>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS  LIKE YOU.

>> Jeff: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, A CAUSE FOR  CELEBRATION.

A ROUNDTABLE OF BLACK  COMMUNITY LEADERS WALKS US THROUGH THE HISTORY AND  CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH IN NEW MEXICO.

AND -- >> Rogers: WE HAVE TO BE  WORKING ON POVERTY.

THIS IS THE ROOT UNDERLYING  CAUSE OF ALL OF THIS.

SO ALL OF THESE -- ALL  FOOD, ALL OF THESE THINGS TIE TO POVERTY.

>> Jeff: HOW TO GROW ACCESS IN A PHARMACY DESERT.

CITY COUNCILLOR NICHOLE ROGERS CONNECTS THE DOTS  BETWEEN ADDRESSING POVERTY AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL NEEDS  OF THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF PROCTOR.

LAST MONTH, THE ALBUQUERQUE HEALTH EQUITY COUNCIL  INFORMED CITY COUNCILORS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL  DISTRICT IS NOW CONSIDERED A PHARMACY DESERT.

WITH NO PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES IN WALKING DISTANCE  FOR MOST PEOPLE LIVING IN DISTRICT  SIX, THE COUNCIL SPOTLIGHTED THE PROBLEM FOR CITY LEADERS  WHILE PROPOSING SEVERAL SITES IN THE AREA FOR FUTURE  PHARMACIES.

COMING UP LATER IN TODAY'S  SHOW, SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DiVIZIO ASKS COUNCILOR  NICHOLE ROGERS ABOUT THE DWINDLING MEDICATION OPTIONS  FOR RESIDENTS IN HER DISTRICT.

BUT MUCH OF OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK WILL BE ON JUNETEENTH  IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WITH ITS MAIN EVENTS  SCHEDULED SATURDAY FROM 11:00 TO 11:00 ON  CIVIC PLAZA.

JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES THE  DAY SLAVERY ENDED IN TEXAS.

JUNE 19, 1865, TWO YEARS  AFTER LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN PROCLAIMED JUNE 19th AS A  FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 2021.

BUT CELEBRATIONS HERE IN NEW  MEXICO HAVE FAR DEEPER ROOTS THAN THAT.

FOLKS IN OUR STATE HAVE BEEN COMMEMORATING JUNETEENTH  SINCE THE 1970s.

THIS WEEK, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO  HEAR FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO  CHAMPIONED THOSE FIRST EVENTS HERE  IN ALBUQUERQUE.

OVER THE NEXT HOUR, LOU WILL  HOST THREE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS FEATURING SOME  OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK ELDERS FROM  ALBUQUERQUE AND BEYOND.

OUR GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND  THE HOLIDAY'S HISTORY HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S  IMPORTANCE IN COMMUNICATING AND CELEBRATING BLACK  CULTURE IN A STATE WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE TOO  OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

AND HOW A COLLABORATIVE  EFFORT THAT SPANS GENERATIONS IS WORKING TO  PRESERVE AND ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF BLACK NEW  MEXICANS.

>> Lou: WELCOME, EVERYONE,  TO THIS THE FIRST OF THREE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS  CENTERED ON JUNETEENTH.

I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY  THIS ESTEEMED PANEL OF FORMALLY RECOGNIZED LIVING  LEGENDS, IN SOME CASES, IN ALBUQUERQUE.

MR. JOE POWDRELL, MS. RITA POWDRELL, REV.

DR.  CHARLES BECKNELL, SR., AND PROFESSOR MARSHA K.  HARDEMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> Hardeman: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Becknell: IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> Lou: JUNETEENTH IS A CELEBRATION OF COURSE OF  FREEDOM, EMANCIPATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN 1865.

STARTING WITH YOU MR. POWDRELL, WHAT DOES  EMANCIPATION MEAN FOR BLACK AMERICA THEN 160 YEARS AGO  AND TODAY?

>> Joe: WELL, I THINK IT  DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL YOU ASK.

I THINK IT MEANT A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, ACTUALLY.

A CHANGE FROM A PREVIOUS PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE.

I THINK THE TRANSITION IS FROM BONDAGE, ENSLAVEMENT --  TO ME LIBERTY IS THE WORD.

THAT'S THE ONE I THINK ABOUT  WHEN I THINK ABOUT EMANCIPATION.

BEING THE BRIDGE TO LIBERTY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF  IT.

>> Lou: OKAY.

I GUESS BUILDING ON THAT, WHAT DOES JUNETEENTH MEAN TO  YOU, NOW, IN 2024?

AND I'LL THROW THAT QUESTION  AROUND TO EVERYONE, BUT STARTING WITH YOU.

>> Joe: EVERY YEAR THAT I CELEBRATE -- I'VE BEEN  CONSCIOUSLY CELEBRATING SINCE JUNE 19, 1956.

THERE'S A GROWTH THAT MY MIND, MY BODY, MY SOUL TAKES  PLACE.

JUNETEENTH IS AN EXERCISE TO  ME.

I GET A CHANCE TO GROW INTO  MY CONSCIOUSNESS.

AND I'VE FELT THAT'S WHAT  EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING THROUGH BECAUSE I WAS GOING  THROUGH IT.

IT'S GROWTH AND  UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE CHALLENGE  OF IT ALL.

>> Lou: MS. POWDRELL, HOW  ABOUT YOU?

WHAT DOES JUNETEENTH MEAN TO  YOU?

>> Rita: JUNETEENTH TO ME  MEANS HISTORY.

IT MEANS A HISTORY THAT WE  SHOULD KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE.

YOU KNOW, IT MEANS A HISTORY  THAT NOT ONLY IMPACTED US AS A PEOPLE, IT IMPACTED THIS  NATION.

AND IT IMPACTED THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, SO JUNETEENTH AND THE LEGISLATION OF  JUNETEENTH, THE WHOLE WORLD WAS LOOKING AT IT.

IT WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD.

I'M JUST HOPEFUL THAT THE CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH  TAKES US BACK TO A CELEBRATION OF HISTORY AND  GIVES US A TRUER SENSE OF THE AMBIGUITY THAT WE HAVE  AS A COUNTRY AROUND ISSUES THAT JUNETEENTH BRINGS OUT.

>> Lou: REV.

DR. BECKNELL.

>> Becknell: I REMEMBER  GROWING UP IN HOBBS, NEW MEXICO, AS A YOUNG BOY I  REMEMBER US CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH, BUT  I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A BIG  GATHERING OF PEOPLE AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND HAD  BARBECUE AND ALL OF THAT.

WE CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH.

BUT WHEN I REALIZED WHAT JUNETEENTH REALLY MEANT, YOU  CANNOT HAVE JUNETEENTH WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT  SLAVERY.

SLAVERY DROVE US TO  JUNETEENTH.

THE EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION THAT FREED THE SLAVES, BUT IT FREED THE  SLAVES ONLY IN THOSE STATES THAT WERE IN REBELLION  AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

WHEN LINCOLN SIGNED THAT, IT  OPENED UP AN AVENUE AND A CONSCIOUSNESS OF PEOPLE THAT  FREEDOM MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

JUNETEENTH TO ME MEANS THAT  WE GOT SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

IT MEANS THAT WE STILL GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE FACING IN  JUNETEENTH, THE FURNITURE RIGHT NOW HAS JUST BEEN  REARRANGED.

WE'RE STILL FACING A LOT OF  THOSE SAME ISSUES.

JUNETEENTH DIDN'T END  SLAVERY BECAUSE ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIDN'T HAVE THE  AUTHORITY TO FREE THE SLAVES THAT WERE NOT IN REBELLION  AGAINST -- THOSE STATES THAT WERE NOT IN REBELLION  AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

BUT JUNETEENTH SIGNIFIED AN  END TO SLAVERY AS AN INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED  STATES.

SO WHAT IT MEANS TO ME IS WE  NEED ANOTHER MOVEMENT.

WE CAN CELEBRATE BECAUSE IT  WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN OUR HISTORY, BUT WE CANNOT  BE HAPPY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST  NOTHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SOME  WORK TO DO.

>> Lou: PROFESSOR   HARDEMAN.

>> Hardeman: I LIKE  EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID.

