta-Nehisi greeted and autographed his books for the audience, ending a wonderful and special evening for the packed house at the Santa Fe Lensic Theater.

15 Statewide Focus Magazine 2015 ‘Go Red for Women’ Luncheon Advocates for Women’s Health The American Heart Association expressed special thanks to Gov. Susana Martinez, who continually encourages women’s heart health throughout the State of New Mexico. They also expressed that their efforts would not have been nearly as effective without Mayor Richard Berry and his lovely wife, Mrs. Maria Berry’s tremendous support. “The New Mexico community is influenced by each of you,” declared McMillan. “It is because of our outstanding leaders and advocates that we are making progress in our community that will help impact our nation. We offer our highest level of gratitude and thanks to our Albuquerque ‘Go Red’ Sponsors, Lovelace Health System, and our luncheon sponsors, Alliance Home Healthcare and Hospice. To our many other corporate and individual sponsors, we truly appreciate you,” said McMillan. A Personal Message from Beverly McMillan Karen Bard and Beverly McMillan

The American Heart Association is celebrating 90 years of being dedicated to improving cardiovascular health. They are on their way to reaching their 2020 goal of reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20%, while improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%. The ‘Go Red for Women’ Luncheon is a major event which helps to raise funds that remain in New Mexico to support local communities to advance medical care and research for heart disease. “The decision to chair this event was easy, considering we have all been affected by heart disease Rochelle holding her nephew Brandon in some way,” said Chair Beverly McMillan. “On “My sister, Rochelle, is a reason for my daily fight behalf of the American Heart Association, the executive against heart disease. I lost my dear sister, Linda Rochelle leadership team, and Albuquerque community, we’d like Howell, in November of 2006 to heart disease. We had to thank you for your generous support. Heart disease is several conversations throughout the week prior to her the number one killer of women, and more women die demise of nausea, flu like symptoms and, oh yes, the “jaw from heart disease than any form of cancers combined. pain”. I really believe that awareness of the symptoms Whether heart disease has affected you personally or would have saved her life and we could be on our planned someone you love, nearly 90% of women have at least vacation this year. Knowing the symptoms that exist one risk factor for developing the disease. The good for women will save lives each day. Please join me in news is that we have the power to change that,” shared the fight. Know your symptoms, educate yourself and McMillan. then educate others.” www.oaaa.state.nm.us 16 Recognizing the Contributions of African American Teachers at Indian Schools

Mr. Tommie Jewell, Sr. Mrs. Alice Pegues Dr. Lenton Malry

In recognition of Black History Month, the Indian Like her, many African American teachers welcomed Pueblo Cultural Center and the African American Museum the opportunity to teach in the BIA schools.” & Cultural Center of New Mexico explored an often The experience of these teachers is an important overlooked chapter of our state’s history, the experience chapter in New Mexico’s education history.” The February of African American teachers in Indian Schools. 25th event went to support the African American Museum Three African American educators who taught in the & Cultural Center of New Mexico’s traveling exhibit Indian Schools—Dr. Lenton Malry, Mr. Tommie Jewell, “New Mexico’s African American Legacy: Visible, Sr. and Mrs. Alice Pegues—were members of a panel in Vital, Valuable” and the museum’s efforts to research and conversation with Mable Orndorff-Plunkett who served archive the history of African Americans in New Mexico as moderator at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. and the Southwest. It is also a complement to the Indian Many African American teachers signed on to Pueblo Cultural Center’s current exhibit “Albuquerque Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) schools because they saw Indian School Retrospective with a Vision Forward.” The BIA schools as a extraordinary professional opportunity, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the host facility for the with higher salaries and the chance to join an integrated event, is a world-class museum and cultural center located workforce. in the historic Albuquerque Indian School District just Dr. Malry, Mr. Jewell and Mrs. Pegues taught in minutes from Old Town and Downtown Albuquerque. Indian schools between the 1950s and 1970s. Dr. Malry Founded in 1976 by the 19 Pueblo Indian Tribes of New taught at Kinlichee Boarding School on the Navajo Mexico, it is a leading destination for education, art and reservation in eastern Arizona; Mrs. Pegues taught entertainment. at Nenahnezad Boarding School in northwest New Several media representatives attended and Mexico, near Farmington; and Mr. Jewell taught at the documented the event. Rita Powdrell, president of the Albuquerque Indian School and Acoma Pueblo. “It is AAMCCNM, and Mable Orndorff-Plunkett, conversation important that we recognize the valuable contributions facilitator, were available for interviews. of African Americans to New Mexico, especially in something so fundamental as education,” said Orndorff- Plunkett. “My mother moved across the country to teach at San Felipe Pueblo after seeing an Indian Service Continued on page 21 advertisement at a Kentucky post office.

