New Mexico First

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Communities

Rural Communities

The Tomorrow’s Leaders program is designed for youth in rural communities and small towns. The program is not currently offered in New Mexico’s larger cities (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe) because those youth have access to a wide range of youth leadership opportunities. Many young people in our state’s smaller towns do not.

In each community, the local adult leader takes the lead organizing and recruiting the youth. Youth members are recruited through school and community organizations. Some programs are implemented as part of the regular classroom curriculum; others are an after-school program. The goal is to involve an academically and socially diverse group of young people.

Respecting all types of perspectives is key to Tomorrow’s Leaders. Ideally, each group should be made up of youth with a wide range of viewpoints (conservative, liberal, and in between). This political diversity will make your group’s activities more interesting and respected by local officials.

Successful Community/School Programs

Espanola

The community of Espanola, in northern New Mexico, hosted a Tomorrow’s Leaders program in 2007 and 2008. New Mexico First has worked in partnership with ENLACE (Engaging Latino Communities for Education) and Espanola Valley High School to implement the program.

The ENLACE program received a federal grant to sponsor the S.A.D.D. program in the schools.

The Espanola Valley High School program was successful in gaining permission from the school and the Espanola School Board to allow eligible juniors and seniors to have more food choice by leaving campus during the lunch period.

2007 ENLACE Recommendations

2008 Espanola Valley High School Recommendations

Hobbs

Hobbs is situated in the southeast corner of the state. Two schools in this community—Houston Junior High School and King’s Gate Academy—hosted the Tomorrow’s Leaders program in 2008. The students in the programs range from 7th grade to 12 grade.

The Houston Junior High School program was successful in gaining permission from the Hobbs School Board to establish a peer-mentoring program in the Hobbs Municipal Schools.

The Kings Gate Academy program is working with a City Commissioner to establish a student mentoring program involving parents and guardians in the community.

2008 Houston Junior High School Recommendations

2008 King's Gate Academy Recommendations

Portales

The community of Portales and its city government hosts the longest running Tomorrow’s Leaders program, starting in 2007. Students from Eastern New Mexico University provide the youth leadership for the program, and high schools students from the area also participate.

Students actively work with community officials and groups on a range of recommendations that will help Portales improve its infrastructure, beautify the city, and promote more healthy lifestyles and entertainment choices.

2007 City of Portales Recommendations

2008 City of Portales Recommendations