New Mexico Association For The Education Of Young Children

Organizational Growth: Doing More with Lean ResourcesFY25 marked a year of organizational resilience and expansion. With only two core staff (Executive Director and Finance Manager) and a rotating team of six specialized consultants, NMAEYC managed a statewide portfolio of programs reaching thousands of educators and families. Strategic collaborations with Tribal, Rural, and Spanish-speaking communities ensured that voices historically excluded from policymaking were at the center of our work. By building bridges with partners such as Explora, higher education institutions, and local nonprofits, we extended our geographic reach and leveraged over $250,000 in new or renewed grant support, fueling free professional learning opportunities and equity-focused initiatives.Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB): Embedding Equity at Every LevelOur commitment to DEIB became more than a statement in FY25it became our practice. NMAEYC implemented updated board bylaws and policies that embed DEIB principles in board governance, recruitment, and programming. This years board includes leaders from across New Mexico, reflecting the diverse linguistic, cultural, and professional landscapes of the early childhood workforce. To hold ourselves accountable, we introduced annual DEIB training for board and staff, and every major program was evaluated for cultural responsiveness. These efforts have positioned NMAEYC as a trusted ally to communities who are too often underserved by mainstream early childhood systems.Membership: Expanding Our Collective VoiceMembership surged past 800 active members in FY25, fueled by free memberships for participants in professional development workshops and scholarships underwritten by sponsors and foundations. Each member now receives tailored communication, opportunities to engage in advocacy, and access to regional convenings. This growing base of educators, caregivers, and advocates strengthens NMAEYCs influence with policymakers and funders, while ensuring our work is anchored in the real needs of the early childhood workforce.Professional Development: Equipping Educators to LeadIn FY25, NMAEYC delivered 40 professional development workshops, serving over 715 early childhood educators statewide. Topics ranged from STEM inquiry and literacy integration to trauma-informed care and social-emotional learning. Thanks to the generosity of funders, every workshop was free of charge, removing financial barriers for participants. Educators from rural areas, tribal nations, and Spanish-speaking communities made up nearly 40% of attendees, underscoring our commitment to equitable access. Evaluations showed that 92% of participants left with new strategies to apply immediately in their classrooms, directly impacting the quality of care for thousands of children.

Advocacy: Advancing Equity Through PolicyBetween July 2024 and June 2025, NMAEYC strengthened its role as a statewide leader in advancing childcare access and workforce stability. We actively supported efforts led by the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), amplifying their initiatives to expand universal access to affordable childcare and build long-term sustainability for providers. Together with partners across the state and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), we advocated for fair wages, expanded benefits, and recognition of the early childhood workforce as an essential profession.Through policy briefs, testimony, and targeted campaigns, NMAEYC engaged directly with legislators and community stakeholders to advance reforms that prioritize families, especially those in rural, tribal, and Spanish-speaking communities. Our efforts reached more than 10,000 New Mexicans through digital outreach and grassroots mobilization, helping to ensure that the voices of early educators and families remain at the forefront of New Mexicos policy agenda.