About New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community

In October 2000, Mr. Owen Lopez of the McCune Charitable Trust called a meeting of people interested in the field of youth development. The purpose of the meeting was to begin a discussion about opportunities to improve the development, organization, implementation, and funding of youth development activities in New Mexico. From the outset, the group agreed that such an effort would have to include policy, advocacy, and leadership development as well as training, technical assistance, and dissemination of best practice models.

Over the past few years, the group expanded to include hundreds of interested parties representing individuals, agencies, and organizations in both the public and private sectors. The structure of the organization evolved to include three committees and two projects (each working on specific, yet interconnected, initiatives) a Steering Committee, and general Forum membership. Working committees respectively address training and technical assistance, policy and legislation, marketing and communication, and initial projects included the NM Out of School Time Network and the NM Youth Alliance.

To effectively move the work of the Forum, an Implementation Team was formed consisting of the Forum Manager, Project Coordinators, and Committee Chairs and Contractors. The Steering Committee meets monthly and the general Forum gatherings are held quarterly (with the final quarter meeting being the Youth in Community Summit). The Steering Committee coordinated the working committees, oversaw the budget, and made decisions regarding the agenda for Forum meetings.

An additional component of the Forum structure, the Regional Point Organizations were added in 2004. These organizations are key to connecting with regional concerns and resources as we forward the work of youth development in New Mexico.

Our Vision and Mission

Vision

We envision all New Mexico 's youth having limitless opportunities within their communities, grounded in the strength of our state's diversity, and based on respect.

Mission

The Forum is a public/private partnership that advances the well-being of young people in the following ways: to change how young people are viewed and responded to by communities and major social institutions; to develop local and state-wide strategies that engage youth in a wide variety of positive and constructive activities; to instill a sense of long-term hope, aspiration, and sense of real possibility; to advocate for policies and funding streams that support young people's full development; and to create policy and initiatives that directly impact opportunities for youth.

Our Values

• We are committed to empowering youth and community voice.

• We embrace difference.

• We are committed to accomplishing our work through partnership.

• We are committed to our vision and mission and are collaborative in our work.

• We are accountable to those we serve.

• We are a dynamic learning community that honors and builds on the work of those that came before us.

Our Guiding Principles

• Our work is asset based.

• Our approach to the work is to support all children and youth.

• Our approach to the work is holistic and developmentally appropriate.

• Our strategies are place-based and reflect local cultural needs.

• Our strategies are informed by youth, for children and youth.

• Our work requires broad and diverse stakeholder input and support.