I'M GOING TO SAY THAT MAYBE  DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE  -- I'M THE ULTIMATE OPTIMIST  HERE, I GUESS.

JUNETEENTH FOR ME IS ALL THE  HISTORY, A REFLECTION OF OUR CHALLENGE TO CONTINUE WITH  SOCIAL STRUGGLES, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING TO ME IT WAS A  COMING TOGETHER OF COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I REVELED IN THE MOST.

MY DAUGHTERS, WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN NEW MEXICO,  THOUGHT FROM CELEBRATIONS THAT WE BEGAN TO PARTICIPATE  IN FROM THE TIME I CAME TO NEW MEXICO WITH JOE AND HIS  FAMILY, THEY THOUGHT JUNETEENTH WAS A BIGGER DEAL  THAN THE 4th OF JULY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DID  TOGETHER.

THEY LOOKED FORWARD TO IT.

THEY WERE EAGER.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM THE  MIDWEST, FROM INDIANA AND LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

WE DID NOT CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH WHEN I WAS  GROWING UP IN THE '50s AND THE '60s.

SO TO COME HERE IN THE '70s AND  TO BE INTRODUCED TO THAT WAS JUST LIKE WOW.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO ME.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS  THAT ARE STILL AHEAD OF US, IT'S A REMINDER THAT OUR  WORK ISN'T DONE.

BUT IT'S A TIME THAT WE  CELEBRATE OUR SURVIVAL, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE  THRIVING OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S HAD TO OVERCOME THE  ODDS.

GENERATION AFTER GENERATION,  AFTER GENERATION, AFTER GENERATION.

SINCE WE HIT NORTH AMERICA.

SO, IT'S A VICTORY TIME.

>> Lou: MS. POWDRELL, WHAT ROLE HAVE WOMEN PLAYED IN  DEVELOPING THESE CELEBRATIONS, SPECIFICALLY  HERE IN NEW MEXICO?

AND HOW HAS THAT HELPED  FOSTER A WIDER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF BLACK  CULTURE IN NEW MEXICO?

>> Rita: WHAT ROLE DID WOMEN  PLAY?

>> Lou: YEAH, HAVE THEY BEEN  A DRIVING FORCE, IN PARTICULAR?

HAS THIS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ACROSS  THE WHOLE COMMUNITY?

OR HAVE WOMEN  INDIVIDUALLY -- NOT AS PEOPLE, BUT AS A GROUP,  PUSHED THIS IN ANY WAY IN PARTICULAR?

>> Rita: I MEAN WHEN JOE STARTED DOING SOME OF THE  JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS I KNOW WOMEN WERE A CRUCIAL  PART OF PULLING THINGS TOGETHER AND ORGANIZING.

SO MRS. MERRITT WAS ONE OF THE -- WELL, IT'S KIND OF  LIKE MARSHA SAID, IT'S COMMUNITY.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT JUNETEENTH, FOR US AS A  PEOPLE, WHEN I LOOK AT JUNETEENTH, I REALLY DON'T  SEPARATE THE MEN AND THE WOMEN.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK IT'S A JOINT -- SOMETHING  THAT WAS A JOINT EFFORT THAT WE DID TOGETHER AND THAT WE  SHARED TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY GAVE WHAT THEY  WOULD GIVE TO THE EVENT.

WHATEVER SKILLS YOU BRING  AND ORGANIZING AND GETTING FOOD -- WHATEVER SKILL.

WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

I THINK I AGREE WITH MARSHA.

IT'S A REAL COMMUNITY.

I WOULD JUST HATE TO SAY THE WOMEN DID THIS AND THE MEN  DID THAT.

NO, WE DID IT TOGETHER.

>> Hardeman: WE PICKED UP THE BATON.

IT REALLY IS A TEAM EFFORT.

AS JOE TAUGHT US HOW TO  CELEBRATE, I THINK THAT'S, AT THE MINIMUM TO MAKE A  CONSCIOUSNESS.

I THINK I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE  ASKING.

WE MOVED FROM -- OKAY, HELP  ME, JOE.

YOU USED TO SAY FROM YOUR  PARENT'S BACKYARD TO -- WHAT WAS IN BETWEEN BEFORE WE GOT  TO ROOSEVELT PARK?

>> Joe: A NUMBER OF OTHER  PARKS.

>> Hardeman: OKAY, SO PARK,  PARK, PARK.

AND THEN WE BEGAN TO  CELEBRATE ON THE PLAZA.

CATHY McGILL AND I DID THE  ORGANIZING DOWN ON THE PLAZA.

AND WE OUTGREW, PRAISE GOD, THE CIVIC PLAZA AND MOVED TO  THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS.

AS WE SAW THAT COMMUNITY  GROW, WE INCLUDED THE DIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.

THERE WERE RED PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE, BROWN PEOPLE, WHITE  PEOPLE, YOU NAME EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO  ENJOY THE CELEBRATION, AND WHO GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY  TO TEACH THEM ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

SO, A GOOD PASSING OF THE BATON FROM THE BEGINNING OF  THE TEAM TO SOME OF THE WOMEN WHO PICKED UP AND  TOOK ON FROM THERE.

LET ME TELL YOU -- WELL I  CAN'T SAY THAT.

I ALMOST SAID THE WOMEN DID  AN AWFUL LOT OF COOKING IN THE BOOTHS, BUT WE HAD THE  BROTHERS COOKING TOO.

>> Lou: REVEREND, I KNOW YOU  HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

HOW HAS THE CHURCH SPECIFICALLY PLAYED A ROLE  IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF BLACK CULTURE, HERE IN NEW MEXICO  IN PARTICULAR?

>> Becknell: WELL THE CHURCH  HAS BEEN THE ESSENCE OF THE SPREAD OF BLACK CULTURE  BECAUSE THE CHURCH IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE ONLY  INSTITUTION, IN TERMS OF MY GROWING UP IN THE SEGREGATED  ENVIRONMENT, WE WENT TO THE CHURCH FOR EVERYTHING.

IT WAS THE ORIGINAL SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY.

SO, THE CULTURE -- LIKE MARSHA WAS SAYING PEOPLE  COME AND THEY GATHER, MEN AND WOMEN.

WE BRED THE CULTURE, AND THE  CULTURE SPREAD.

JUNETEENTH WAS ORIGINALLY A  TEXAS HOLIDAY.

NOW, WHEN TEXANS STARTED  MOVING TO INDIANA -- >> Hardeman: MIGRATION,  THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Becknell: -- TO  CALIFORNIA, TO NEW YORK.

THEY TOOK THE CULTURE WITH  THEM.

>> Hardeman: THAT WAS CALLED  THE SCATTERING.

>> Becknell: YEAH.

SO YOU HAD THESE BLACK PEOPLE IN A PARK FROM TEXAS  CELEBRATING.

AND PEOPLE SAID WHAT ARE YOU  GUYS CELEBRATING.

I WANT TO GET IN ON IT.

>> Hardeman: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Becknell: AND IT JUST  GREW AND GREW TO THE POINT THAT IT JUST BECAME A  CULTURAL EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: IF I MIGHT ADD, IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE BRIEF, I  THINK MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH JUNETEENTH -- I'M THE  SON OF A SHARECROPPER AND HIS WIFE.

WE WORKED IN THE COTTON FIELDS.

MY DAD TOLD ME THAT YOU WILL BE OUT HERE IN THE FIELD  UNLESS IT RAINS OR LIGHTNING.

ON THE 19th OF JUNE, 1956, HE SAID SHE DON'T HAVE TO  WORK TODAY.

I SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON, IN  MY OWN LANGUAGE AT THE TIME.

HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO  CELEBRATE THE 19th OF JUNE.

HAD A LITTLE PARK CALLED  SILVER FALLS.

AND WE DIDN'T WORK THAT DAY.

AND WHAT AMAZED ME WAS HOW WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO TELL THE  PEOPLE THAT MY DAD WORKED FOR, NO WORKING TODAY.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT LIBERTY, I'M TALKING ABOUT  THE VALUE THAT WE PUT ON OURSELVES IN THE CELEBRATION  OF THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.

AND IT WAS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE  THING.

CHURCH IS THE CENTER OF IT  BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE CENTER OF  JUNETEENTH.

I MEAN, IT'S ALL TIED.

