Early childhood campaign mimics ‘New Mexico True’ campaign

A New Mexico community health group has launched a campaign this week to draw public attention to poverty and early childhood well being, using a parody of a New Mexico tourism campaign. Catholic Health Initiatives St. Joseph’s Children, a group that has long been vocal on investing more state money into early childhood education, launched […]

Early childhood campaign mimics ‘New Mexico True’ campaign

A New Mexico community health group has launched a campaign this week to draw public attention to poverty and early childhood well being, using a parody of a New Mexico tourism campaign.

Screenshot of conversation with Allen Sánchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Allen Sánchez

Catholic Health Initiatives St. Joseph’s Children, a group that has long been vocal on investing more state money into early childhood education, launched their “New Mexico Truth” campaign earlier this week. The campaign’s website and radio use imagery and graphics nearly identical to the New Mexico True campaign from the state’s tourism department.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare President and CEO Allen Sánchez likened the campaign to an intervention for New Mexicans. He said the campaign is not targeting any specific elected official or pointing fingers.

“We’re targeting the people of New Mexico,” Sánchez said.

Sánchez and his organization have previously pushed lawmakers to use more state money to invest in early childhood programs in an attempt to combat hunger and poverty.

This is a separate attempt to get the message to those who might not already be politically involved.

“We’re going in their homes with this,” Sánchez said of New Mexicans.

Sánchez said he still plans on lobbying to legislators during the upcoming legislative session on similar issues. He is also the Executive Director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops and is a high profile lobbyist on a number of issues in that position.

Sánchez couldn’t say for sure how much St. Joseph’s Children spent on the campaign but estimated about $200,000 has been spent on the television and radio ads.

NM Political Report reached out to a number of early childhood advocacy groups throughout the state about the effort.

In a written statement,Veronica C. Garcia,. Ed.D., executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, said more focus should be on children themselves.

“It’s unfortunate that some attention is focused on the merits of the campaign rather than on the needs of our children,” Garcia said. “We should be talking about how we ensure that all children have access during their earliest years to the programs that will help them succeed in school and in life.”

NM Political Report also asked the state Tourism Department, the Children Youth and Families Department and Gov. Susana Martinez’s office for their thoughts on the New Mexico Truth campaign. We will add their comments when we receive them.

Javier Benavidez, executive director of Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), said the Truth campaign will help get concerned New Mexicans involved and hold lawmakers accountable for early childhood funding.

“People want to do something game changing,” Benavidez said.
But, he said, citizens do not always understand who or what is standing in the way of more funding to early childhood programs.

“Sadly what seems to be missing is that people don’t understand what the obstacles,” Benavidez said.

Update: Added statement from New Mexico Voices for Children.

Update: Added statement from Southwest Organizing Project.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report