Juneteenth and Pride in NM; IAIA Funds Threatened

This week on New Mexico in Focus, questions remain for Santa Fe’s Institute of the American Indian Arts as the school’s federal funding is threatened to be cut. Robert Martin, president of the institute, gave Senior Producer Lou Divizio his perspective on the school’s importance to indigenous culture and its uncertain future. 

New Mexicans have celebrated Juneteenth for decades – long before it became a state holiday in 2006 and a federal holiday in 2021. The state’s Black Chamber of Commerce hopes this year’s Juneteenth event will be the biggest celebration yet. Host Nash Jones spoke with chamber president Karla Causey and chief administrative officer Beverly Gaines to learn what this year’s celebration will look like. 

In March, the New Mexico Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission named Dannelle Kirven as its new executive director. This week, Kirven stopped by the studio for a conversation with Lou about her group’s work in 2025, at a time when the federal government has explicitly targeted initiatives that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Also, she tells us how the organization is moving past a 2018 financial scandal. 

June is Pride Month and this past weekend, Albuquerque held its annual parade down Route 66. In a year that’s seen a slew of executive orders targeting the trans community, and a month in which the federal government has declined to issue a pride month proclamation, people at this year’s Albuquerque Pride acknowledged the fear and uncertainty many in the LGBTQ community are feeling. In this segment produced by NMPBS Art and Cultural Affairs Executive Producer Michael Kamins, people there say pride is still all about celebration. 

Plus, a quick preview of a conversation we’ll air next week with Leon Howard, the new executive director of the ACLU of New Mexico. In his interview with Nash, Howard tells us his priorities for the civil rights organization under his leadership. 

Host: Nash Jones 

Segments: 
IAIA President on Proposed Federal Cuts
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio
Guest: Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation), President, Institute of American Indian Arts

How NM Celebrates Juneteenth in 2025
Correspondent: Nash Jones
Guests: Karla Causey, President, Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico
Beverly Gaines, Chief Administrative Officer, Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico

New Head of NM MLK, Jr. Commission on Group’s Future
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio
Guest: Dannelle Kirven, Executive Director, New Mexico Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission

ABQ Pride Celebrates Without Federal Support
Producer: Michael Kamins, Art and Cultural Affairs Executive Producer