Equality New Mexico/

New Mexico Safe Schools Initiative

Recent data shows that over 50,000 incidents of bullying and harassment in New Mexico schools go unreported every year.

That is why EQNM Foundation and partners are leading a multi-year initiative to help make New Mexico's public schools safer and more beneficial for all students, particularly for those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming, and queer (LGBTQ).

Prevention Starts with Education

Through the collaboration of the organizations a part of the New Mexico Safe Schools Initiative, we are able to facilitate trainings, workshops, panels, and presentations in LGBTQ cultural competency, bullying prevention and safe schools, transgender student protections, suicide prevention, GSA club development, Safe Zones, and more. Collaborating partners include: New Mexico GSA Network, Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico, Solace Crisis Treatment Center, Resolve New Mexico (formerly IMPACT Personal Safety), and Prevention at Play.

Goals of the Initiative

• Create a greater understanding of Safe Schools practices and culture through education and outreach.
• Build momentum for statewide, systemic changes in how we approach bullying (violence) prevention in the schools.
• Adopt and implement model transgender student practices statewide.
• Provide model bullying prevention program development and implementation support for New Mexico's public schools.