In an effort to build a constituency for mental health, to rebuild a comprehensive system, Albuquerque Interfaith convened close to 300 leaders from 28 institutions (15 member and 13 allied) to secure commitments from elected officials.

New Mexico Representative Mimi Stewart and Sen. Linda Lopez joined the Rev. Trey Hammond of Albuquerque Interfaith at a news conference Tuesday to announce the introduction of House Bill 460, which would bar private firms from running public schools.

After helping fend off Gov. Martinez's efforts to rescind drivers' licenses for undocumented immigrants last fall, Albuquerque Interfaith leaders are gearing up to fight it for the third time. To this end, they organized two actions with over 350 leaders, including a day long legislative training session. Sixteen institutions committed to meet consistently with legislators during the 20 day session. Leaders will also ask legislators to invest part of New Mexico's $12B Permanent Land Grant Fund into schools and early childhood education.

"Organizations like the New Mexico Catholic Conference of Bishops and the Albuquerque Interfaith were ...in Santa Fe this week to protest Gov. Susana Martinez's efforts to rescind the state law."

As part of its continuing battle against anti-immigrant efforts, AI leaders organized a 'Preach and Teach' on immigration the week before the state legislature opened. Fourteen congregations (Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Jewish, Unitarian, and Desciples of Christ) and two schools reached over 16,000 people with teachings on immigration from our faith and democratic traditions and on the myths being used in anti-immigrant efforts.

Leaders with Albuquerque Interfaith held the public school district accountable for capital spending when officials attempted to subordinate classroom funding for an unnecessary $30 million district training facility. Building on a two-year reprieve won earlier in the year, Albuquerque Interfaith succeeded in reclaiming almost all the money for investment in classroom construction and renovation.

"Candidates for Sheriff Address Immigration," by Joe Vigil, KOB Eyewitness News 4

After 400 Albuquerque Interfaith (AI) leaders knocked on doors to pass a February 2010 bond measure including $30 million to be invested in schools serving primarily students of color, the school district attempted to divert $20 million into a large (unjustified) district training facility. Leaders of AI fought back and in September the district decided to delay the project at least two years and return all but $2 million of the diversion to classroom construction and renovation.