In the wake of the attempted coup in our nation's Capitol this week, and the ongoing attempts by complicit members of Congress and domestic terrorists to undermine the democratic process amid a global pandemic, state power—forged at the community level—is all the more important.  

Like many other states working to counter the pandemic’s social and economic effects, New Mexico is entering a legislative session wherein our values as a state will translate through policy and budgetary decisions. During the 2021 legislative session, Prosperity Works will be advocating in collaboration with the New Mexicans for Fair Lending Coalition to reduce the interest rate cap for short-term loans from 175% to 36%—to pave the way for more equitable lending alternatives to high-interest, predatory storefront lenders.
 
As Prosperity Works pivots into 2021, we’re reminded—as so many are at the national level—that community-driven people power is the basis for systems change. In the context of COVID, and in adapting to meet the growing needs of our community partners, Prosperity Works will be intentionally repackaging our initiative suite—inclusive of Individual Development Accounts, Child Savings Accounts, Fair Lending Options, and financial capability training and coaching—as we deploy our asset-building resources to reach more limited-income (LI) households statewide.
 
In adapting and growing our work, we remain committed to elevating, amplifying, and centering community voices. We will continue to work in solidarity with our partners in progress to build the socioeconomic assets of LI households across our state; to close the health and wealth gaps exacerbated by the pandemic; and to keep capital—and talent—in New Mexico communities. This means being explicit about the intersections between race and economic opportunity, and also being proactive in meeting the needs of our neighbors who have historically faced barriers to accessing asset-building resources—especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.
 
Together with our community partners, Prosperity Works will continue to innovate creative solutions to clear the hurdles COVID has placed in our collective path as we work to honor the changemakers New Mexico communities have lost—to incubate intentional, authentic community rebuilding efforts across our state as we, as a nation, move forward to shape a more equitable future.

On the heels of a tumultuous 2020—during which we experienced the culmination of systems-level racial, economic, and environmental inequities being laid bare—the nation is entering 2021 with new federal leadership, in both the White House and Congress. 
 
But as we witness the depth to which the nation’s democratic process is being undermined—both by complicit members within Congress, and by domestic terrorists—we recognize that there is much work to be done to counter the impact of misinformation at all levels of government. 
 
At a time when the country is reeling from disasters, it is incumbent on each of us to advocate for equitable, just outcomes—at both the systems and community levels.  
 
“Today’s events in our nation’s Capitol are unsettling,” said Arellana Cordero, Prosperity Works’ President & CEO. “We’re grateful to all who are advocating for equity and justice, and for those that put themselves in peril to protect our nation through today’s violence. Prosperity Works joins our fellow partners in progress in pursuing unifying, equitable solutions as we all work together to rebuild our communities.” 
 
Prosperity Works remains in solidarity with our neighbors who are put most at risk by these violent acts and proclamations—specifically Black, Indigenous, People of Color households. Our fight for equity and justice continues.

As Prosperity Works pivots into 2021 and assesses community needs, we have identified how we can adapt to meet growing resource requests from our network of statewide, community-embedded partners and reach more rural communities with our asset-building initiatives. To this end, during the first months of 2021, we'll be unveiling a phased approach about how we'll be responding to community needs. 

Within the context of COVID-19 and its affiliated economic fallout, we've been consistently reminded of Prosperity Works' founding tenet: navigating life without assets is challenging and unpredictable--and exacerbated by systemic racial inequities. Assets help stabilize families, enhance household health, increase agency, and strengthen communities. With the inextricable linkages between racial and economic inequities laid bare--even more pointedly over the course of 2020--we've recognized that it is incumbent on us as an organization to explicitly name the barriers that prevent limited-income (LI) New Mexico households from achieving socioeconomic prosperity.  

As we did when Prosperity Works was founded over 20 years ago, we also hold this guiding truth: prosperity for all New Mexicans cannot be brought to fruition without changing systems, attitudes, and behaviors. And we continue to believe that direct, high-impact investments in hardworking, committed individuals and families are the best investment you can make.

So, as we forecast the work that needs to be done in 2021 to support LI communities, we remain steadfast in our dedication to do so intentionally and authentically--with our proactively innovative, community-centered solutions cast through an intergenerational, intersectional lens that centers racial equity. 

Together, we will ensure 2021 is a year where we make concerted headway toward closing the health and wealth gaps in New Mexico--gaps that the pandemic and its economic downturn have widened exponentially. But we will bridge those daunting gulfs together--through innovative, asset-focused solutions that seek to rebuild the identity and cultural anchors communities have lost, and to incubate and cultivate contingents of changemakers galvanized to effect meaningful, lasting, equitable change alongside their neighbors.     

Lives are transformed when exposed to the realities of others! 

Watch what happened with our Amy Biehl volunteer and what he did for us!
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Thank you for all of your hard work Elliott!