WOMEN, WOMEN HAD THEIR ROLES.

MEN HAD THEIR ROLES.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE DID  DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE KEY THING IS THAT PEOPLE  FELT A SENSE OWNERSHIP.

GOD THE BLESS WHO'S GOT HIS  OWN.

I GOT FROM THAT AS AN  8-YEAR-OLD KID, WE OWN THIS THING.

OWNERSHIP WAS REALLY -- THAT STRUCK ME, YOU KNOW, AND I  WAS GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK THAT DAY.

IT WAS HOT.

BUT THAT WAS REALLY  POWERFUL.

IT CONNECTED EVERY ASPECT OF  THE COMMUNITY.

EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T  GO TO CHURCH RESPECTED THE FACT THAT THAT'S MAINSTREAM.

>> Hardeman: CAN I TAG ON TO THAT?

>> Lou: BRIEFLY, PLEASE.

>> Hardeman: WHEN HE TALKED  ABOUT HIS DAD SAYING HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK TODAY.

IN THAT DAY AND THAT TIME, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DAY THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE TO  WORK WAS HUMONGOUS.

>> Lou: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR TIME.

WE'LL WELCOME EACH OF YOU  BACK OVER THE NEXT HOUR HERE STARTING WITH A CONVERSATION  FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION, IN PARTICULAR,  RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Rogers: HAVE YOU EVER HAD  TO POSTPONE A BILL?

THAT'S SITUATIONAL POVERTY.

AND EVERYBODY CAN RELATE TO THAT.

THERE'S GENERATIONAL POVERTY, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT WE SEE A LOT OF IN DISTRICT SIX.

THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY THAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THE  CYCLE THAT YOU CAN'T GO TO YOUR MOM AND SAY HEY, MOM,  HOW CAN I GET A LEG UP?

BECAUSE MOM WAS IN POVERTY,  GRANDMA WAS IN POVERTY, GREAT-GRANDMA WAS IN  POVERTY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THE  EDUCATION SO PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT AS SUCH AN OTHER  THING AND THAT YOU TOO HAVE DEALT WITH SITUATIONAL --  EVERYBODY HAS DEALT WITH SITUATIONAL POVERTY AT ONE  TIME OR ANOTHER.

>> Lou: WELCOME BACK.

I'M JOINED AGAIN AT THE TABLE BY REV.

DR.  CHARLES BECKNELL, SR., PROFESSOR MARSHA K.  HARDEMAN, TIM GREEN IV, CULTURAL CHANGE LEADER AT  THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE'S OFFICE OF EQUITY AND  INCLUSION.

AND RON WALLACE, PUBLISHER  OF THE PERSPECTIVE, HIGHLIGHTING BLACK ISSUES  SINCE 1994.

TIM, I WANT TO START WITH  YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN INTEGRAL IN  ORGANIZING THIS GROUP, INCLUDING MR. AND MRS.  POWDRELL WHO WE'LL WELCOME BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE.

SO MANY INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, HOW DID  THIS COALITION FORM?

>> Green: WELL, I'M PART OF  THE EDUCATIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR JUNETEENTH  2024 THIS YEAR.

AND I WAS WORKING WITH  COUNCILOR ROGERS LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE  EDUCATIONAL ASPECT AND THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF  JUNETEENTH.

SO, SHE INVITED ME IN TO  START WORKING WITH THE GROUP, THE PLANNING  COMMITTEE.

AND I REALLY STARTED TO  THINK ABOUT WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS TO THE CITY OF  ALBUQUERQUE AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

AND FOR ME, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT JUNETEENTH WITHOUT  TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT OUR  ELDERS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROUGHT JUNETEENTH TO  THE CITY.

SO, I STARTED TO SPEAK WITH  NICHOLE ABOUT WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD BE BEST TO  CREATE A PANEL IN THE EVENING THAT CAN TALK ABOUT  THE HISTORY, WHAT IT MEANS TODAY AND WHAT IT SHOULD  MEAN FOR THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF PASSING THAT BATON THAT  MS. HARDEMAN TALKED ABOUT.

SO, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT  ABOUT HOW IT FORMED.

JOE AND RITA HAVE BEEN  INFLUENTIAL IN MY LIFE FOR MANY YEARS, ALONG WITH DR.  CHARLES BECKNELL, SR. AND I HAVE JUST BEEN BLESSED  TO BE AROUND RON WALLACE AND BEING IN THE COMPANY OF  MARSHA HARDEMAN.

>> Hardeman: YOU'RE SO  SWEET.

>> Green: I THOUGHT THIS  WOULD BE A GOOD PANEL.

AND IT HAS A DIVERSE GROUP  OF VOICES.

THEY'RE ALL ACADEMICIANS, HISTORIANS, SCHOLARS.

FOR ME, THIS WAS JUST KIND OF A DREAM COME TRUE, AND A  WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO  TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP JUST LIKE JOE POWDRELL SAID OF A  CELEBRATION THAT IS ABOUT FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.

THE ESSENCE OF AMERICA.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

MR. WALLACE, YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN BLACK CULTURAL  EVENTS FOR YEARS, FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE,  COVERING THEM.

FOR A NEW MEXICAN AUDIENCE  THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN AWARE OF THE PREVALENCE OF  BLACK CULTURE HERE IN OUR STATE, HOW HAS MEDIA  COVERAGE OF JUNETEENTH AND OTHER MAJOR ISSUES AND  EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY HELPED SOLIDIFY THE IDENTITY  OF BLACK NEW MEXICANS?

>> Wallace: I THINK  JUNETEENTH MEANT A LOT BECAUSE IT BROUGHT OUR  COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOOD, GOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

BUT THE MAIN THING THAT I FELT THAT PEOPLE WALKED AWAY  WITH WAS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP.

A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF WHO THEY ARE AND A SENSE OF  OWNERSHIP THAT THEY BELONG.

AND A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF,  YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NOT HAVE A VOICE IN  ANYTHING.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WHERE THE  PUBLICATIONS CAME IN.

>> Lou: OKAY.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE COVERAGE OF THESE  EVENTS?

AND DID YOU SEE THE  INFLUENCE OF YOUR COVERAGE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO  ARE AWARE OF THEM, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE  AWARE OF BLACK CULTURE?

>> Wallace: OH, YEAH.

IT TOOK OFF.

WHEN MARSHA STARTED WITH THE  CHRONICLE, AND SHE GOT THIS MAJOR GOOD JOB WITH THE  CITY, AND SO I SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO BECAUSE I WAS  LIKE HER TECHNICAL PERSON.

SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

I THOUGHT -- >> Hardeman: YOU DO IT, RON.

>> Wallace: YEAH.

SO I THOUGHT I'LL CREATE THE  PERSPECTIVE AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

SO THE CHRONICLE WENT AWAY, BUT THE PERSPECTIVE CAME IN  AND STARTED FROM THERE.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

THIS NEXT QUESTION I'LL DIRECT TO YOU FIRST,  REV.

DR. CHARLES BECKNELL.

AND THEN YOU, PROFESSOR HARDEMAN.

STARTING WITH YOU, REVEREND, HOW HAS THE RELATIONSHIP  WITH THE CITY EVOLVED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN THE  DEVELOPMENT OF THE CELEBRATION, BRINGING IN  PEOPLE LIKE TIM, BUT BOTH FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL  ALSO THE WIDER GROUP OF COMMUNITY ELDERS LIKE WE  HAVE GATHERED TODAY?

>> Becknell: WELL, YOU KNOW,  I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, BUT WHEN JOE POWDRELL  TALKED ABOUT OWNERSHIP, AND THE CITY GOT INVOLVED AND  STARTED PUTTING MONEY INTO IT, I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH  THAT.

BECAUSE THE OWNERSHIP SEEMED  TO BE SHIFTED TO OH, WE NEED MONEY TO PUT THIS ON.

WHEN WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AT ONE TIME IT AND JUST HAD A  BIG CELEBRATION IN THE PARK.

IT GOT COMMERCIALIZED.

THIS IS WHY I'M SO DISTURBED BY THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF  JUNETEENTH.

WE NEED TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP  OF THE CELEBRATION.

