Executive Director Letter / Carta del Director Ejecutivo
This week we heard about Border Patrol boarding a charter bus carrying Las Cruces students and yelling at them in Spanish to show their papers. People got angry that agents were frightening our kids. We’ve seen stories and social media posts from U.S. Forest Service and Los Alamos National Labs workers talking about being fired for no reason and with no notice, jeopardizing their livelihoods and our collective safety. People have flooded Congress members’ phones. In Las Cruces, more than 100 people showed up for No Kings Day (Otherwise known as Presidents Day) in front of City Hall to stand up for our constitutional republic.
On Friday, there is a planned Economic Blackout nationwide – we hope y’all are planning to keep your money in your pocket. With effective boycotts at Target and Walmart, and Tesla Takedown protests nationwide, Elon Musk has lost $15 billion of his net worth and Apple shareholders voted down a proposal to end Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
People have the power to hurt the billionaires and corporations in the one place they care about the most: their wallets.
That’s what CAFe is about: Building collective power.
All across southern New Mexico, I have been in rooms and in discussions with people who are ready to stand and fight. We are here for it.
Our organizers are working with communities and faith institutions in southern New Mexico. We can give Know Your Rights, family safety planning and allyship training to your circles or churches. We’re connecting with other nonprofits to work together to keep our communities safe.
Can you make art, tell your story or write a protest song? Can you put out a lawn sign saying you stand with immigrant families and trans kids? Can you show up at a city council meeting to demand dignity for our unhoused neighbors? This is about what is happening now, but it’s also about building something better.If you’ve been an active CAFe member, we want to welcome you home. And if you’re just dipping your toe into organizing and activism, we want to welcome you in. Or perhaps you can make a donation to help us organize. I hope you reach out. (And share this invitation with a friend!)
Celebrating 8 years of Dedication & Impact: Stevie Paz’s Journey with NM CAFe / Celebrando 8 años de dedicación e impacto: El viaje de Stevie Paz con NM CAFe
In 2016, at 24 years old, I had graduated college and spent 8 months working part time at Old Navy, wondering what I was going to do next.
I had spent the better part of my life letting others and society dictate what path I took and it was my time to figure out what I wanted. Nobody gives you a roadmap, and my motto for life & career has been: “I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.”
And that’s what I did.
I came to CAFe in February of 2017, at the beginning of the first Trump presidency. I had no idea what I had got myself into, but anxiously and nervously — I was called to take action.
Those first four years were filled with growing pains. I learned things about my community, the immigration system, the stories told about our border and our people, and about local and state politics. I had some great mentors and colleagues to learn from during this time. You might know them actually – they were a strong group of young organizers with different lived experiences than I, some of whom have become movers and shakers in our city and state.
I have carried those lessons they have taught me. It challenged me to get out of my shell and to think beyond the things I learned from a text book. After eight years at CAFe, I find myself passing on what I’ve learned to my new colleagues.
Although I am not an organizer, the time we are in calls for us all to strategize how we best defend, inform, teach, and protect our communities.
I know I cannot do it alone.
So if you’re feeling called to do something like I was eight years ago, I want you to act on it. No matter who you are or how old you are, please take a chance like I did, and let’s build and shape Southern New Mexico to be better for all future New Mexicans.
Know Your Rights / Conoce Sus Derechos
Every person in the US, citizen or not, has rights, and it’s important that we all know what they are so we can protect ourselves and others. Please follow our social media channels for ongoing information on your constitutional rights, such as this video series our social media associate Awlen Salazar produced, Project 2025, the legislative session and more.
Here are some other resources for community protection:
- Family Preparedness Plan – Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) https://www.ilrc.org/resources/step-step-family-preparedness-plan
- What to do when you encounter law enforcement in the border region – SBCC https://www.southernborder.org/what_to_do_when_you_encounter_law_enforcement_in_the_border_region
- Know Your Rights: 100 Mile Border Zone – ACLU https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/border-zone