17 Statewide Focus Magazine President of NM Black Lawyers Sworn in as Board of Bar Commissioner

2012, when she started working in the felony division of the Department and appearing in the Second Judicial District Court. She represented felony clients until April 2014, when she accepted her current job as the Pro Bono Coordinator for New Mexico Legal Aid’s Volunteer Attorney Program. “The Volunteer Attorney Program is tasked with developing and conducting pro bono activities as well as placing cases with pro bono attorneys for direct representation of low-income New Mexicans. I work with the sixteen Judicial District Court Pro Bono Committees across the state to provide pro bono opportunities, such as legal fairs, legal clinics, and pro se workshops, for persons of limited means. I also assist the Director of our program with pro bono attorney recruitment, and the development of Continuing Legal Education classes for those attorneys. I am so lucky Aja Brooks to be able to continue my mission of providing legal Aja Brooks is a native New Mexican, born in Hobbs, services to the poor in a different capacity.” NM. She graduated from Midland Senior High School She is also involved in giving back to the in 2001 and then attended Wake Forest University in community. She has been on the Board of the New Winston-Salem, North Carolina where she received her Mexico Black Lawyers Association since 2011, and Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish in 2005. She currently serves as its President. Also, she has been a got homesick, and returned to New Mexico to attend law member of the National Bar Association, the oldest and school at the University of New Mexico School of Law, largest organization of African-American attorneys and where she graduated with her juris doctorate in 2008. judges in the nation, since 2011 and now serves as its “Graduating from law school was one of my most Region X (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, notable achievements, even though it was very early in Utah, & Wyoming) secretary. She is a member my professional life. My grandparents hadn’t gone to of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Committee on college. My parents went to college; my dad graduated Diversity in the Legal Profession, and its Commission from Eastern and my mom received her degree later in on Professionalism. She is a member of the Young life. They both worked in the oil fields for years and years Lawyers Division of the State Bar and participates in so that I could have opportunities above and beyond what many of its events, including Constitution Day and the they had. My family and friends gave me the support that YLD/UNM mentorship program. Additionally, she I needed to receive my juris doctorate in 2008. Now I’ve has been a Board member of Pegasus Legal Services been a lawyer for almost 7 years and my family never for Children since 2013. Pegasus is a non-profit that expected anything less.” provides civil legal services to children, youth and She always knew that she wanted to use her law their caregivers; it is a beacon of light in a State that degree to help the disenfranchised. Upon graduating has one of the worst child poverty rates in the nation. from law school, she began working at the New Mexico Aja is a member of the National Council of Negro Public Defenders Department, where she was able to put Women; and last but not least, she is a proud member her knowledge of the law and love for helping people into of the Iota Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha practice. She worked in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Continued on page 33 Court representing misdemeanor clients until November www.oaaa.state.nm.us 18 AKA 2015 Debs & Gents

(Deb) Nahya Shelby (Deb) Deandra Pierre-Louis (Deb) Samantha Bernard and Deon Watson escort and Vincent Ramos escort and Joshua Bernard escort

(Deb) Kennedy Graham (Deb) Kieya Vann (Gent) Dupri Grimes and Adam Graham Jr. escort and Damian Lykes escort and Jordan Boyden escort

Left (Gent) Tyrell Jackson and Victoria Brown escort

Right (Gent) Malik Curry and Jenae Roberson escort

19 Statewide Focus Magazine Albuquerque, New Mexico The Fab Three: Stirring Conversations of a Dynasty

In the upcoming 2015-2016 basketball season, the Cougars will be returning with the core of this team that was crowned champions. They will be losing All-State senior post player, Kristin Dearth, to graduation, the only starter and the only senior who played major minutes for the team that went 28 and 2 for the season. Creating all of the excitement about this team is how, factually, young this team actually is! The core of this talent-laden team resides in the hands of a freshman and two sophomore players who played at a maturity level well beyond their young age. The three young girls, freshman Point and Shooting guard, Amaya Brown, sophomore Post player, Corbyn Cunningham, and sophomore Point Guard, Kavionna Brown, were the leaders of a program whose future shines brighter than any local program in recent memory. Returning stars from left to right Amaya Brown, The ladies were highly decorated for their Kavionna Brown, and Corbyn Cunningham accomplishments throughout the season. Sophomore Corbyn Cunningham was Second Team All-Metro and The 2014-2015 Cibola Cougars Girls’ Basketball First Team All-District; sophomore Kavionna Brown Team began the season with what many thought would was Third Team All-Metro, First Team All-District and be a very good competitive team. But all this team did Metro Defensive Player of the Year. was to win the school’s first-ever Girls’ State Basketball Championship by dominating the Lady La Cueva Bears 58-46 in the inaugural Class 6A Final. Having just completed a history making 2014-2015 season for the Cibola Cougars Girls’ Basketball program, add a year of maturity, and it’s easy to see the young Cougar girls’ line up as the team to beat in the 2015-2016 basketball season! The Cibola Cougars were the State Runners-up in 1990, 2009 and 2011. During the last two years, they were Finalists, coached by Lori Mabrey, and have a good reason to be flirting Cibola girls basketball team celebrating the conclusion with the term of ‘Dynasty’ in the of a history making championship season coming seasons. www.oaaa.state.nm.us 20 Albuquerque, New Mexico

Brown, was a four sport athlete, All Star athlete for Super stardom Albuquerque High School; in football, he was the Metro runs in the family, father Player of the Year, and was on the 1984 Albuquerque High Greg was an State Championship Basketball Team and he went on to unstoppable become a football star for Highlands University. Corbyn’s force for the father, Paul, played basketball for the University of Texas University of at El Paso in the early ‘80s, and for seven years was a New Mexico radio and TV analyst for the University of Texas El Paso. basketball Coach Lori Mabrey has to be looking forward to team, and next year with high expectations for this team to repeat daughter as 6A champions! Although their young ones will be a Amaya shares year older and everyone will be rooting for them, the skills the same skills they displayed last year, still allowing them to overcome many of their youthful mistakes, will now be coupled Kavionna had actually started as a freshman for with an additional year of maturity, which should make Volcano Vista which won the State Championship in the them very difficult to beat and to improve on a record of 2013-2014 season, before her family moved into Cibola’s 28 wins and only 2 losses. Don’t count them out. district and where she joined the Lady Cougars. Then, And, back to that term ‘Dynasty’, we need only to there is freshman Amaya Brown, who was First Team wait and see how long this talented youthful threesome All-State, First Team All-Metro, First Team All-District, and their band of talented teammates can hold it together. District Player of the Year, and the Most Valuable Player of the state tournament. And, did I mention that their coach, Lori Mabrey, earned the honor of Coach of the Recognizing the Contributions of Year?! African American Teachers Kavionna and Amaya have played together since Kavionna was seven years of age and Amaya was five, at Indian Schools on club league basketball teams under the watchful eye of Amaya’s father, Greg Brown, a former Lobo Continued from page 17 Basketball star. Greg was a dedicated, hard worker during his playing days and the girls have taken on that same The event was highly informative, and the persona. Corbyn worked diligently under the watchful auditorium was filled to capacity. People from eye of her father, Paul Cunningham, who has coached throughout New Mexico were in attendance as well her since grade school. She also watched her two older as one out of state scholar, Khalil Johnson. Professor brothers play basketball. Clearly, these three, young, Johnson’s doctoral research at Yale University women, poised and ready for the next Cougars’ season, focuses on this topic. His research dovetails with our have developed a chemistry among themselves that is interest in African American educators in the Native currently unmatched. American classroom. He also has taught Native These young girls all come from strong, accomplished American students in the Teach to America program. athletic backgrounds. Amaya Brown’s parents, Greg and On his last day in Albuquerque, he spent time Tatina, played high school basketball. Tatina played at with museum members sharing the contemporary Hobbs High School, and Greg was ‘Mister Everything’ experience of the Black educator teaching the Native for Albuquerque High, and, arguably, one of the most American student, which contrasted somewhat with entertaining and accomplished players to play at the the history shared by our conversation participants. University of New Mexico. Kavionna’s father, Ronelle 21 Statewide Focus Magazine Albuquerque, New Mexico

