Town Hall Information...

BELIEVE IN NM GIRLS 2007: ON THE ROAD PROJECT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Based on the feedback from our Year of the NM Girl survey, the NM Commission on the Status of Women made a decision to include a focus on girls in our program of work.  We learned from girls from across New Mexico what their top issues were and made the commitment to follow up by providing services to help them become successful.

Building on our mission to increase awareness of the rights, responsibilities and interests of women and girls, we moved forward in implementing a girls program.  Our goals integrated the Governor's Core Agenda by placing an emphasis on health care initiatives, drug abuse prevention, domestic violence education and prevention, and an overall improvement of the quality of life for all New Mexicans.

Since 2004, the Commission has successfully provided vital tools and information to approximately 3000 girls from across our state to include the greater Albuquerque area, Carlsbad, Deming, Espanola, Farmington, Gallup, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, and Roswell.  Our activities included girls from different cultural, economic, urban and rural backgrounds.

In 2007, the Commission held Girls Town Halls -- Believe in NM Girls 2007: On the Road Project.  Our goal was to hear what the girls had to say and to give them the opportunity to participate in solutions-based conversations about their needs and ideas.  

HOW IT CAME TO BE:

In 2006, the Commission contracted with Roberta Rael of Inspired Leadership to design and facilitate town halls throughout the state. The topics addressed would follow the issues identified in our survey -- Body Image, Dating Violence, Depression/Suicide Prevention, Substance Abuse and Teen Pregnancy.

The communities chosen for the town halls were based on a variety of factors.  First, communities were selected based on the Commission's Status of Women in New Mexico Counties report.  Secondly, the communities were assess using the risk factors in the Youth Risk and Reliliency Survey (YRRS) and thirdly, communities that were willing to partner with the Commission on this project.  Ini the end, town halls were scheduled for Carlsbad, Deming, Gallup and Las Vegas.  Additionally, two town halls took place in Albuquerque -- one for charter schools and another for adjudicated girls.

GOALS:

The Commission's commitment to what girls have to say and to develop future leadership in New Mexico sparked the following goals for the town halls:

1. •Provide a platform for girls to have their voices heard on problems in their community
   

2. •Provide informational and inspirational presentations on core issues
   

3. •Facilitate solution-based conversations with girls on their needs and ideas
   

4. •Connect girls to community resources
   

5. •Share feedback with service providers as a way to improve delivery in their respective communities
   

6. •Record participant's comments on challenges and solutions to identified problems.
   

The planning process provided a community-based approach.  Local contacts within the school districts and community programs assisted the Commission in recruiting girls, providing facilities and offering guidance in reaching girls in their communities.  Community partnerships were essential for the success of the town halls.

Download the full report from the Believe in NM Girls 2007: On the Road Project