AND WHEN OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,  IN TERMS OF MONEY, WE DEPEND ON MONEY TO HAVE A  JUNETEENTH, I DON'T WANT NO PARTS OF THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST ME.

I'M NOT BEING -- WHATEVER.

IT'S JUST A CONCERN ON MY PART.

>> Lou: I UNDERSTAND.

PROFESSOR, HOW WOULD YOU  CHARACTERIZE THE CITY'S INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT AND  FACILITATING THIS EVENT AND HOW THAT'S EVOLVED OVER THE  YEARS?

>> Hardeman: SO, LET ME TRY  TO GO BACK.

WHEN JOE TALKED ABOUT THE  EVOLUTION OF THE CELEBRATIONS FROM BACKYARD  TO PARK, TO PARK, TO PARK AND WHEN THE CITY STARTED  THE DOWNTOWN SUMMERFESTS IN THE LATE '80s -- I WANT TO  SAY -- I'M HAVING TO REMEMBER.

THERE WAS SOME MONEY THAT WAS INFUSED.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH DR. BECKNELL THAT IT CREATED  SOME ISSUES ABOUT WHO COULD, WHO COULDN'T, REGULATORY  GUIDELINES BECAUSE IT WAS A CITY EVENT.

WE MOVED FROM CIVIC PLAZA TO THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS FOR  EXACTLY THAT REASON.

SO WHEN CATHY McGILL AND I  ORGANIZED, WE FIGURED OKAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO  START -- THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING IN THE WORLD,  SAYING WE HAVE TO CHARGE SOMETHING TO PAY, YOU KNOW,  FOR ALL OF THE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL, AND HOOKUPS FOR  THE BANDS AND THE STANDS.

WE HAD A GOSPEL STAGE THAT  WENT ALL DAY LONG STARTING AT SUNRISE UNTIL THAT NIGHT.

WE HAD A SECULAR STAGE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO DO  THEIR OTHER STUFF.

NO BAD WORDS.

IT'S ALL FAMILY STUFF.

BUT, IT WAS STILL OUR OWN.

AND BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT MEANT WE COULD INCORPORATE  NEW BUSINESSES.

WE COULD INCORPORATE OUR OWN  NONPROFITS TO SHARE THE INFORMATION.

OUR CHURCHES COULD COME AND DO THEIR OWN THING.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT MONEY -- IT'S HARD TO DO  THINGS WITHOUT MONEY.

BECAUSE EVEN AT ROOSEVELT  PARK I CAN JOE CONTRACTING WITH CLARENCE SMITH AND HIS  DAD, THAT'S HISTORY, TO DO THE ELECTRICAL.

EVEN AROUND ROOSEVELT PARK BECAUSE WE NEEDED  MICROPHONES, OR THE BANDS NEEDED SOUND.

SO, TO CREATE A BALANCE THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY OUR  CONTROL WITH OVERLY REGULATED THINGS IS A  CHALLENGE.

IS IT IMPORTANT?

ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS  STILL TELL THE STORY.

TELL THE STORY OF  JUNETEENTH.

SHARE THE CELEBRATIONS.

THAT'S WHY THE NEWSPAPERS, WE THOUGHT WERE SO  IMPORTANT.

RON IS LAUGHING ABOUT BEING  MY TECHNICAL PERSON.

HE USED TO DO ALL THE  COMPUTING.

THIS IS BEFORE WE WERE REAL  FAMILIAR WITH COMPUTERS.

BUT THE LAUNCH OF THE  CHRONICLE -- THE CORNISH RUSSWURM CHRONICLE.

NAMED FOR THE FOUNDERS OF THE BLACK PRESS, SAMUEL  CORNISH AND JOHN B. RUSSWURM.

THE MASTHEAD SAID WE WISH TO PLEAD OUR OWN CAUSE.

TOO LONG HAVE OTHERS SPOKEN FOR US.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE WAS TO TELL OUR OWN GOOD NEWS  STORIES THAT NEVER GET TOLD IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

THAT'S STILL THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY.

WHEN I -- THAT'S WHEN I BECAME THE CONVENTION CENTER  DIRECTOR AND RON BEGAN, HE TOLD THE STORIES THAT WERE  MISSING.

WE TOLD STORIES OF  OUTSTANDING ACADEMICIANS AND BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES  THAT WERE DOING THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BLACK  COMMUNITY THAT NOBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE HEARD OF.

AND THAT'S STILL THE SAME PROBLEM, BACK TO DR.  BECKNELL'S POINT.

THE ISSUES, I SAY OFTEN,  WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN.

IT'S THE SAME ISSUES THAT  WE'RE STILL GRAPPLING WITH.

DON'T LET JUNETEENTH DOWN.

>> Lou: NOW, WITH ALL OF THIS HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE  THAT YOU BRING UP, DO YOU FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY  AS -- A TERM THAT YOU FLINCHED AT EARLIER IN OUR  PRE-CONVERSATION, AS A COMMUNITY ELDER, TO PASS ON  THAT KNOWLEDGE, BUT TO ALSO LEAD THOSE  DISCUSSIONS AND THESE COLLABORATIONS?

>> Hardeman: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GOING TO SAY THIS  BRIEFLY AND I'M GOING TO PASS THAT BATON TO TIM.

WHY AM I STILL TEACHING AT AGE 101?

BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO PASS ALONG.

I BELIEVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO SHARE THE  HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE AND THE STRENGTHS OF OUR PEOPLE  WHO KEEP ON THRIVING AND NOT JUST SURVIVING ARE  ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

JUNETEENTH JUST HAPPENS TO  BE A CULMINATING TIME THAT EVERYBODY ELSE CAN BE A PART  OF IT.

HOPEFULLY, AS I TELL MY  STUDENTS, WHAT YOU LEARN NOW YOU NEED TO GO AND TEACH  SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING  NOW, TIM?

>> Green: WELL, I THINK IT  BRINGS US TO JUNETEENTH 2024 WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A  WONDERFUL OPENING CEREMONY.

WHERE WE'RE INVITING  EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, ELDERS, ALL THE  DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NEW MEXICO, TO COME  OUT AND WE'LL WALK TOGETHER IN AN ACT OF EMBODIMENT.

AND THE YOUTH ARE GOING TO CHALK OUT ON THE GROUND WHAT  JUNETEENTH MEANS TO THEM.

WE'VE PUT OUT A  QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE'LL GATHER THOSE RESPONSES AND THEN WE'LL  HAVE THE YOUTH CHALK IT OUT.

AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT  11:00.

AND AT 1:30 WE'RE GOING TO  HAVE A SESSION CALLED YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK.

WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THE ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS  OF OUR YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'LL HAVE A POEM.

THERE WILL BE A MENTIMETER,  WHICH WILL BE A Q&A BETWEEN THE AUDIENCE.

>> Hardeman: YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE MENTIMETER FOR  SOME OF US -- >> Green: ABSOLUTELY.

THE MENTIMETER IS JUST A Q&A AND IT'S A WAY PEOPLE CAN  INTERACT USING THEIR PHONE, THEIR DIGITAL PADS, OR  ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND IT WILL BE AROUND THE  HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH.

IT WILL BE ABOUT 15 TO 20  QUESTIONS.

WE DID IT LAST YEAR.

IT WAS A GREAT HIT.

EVERYBODY LOVED IT.

AND THEN IN THE EVENING, AT 5:00 TO 5:30,  WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS PANEL HERE AND WE'RE GOING  TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE PRESENT AND  FUTURE OF JUNETEENTH.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU FEEL, TIM, AS A YOUNGER  PERSON TO BLEND THESE GENERATIONS  TOGETHER?

>> Green: I THINK THERE'S A  GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK  ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLACK EDUCATIONAL HERITAGE AND  WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO QUICKLY GO BACK TO WHAT DR. CHARLES  BECKNELL, SR.

SPOKE TO.

I THINK IT'S A FINE BALANCE,  JUST LIKE YOU SAID.

RIGHT, BECAUSE JUNETEENTH  HAS BECOME A FEDERAL NATIONAL-RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY,  WHICH IT HAS ALWAYS HAS NEEDED TO BE.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO WALK THAT FINE LINE OF  MAINTAINING CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP.

TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET WATERED DOWN THROUGH  COMMERCIALIZATION OR GETTING WHITEWASHED ABOUT WHAT THE  ACTUAL SENTIMENT AND MEANING OF THE HOLIDAY IS.

FOR ME, I THINK BEING A BLACK NEW MEXICAN WHO HAS  BEEN RAISED HERE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW UNIQUE WE  ARE WITHIN THE COUNTRY, I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY  IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THESE TRADITIONS, WE  MAINTAIN OUR CULTURE, AND WE LEARN THE LESSONS FROM OUR  ELDERS SO THAT WAY MOVING FORWARD WE CAN TEACH OUR  CHILDREN.

WE'RE LIVING IN A CONTEXT  NOW WHERE OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE IS BEING BANNED  ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RIGHT?

AND THERE'S ANTI-BLACKNESS.

THERE'S LOTS OF RACISM THAT IS STILL GOING ON.

ANTI-VOTING LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING PASSED.

WE CANNOT SEPARATE THESE ISSUES FROM THE HISTORY OF  JUNETEENTH AND THE TRUE ESSENCE AND MEANING.

FOR ME, IF WE DON'T BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN OUR ELDERS  AND OUR YOUTH, THERE'S GOING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM MOVING  FORWARD IN TERMS OF WHO WE ARE AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE  WE COME FROM.

>> Hardeman: THAT'S GOOD.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

THANK YOU, ALL.

THANK YOU, MR. WALLACE.

REV.

DR. CHARLES  BECKNELL, SR. WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME YOU,  TIM, AND PROFESSOR, BACK AFTER THE BREAK.

FOR NOW, BACK TO JEFF.

>> Jeff: OVER THE COURSE OF  2023, RESIDENTS IN ALBUQUERQUE'S INTERNATIONAL  DISTRICT WATCHED AS THEIR LONE WALMART AND WALGREENS  LOCATIONS CLOSED UP SHOP.

WITH THE DEPARTURE OF BOTH  BUSINESSES, MOST PEOPLE FOUND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A  PHARMACY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

CITY COUNCILORS GOT AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT THE ISSUE  LAST MONTH WHEN THE ALBUQUERQUE HEALTH EQUITY  COUNCIL LABELED DISTRICT SIX A PHARMACY DESERT.

THIS WEEK, LOU SITS DOWN WITH CITY COUNCILLOR NICHOLE  ROGERS TO DISCUSS THE LACK OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES  AVAILABLE IN HER DISTRICT, AND TO CONSIDER NEXT STEPS  TO HELP THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED IN A  PHARMACY DESERT.

>> Lou: ALBUQUERQUE CITY  COUNCILOR NICHOLE ROGERS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING  HERE.

>> Rogers: THANK YOU FOR  HAVING ME.

>> Lou: I WANT TO START  BROADLY HERE.

WHEN CONSIDERING THE  INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AS A PHARMACY DESERT, WHICH  RESIDENTS ARE MOST IMPACTED?

>> Rogers: I'M SO GLAD YOU  STARTED WITH THAT QUESTION BECAUSE FOR ME THAT'S REALLY  WHO I'M MOST WORRIED ABOUT IS OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

OUR SENIORS, AND I THINK SPECIFICALLY  TRANSIT-DEPENDENT RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SIX.

WHICH FROM THE DATA THAT I'VE BEEN PULLING, WE HAVE  OVER 8,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN DISTRICT SIX THAT DO NOT  HAVE A VEHICLE.

AND THERE ARE EVEN SEGMENTS  OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE VEHICLES, BUT KIDS HAVE TO  RIDE THE BUS.

ONE PARENT HAS TO RIDE THE  BUS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF  TRANSIT-DEPENDENT FOLKS IN DISTRICT SIX THAT NOW HAVE  TO GO FURTHER.

AND IF THEY NEED TO GET  THEIR MEDICATION ON A SUNDAY EVENING, EVEN IF THE  PHARMACY IS OPEN, TRANSIT DOES NOT RUN SUNDAY AFTER  7:00 P.M.

SO, I THINK FOR ME IT'S THE  MOST VULNERABLE THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT, ESPECIALLY OUR  SENIORS.

>> Lou: OKAY.

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW FOR PEOPLE WHO  LIVE IN THAT AREA WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR THE ABILITY  TO DRIVE?

>> Rogers: WELL, I THINK  RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WALGREENS IS GONE, CVS IS GONE,  WALMART IS GONE, THE CLOSEST PLACE I WOULD SAY IS  SMITH'S.

BUT NO, THAT SMITH'S ON  LOMAS DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PHARMACY.

THEY DON'T.

JOHN'S PHARMACY, I THINK, IS  THE CLOSEST THAT I CAN THINK OF, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD JUST  AFTER WYOMING AND CENTRAL AREA.

OUTSIDE OF THAT -- >> Lou: HOW DO THEY GET  THERE?

HOW DO THEY GET THEIR  MEDICATION?

>> Rogers: THAT'S WHY I'M WORRIED.

PEOPLE ARE EITHER HAVING TO SWITCH TO DELIVERY.

AND THEN IF YOU'RE DOING DELIVERY SERVICES NOW  THEY'RE CHARGING FOR DELIVERY FOR SOME BECAUSE  THEY'RE USING PLACES LIKE DOORDASH.

I HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS.

I GET MEDICATION EVERY THREE  MONTHS.

SO, EVEN TRYING TO MYSELF  NAVIGATE THAT SYSTEM TO GET STUFF -- I'VE BEEN TRYING.

OKAY, LET'S SEE, LET ME GO INTO THE WALGREENS APP LIKE  THEY TELL YOU TO DO AND SEE IF YOU CAN SWITCH TO  DELIVERY AND HOW QUICK THAT IS.

I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

EVEN MYSELF, AS AN INTELLIGENT PERSON THAT IS  REALLY GOOD AT TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK RIGHT NOW THAT IS  THE OPTION.

ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SENIOR  HOME-BOUND FOLKS AND TRANSIT-DEPENDENT FOLKS IS  THEY'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE HOW TO SWITCH TO A COMPANY  THAT WILL DELIER YOUR MEDICATION DIRECTLY TO YOU.

SAME WITH FOOD.

FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES.

AGAIN, THAT'S AN EXTRA COST AND BURDEN FOR FOLKS WHO  ALREADY ARE IN POVERTY.

>> Lou: YOU'VE PROPOSED  SIGNING UP RESIDENTS FOR A PROGRAM CALLED EXPRESS  SCRIPTS.

SIMILAR TO DOORDASH, WHICH  YOU BROUGHT UP, BUT FOR PHARMACIES AND MEDICATION.

HOW EXACTLY WOULD A LARGE-SCALE ROLLOUT OF A  PROGRAM LIKE THAT WORK?

AND WOULD IT BE MORE  DIFFICULT FOR ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR?

>> Rogers: IT IS DIFFICULT.

BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I  LEARNED FROM MY TIME IN HEALTH CARE IS THAT'S  DEPENDENT UPON IF YOUR SPECIFIC PROVIDER FOR YOUR  HEALTH CARE ALLOWS YOU TO USE EXPRESS SCRIPTS.

NOT EVERY CARRIER OF EVERY HEALTH CARE OFFERER IN OUR  STATE CAN USE EXPRESS SCRIPTS.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST BARRIER.

WE WOULD NEED -- AS I'M RESEARCHING WE WOULD NEED  REALLY STATE-WIDE LEGISLATION OR SOMETHING TO  MANDATE THAT OUR MCOs ALLOW FOLKS TO USE DELIVERY  SERVICES LIKE EXPRESS SCRIPTS.

I THINK -- HOW DO WE MANDATE THAT THEY CAN'T CHARGE  DELIVERY FOR THAT?

BUT THE PUSHBACK IS GOING TO  BE HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND EAT  THAT COST.

SO THERE'S A BALANCE TO THAT  AS WELL.

THIS ONE IS A TOUGH  CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW FROM RESEARCH IS WHERE  LOCAL SPENDING IS HIGHER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIFE  EXPECTANCY IS HIGHER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING  ABOUT HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S  LIFE EXPECTANCY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FOOD  DESERTS WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT PHARMACY DESERTS.

AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS.

