It Takes a Village: Checking in with NMBLC’s Youth Programming By Kristin Satterlee Here at the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC), kids count. We know New Mexico can do better for its children than it is now—we want to see our state at the top of all the good lists. That definitely includes indicators of kids’ well-being and
Crowning Achievements: Why We Celebrate Black Hair Care and Entrepreneurs By ReyAnn Haney Albuquerque’s Black hair salon and barber shop scene is perpetually evolving. Our city and state have achieved big wins, especially when it comes to natural hair. For over three years now, New Mexico Black Leadership Council’s (NMBLC) UpLift Chronicles has reported on our city and
Wellness as Community Power: Why UpLift Pushes Health to the Forefront By Kai Warrior At UpLift Chronicles, we pride ourselves on sharing relevant, timely and timeless need-to-know information. We push health and wellness toward the top of that list, providing help, resources, and information to take care of our minds and bodies as best we can. To celebrate three years of
Cultural Vibrancy on the Menu: What’s the State of Cuisine in the International District? By Kristin Satterlee There are a lot of good eats in Albuquerque, and the UpLift Chronicles has been bringing you the 311 on them since 2022. Our community newspaper started our food coverage with Rude Boy Cookies. Since then we have covered a dozen local restaurants and food trucks, all
The Power of Showing Up: Advocacy & Civic Engagement in Our Pages By Samantha Anne Carrillo, UpLift Chronicles Managing Editor Advocacy and civic engagement both involve the art of showing up—for ourselves, for our neighbors, for the future we dare imagine. In UpLift Chronicles, we carry forward the New Mexico Black Leadership Council’s (NMBLC) vision: a community where every voice
From the Director’s Desk: Mae Cat Said It … I Believe It By Cathryn McGill, NMBLC Founder and Director Thank You For Reading … I’m proud of this paper. When we launched the UpLift Chronicles, we didn’t have a budget or a blueprint—just conviction. It’s an honor to build dialogue, not division. This column lets me step away from
Living the Statistics: Our Power Is as Real as Our Fear By ReyAnn Haney The fear of gun violence is always there—a low hum in my life that has replaced the simple feelings of being or raising a kid. I was raised with this fear, driving down Central Avenue, with my parents telling me not to look at anyone unless
From the Director’s Desk: There But for Fortune By Cathryn McGill, NMBLC Founder & Director “Show me a prison, show me a jail, Show me a prisoner whose face has gone pale, And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why, And there but for fortune, may go you or I.” —Phil Ochs
UpLift Chronicles Honors Founding Reporter Shannon Yvonne Moreau by Samantha Anne Carrillo, UpLift Chronicles Managing Editor Our September issue marks the first UpLift Chronicles that doesn’t feature the reporting of Shannon Yvonne Moreau. Moreau began volunteering with the New Mexico Black History Organizing Committee (NMBHOC) in 2011. Her volunteer work included social media management as well as
Breaking Cycles of Violence: Liberation Starts in the Classroom By Kristin Satterlee Warrick Campbell has a dream. The father of two, inspired by his position as Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator at New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC), sees School-Based Violence Intervention Programs (SBVIP) as the beginning of “a vision for… implementing a program for liberation.” Why Do We Need
For KIDS to COUNT, Data Matters: Access to Info Powers Effective Change By Samantha Anne Carrillo Violence, including youth gun violence, is a serious public health issue and a deservedly frequent topic of conversation, here in the International District, throughout the Albuquerque metro and greater New Mexico. From familial and peer influences to community context and sociocultural factors—including exposure to violent
The Power of Peers: ABQ Program Tackles Youth Violence at Its Roots By Kristin Satterlee Reports of a New Mexico “spike in juvenile crime” are everywhere. Albuquerque District Attorney (and candidate for governor) Sam Bregman has cited a 57% increase in juvenile gun crimes from 2022 to 2023. Recent high-profile cases have involved kids as young as 7 and 11 years old.
Editor’s Note: Turning the Page on Violence Prevention Together By Samantha Anne Carrillo, UpLift Chronicles Managing Editor Our regular readers may have noticed that last month’s expanded, 12-page issue of UpLift Chronicles focused on education and workforce development. For our September issue, UpLift Chronicles shifts our focus to violence prevention and intervention. Amplifying Voices, Perspectives UpLift Chronicles’ mission
When Poverty Becomes Violence: Mapping the Path from Scarcity to Harm by Kai Warrior When looking at youth violence, we must remember not to view it as an isolated event. It’s easy to simply grieve the state of our world, but we have to assess the factors that led us here. To identify the institutions that were clearly built on
education From the Director’s Desk: Rubye Carter’s Lesson Plan Learn how NMBLC Founder & Director Cathryn McGill honors her mother’s legacy of teaching with love, high standards, and a call to fight for children’s futures through consistent, community‑rooted action.
education Beyond the Stacks: Local Libraries Empower Learners of All Ages Discover how a free library card from Albuquerque Public Library can unlock online tutoring, language learning, research tools, and more for learners of all ages.
education Leadership in Motion: Three Highland Cluster Schools Get New Principals Learn more about new executive leaders taking charge at three schools in Albuquerque’s Highland Cluster.
education Imagine a New Life, Then Create It: CNM Powers Brighter Futures Learn how CNM’s Skilled Trades & Arts programs—backed by New Mexico’s Opportunity Scholarship—are helping students build hands‑on skills and launch rewarding new careers in lucrative, high‑demand fields.
Wellness Healing Happens in Community: CYFD Builds Systems of Care, Expands Access Learn more about how CYFD is building family‑centered behavioral health systems in New Mexico through evidence‑based care, community partnerships, and culturally informed youth support.
education Saving the World Starts with Education: Opportunity Scholarship Powers Learning Learn how New Mexico’s Opportunity Scholarship is making college tuition‑free and accessible for returning learners statewide.
education Beyond Access: How NMBLC’s Google Kids Lab is Closing the Digital Divide Discover how NMBLC’s Google Kids Lab is bridging the digital divide with storytelling, STEM skills, and a culturally rooted curriculum for New Mexico youth.
Positive Youth Development You’re the CEO of Their Future: Caregivers Council Has Your Back Get to know NMBLC’s Caregivers Council, which equips parents and guardians to champion student success through shared strategies, behavioral health tools, and community support.
Positive Youth Development The Seven C’s: Sweet Dreams Are Made of These Learn more about the Seven C’s—critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, clarity, competence, and confidence—and how they can help New Mexico reimagine education and climb from last-place in child wellbeing.
UpLift Chronicles’ July Issue Is Live! New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) is excited to share our latest UpLift Chronicles, 📰 Vol. 4, Issue 6, with our readers and communities! What's Inside Our July 2025 issue features coverage of: "Licensed to Twist: The Fight for Braiding Freedom in New Mexico" 🪮 A community-powered policy
Cultural Vibrancy Food Truck as Melting Pot: Clay Pot’s Recipe Centers Heritage Seble Yemenu shares her knowledge of and passion for Ethiopian cuisine with Albuquerque through her Clay Pot food truck, cooking classes and traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies.