YWCA Eliminating Racism Empowering Women Twenty-Ninth Annual Awards 2015 YWCA Women on the Move

As part of the world’s largest membership Alabama, where some community members had been organization for women, YWCA New Mexico, continues born into slavery, Dr. Simpson is an adamant advocate the work of breaking gender, racial and social barriers. for education, having heard the following words as a As part of their commitment to change their recognition child, “You get your learning. They wouldn’t allow us ceremony of women who are making a difference in our no learning when we were coming along.” In addition, community, recognized these African American women one of her daughters told her, “I have to get an education, for their exceptional work. study, learn and help others because I’ve learned from all of you.” Honored as A Woman To Be Reckoned With Honored as 2015 Women on the Move Jewel Hall is committed to bettering education Dr. Anne Simpson serves at the University Of and cultural New Mexico advancement for Health Science youth and families. Center School Of Her career as Medicine as the an educator has Associate Vice spanned four Chancellor for decades and three African American states. She has Health, Professor organized and led of Medicine/ many community Geriatrics & organizations. Rust Professor Jewel has worked of Ethics. She on diminishing the is also Director school district’s of the Institute dropout rate. She for Ethics, the started a non-profit organization called ‘Women Uniting Executive Director for the Black Health Resource Center, for Youth’ that provides tutoring, social skills and mentors and the Chair of the Ethics Consult Service. Her clinical for youth of color. The program has assisted hundreds practice focuses on Geriatric medicine and End-of-Life of students to get through school and, for some, to go care. Her patients are the elderly. She has an additional to college. For cultural advancement, Hall is the co- focus on social determinants of health and has created a founder of the New Mexico Dr. Martin Luther King community dialogue on “Social Determinants of Healthy Multicultural Council, which holds an annual essay Aging”. Dr. Simpson also serves on several local and scholarship competition for high school seniors across national boards and demonstrates a strong commitment the state. to community service. Hailing from her family in rural www.oaaa.state.nm.us 22 Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Bahati Myhelatu Ansari has over 25 years Founder of the New Mexico KWANZAA©®™ , an of experience in African American cultural ceremony celebrating its addressing social 10th anniversary in New Mexico in 2015. Married justice issues in to jazz musician Rodney Bowe, she is the mother of communities across two sons. the country. Dr. Ansari has Moneka Stevens Cordova has been on the fore- impacted thousands front of community of people, including change since 2005. women and other As a Youth marginalized groups. Alliance member, Her experiences she served as an traveling and living Advisor of the New in multiple states Mexico Children’s led her to found The Cabinet, striving to National Racism Free Zone, for which she currently address disparate serves as Executive Director. She not only founded the graduation rates and National Racism Free Zone, but has assisted in many education equity for women’s empowerment projects across the country. students of color. She She also helped in the development of the Unity in is also a founding Diversity and Rites of Passage Summer Programs at Board member of Lane Community College. the William W. & Josephine Dorn Charter Community School, a school Sina-Aurelia Soul-Bowe “Sina Soul”, is designed to engage young students, their parents a Socio-Ethno- and the community in an anti-oppression-based musicologist, Holistic curriculum. Ms. Cordova was the Director of the Educator, Griot and New Mexico Youth Alliance for five years, where 98 C.E.O. of R.I.S.E. percent of all youth who participated, graduated from (Roots International high school and either went to college, began a career Sustainable or pursued youth-designed social entrepreneurships. Enterprises, Inc.). She is Founder/ Director of 501(c)(3) MUSIC WORKS, an organization that provides live music instruction, music education and therapeutic music performance to schools, children and communities which cannot afford to pay for services. She has performed/taught at inner-city schools, pueblos, on reservations, in nursing homes, treatment centers and with the Women’s Prisons Project. Soul is also

23 Statewide Focus Magazine Clovis, New Mexico

The Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Selmus Price

to orchestrating the annual Ethnic Fair. He also volunteers his help with activities for the annual Juneteenth celebration. He serves on the Martin Luther King Commission, and supports the State Office of African American Affairs. Along with being president of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, First Vice President of the New Mexico State Conference of Branches NAACP, each year during the New Mexico Legislative session, Selmus volunteers with the Clovis schools to facilitate junior high and high school students visit to the Roundhouse in Santa Fe as part of African American Day at the New Mexico Legislature. Selmus was also a past member of the board for the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce. There is no way to express the outpouring of love Selmus Price has shown to his community. To say he has been dedicated is putting it mildly, Selmus Price second from left with which is why I would like to share what those who representatives from the Chamber nominated him had to say: Consideration, sensitivity and appreciation of our cultural differences are The Heart Award is given to a special individual areas Selmus has tremendous heart for. who dedicates extraordinary time, resources and Mr. Price has given of his time, money “heart” to serving the underprivileged, the youth, and blessings to bring and enhance culture, the elderly or local charitable causes in our community. operations of state government and history to the This year’s recipient of the Heart Award has met youth of our area. all of those qualifications: Selmus Price. He is a very kind and giving person, who Selmus has served as chairman for the strives daily to enrich and make the Clovis Cultural & Ethnic Affairs Committee through the community better. City of Clovis for more than 20 years, dedicating much of his personal time throughout the year www.oaaa.state.nm.us 24 Gallup, New Mexico Prison Chaplains Unsung Difference Makers

