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NEW PDA Group – “Whiteness and Privilege Explored”

PDA continues with its commitment to anti-racist organizing with a study group that will explore whiteness and privilege. Co-facilitators are Kathleen O’Malley, Karen Bentrup and Susan Kerr (many-decade antiracism trainer).

We have been exploring issues around racism and recognizing our own racism that is present at a deeply unconscious level. While we progressives believe in the equality of all persons, we need to see how embedded in each of us is the racism that has been present in the U.S. since its inception. We will be reading, listening to podcasts, watching videos, talking and challenging each other.

We welcome white people and people of color in this new exploration space. We fully recognize that the people of color in the group are NOT responsible for teaching, fixing, or guiding those of us who are white. That’s our white people work.

We hope that you consider joining our work group.  Please email KarenBentrup@yahoo.com BEFORE MARCH 1st if you want to participate. All the people who signed up at the February PDA gathering and everyone who emails Karen will receive an email in early March detailing this program.

Why talk about whiteness? Because we can’t talk about racism without it.

February 13 PDACNM Meeting

On Feb. 13, PDACNM was honored to hear the testimony of Kelly and Justin involving their prison experiences and lives post prison. Their stories had a strong and emotional impact on the audience. We wish that many more people could listen to their heartbreaking experiences which go a long way in bringing awareness of this often ignored population to the public. Selinda has been working tirelessly for House Bill 57 which originally would have given voting privileges to people currently serving time in prison. However, due to opposition from a sizable number of legislators who thought this bill went too far in giving voting rights to violent criminals, the authors of the bill agreed to amend the bill. This amendment does make voting more accessible to more people which we feel is a positive step in the voting rights movement. On Feb. 21, Selinda wrote, “This amendment will allow extended voting access to our citizens on probation and parole. It will still prohibit voting from Department of Corrections (prisons) but does not impact folks confined in county jails including those on probation and parole violations not adjudicated.”

“But the signal from our organizers behind the walls in New Mexico indicated this is still progress and that strategically it allows us to continue pushing this conversation. They shared that so many behind the walls are actually thinking and talking about voting when those conversations never existed for so many. So, I am receiving my inspiration again from our citizens behind the walls! ”

Read the Newsletter Here!

Read the Newsletter Here!

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The following is taken from Wikipedia:

“Black History Month was first proposed by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, from 2/1/1970 – 2/28/1970.
Six years later, Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture and community centers, both great and small, when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to ‘seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.'”

Read the Newsletter Here!

JOIN OUR PDACNM LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERTS

(You will make a difference just by taking a few minutes in a comfortable chair.)
We prioritize progressive bills that fit our issues and send out action alerts when those bills are to come up for votes in committee hearings. We include an explanation of the bills and the names and contact information of legislators to email or call. If you would like to participate in these action alerts, please contact Paul Stokesat (stokescorrales@mac.com).  Please do whatever you have time to do. Any effort goes a long way.