Summary
The US onAir Network will be working with volunteers from New Mexico universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to oversee the curation and moderation of posts, aircasts (online discussions), and in person events for the New Mexico onAir Hub … related to federal, state, and local elections and government.
Our first outreach will be to University of New Mexico partly because of its proximity to the state capital. We have identified many of University of New Mexico’s civic engagement, academic, internship and research programs related to making democracy and civic responsibility a focus of higher learning on their campus … for students, faculty, staff, and local community. This post, over time, will have similar information on other collaborating organizations in the state.
Contact ben.murphy@onair.cc for more information on how to involve your organization.
About
The University of New Mexico’s onAir chapter will initially focus on training interested undergrad and graduate students on how to curate New Mexico onAir content especially submitting Top News articles, events, videos, and information and moderating forums in each post they curate.
Student curators will also work with state senate and house committee chairs to produce aircasts on issues being discussed and bills being proposed in their committees.
During election season, students with other other organizations like the League of Women Voters, will coordinate and produce aircasted debates with candidates.
The University of New Mexico
Source: About the University of New Mexico
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Community Engagement Center
About CEC
Community Engagement Center (CEC) was formed in 2000 by faculty, staff and students, and community members interested in better mobilizing the University of New Mexico’s resources and talents towards ever increasing civic engagement. CEC now serves the entire campus and the state of New Mexico.
In a very short time, CEC has come to act as an academic partnership and policy center for communities, neighborhoods, and villages striving to implement more community-driven learning projects for their children, youth and families. In order to support this work, CEC operates as a campus wide linking resource office for more effectively bringing students, faculty, academic units, communities and citizens together to participate in shared learning and community problem solving.
Much of these interactions are conducted between communities, neighborhoods, large public institutions (school, public agencies), and governmental systems (local, tribal, state and federal). CEC’s basic practice is to create spaces where university faculty, students and staff can listen, dialog, and learn with and from children and youth, parents, community members, teachers, and agency representatives. Community partners then identify and document needs and opportunities, and go onto conceptualize and implement imaginative community learning plans—plans that utilize the entire community as a rich context for learning and community improvement. CEC supports and facilitates this mutual community learning process.
In its policy center role, CEC primarily focuses on youth matters, leadership for community capacity building, local community projects and inter-governmental or institutional collaboration. CEC assists community members, leaders and institutional representatives to conduct needs and asset assessments, plan programs, develop youth/adult partnerships, and then provides technical assistance and learning supports designed to articulate community-learning agendas.
Get Involved
Service Corps
The UNM Service Corps is currently a collective students predominantly from New Mexico most of who attend the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. The UNM Service Corps acts in collaboration with a variety of community partners, neighborhood groups, local schools and non-profit organizations to address critical social and educational issues facing children and families. The students apprentice with strong community leaders in approximately 30 community-based organizations. The apprenticeship model is based on long-term relationships and partnerships with some of the strongest non-profits and community based organizations in Albuquerque working on education, economic, and health equity issues. Most Service Corps members are immersed in neighborhood projects for approximately 20 hours a week for at least one year. All Service Corps members have semester classes, annual retreats and symposiums, to deepen their practice. Many of these professional development opportunities are led by their peers, the CEC Capacity Builders.
Public Allies
Public Allies is anational AmeriCorps based movement to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. The Public Allies (publicallies.org) offers apprenticeships with non-profits working for social justice 40 hours/week for ten months, where Corps members receive a monthly stipendand an AmeriCorps educational award at the end of their term of service. Their services include addressing the local needs of community such as educational justice, Youth and Family development, Racial Equity in the Legal and justice systems , Environmental and Community Sustainability and Community Health.
FoodCorps
Together with communities, FoodCorps serves to connect kids to healthy food in school. FoodCorps is creating a future in which all our nation’s children–regardless of class, race, or geography–know what healthy food is, care where it comes from, and eat it every day. Through our work, future generations will grow up to lead healthier and more productive lives.
FoodCorps New Mexico is dedicated to equipping their service members with the skills, knowledge, and experiences to address the root causes of food injustice, while also providing hands-on training and technical assistance in subjects like desert farming, school gardening, traditional foods, and community organizing.
Political Science Programs
Source: Department website
In the UNM Department of Political Science, we engage with and respond to issues facing our communities on local, national, and global scales.
Our faculty and students investigate critical issues such as inequality, civil conflict, transitional justice, elections, and international politics, among other pressing topics.
We are proud to be the only Hispanic-Serving Institution in the U.S. that is also classified as a Carnegie Research University with Very High Activity. As such, we are uniquely situated to study the politics of underrepresented and under-served groups.
Undergraduate Program
Our undergraduate program combines rigorous coursework with real-world internship experience to prepare students for careers in law, business, government, journalism, international organizations, political campaigns, interest groups, and education.
Graduate Program
Each year, we welcome a small number of highly qualified MA and PhD students. We offer concentrations in international relations, comparative politics, American politics, public policy, and methodology. Our students can expect highly accessible faculty, opportunities for research collaboration, and personalized instruction.
Students who serve as graduate assistants participate in teaching and research and receive a competitive funding package.
Student Government
Source: Webpage
The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM)
ASUNM is more than a Student Government. We strive to enhance and enrich the UNM experience by serving the undergraduate population in both representation and by providing a multitude of opportunities for student engagement. We aim to protect the autonomy of the student body while also uniting each individual in a community that is both welcoming and safe. We are a body that will keep every student informed, and will serve and be the uniting factor of our Lobo family.
Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
The GPSA has been the recognized Graduate and Professional Student Government the University of New Mexico since 1969. We strive to identify, promote, and support the interests and concerns that are important to the welfare and academic development of graduate/professional students at UNM. It is our mission to represent students on issues ranging from research grants to health insurance to academic freedom.
Student Government Accounting Office (SGAO)
The Student Government Accounting Office (SGAO) is a service department of the University of New Mexico that processes all funds allocated by ASUNM & GPSA, the undergraduate and graduate student governments. There are over 350 clubs and organizations funded through allocation of student fees. We serve as an intermediary between the University’s accounting offices and the student organizations funded by ASUNM and GPSA.
Internships
Source: University of New Mexico
Participating in an internship is one of the most valuable things you can do while in college. For example, internships provide an opportunity for you to:
- reflect on, confirm or contradict what you learn in the classroom
- build and expand social and professional networks
- reflect upon your current major or future career
- build your resume
- build skills in your chosen field and future profession
- develop habits of professional practice
- exercise civic responsibilities
- learn by doing
Research at UNM
Source: Webpage
Research at The University of New Mexico
Through its diverse people and disciplines, UNM Research is committed to finding unique solutions to complex problems. Mind-broadening interdisciplinary collaborations and a focus on real-world applications contribute to generating new knowledge that benefits our community, our city, our state, and beyond. From undergraduate research to sponsored faculty projects, there’s something for everyone to discover with UNM Research!
