Americans and the Holocaust

More than forty members from the ABQFW's congregational collaborative met Tuesday evening, November 9th, 2021, for a personalized tour of the "Americans and the Holocaust" exhibit at the Loma Colorado Library in Rio Rancho.

The library exhibition, on tour from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, is one of only 50 in the country and the only one in New Mexico. It details challenging American assumptions and actions (inaction) during this tragic moment in history when more than 6,000,000 Jews were murdered.

The ABQFW's contingent was asked to reflect on historical comparisons with what Americans knew then and how America responded, to what Americans know today and what are today's responses to asylum seekers, refugees and immigration. These reflections and the educational night were part of ongoing learning opportunities made available to members of ABQFW's congregations and supporters. The interactive experiences are intended to inform faith in action as the collaborative works with asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness so that all people are safely housed and integrated into healthy communities.

The exhibit is open through Saturday, November 13, 2021. Learn more and visit the exhibit: Museum Exhibit: Americans and the Holocaust | The Official Site of Rio Rancho, NM (rrnm.gov)

60 Representatives Walk Out of Biden Administration Meeting

On Saturday, October 17, 2021, sixty representatives from five border welcoming regions--including ABQ FaithWorks--staged a virtual walkout from a meeting with the Biden Administration in protest of the Administration's borderland policy.

The policy known as "Remain in Mexico" (Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP), and its counterpart Title 42, was implemented under former President Trump. Courts have ruled that President Biden must continue it, but on Saturday the non-governmental organizations countered that the policy is inhumane and that the Administration has not done enough to mitigate the policy, nor has it utilized other available legal means to fight the policy.

Read the full statement here.

“The right to seek asylum must be restored and the egregious and dangerous policies that deny this right must be rescinded," said ABQ FaithWorks Asylum Director Jessica Corley. "We will continue to push back against this Administration until they do the right thing. MPP and Title 42 must end now.”

News agencies quickly picked up on the meeting's protest action. You can read the Politico article here and the Buzzfeed article here.

Four NM Zip Codes in Top 50 for Highest Poverty Rates

"Using five-year estimates from the Census’ 2019 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. ZIP codes with the highest poverty rates," reports Samuel Stebbins. Four of the top 50 are located in New Mexico.

#45: Cuba, 87103 50.0% poverty rate

#41: Alamo, 87825 51.4% poverty rate

#33: Mentmore, 87319 52.3% poverty rate

#27: Thoreau, 87323 52.8% poverty rate

"Poverty...(a)long with unemployment and lack of affordable housing, is...one of the most crucial reasons for homelessness," according to CAUF Society. One any given night, 1,567 people are experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque (NMCEH Point-In-Time Count, 2021). ABQ FaithWorks's Housing and Homelessness program works through a

12-congregation network to alleviate immediate needs and to partner with community service providers to connect people in need meaningfully to available services. The goal is housing and integration into healthy community.

In addition to food, clothing, hygienic supplies and bus passes, ABQ FaithWorks uses the Pathways Navigators program and a "hot" referral system to assist people in their journeys towards achieving their personal goals. The collaborative participates in and supports strategies to raise incomes of those with low income and to reduce low-income impact on critical living issues of housing, healthcare and other related life essentials. These are two strategies amidst a complex systemic response, as identified by The Brookings Institution.

Please consider joining ABQ FaithWorks as a volunteer, or with a donation that makes this important work possible. Call 505-457-1728 for more information.