Advocacy Changes Lives: How We Won for Kids in New Mexico

Story: Diana Onken, Sr. Managing Director, State & Electoral Campaigns

New Mexico (April 15, 2025)

In January, Victoria attended her first advocacy training with Save the Children Action Network (SCAN).

Little did she know that just a couple of months later, she would be at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico, meeting with her lawmakers at the Early Childhood Day. She even had the opportunity to meet the Secretary of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, Elizabeth Groginsky.

As an early educator herself, Victoria knows the power of early childhood education in the lives of children. And she knows that the work she does with children is invaluable.

That’s why Victoria jumped at the change to advocate for higher wages for early-learning professionals and more funding for early childhood programs in the state.

Victoria’s visit came to the Roundhouse came on the heels of the Kids First Day of Action where 80 advocates representing 17 organization met with 59 lawmakers. They asked lawmakers to increase the amount of money disbursed from the Early Childhood Trust Fund to expand early learning programs while also increasing wages and creating a career ladder for early educators.

Wearing matching turquoise t-shirts representing New Mexico, these advocates were hard to miss!

Surrounding this day of action was SCAN’s digital ads around the capital area. In addition to the digital ads, we featured static ads on the homepage of The Santa Fe New Mexican. These ads reached more than 61,000 people in and around the capitol.

Throughout the session, SCAN advocates sent 217 emails, delivered more than 150 Valentine’s Day-themed postcards to lawmakers, and one advocate even testified to the legislature.

Ultimately, the legislature did agree to increase the amount of money they disbursed from the Early Childhood Trust Fund. As a result,

• 84,581 more children will receive high-quality early programs, such as child care, preschool, and home visiting,
• 23 tribal communities will be able to create culturally appropriate early learning programs; and
• 30 Local Early Childhood Coalitions covering all New Mexico counties will continue to support the infrastructure of the early learning community in the state.

Unfortunately, despite our big push to boost early learning professionals’ wages and career growth, funding for those programs was not included in the final funding package.

But we’re not giving up! We will continue to work with our coalition partners to persuade policymakers in New Mexico that this is a critical investment for the future of the state’s early learning programs.

While we didn’t get everything, we asked for during the New Mexico legislative session, we saw once again that everyday people are a powerful force for kids.

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