Department, has now made him a most qualified person to answer that question. In June, 2014, he was asked to assume the position of Acting Faith-Based Coordinator, Senior Chaplain and, in November, 2014, Pastor Calvin Robinson was chosen to officially assume this position, vacated after the retirement of Minister Homer Gonzales, who completed 13 years of service as the Faith-Based Volunteer Coordinator. Pastor Robinson was also a Chaplain. Although Pastor Robinson resides in Grants, New Mexico, his new operation assignment is in Albuquerque. Pastor Robinson began his work for the New Mexico Corrections Department as a prison Chaplain in April of 2007, under Faith-Based Volunteer Coordinator, Homer Gonzales. Before this assignment, he was in the Department of Transportation, training as a Bridge Pastor Calvin Robinson Inspector, in Roswell, New Mexico, where he was also Faith-Based Volunteer Coordinator Pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church. Today, Pastor Robinson is the Shepherd of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Gallup, New Mexico. It has been said that once a prison Chaplain interviews He is now beginning his new journey as Faith-Based a prisoner, incarcerated for a criminal offense, it doesn’t Volunteer Coordinator, Senior Chaplain of the New take long for that Chaplain to come face-to-face with Mexico Corrections Department with the additional scope the realization of how great the losses truly are. These of responsibilities. To understand the demands of the include the incredible loss of human potential, of the position he has undertaken, one needs only to review a many victims the prisoner’s deeds created, the drain summary of the major elements of the job description. on both sets of families, and also of the prisoner’s own As the Prison Chaplain Faith-Based Volunteer victimization. Coordinator, Pastor Robinson will have to work with This realization explains the emotional challenge and supervise the New Mexico Corrections Department’s of the functions undertaken by a prison Chaplain, many (N.M.C.D.) private and state prison chaplains. He will be of whom are pastors and already carrying the load of responsible for the coordination, recruitment, orientation, their own congregations. One can only imagine the training, supervision and recognition of over 1400 burden(s) that prison chaplains, individually, are carrying. volunteers. He is responsible for developing and However, how much greater a challenge this must be overseeing the N.M.C.D. Prison Ministry networking for the individual responsible for this special group of teams to promote and implement faith-based spiritual chaplains? The recent promotion of Pastor Calvin Robinson to the Faith-Based Volunteer Coordinator position, as Senior Chaplain of the New Mexico Corrections Continued on page 32

25 Statewide Focus Magazine Hobbs, New Mexico

Coach Mike Smith Returns Excitement to Basketball in Hobbs, New Mexico

coach in Ralph Tasker and teams of champions that have won more championships than any other New Mexico basketball program. Coach Mike Smith not only has the implausible task of replacing a longtime legend in Coach Ralph Tasker, whose career accomplishments of 11 championships in 49 years at Hobbs High School will always be looking over his shoulder, but, Smith also replaces a very successful run by Coach Russ Gilmore, who, in 13 years, posted 5 championships. However, Smith was not given the keys to a solid program on the rise, as the one Coach Gilmore inherited from Coach Tasker; Smith was inheriting a team in the depths of a time for retooling. Hobbs Eagles return to the winner’s circle in 2015 Even before becoming the Head Coach, leading The Hobbs Eagles won their 17th State Basketball the Hobbs Eagles basketball team to the 2015 Championship, defeating Rio Rancho’s Cleveland championship win, Mike Smith had already played a Storms, 60-54. The Eagles finished the season 30-2 and role in leading the Eagles to victory. Smith was born won their first title under Head Coach Mike Smith, and and raised in Hobbs, and, himself, a former Eagle (1980 their first since 2008 when they won their last title under graduate) under the legendary Ralph Tasker. As a player Coach Russ Gilmore. for the Hobbs Eagles basketball In Hobbs, basketball games are team from 1977 to 1980, Smith and the most anticipated events of the his teammates only lost eight games year. They are the show that has no in their last three seasons, and went rival. Their fan base has practically on to win a State Championship become part of the live entertainment, in 1980. year in and year out, win or lose. After graduating from high Their teams are used to playing home school, Smith would never venture games in front of sold-out crowds in too far from Hobbs, the only place the 3,300 seat Ralph Tasker Arena. he has called home. Smith would Some fans have waited decades spend the first two years of college to get a shot at sold-out season tickets Coach Mike Smith completes an at the New Mexico Junior College, in the first-tier seats. interview at the conclusion of the one year at Tulsa University, Hobbs Basketball is the stuff championship game before eventually graduating from legends are made of, with a legendary Eastern New Mexico University. www.oaaa.state.nm.us 26 Hobbs, New Mexico

