True New Mexico
Young New Mexican Artists Looking to Dismantle the Tricultural Myth
A New mexico asian family Center & New mexico black leadership council COLLABORATION
2025 True NM
Young Black & AAPINH NM Artists Looking to Discuss and Dismantle the Tricultural Myth
We are seeking 10 young artists who are 16-22 years old and identify as Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian (AAPINH) and/or Black/African American.
All participants should be committed to engaging in cross-racial movement building and anti-racism and be ready to participate fully in a cohort experience.
Young artists will create a self-portrait with any media in response to the prompt:
“What is your true NM story?”
What is the
Tricultural Myth
Here in New Mexico, the tricultural myth runs deep. In a nutshell, the tricultural myth is a widely accepted misconception about the racial makeup of New Mexico that implies that Indigenous, Latina/o/x, and white people live here in a harmonious, interracial community. Not only does it ignore the current and historic racism and disenfranchisement that Indigenous and Latina/o/x communities experience systemically, but it also inherently removes Black/African American and/or Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian (AAPINH) peoples from the narrative entirely. Through this project, we hope to create and build conversations dismantling this myth.
What is
True New Mexico
True New Mexico is an annual anti-racism, youth-centered, arts-based project developed as a collaboration between the New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC) and the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC). Each spring, a cohort of Black/African American and/or AAPINH young artists create original self-portraits guided by the prompt “What’s your True New Mexican story?”
Who is
NMAFC
The New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2006, provides culturally sensitive programs and services creating a Pan-Asian community that advocates for and supports itself. NMAFC is a community-based organization working to advance the visibility, rights, and equitable access to services of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian families across the state. NMAFC provides survivor-led and centered direct social services, programs centering traditional methods of healing, youth and community leadership programs, financial education workshops, cross-racial movement building and advocacy, and civic engagement work.
Who is
NMBLC
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a hub to create a viable and sustainable social profit sector designed to serve the black community in the state of New Mexico. NMBLC focuses on building capacity in four key areas: Cultural Vibrancy, Health (Physical, Behavioral, and Financial), Positive Youth Development + Leadership, and Civic Engagement.