HOW DO WE EVEN GET OUR MEDICINES TO ALBUQUERQUE?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

WHAT IS OUR FOOD SUPPLY  CHAIN?

WHAT IS OUR MEDICAL SUPPLY  CHAIN?

THOSE ARE BIGGER QUESTIONS  THAT -- BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS PEOPLE'S LIFE EXPECTANCY.

IT'S NOT OKAY THAT PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN  DISTRICT SIX HAVE TO HAVE LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY  BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FRESH FOOD AND PHARMACIES TO GET  THE MEDICINE WE NEED.

>> Lou: HOW DID WE GET TO  THIS POINT?

WHY HAVE PHARMACY SERVICES  IN YOUR DISTRICT DWINDLED TO THIS LEVEL?

AND WHAT ROADBLOCKS ARE THERE TO BRINGING THEM BACK?

>> Rogers: I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS.

WE OBVIOUSLY HEAR ABOUT THEFT IN PLACES LIKE  WALGREENS, CVS, WALMART.

WE'VE HEARD OF THAT CIRCLING  IN THE DISTRICT.

I FUNDAMENTALLY FEEL LIKE  WE'VE ALWAYS HAD CERTAIN TYPES OF THEFT IN RETAIL.

I'VE WORKED IN RETAIL.

THERE WERE LOSS PREVENTION  SPECIALISTS.

INSURANCE TO COVER LOSS  PREVENTION TYPES OF INITIATIVES.

I THINK THE DIFFERENCE HERE THOUGH IS THE ORGANIZED  RINGS THAT WERE GOING IN AND PUTTING PEOPLE'S SAFETY AT  RISK IN THE STORES.

I THINK COMPANIES HAD TO  MAKE HARD DECISIONS ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

INFRASTRUCTURE IN MY DISTRICT AROUND DO WE HAVE  NICE PARKS.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT  MATTERS, BUT IT DOES MATTER TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR  PARKS AND ROADS AND LIGHTING AND PLACES PEOPLE WANT TO  LIVE.

WHERE BUSINESSES WANT TO  COME AND STAY.

I THINK THAT'S A PUBLIC  SAFETY ISSUE.

THAT'S A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM  ISSUE.

ACCESS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE.

THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS TO THIS.

WE HAVE -- WHEN YOU THINK OF UNSHELTERED FOLKS, NOT EVEN  JUST TRANSIT-DEPENDENT FOLKS, THE MEDICAL NEEDS ARE  HUGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Lou: NOW, THE HEALTH  EQUITY COUNCIL HAS PUT TOGETHER A MAP OF PROPOSED  PHARMACY SITES.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON  DEVELOPING THOSE SITES INTO NEW PHARMACIES AND I KNOW  YOU TOUCHED ON IT A BIT, BUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FIRST  TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN?

>> Rogers: YEAH, I THINK FOR  DISTRICT SIX SPECIFICALLY, I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME  TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHY OUR DISTRICT HAS  HISTORICALLY NOT BEEN INVESTED IN.

I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO  FLOOD THE AREAS THAT NEED IT MOST WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH  CARE.

WE NEED MORE CLINICS THAT  OFFER PHARMACY SERVICES IN THE CLINIC.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR HEALTH  PARTNERS ON RIGHT NOW.

AND WITH PEOPLE LIKE OWNERS  OF JOHN'S PHARMACY TO SAY, OUR MOM AND POP ONES THAT  HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY, HOW DO WE HELP THEM EXPAND.

AND IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

HOW DO WE HELP THEM WITH THE ACCESS TO CAPITAL TO BE ABLE  TO EXPAND.

I THINK THAT'S -- I WOULD  LIKE TO SEE US FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> Lou: OKAY.

WE KNOW WALMART CLOSED IN  MARCH, 2023.

WALGREENS CLOSED NOVEMBER,  2023.

THOSE BUILDINGS ARE EMPTY IN  THE CENTRAL PART OF YOUR DISTRICT.

ARE THERE ANY PLANS IN THE WORKS TO DEVELOP THOSE SITES  TO ADDRESS THIS PHARMACY DESERT BUT ALSO WHAT YOU  MENTIONED TOO, GROCERY ACCESS IN THE INTERNATIONAL  DISTRICT?

>> Rogers: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S TOP OF MY PRIORITIES.

I THINK BECAUSE IT'S TOP OF  THE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITIES.

WE ABSOLUTELY ARE CONTINUING  TO TRY TO ACQUIRE WALGREENS, CVS, WALMART.

I WILL KEEP SAYING WALMART IS REALLY HOLDING OUT  FOR THE HIGHEST BIDDERS, I THINK.

AND SO, SADLY FOR ME MY JOB IS I THINK FOR THESE  PARTICULAR SITES IS TO LOOK AT WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO US,  IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO SELL TO THE CITY.

TALKING WITH DEVELOPERS WHO MAY HAVE ACCESS TO THE  CAPITAL THAT I DON'T IN DISTRICT SIX, RIGHT NOW.

TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, HOW CAN YOU HELP.

IN TALKS WITH WALMART, IN TALKS WITH THESE OTHER  COMPANIES.

THAT'S KIND OF MY STRATEGY.

LET'S TALK TO ALL OF THE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE  INTERESTED IN THESE PROPERTIES, AND TALK ALSO AT  THE SAME TIME AS WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO  ACQUIRE THEM.

I THINK WE NEED TO WORK  TOGETHER.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ALL  HANDS ON DECK.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO  STACK CAPITAL TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN IN DISTRICT  SIX.

I'D LIKE TO SEE -- A GROUP  OF US, FROM COMMUNITY, WENT TO GO SEE THE SILVER STREET  MARKET MODEL WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FARMS.

THE ONLY THING WE WOULD ADD TO THAT IS A CLINIC WITH A  PHARMACY TO SEE HOW WE CAN RECREATE THAT  IN DISTRICT SIX.

THE CITY OWNS THE KATHRYN  AND SAN MATEO LOT, WHAT IF WE CAN RECREATE THAT THERE  WITH THE CLINIC.

COMMUNITY WANTS ACCESS TO  HEALTH CARE, FOOD, HOUSING, AND DAYCARE.

THOSE ARE THE TOP FOUR THINGS THAT I'M HEARING  DURING OUR STRATEGY SESSIONS AND EVERYTHING AS WE'RE OUT  IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT IN  A DEVELOPMENT AND KEEP THAT MODEL GOING THROUGHOUT.

AND HOMEOWNERSHIP AND POVERTY.

WE HAVE TO BE WORKING ON POVERTY.

THIS IS THE ROOT UNDERLYING CAUSE OF ALL OF THIS.

IF A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT SIX IS NOT IN POVERTY THEY  CAN GO TO -- THEY HAVE A CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE TO GET THEIR  MEDICATION.

THEY CAN AFFORD THE DELIVERY  TO COME HERE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS TIE TO  POVERTY.

THAT'S THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL  OF THIS.

THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD REALLY  BE TACKLING.

>> Lou: WHAT CAN WE DO TO  MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE  CONNECTED, AND WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO ADDRESSING  THOSE UNDERLYING CAUSES?

>> Rogers: YEAH, I THINK WE  HAVE TO HAVE SOME EDUCATION FOR COMMUNITY, AND NOT MAKE  POVERTY SUCH AN OTHER THING.

LIKE THAT'S HAPPENING TO  SOMEONE ELSE.

BECAUSE AS WE'RE IN THE  COMMUNITY TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT SITUATIONAL POVERTY,  AND HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO POSTPONE A BILL?

THAT'S SITUATIONAL POVERTY.

AND EVERYBODY CAN RELATE TO  THAT.

THERE'S GENERATIONAL  POVERTY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE A LOT  OF IN DISTRICT SIX.

THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY  THAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THIS CYCLE THAT YOU CAN'T GO TO  YOUR MOM AND SAY, HEY MOM, HOW DO I GET A LEG UP.

BECAUSE MOM WAS IN POVERTY, GRANDMA WAS IN POVERTY,  GREAT-GRANDMA WAS IN POVERTY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THE EDUCATION SO PEOPLE DON'T  SEE IT AS SUCH AN OTHER THING, AND THAT YOU TOO HAVE  DEALT WITH SITUATIONAL POVERTY -- EVERYBODY HAS  DEALT WITH SITUATIONAL POVERTY AT ONE TIME OR  ANOTHER.