According to Mike Smith the beginning of recovery for the Hobbs Eagles’ basketball program began with reinstating tradition. “One of the major things that led to the demise of the Hobbs basketball program was that the coach before me had taken out a staple that was the difference maker for the Hobbs basketball program in the past, and that was the summer leagues,” observed Smith. He continued, saying, “The kids that I saw had very poor skill sets and that directly attributed to the absence of the summer leagues. Not only was I pushing for the return of the summer league but the parents were pushing for it as well because in addition it kept our youth busy and off the streets.” Coach Smith’s next step was to take Mike Smith is 4th from the left a direct path to bring excitement and energy back into in the middle row with teammates on the program by reinstating the concepts and coaching the 1984 Hobbs state championship team points that had been implemented for many years by Coach Ralph Tasker. “Coach Tasker taught us how to Smith’s first head coaching assignment was with play the game and how to play hard all the time. He one of the southern rivalries of his Hobbs Eagles, the made you learn at a fast pace because that was how the Las Cruces Bulldawgs. He coached Las Cruces for 12 game is going to be played. Going into my fourth season seasons, resigning after the 2008-09 season. He guided as coach allowed me to fully implement the strategies the Bulldawgs to three state semifinal berths during that of Coach Tasker. Coach Tasker’s system was all about time, including his final season. pressure and excitement. The team this year mirrored When the Hobbs job became vacant with the everything that Coach Tasker had taught us, and the resignation of Coach Russ Gilmore, Smith was excited success we experienced, I know, was because the kids about the opportunity to return home to what was his had time to fully adapt to the system he wanted them to dream job. “I knew it was a great opportunity, but, I was embrace,” said Coach Smith. also cautious about what had created the problems with The third component is the one factor that remained the program in recent years,” reflected Smith. the most consistent element of the program, and that Coach Smith said that Shelby Reeves, who was is the fan involvement. The fans’ support has never also a former Hobbs Eagles basketball player, had a lot strayed far from the program, win or lose. “The fans, to do with his accepting the position. “Shelby Reeves when I played, and the fans today are the same. Their was there while I played basketball. He kept the summer expectations are high, as they should be. In my Junior leagues going, and it was Shelby who assured me that year, we lost to Las Cruces in the championship game. Hobbs had the talent to be a winner. They just needed I couldn’t go out on the streets for three days because I leadership that would adopt the formula for winning that wanted people to respect us and I felt we had let them had already been tried and proven,” said Smith. “Without down. They demand that you ‘show up’ for the big game. the summer leagues, the players’ skill levels had declined as well as a lot of continuity of playing together. He kept the league available for the younger kids, which helped with the enthusiasm,” Smith continued. Continued on page 34

27 Statewide Focus Magazine Hobbs, New Mexico

Booker T. Washington School: Special Time, Location and People leadership. The history reads “Booker T. Washington School - One of the most important milestones in the development of the school system in Hobbs, New Mexico was the establishment of Booker T. Washington School for the education of the community’s Black children in 1929. The first Booker T. Washington School was located in the 1400 block of East Skelly. Miss Hazel McMullin Horton was the first and only teacher, and also served as Principal. She was succeeded as Principal by Mrs. T.C. Martin, Prof. I.W. Kaffee, Prof. Lawrence E. Pigford and Prof. Ralph D. Littleton.” Booker T. Washington reunion members When the school was started, enrollment totaled thirty students ranging from first to eighth grades. The grade level taught in the school did not SWEET HOME - Although more than seven decades reach twelfth until 1938. The first two graduates separate the youngest and the elder statesman of the were Annie Faye Gilmore and Louise Johnson. Hobbs Reunion class, they bond experiences across In 1940, the school was moved to 1200 East Humble generations. and Lawrence E. Pigford was selected Principal. When the Alumni returned to their old stomping In 1948, Ralph D. Littleton became Principal and grounds, they exchanged stories about the place that remained in the position until his retirement in 1974. unites them in special ways. These exchanges are what have anchored a tradition of pride and extended a heritage of accomplishments that are reflected among today’s students of Booker T. Washington School. Returning Alumni visit the high school to witness how things have changed and to catch up with former classmates and colleagues, friends and family. It is a time for them to emotionally escape and visit a place and time in history that preserves their incredible memories. Booker T. Washington School has a long legacy of accomplishments and endurance, and, along with the Black churches in Hobbs, played a vital role in the survival of the early African American community in Hobbs. The school’s history is strong, solid, and is filled with the names of individuals who provided sound Principal Ralph D. Littleton www.oaaa.state.nm.us 28 Hobbs, New Mexico

Mr. Littleton also served on the local School Board approached Ramona Haynes and Wanda Bell to carry for a number of years, was President of the New Mexico things forward. Ms. Bell was appointed the Chairperson, School Board Association, and was active in local Ms. Haynes, the Treasurer and Nellie Armitige took over government. the role as Program Coordinator. In those days of racial segregation, Booker T. “It was because the founding generation was getting Washington School served all twelve grades and, by older that I was asked to get involved,” said Bell. “The 1950, had over 350 students. Students from Lovington, transition is a move to get later generations involved Eunice and Tatum were also bussed to the school. and to keep the legacy of the school going forward. The The last graduating founding generation knew that class of the school was the legacy carried more than just in 1954 and consisted a name; it carried the essence of of six students. It is not their spirit. They knew that the possible to compile an early existence of the school in accurate count of the Hobbs is a most important part number of students who of the history of the City and graduated from Booker T. the Black community,” shared Washington School since Wanda Bell. the records have been Bell has been the filtered into the graduates chairperson and the ‘go-to’ of Hobbs High School, person for the last two reunions. 1954 Booker T. Washington Cheerleaders but it is estimated that She carries out the important of the last High School graduating class approximately 84 students role of contacting people through earned their diplomas from Booker T. Washington School. letters and phone calls about their attendance. She also Booker T. Washington School was just one part of helps with organizing the events and activities. The a thriving African American community in Hobbs in the Reunion committee meets every month, coordinating ‘50s and ‘60s. Southeast Hobbs was known by many the steps that need to be taken to assure the success. as the entertainment capital of the Permian Basin and “Basically everything is new to me because in the past, hosted such legendary entertainers as B.B. King, James the younger generation was not involved. Attendance Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Fats Domino, Ike & Tina to the reunions was only available to the generation of Turner, Little Junior Walker and Bo Diddley. The area students that went to school in the earlier years. Booker had several churches, five restaurants, a soda fountain, T. Washington School was an elementary school by the numerous night clubs, dry cleaners, beauty shops and time I was able to go to school. I am so pleased to be barber shops, hotels, several grocery stores, three auto a part of this Reunion and its great history,” says Bell, repair shops, two pool halls, a skating rink, three teen who also shared that there is a major movement to centers and a community meeting center. expand the Reunion as they extend an open invitation Today the baton for maintaining the activities for the for participation in the Reunion’s activities to anyone Booker T. Washington School Reunion has been passed who has attended Booker T. Washington school. She from former student and chairperson, Robert Turner, to says they are successfully locating individuals who have a younger generation student, Wanda Bell. The passing moved away from Hobbs, by contacting them through of the baton became necessary because the older Alumni family and friends who still live in Hobbs. The next group that was so dedicated to attending the Reunion Reunion is planned for August of 2016. began to dwindle in number as some passed on and many became physically unable to return. Former student Robert Turner, who was the chairperson for the event,

