FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2012
CONTACT: Micah McCoy, (505) 266-5915 x1003 or mmccoy@aclu-nm.org
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—On Saturday, August 25, Young Women United (YWU) will host the first ever “Day of Recognition for Young Parents” in New Mexico at 3 PM at Kit Carson Park. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico will be partnering with YWU at the event to provide pregnant and parenting teens with information about their educational rights. In the 2012 New Mexico State Legislative Session, the legislature passed a memorial with bipartisan support establishing August 25 as the “New Mexico Day in Recognition of Young Parents.”
“All families deserve respect, trust and recognition,” said Micaela Cadena, Campaign Coordinator, Young Women United. “But too often young parents are cast in a negative light and pushed to the margins of society. The legislature created this day of recognition to affirm the value of young families and acknowledge all the ways they contribute to our communities.”
On this inaugural day of recognition, young parents from the Albuquerque area and beyond will join together at Kit Carson Park to strengthen bonds of support within their community and discuss challenges they face.
“We want to use this day of recognition to call attention to all the ways we can support young parents in our state,” said ACLU of New Mexico Staff Attorney Alexandra Freedman Smith. “Young parents still face a variety of barriers to completing their education. Some schools attempt to force pregnant and parenting students out, or do not provide the flexibility young parents need to balance their education and parenting responsibilities.”
The ACLU of New Mexico, Strong Families NM, Pegasus Legal Services for Children, the Southwest Women’s Law Center, New Futures, New Mexico GRADS, and the UNM Teen Parent Mentoring Program, CNM Outreach, Native American Voters Alliance, Religious Coalition Reproductive Choice, HOPE NM, MyCommunityNM , Sundance, UNM Nurse Family Partnership, St. Joseph Home Visiting Program, NM Breastfeeding Task Force and UNM Men of Color Alliance will have tables at the event to provide information on community resources for young parents, opportunities for growth and rights education.
WHAT: Day of Recognition for Young Families
WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 3PM – 6PM
WHERE: Kit Carson Park, Albuquerque, NM
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