EVERYBODY'S HEARD THE ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL SAYING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, WE'VE ALL HAD  SOME TYPE OF SITUATIONAL POVERTY AT SOME POINT IN OUR  LIFE.

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT  EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES.

THAT'S WHY I TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE CAMPAIGN AND WE'RE  DOING IT AND DELIVERING ON IT IN THE OFFICE OF  FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT.

THAT'S ALREADY OFF THE  GROUND.

WE'VE GOT THE STRATEGIC  PLANNING GRANT FROM -- AND WE'RE ALSO GETTING THE  IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FROM THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL  EMPOWERMENT.

THIS IS EXCITING BECAUSE FOR  ONCE WE CAN FOCUS ON -- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS  IMPORTANT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS  ABOUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT IS  REALLY ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE IN POVERTY THE TOOLS GET  THEMSELVES OUT.

THAT'S ONLY GOING TO HELP  OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Lou: ALL RIGHT.

CITY COUNCILOR NICHOLE ROGERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH  FOR BEING HERE.

>> Rogers: THANK YOU FOR  HAVING ME.

>> Lou: NOW, FOR OUR FINAL  SEGMENT ON JUNETEENTH AND ITS UNIQUE SIGNIFICANCE HERE  IN NEW MEXICO.

WELCOME BACK TO JOE AND RITA  POWDRELL, PROFESSOR MARSHA HARDEMAN, AND CULTURAL  CHANGE LEADER AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, TIM GREEN IV.

AS SOMEONE WHOSE HAD A DRIVING ROLE, MR. POWDRELL,  IN JUNETEENTH EVENTS FOR DECADES, HOW DO YOU  CHARACTERIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF INVOLVING PEOPLE OUTSIDE  THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN  CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH?

>> Joe: THE EVOLUTION OF  JUNETEENTH IS BEYOND NOW -- THE ESSENCE OF IS BEYOND THE  AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE NOW.

IT'S ACTUALLY BEYOND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

IT IS NOW A HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THE ESSENCE OF JUNETEENTH AND  TEACH IT TO THE COMING GENERATIONS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DISLIKED ABOUT IT  BECOMING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IS WHAT WAS THERAPEUTIC  ABOUT JUNETEENTH -- THAT'S NOT MOVING FORWARD.

BECAUSE THAT'S THERAPEUTIC NOT ONLY FOR  AFRICAN AMERICANS, IT'S THERAPEUTIC FOR AMERICANS AS  WELL.

I THINK IF WE CAN HOLD ON TO  THAT IN THE CELEBRATION OF IT, IT WILL BE WHAT WE NEED  AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

SANKOFA IS THE TERM WE USE VERY OFTEN.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO TRANSFER THE ESSENCE OF JUNETEENTH,  WHICH IS WE NEED TO LEARN AND APPRECIATE THE  SIMILARITIES THAT WE HAVE.

NEW MEXICO IS A VERY DIVERSE  STATE.

TEACHING IT HERE IS CRUCIAL.

NEW MEXICO MAKES JUNETEENTH -- I THINK THE  JUNETEENTH IN NEW MEXICO IS REALLY DIFFERENT THAN ALL  THE JUNETEENTHS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

BECAUSE ALL OF THE LAYOUT OF PEOPLE HERE.

BUT THE ESSENCE IS RELATIVE TO US ALL.

IF WE KEEP THAT, AND WE HAVE TO WORK TO KEEP IT, IT'S NOT  AN ACCIDENT THAT YOU KEEP A SENSE OF INTERRELATEDNESS.

WE HAVE TO DO THAT ON PURPOSE.

WE HAVE TO TEACH INTERRELATEDNESS.

>> Hardeman: THAT'S GOOD.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

TIM, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE PEOPLE OUTSIDE  THE BLACK COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION  IN 2024, IN PARTICULAR, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR  INVOLVEMENT?

>> Green: WELL, EVEN THOUGH  JUNETEENTH IS TALKING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY IN PARTICULAR,  I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY IN GENERAL.

>> Hardeman: THAT'S GOOD.

>> Green: AND THIS IDEA OF  FREEDOM AND LIBERTY THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SPEAKING  ABOUT, LOOKING TOWWARD A NEW FUTURE, THIS IS SOMETHING  THAT ALL CULTURES AND ETHNICITIES HAVE SHARED  THROUGHOUT THEIR PLIGHT OR THEIR HISTORY.

YOU CAN STUDY HISTORY AND UNDERSTAND THAT LOT OF US  HAVE BEEN SEEKING FREEDOM AND LIBERTY AND JOY FOR  MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY  FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND FOR US TO REALLY LIVE IN OUR  MULTICULTURALISM AS A STATE AND THE DIVERSITY.

BUT THE SAME TIME, UNDERSTANDING THE  SIGNIFICANCE THAT BLACK PEOPLE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS  HAVE MADE TO THE SOUTHWEST.

PRIOR TO STATEHOOD, AND THEN  MOVING FORWARD TO TODAY, WITH ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL  COUNCILORS BEING ELECTED, THE JUDGES AND ALL OF OUR  SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

BUT ALSO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO  IN THE FUTURE AS A COMMUNITY.

FOR ME, I JUST INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT,  CELEBRATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND JUST LEAN INTO CULTURE.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

WITH THAT IN MIND, AND NOW  THAT JUNETEENTH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL  HOLIDAY, IT'S BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD, THE  UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

IS THERE ANY WAY, MS.  POWDRELL, ANY FEAR OF WHITEWASHING OR OVER-  COMMERCIALIZATION LIKE WE BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST  SEGMENT?

>> Rita: I THINK THE  IMPORTANT THING ABOUT JUNETEENTH IS THE  EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

AND THE IMPORTANT THING  ABOUT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO NEW MEXICO  IS HOW IT AFFECTED NEW MEXICO.

SO, NEW MEXICO AND THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO MAY  NOT EVEN BECOME A STATE, MAY NOT EVEN HAVE HAD THE  BORDERS THAT IT HAD WERE IT NOT FOR THE EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION.

BECAUSE THE EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION ALLOWED THE WAR DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THE  UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS.

200,000 STRONG.

AND THAT WAS THE PREAMBLE  FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 9th AND 10th CAVALRY AND THE  24th AND 25th INFANTRY, WHICH WILL COME TO NEW  MEXICO AND HELP NEW MEXICO AS A TERRITORY  SQUASH REBELLIONS, PROTECT ITS BORDERS, BUILD FORTS.

AND SO THAT IS PART OF THE HISTORY OF THE EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION.

HOW IT AFFECTED THIS STATE,  NEW MEXICO, AND HOW AFRICAN AMERICANS BECAUSE OF  THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION COME TO THE  WEST AND ARE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEST.

THAT HISTORY IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.

>> Lou: OKAY.

APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT.

PROFESSOR, HOW DO WE AS A LARGER MULTICULTURAL  COMMUNITY WALK THAT LINE THAT TIM SPOKE A BIT OF  PARTICIPATING AND SUPPORTING THIS HOLIDAY WITHOUT TRYING  TO TAKE IT OVER?

IS THAT POSSIBLE IN OUR  CURRENT SOCIETY?

>> Hardeman: WHO IS THE WE?

>> Lou: EVERYBODY OUTSIDE THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

TO PARTICIPATE, TO RECOGNIZE YOUR OWNERSHIP OF THE  HOLIDAY.

>> Hardeman: OKAY.

WELL, I THINK THE EMPHASIS ON PLURALISM IS CRITICAL.

BLACK PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT WHITE  PEOPLE AND NATIVE AMERICANS.

NATIVE AMERICANS WOULD NOT  HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE AND  SOME HISPANICS.

AND AS RITA SAID, THIS STATE IS SO UNIQUE FROM MOST OTHER  PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE PLETHORA OF  SUBCULTURES.

BUT WE TEND TO GET ALONG  PRETTY WELL HERE.

THERE ARE ISSUES THAT KEEP  COMING UP, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHO WE  ARE.

WE WANT THEM TO RESPECT OUR  BACKGROUND, OUR CULTURE.

AND WE WANT TO RESPECT  THEIRS.