29 Statewide Focus Magazine Las Cruces, New Mexico United, Tested and Purified Through Trials of Faith went to Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the name of Min. Brian Harvey reached their ears. Min. Harvey had been an Associate Minister for Fellowship, working under Pastor Dennis Dunn for nearly 10 years. He became a part of the process that would help with the services at Bethel Second Baptist Church during their search for a full-time pastor. He traveled to Las Cruces, monthly, for over a year to assist and present the Word of God to Bethel’s membership. Pastor Harvey said that was an interesting time because, not only were they evaluating him, but, it was also an opportunity for him to assess the church as well. In March, 2014, Pastor Harvey was presented the opportunity to become the full-time pastor for Bethel Second Baptist Church, an opportunity he most readily Pastor Brain Harvey and his accepted. loving family Few things are more exciting for a minister than to Pastor Brian Harvey is the new Under Shepherd be chosen as Pastor of a church, and for Pastor Harvey, called to Bethel Second Baptist Church in Las Cruces, that had again become a reality. He would be the Pastor New Mexico, replacing Pastor Greg Arthur. Bethel of one of New Mexico’s historic, African American Second Baptist Church has a long history of service as churches. This time of great happiness would soon be it is the second oldest African American church in Las seasoned with the reality of a number of complications in Cruces. Bethel Second Baptist will be celebrating its his family’s move to join his new church in Las Cruces. 102nd year anniversary in October, 2015, and Pastor First of all, Pastor Harvey and his wife, Kimberly, Harvey and his family have just celebrated their first both had jobs in Albuquerque. He was employed with anniversary of union with Bethel Second Baptist church the City of Albuquerque and had been there for 22 years, in March, 2015. needing only three years to qualify for a full retirement The relationship between Pastor Harvey and Bethel under the Public Employee Retirement Association Second Baptist Church was what one could say was (P.E.R.A.). His wife had just taken a job with Molina ‘tried in the fire’ and passed the test. The church body of Healthcare and had been there for only two months, after Bethel Second Baptist Church had endured a trial of their a long term with the New Mexico State Department of patience for two years, awaiting God to unveil to them Children, Youth and Families. The third item of concern His plan for new leadership, going forward. A time of a was for their children, Kaylie, age 9, and Cameron, age vacant pulpit is not an easy time for churches to endure 6, who needed to be able to start school at the beginning because, during that time, membership and leadership of the school year. These factors alone were challenging can become dispersed and varied throughout the church, enough for a family to have to handle and still hold it which, at times, challenge growth and direction. together, but add to it the fact that, on the other side, Bethel’s search for a new pastor was showered with recommendations from other churches for possible Continued on page 33 replacements. Calls were made, and when the call www.oaaa.state.nm.us 30 Santa Fe, New Mexico

I produced a smaller original rendition of the play called Tikia Fame Hudson ‘For All Girls Who Failed To Commit Suicide on a Sunday Afternoon’. Never ever did I think that someday I would direct, produce, and perform in Ntozake Shange’s acclaimed stage play. GG: Who or what inspired you to get involved with the Arts? Can you point to a family member or Ancestor? TFH: This is a question I wish I would get asked more often. I’m so proud to say that all of my talents rain down upon me from my beloved grandmother, my guardian angel, Jessie Nemons. She would always share her talents with her grandchildren and would scheduled us to sing or recite a poem in front of family and friends. My grandmother would have us on ‘program’ at all the family functions. I admire her writing, performance, articulation, and style. Thanks to her, I also have an outstanding mother who coaches my performances, and is a huge factor of Interview by George Geder my Tikia “Fame” Hudson brand. Photo by Luke E. Montavon GG: Where were you born and how did that bring you to the ‘City Different’ and the Santa Fe University of Arts and Design? In the Fall of 2014, a shy yet confident young TFH: I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I African American woman came to the Santa Fe Branch attended the acclaimed High School for the Performance NAACP seeking support for her upcoming production and Visual Arts where they helped me hone my craft of Ntozake Shange’s ‘For Colored Girls Who Have and connected me with the Santa Fe University of Art Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf’. The and Design. I was a theatre major specializing in acting, Branch was taken in by her quiet respectful manner but now I am a studio arts major with a concentration in and quickly realized we were visited by a bright painting. By directing and acting in my own and other upcoming future talent and leader. Tikia Fame Hudson productions, I am able to continue learning what I love proved us correct with the successful production of the most - Acting. the acclaimed play, with its production at the Santa Fe GG: What can you tell aspiring young ‘People of Warehouse 21 during Black History Month. Recently, Color’ about the journey and process of following a passion I got a chance to ask the Santa Fe University of Arts and becoming successful? and Design student a few questions. TFH: To all ‘colored’ boys and girls; don’t ever get GG: Your production and direction of ‘For tired of doing the right thing. I believe I have achieved Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When success for the production of ‘For Colored Girls’ because I the Rainbow Is Enuf’, if anyone in Santa Fe County played the role as a seeker. First, identify the purpose: who doesn’t know, was a complete success. Why did you will this benefit besides me, why this and why now? Look choose this particular piece? for support within your community and family. I sought TFH: Every year I put on or perform in out experienced mentors such as Mr. Geder, members of productions in honor of Black History and Women’s the Santa Fe NAACP, and my mother. Appreciation Months. I have always wanted to see the production of ‘For Colored Girls’, but I was never able attend. In my Freshman year of college, Continued on page 34

