State Sen. Cindy Nava emphasized the importance of youth voices and public investment during a community-focused town hall at Bernalillo High School on May 28.
The event marked Nava’s first major public forum in District 9 since taking office earlier this year.
Nava, the first DACA recipient to receive a presidential appointment and the first to be elected to office in America, used the opportunity to share legislative updates, highlight recent accomplishments and, most importantly, listen to the concerns of students, educators and community members.
“What I want to tell you is that you can do whatever it is that you hope for, regardless of what your background is, regardless of where you come from,” she said. “If this immigrant girl did it, you sure as hell can do it.”
The evening began with a special musical performance by the Bernalillo High School band, whose members later spoke about the need for better funding and resources when Nava called them in to sit up front for a quick chat with her to empower them and give them “a seat at the table.”
“I think it’s important that we do whatever we can to bring communities to the table, not the folks who are always at the table, but rather folks who may feel excluded, right, or folks who don’t tend to be there, and including young people is such an essential part of that,” Nava said.
Common concerns for band students were the state of some of their instruments and the need for an additional band director, pointing out some damage and the need for additional ones, thanks to the program’s success in this particular program.
Regardless of this, students took the chance to thank their band teacher, Tristan Tucker, for his dedication.
Other students called for improvements in career and technical education (CTE), pointing to needs in construction and medical technology programs.
They said they want to be as prepared as possible for their college journey—a sentiment Nava agreed with, calling it a “shared concern” across the state.
“I think it matters. I think we need to give students the opportunity to choose what they want to do, right? So if it is higher ed, right, but if CTE is a path that you want to select, then that should also be available for you,” Nava said.
A first-generation college graduate, Nava repeatedly encouraged young people to participate in civic spaces like town halls and not let fear keep them from pursuing their goals. She noted that, as the youngest member of the state Senate, the experience can sometimes feel intimidating.
“But what I always remain close and dear to my heart was that I knew deep inside that what I wanted to do was create more opportunities for folks — because I understand the struggle,” she said, reflecting on growing up in a low-income family and learning how to navigate college and her aspirations.
On this note, she announced plans to launch fellowships or internships for high school students, citing her own experience as an intern as a foundational step toward public service.
“That’s how I got to all the things that I’ve been able to do, it was somebody giving me a chance to be an intern, even if I couldn’t get paid. That changes lives, because when you don’t come from access and privilege, and we keep putting on tape in the legislature, it’s a different world,” she shared.
Although she did not make an official commitment, she assured attendees that she would do everything in her power to help make it a reality and “break those resources in.”
This message echoed throughout the session, where she repeatedly emphasized her intentions to offer Bernalillo the resources it needs to succeed.
Introduced by Mayor Jack Torres and Superintendent Matt Montaño, Nava was recognized for her historic milestones and her continued advocacy for education and youth engagement.
Throughout the event, attendees voiced concerns about a range of issues, including public education funding, healthcare access, parental involvement and military retirement tax exemptions.
Health care drew significant attention, with residents citing long wait times and a shortage of physicians.
Nava responded by outlining legislative efforts to improve Medicaid reimbursements, support student loan forgiveness for medical professionals and offer incentives to retain doctors in rural areas.
She also addressed concerns over federal reductions to SNAP benefits, noting her role on the newly established Federal Stabilization Interim Committee, which monitors federal funding changes and their impacts on New Mexico families.
Fresh from her first legislative session, Nava highlighted several accomplishments.
She introduced 17 bills, co-sponsored 10 and helped pass key measures with bipartisan support. Among them:
- Senate Bill 41, establishing a Turquoise Alert system for missing and murdered Indigenous women.
- A public safety bill allowing DACA recipients and legal permanent residents to serve as police officers, modeled after policies in California and Illinois.
- Passage of a historic $10.8 billion state budget with significant reserves.
- Capital outlay funding for a new Bernalillo fire station, renovations to Our Lady of Sorrows gym and improvements to local parks.
Nava closed her session by announcing plans to open a district office in Bernalillo—an initiative she said would increase accessibility and strengthen connections between her office and constituents.
As the town hall drew to a close, Nava reaffirmed her commitment to equity, opportunity and community-driven policymaking.
Nava concluded the evening by thanking attendees and inviting them to gather for a group photo, emphasizing the importance of presence and mutual respect.
“It matters. Your faces matter,” she said. “It matters that you show up, that you make time–it matters, because all of these issues that are happening, they happen to all of us differently, of course, and we might agree to disagree, but I think if we have a foundation of respect, that’s how we get things done. And that’s what I’m here for.”
