Biography

My name is Maria Teresa Martinez. I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I graduated from Albuquerque High School as well as New Mexico State University (NMSU) where I obtained a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Government. I worked for two years as a licensed social worker with the developmentally disabled population and am now pursuing my law degree from the University of New Mexico.

Social justice has always been what drives me to do the things that I do. This is the reason I chose to pursue a social work degree at NMSU. As a student intern at the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office, I worked with juveniles, many still in middle school who were already involved with the criminal justice system. I was also introduced to the realm of developmental disabilities through the social work program. I learned that the population of individuals living with developmental disabilities, perhaps more than any other group, suffers from not only an inordinate amount of civil rights abuses, but also physical, sexual, and emotional abuses and are in desperate need of advocates. It was during these college years that I realized the extent to which injustice and inequity plagues our system. Those in need of the greatest amount of care and attention in our system are the ones given the least -- educationally, medically, politically and economically.

In an attempt to improve, even if in the slightest bit, the inequity and injustice inherent in our system, I have become active with numerous community organizations over the years. While living in Las Cruces I was a mentor to a young girl through the A. Fielder Memorial Community Center for three years. Here in Albuquerque I have had the opportunity to become involved with the ENLACE (Engaging Latino Communities for Education) Program at Albuquerque High School where I mentor two high school students on a regular basis.

In addition to being a mentor I also volunteer in the political realm. In March of 2005 I was elected precinct chair for Precinct 162 (Old Town area) for the Democratic Party. I have made it my goal to increase the amount of participation in the democratic process by people in my precinct, particularly Chicanos/Mexicanos. I have canvassed my neighborhood in an attempt to register as many people to vote as possible and have held precinct gatherings to discuss issues that are important to the people of my neighborhood. I am also a State Central Committee member of the Democratic Party. In this capacity, several other Chicano precinct chairs and I established the first ever Hispano Caucus within the Democratic Party. The caucus, which is called the "Nuestra Gente" Caucus, is committed to bringing issues that are important and relevant to the Hispano communities of New Mexico to the table of the Democratic Party, in an effort to get them the attention they deserve. My goal in taking on these roles is to effectuate positive political change and give the Chicanos/Mexicanos of New Mexico a louder voice in their government.

During my time in law school I have also had the opportunity to serve my community. As a Board member of the Mexican American Law Student Association, I am responsible for coordinating the ENLACE mentoring program that I mentioned above. Through this program law school students are placed at various high schools around the city to mentor on a regular basis. I am also currently the coordinator of the 3rd Annual Minority Pre-law Mixer which will be held next month at the law school. We will be inviting minority high school and college students from around the state to attend a half-day long I event that will give them a taste of law school as well as supply them with the information they need to apply to law school. Additionally, I am currently doing an internship at the New Mexico Public Defender's Office here in Albuquerque. There I am given the chance to work with public defenders in providing counsel to indigent individuals who cannot afford representation. Finally, I work part-time at a local non-profit agency called Enlace Comunitario (different frpm ENLACE mentioned above) as a law clerk. The agency provides assistance to undocumented women who are victims or domestic violence.

I am very honored to be nominated for this award and I appreciate you consideration of me.