31 Statewide Focus Magazine for employment along with our religious credentials. Prison Chaplains Religious freedom personally means we have the personal Unsung Difference Makers freedom to appropriately express one’s faith as we carry out our chaplaincy responsibilities. Chaplains should not feel they have to compromise or hide their faith in Continued from page 25 order to interact with other faith traditions. We have the religious freedom to be authentic to our respective faith in the midst of our religiously pluralistic environment. programs at all 11 facilities. Responsible for assisting Our religious freedom is very important in maintaining with reentry resource development, he works with and our identity in ministry, spiritual integrity and on-going supervises N.M.C.D. and Private facilities Chaplains spiritual formation in our faith tradition.” to update N.M.C.D. policies regarding religious The work that a Chaplain does is very important programs as needed. He has to facilitate and provide because it is through their work that the issues of the quarterly networking/training meetings with Volunteer moral character of a prisoner are directly addressed. Program Leaders, N.M.C.D. Chaplains and the Native In New Mexico, the arrest recidivism rate within the American Programs Advisor. In addition to meeting first 3 years of release is 46 percent, thus underscoring with pastors and volunteer leaders in the community the importance for the mindset to change to reduce the to facilitate recruitment of volunteers and find reentry likelihood of crimes being repeated. It is a challenge transition resources for returning citizens, he will also to mend the hearts, minds, and souls of individuals to implement faith programs at all facilities, conduct onsite enable them to perform productively when detainees re- visits with facility chaplains to monitor facility volunteer join society. The Chaplain often finds that many of the programs, and visit with Senior and Deputy Wardens prisoners lacked the ability to forgive themselves, so, regarding the status of volunteer programs and faith- Chaplains play a major role in facilitating that process. based programs at their facility. The New Mexico Faith-Based and Volunteer Pastor Robinson stated, about the position and the programs and Chaplains are in good hands, according role of New Mexico Chaplains with the Corrections to Homer Gonzales, their former leader, who observed Department, “As Chaplains, we are very well acquainted about his replacement, “Pastor Robinson is a great leader with the Constitutional right of religious freedom enjoyed and a teacher. He comes from a pastor’s background by all citizens of the United States. Our role as Chaplains of leadership within his own family, and he has a heart is to ensure this religious freedom is afforded to every for those incarcerated. He will do an excellent job of person in our care and custody. Every faith tradition that bridging relationships between departments, leadership, is authorized to meet in our state and private prisons must volunteers and the community.” be afforded the legal accommodation to practice their Congratulations and thank you to Pastor Calvin faith.” He continued, saying, “As Senior Chaplain, I have Robinson and the group of dedicated prison chaplains a strong conviction that Chaplains ensure that equitable who are making an incredible difference for the State of and professional accommodations are made for all faith New Mexico. groups. When we carry out this legal responsibility, Chaplains show respect, correctional excellence and professional integrity to all faiths involved in our chapel programs in our facilities throughout the state.” Pastor Robinson stressed that religious freedom is not only a constitutional and legal right, but, also a personal right of conscience as it relates to ones’ respective faith traditions. Every Chaplain serving in the N.M.C.D. represents their respective faith, traditions, and doctrinal understandings”. Pastor Robinson explained further, “As a Chaplain accommodating other faith traditions different from our own, we do not lose our personal faith identity. Our professional endorsements have validated each of us www.oaaa.state.nm.us 32 United, Tested and Purified City of Las Cruces which would allow him to keep his P.E.R.A. retirement intact. Through Trials of Faith Pastor Harvey shared, “It was a time that tried our faith, but it also revealed a lot of wonderful things that Continued from page 30 will strengthen us going forward. The church was very supportive throughout the entire process. I believe the there was a church membership of families who had church could feel my heart, how sincerely I loved God been without the leadership of a pastor for two years and the sincerity of my worship. I can’t say enough about and were in dire need of keeping their membership from the strength my wife displayed in resolving issues and further dwindling. caring for the family in my absence. I feel as if we have What Pastor Harvey and his family faced, as the been tested as fire tests and purifies gold. The one thing first order of business, was to address the issue that I knew, through it all, is God’s Hand covered our lives, they were not able to move to Las Cruces as a family and as long as we had faith, God would be faithful.” simultaneously. Pastor Harvey arranged with the church Deacon Michael Davis, Chairman of the Deacon to allow him to work and come up every Sunday to pastor Board for Bethel Second Baptist, summed up their resolve the church and be on call for all of the other necessary and their belief in Pastor Harvey with this answer to the requirements such as visiting the sick, funerals and question, “Would they have been willing to withstand a counseling. This was a challenging resolution for both, three-year long wait for Pastor Harvey to take his role as but one that the church agreed to. His absence from the pastor if his job in Las Cruces had not come through?” family on weekends was a strain on the family structure, “The answer to that question is, unequivocally, “Yes, and the three hour drive, each way every weekend, was said Davis. “You see, we know we did not choose Pastor not an easy task. Pastor Harvey addressed this with Harvey. God sent Pastor Harvey to us.” the deep faith for which he was known at Fellowship, saying, “It was a tough situation, but I knew God had President of NM Black Lawyers a plan, and in His plan I knew he loved me. I knew I just had to be patient and wait.” He continued, sharing Sworn In As Board of Bar confidently and humbly, “I’ve always believed that it’s Commissioner better to wait for God than to go my own way and wish Continued from page 18 I had waited on God.” Then, a breakthrough that would shift the balance Sorority, Incorporated and was appointed as its New of challenges occurred. After six months, Mrs. Harvey Mexico Connection Coordinator in 2015. learned that her position with Molina Healthcare would In 2014, she decided to run for the Board of Bar allow her to transfer to Las Cruces. This allowed them to begin the process of moving the family, as the wife Commissioners as the representative for the First Bar and mother could now begin to set up their home in Las Commissioner District. The Board of Bar Commissioners Cruces, and be able to enroll the children in school at is the governing body for over 5,000 attorneys of the State the beginning of the school year. Although the change Bar of New Mexico and the Commissioners help the began the process of moving the family to Las Cruces, State Bar accomplish its mission of being a “united and it caused this faith-walking wife and new First Lady to inclusive organization serving the legal profession and the become more of a single parent, as she would see less public.” Aja stated, “I did not see many public interest of her husband and have all of the responsibility for the attorneys on the Board, and thought that I could bring a children until the weekend. new perspective to the table. I turned in my nominating Pastor Harvey said, “It was hard because the kids petition signed by ten or more members of the State Bar would cry when I had to return to Las Cruces, and it who were in good standing and whose principal place was hard on Kim because she went from having help of practice was in the First District (Bernalillo County). with the children when I was there, to having no help. Then, I campaigned for one of three positions in the First In fact, becoming a single-parent four days a week, plus District, and at the end of 2014, was happy to find out the financial strain of having to maintain two households, and the travel, was also making things very hard. It was that I was elected to one of the seats.” hard, but through faith, I knew I just had to be patient During her three-year term, she hopes to help create and wait on the Lord.” and advocate for programs that give the poor in New Then, another breakthrough, in April of 2015: Pastor Mexico access to the legal system. Aja is a great asset Harvey learned that he had secured a position with the to the New Mexico community!