AND I THINK -- HERE'S A  QUOTE, EVERYBODY KNOWS MAYA ANGELOU WOULD SAY, WHEN  PEOPLE SHOW YOU -- HERE'S MY MORE FAVORITE ONE.

WE ARE MUCH MORE ALIKE, MY FRIEND, THAN WE ARE UNALIKE.

WE'RE MUCH MORE ALIKE, MY FRIEND, THAN WE ARE UNALIKE,  IN ONE OF OR POEMS.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW  ALIKE WE ARE IF WE DON'T KNOW OUR HISTORY.

IF WE DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE SOLDIERS CAME HERE TO  PROTECT THIS LAND, IF WE DON'T KNOW THAT SOME OF  THOSE SOLDIERS STAYED HERE TO ESTABLISH BLACK  COMMUNITIES.

VADO, BLACKDOM.

IF WE -- TIM TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST SEGMENT THE YOUNG  PEOPLE HAVING THE CHANCE TO CHALK OUT WHAT JUNETEENTH IS  GOING TO MEAN TO THEM, I AM SO CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEY  SAY.

BECAUSE THAT WILL TEACH US  WHAT WE STILL NEED TO BE TEACHING THEM.

WHAT'S MISSING.

WHAT ARE THEY NOT  UNDERSTANDING.

WHAT HAVE WE FAILED TO  TEACH.

SO MUCH OF OUR HISTORY IS  GETTING LOST, NOT JUST WHITEWASHED, BUT JUST  TOTALLY FORGOTTEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VENUES,  I'M GOING TO SAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS  THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.

PARDON ME, I ALWAYS SAY BLACK BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE  ARE -- IT MEANS ALL INCLUSIVE.

WE'RE A NATION THAT HAS INCORPORATED AFRICANS WHO  DON'T RELATE TO BEING AFRICAN AMERICAN BECAUSE  THAT MEANS OF AFRICAN DESCENT BORN IN AMERICA.

BUT WE HAVE FRANK MIRANDA WHO USED TO BE AT THE HUMAN  RIGHTS DEPARTMENT WOULD SAY, WHAT ABOUT THE BLACK  PORTUGUESE IN BOSTON WHERE HE CAME FROM, OR CABO  VERDEANS.

BLACK PEOPLE ENCOMPASS THE  WORLD.

I WON'T SAY THAT ALL OF US  HAD A LITTLE BLACKNESS IN US, BUT YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE  TALKING ABOUT UNIFYING, THE MORE WE KNOW THE MORE WE'LL  LEARN TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.

TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

AND, BOY, AT THIS TIME IN  OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR NATION'S HISTORY, IF WE  HAVEN'T LEARNED YET THAT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, WE  WILL ALL RISE OR FALL TOGETHER.

AND I WANT TO SEE US NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE.

YES.

>> Lou: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NOW --  >> Hardeman: JOE HAS A THOUGHT.

>> Lou: BY ALL MEANS.

>> Joe: IF JUNETEENTH, AS IT  EVOLVES, EVEN AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, IF IT SERVES THE  PURPOSE OF EDUCATING US -- MAKING US REALIZE WHAT DR.  KING SAID.

WE FIND OURSELVES IN AN  INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU HAPPENS TO ME.

IF JUNETEENTH FACILITATES GETTING THAT MESSAGE OVER,  AND IT CAN BECAUSE OF THE STORY OF JUNETEENTH, THE  EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, THE CIVIL WAR, THE STRUGGLE  WITH TRANSITIONING FROM BEING OWNED TO OWNING  YOURSELF, GOD BLESS THE CHILD.

IF JUNETEENTH SERVES THE PURPOSE, AND I THINK IT  WILL.

I THINK IT WILL BECAUSE IT  NEEDS TO.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED WHAT  JUNETEENTH ESSENTIALLY SAYS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE  ALL RIGHT.

BUT IT AIN'T AN ACCIDENT.

WE HAVE TO DO WHAT TIM'S DOING.

WE HAVE TO DO IT ON PURPOSE.

IT AIN'T NO ACCIDENT.

>> Lou: UNDERSTOOD.

ON THAT NOTE, MS. POWDRELL,  WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ALL NEED TO DO?

THE BLACK COMMUNITY, PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE BLACK COMMUNITY,  TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE, THE HISTORY, AND THE LEGACY OF  THIS HOLIDAY?

>> Rita: WELL, I THINK ONE  OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS TO EDUCATE OURSELF TO  HISTORY.

YOU KNOW, DURING ENSLAVEMENT  WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO LEARN HOW TO READ.

BUT THE THING IS WE NOW KNOW HOW TO READ BUT WE'RE  STILL ILLITERATE.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW OUR  HISTORY.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW, AS  MARSHA SAID, HOW WE'RE CONNECTED, HOW WE'RE  INTERCONNECTED.

SO, AGAIN, AND WHAT JOE  SAID, UNDERSTANDING HISTORY, UNDERSTANDING THE AMBIGUITY  OF HISTORY.

UNDERSTANDING HOW EVEN THE  EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION LEFT PEOPLE BEHIND.

IT ACTUALLY LEFT ENSLAVED PEOPLE BEHIND BECAUSE IT  ALLOWED CERTAIN -- THE BORDER STATES TO HAVE  SLAVES.

EVEN AFTER THE TEXANS,  AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO WERE COVERED BY THE EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION WERE FREED, YOU STILL HAD ENSLAVEMENT IN  KENTUCKY AND DELAWARE.

WHICH DOES NOT END UNTIL WE  HAVE THE 13th AMENDMENT.

AND THAT'S HISTORY.

THAT'S KNOWING HOW THINGS EVOLVED.

THAT'S KNOWING OUR ORIGIN AS A PEOPLE.

REALLY UNDERSTANDING HISTORY.

ALL OF IT.

>> Hardeman: HOW THE PIECES  RELATE.

IT'S A WHOLE PUZZLE THAT  EXPLAINS THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, AND NOT AMERICA IS  WITHOUT ITS FAULTS.

WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THE  ISSUES THAT ARE CYCLIC.

BUT THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND  HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER, THE LESS CAUGHT OFF-GUARD I  WANT TO SAY WE WILL BE.

>> Green: I JUST WANT TO ADD  TO WHAT RITA'S SAYING.

THE ISSUE TODAY IS SOMETHING  THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, SHE TALKED ABOUT ANTI-LITERACY  LAWS.

WE'RE STILL SEEING THOSE  PASSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK  EDUCATION.

I DO WANT TO UPLIFT WHAT'S  GOING ON IN NEW MEXICO WHEN IT COMES TO THE BLACK  EDUCATION ACT.

I'M PART OF -- I'M ON THE  CURRICULUM COMMITTEE.

SO, THERE IS AN ACT IN PLACE  RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TEACH, WE MAINTAIN, AND  WE HOLD BLACK CULTURE AND HERITAGE INSIDE OF OUR  SCHOOLS AND MAKE SURE IT'S CULTURALLY RELEVANT PEDAGOGY  TO MAKE SURE THE CONTENT IS APPROPRIATE AND THE  CURRICULUM.

SO THERE ARE -- I JUST WANT  TO UPLIFT THERE ARE ACTS IN NEW MEXICO WHICH I THINK  MAKE US UNIQUE WHEN IT COMES TO PRESERVING THAT BLACK  HISTORY.

>> Hardeman: THAT'S VERY  GOOD.

>> Lou: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ALL.

I REALLY --  >> Hardeman: ARE WE OUT OF TIME?

>> Lou: WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I REALLY THANK YOU, ALL, FOR  BEING HERE FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

THANKS TO REV.

DR. CHARLES BECKNELL, SR.,  AND MR. RON WALLACE, ALSO.

THANKS TO TIM, IN  PARTICULAR.

AND THANKS COUNCILOR NICHOLE  ROGERS WHO WE ALSO SAW DURING THIS BROADCAST FOR  THEIR WORK ORGANIZING AND CONCEPTUALIZING TO THIS  PANEL DISCUSSIONS.

AS WE MENTIONED  ALBUQUERQUE'S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IS SATURDAY FROM  11:00 TO 11:00 ON CIVIC PLAZA.

>> Jeff: THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN  FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.