This event has been postponed and will take place in fall 2024. An exact date will be announced in the coming weeks!

Past Keynote Speakers

Each year the YCD New Mexico Student Board selects a dynamic and interesting keynote speaker to address the audience; as soon as one is selected, we’ll announce it here. In the meantime, see below a list of past keynote speakers featured at the event:

Who Should Attend

The Conference is open to all high school students and supportive teachers/adults from across New Mexico. In particular, this event is a great opportunity for groups such as:

• Diversity or multicultural student clubs
• Student councils
• Peace/conflict resolution-focused organizations, including PeaceJam and Interact
• Religious student organizations interested in exploring interfaith dialogue and positive social change
• Clubs celebrating specific student ethnicities, including Black Student Alliance, Latinx or Hispanic student clubs, Native/Indigenous student clubs and others
• Gender/sexuality-focused student groups, including gay-straight alliances
• Female empowerment student clubs
• Peer counselors
• Deaf students and their allies, including ASL signing clubs
• Disabled students from all backgrounds
• Creative writing and performance student groups, including poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, dance and other clubs
• Students from a local youth organization, even if they attend different schools
• ANY group of teens interested in improving their school’s culture or making a positive change in their community

Venue and Directions

Schedule

We fill the conference day with numerous opportunities for students and teachers to discuss, engage and explore the topics that are most important to them. Click any portion of the day below for more information. You can also download a printable version of the day’s schedule.

Arrival and Parking / 9:00 – 9:30 am

If your group is not traveling to the event together, agree on a specific time to arrive as a group in advance. Once parked, follow the balloons to registration.

Breakfast / 9:00 – 10:00 am

We provide a light breakfast, including bagels and cream cheese, yogurt, fruit and muffins, as well as water and coffee. Participants are then ushered as a school group to the courtyard to register.

Registration and Morning Entertainment / 9:30 – 10:00 am

Group leaders register their clubs or groups; registration takes a matter of minutes. Each school receives a packet containing materials for the conference day, including nametags. An emcee and various student groups from around the state keep participants entertained as we get closer to starting the formal program.

Opening Ceremonies and Keynote Speech / 10:00 – 10:50 am

Opening Ceremonies begin with welcome speeches by the conference student co-chairs and educational leaders. Each year the Student Executive Committee works hard to identify and invite a notable public speaker to address conference attendees. In 2020 we were addressed by slam poet and community activist Hakim Bellamy.

Discussion Groups and Lunch / 10:55 am – 12:25 pm

The first interactive session of the conference day involves informal group discussions of students from all over the state led by trained student facilitators. Students have an opportunity to speak their mind about the social issues they are facing in their schools and communities, and hear from other students from across the state who may be facing similar or different issues. Lunch is served at this time as well. While students are in their discussion groups, faculty advisors meet to have professional development workshops on teaching for equity and social justice.

Workshop A / 12:35 – 1:45 pm

Students and faculty advisors attend a workshop of their choice, chosen in advance. See a list of workshops offered here.

Workshop B / 1:50 – 3:00 pm

Both students and faculty advisors attend a second workshop of their choice, chosen in advance. See a list of workshops offered here.

Closing Ceremonies / 3:10 – 3:40 pm

We finish the day by giving out a community award, viewing a video montage, and hearing from an exceptional musical performer.

Workshops

The workshops offered at the Conference each year are chosen by the YCD New Mexico Student Board, so that the topics are constantly reflecting the needs, interests, and challenges facing NM teens.

Travel and Lodging

In general, school groups within a 3-hour drive of the Albuquerque Metro area can attend the event without requiring overnight stays.

For groups coming from further away, YCD will negotiate a hotel room block. Check back here for more information, or contact us.

Registration

To join us at the New Mexico Diversity Conference for Youth, sign up your school or youth organization for YCD! Click the link below to get started.

Contact Info

For more information about the YCD New Mexico Student Board, contact the organizer for the program:

Nikki Archuleta

Organizer – New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
(505) 804-6790
narchuleta@ycdiversity.org

Gina Cordova

Organizer – New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
(505) 226-2545
gina.cordova@aps.edu

For questions about registration, payment, or anything else, contact YCD’s Executive Director:

Caleb Munro

Executive Director
Denver, Colorado
(720) 507-0746
cmunro@ycdiversity.org