33 Statewide Focus Magazine Tikia Fame Hudson Coach Mike Smith Returns Excitement to Basketball in Hobbs, New Mexico

Continued from page 31 Continued from page 27

Have a biased and unbiased friend in order to get favoritism and facts from sincere sources. Last but not least; find some haters. Well, you don’t have to seek them they will find you and when they do show up, observe their actions and motives and do the exact opposite! GG: What is your impression of the ‘People of Color’ community in Santa Fe and New Mexico? TFH: I attend school where a decent number of us are ‘persons of color’. We have the strongest bond compared to other ethnicity groups and even majors on campus, but Hobbs fans make a major difference for their unfortunately that same survival strategy is not team, above alumni’s former NFL star Timmy Smith and pastor David Walker, enjoying the present amongst the general population within moment. The photo below shows the Hobbs fans Blacks of Santa Fe. I believe that I played a huge at their best in the Pit. part in the lack of or miscommunication within the ‘People of Color’ community. For example, I would see one of my brothers or sisters and out of admiration and anxiety (because of the rarity I saw a person of color in town), I would not speak. Since ‘For Colored Girls...’, and working closely with Santa Fe Branch NAACP, I have been speaking and networking more within our Black community and I must say, I am impressed! GG: Finally, what does the future hold for Tikia Fame Hudson? TFH: I will continue to strive with the It’s an amazing place to play basketball; the stress and the intentions to heal and empower people through tension is there, but is well worth it in the outcomes,” added the arts, my actions, and ambition. I am currently Coach Smith. in the early stages of doing another production As the award winning championship game went, this year, for February 2016, starting an NAACP youth Smith credits his players for making adjustments on the floor for chapter at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, the victory and singled out the player in his star Point Guard, teaching myself sign language, and preparing Trey Nelson, for the necessary leadership from the floor and for life after college to further my acting career for making the plays that the team needed when they needed in Atlanta, Georgia. to be made. Santa Fe, keep your eye on this amazing, As for next year, the team will be missing two key players talented African American woman. Tikia Fame from the championship squad, but Coach Smith remains Hudson won’t be in our City Different forever! optimistic for a repeat championship year, stating, “Anticipating next year, our kids are already excited about getting started again and can now see what it takes to be a winner. They are excited and so are the coaches. It all begins again this spring and this summer and we are ready for the challenges.” www.oaaa.state.nm.us 34 New Mexico Office of African American Affairs

Executive Order The New Mexico State Office of African American Affairs was enacted by the 44th New Mexico State Legislature in 1999 under House Bill 909 and established by Executive Order under the administration of Governor Gary Johnson and continues to serve under the present administration of Governor Susana Martinez.

Mission To study, identify, and provide solutions to issues of concern relevant to the African American community.

Vision To be a “Go To” agency in New Mexico on matters relating to methods that improve the quality of life for African Americans. By providing valuable resources to our constituents, our governor, legislators, educators, health care professionals, et al, we will ensure access to resources that provide for the success of all New Mexicans.

EXECUTIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Sandra Taylor-Sawyer, Chairperson, Clovis, NM Ralph Mims, Village of Los Lunas, NM Director, Small Business Development Center Economic Development Manager City Commissioner, District 2 Jonathan Johnson, Rio Rancho, NM Crystal Mullins, Hobbs, NM Business Analyst, Intel Corp. Global Operations Support City Commissioner, District 3 Bobbie Green, Las Cruces, NM JoElla Redmon, Albuquerque, NM MBA Director at NMSU and College Associate Professor Retired Director New Mexico MLK State Commission Eric Amissah, Albuquerque, NM Doris Jackson, Albuquerque, NM NM-LT. Col. USAF, Director Comm. & Info (A-6) Retired APS Educator ------Pastor Neil Johnson, Farmington, NM Community Liaison/Advocate to the Mayor Anyone interested in serving on the Office of African American Wanda Padilla, Santa Fe, NM Affairs Executive Advisory Committee Co-Owner Padilla Industries, Inc. may submit their information to Yvette Kaufman-Bell at [email protected] Curtis Rosemond, Las Cruces, NM Business Owner Legendary Nutritions

35 Statewide Focus Magazine NM Office of African American Affairs Copyright © 2015 1015 Tijeras NW Suite 102 Pre Sorted Standard Mail Albuquerque, NM 87102 U.S. Postage Paid Albuquerque, NM Permit No. 1888

The Governor’s Office is located on the 4th floor of the New Mexico State Capitol in Room 400, Santa Fe, New Mexico Phone (505) 476-2200.