Healthy Communities

Human Rights

Civic Participation

Civic Participation

New Mexico Voices for Children believes everyone's voice has a place in our government. We support policies that encourage civic participation within communities and the government, and we keep our members informed about what's happening locally and nationally with our weekly e-Voices Monday Minute. We especially encourage participation of young people in the development of policies that impact them and their peers.

We encourage civic engagement through several of our programs:

• Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award
• Community Health Partnership
• Northwest Projects
• Santa Fe Community Partnership
• Wise Men & Wise Women Mentoring
• Youth Link

New Mexico Voices for Children supports these policies:

Public financing of political campaigns. Running for public office has become so expensive that only people with money or connections can afford to do so. Because of the expense, elected officials are more beholden to those who financed their campaigns than to those who voted them into office. Recent court rulings, determining that money equals free speech, serve to further disenfranchise vulnerable populations -- children, low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. When candidates have the option of running a publicly financed campaign, the field of candidates enlarges to include more women and minorities, and voters have the option of electing someone more likely to represent their best interests.

• Webcasting of legislative committee sessions to enable citizens to view the legislative process.