Any type of touching that makes an employee uncomfortable, suggestive comments or leering, use of racially derogatory language are all examples of harassment.

A new NABVET Chapter was chartered in Albuquerque on April 25, 2008 when Regional Commander Harvey Brooks, of Seattle, WA, conducted the installation ceremony for eight officers as the leaders of the new Albuquerque, NM NAB

Diana Dorn Jones is the executive director of United South Broadway Corporation and for several years has been a most effective community activist in the South Broadway area. She continues to be the constant force that has successfully unified communities and community leaders to stand in the way of those who look to promote laws and actions detrimental to community progress.

Diana grew up in the South Broadway area and has an undying love for the neighborhoods. For the past 18 years, she has played a major role in the progress and development in the area. She is quick to tell you that she is just one of the many individuals who are dedicated to positive change for the area.

ALBUQUERQUE—Kenneth Carson Sr., was honored at New Mexico Voices for Children's 20th Anniversary Gala

Not to long ago, I was watching a segment on Public broadcasting on Slavery in America. The topic under discussion was Blacks in political office.

In 1789, African-Americans were defined in the Constitution as 3/5s of a person for counting representation, and could not vote at all. In 1865, following the Civil War, African –Americans were given the right to vote and the "3/5s clause" was rescinded. This was the 14^th and 15^th Amendment which stated: "the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Which meant, that states couldn't deny the right to vote to those who had been slaves?

There is a special air of pride and excitement surrounding the movie ‘The Great Debaters' a movie inspired by a true story. "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from Wiley College, a small black college in Marshall, Texas, in the deep south, into a historically elite debate team.

In 1935, Wiley's debate team defeated schools from elite black schools like Fisk and Howard, and then moved on to the unthinkable: debating and defeating students from white schools and eventually dethroning the reigning national debate champions, the University of Southern California, (not Harvard as depicted in the movie).

It's a highly inspirational movie that will hold a special place in the hearts of many movie goers for years to come. But for one special individual living in New Mexico the movie is a reminder of personal experiences with Wiley College and Mr. Melvin Tolson, the individual who is the movie's focus, and was her teacher, mentor and close friend.

There comes a time when words of praise aren't enough to stand in the shadows of a lifetime of accomplishments. The lives of Bernice "Pete" Powdrell and Robert Weldon Lawrence present that moment in time, as their lives have more than been examples for us to follow. Their lives reveal the essence of a pioneering spirit that embodied the hearts of tireless warriors daring to be first, while standing in the wake of catastrophe.

Through their lives dreams were realized, hope became expectations, and students became mentors and leaders. These New Mexico Icons will forever be remembered as the torch barriers who carried the light into the darkness of the cave, departing on the other side with fire enough to light the torches of young men and women in need of heroes.

When Shammara Henderson graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in May 2007, she was excited about the prospect of practicing law and making a difference in the world. She had to decide what path to take and weigh the possibilities. She had already served as an Extern with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico in the Violent Crimes Department, as a Summer Law Clerk for the City of Albuquerque helping with administrative hearings and she had worked as a legal research assistant under the guidance of Professor Alfred Mathewson.

Lenton Malry, Ph.D., is a driven man. Recently inducted into the Grambling State University's Alumni Hall of Fame, Dr. Malry has been a man on the go, in perpetual motion, from high school, through his years as a football letterman at Grambling, and through a 35 year career as an educator and public servant.

Hannah Best is a well known, well respected, lawyer who has the reputation of being one of the toughest and hardest working lawyers in her field.

The award Hannah received in the latter part of 2007 is the Charlie Driscoll Award. The award is named after criminal defense lawyer Charlie Driscoll, who became a Catholic priest at 65, and who also co-founded Dismas House. The award is given to a supporter in the legal community whose work ethics symbolizes advocacy, compassion and is representative of long and exemplary service to the New Mexico Bar and the community.

Jan 29, 2008 was a cold and icy day in Santa Fe, NM but veterans found a warm welcome at the Capitol Round House. This day was considered New Mexico Legislative Veterans' Day when veterans have the opportunity to present issues to the legislature. The NM Department of Veteran Services with the coordinating efforts of Jessie A. Ansures, the Legislative Liaison for DAV Chapter 3, ensured the events were well attended by many representatives and a strong showing of veterans. Up to 300 veterans made the icy trip to the capital from across the state arriving in cars, vans, trucks, and three bus loads.

Albuquerque is known to be a melting pot of culture, religion, and individuality. It's a place where thousands of people throughout the country have sought out as a place of peace and tranquility; it has also been a place where people have come to for new beginnings.

Over the last five years or so, various cultural communities have been on the rise, but one community that has been steadily increasing without so much as a blink is the African community. Within the last two or three years, a sizeable amount of African refugees have made their way into the United States, more specifically to Albuquerque. And although there is and has been a strong African identity in Albuquerque for a while, it just became familiar and recognized in 2006. Guzzi Sinandile and her husband Lungile Sinandile, recently found out about the presence of Africans last year. Both Guzzi and her husband came to the United States from South Africa, and they have lived in Albuquerque for the last 13 years. For 13 years they never knew there was a growing African community, but now that they do, they have made it their business to build a cohesive African unit and use that as a safety net for any and all new coming refugees to the city.

Born January 10, 1923, in Alma, Arkansas, Fleta Lucille Owens Crockett made her debut as the third child of Harry and Lilly Owens. “Mother Fleta” as she is affectionately known, grew up in a family of five children, three boys and two girls. Her oldest brother, William Owens, lives in Carlsbad, NM, and her middle brother, Tommy Owens, lives in Fort Smith, AR. The youngest brother, Truman Owens and her baby sister, Mary Alice Hunter, are both deceased.

For her 85^th birthday, Mother Fleta was given a surprise birthday party by her daughter Maxine and her son-in-law Craig, in her residence at a senior assistant living quarters. “I was truly surprised and it was a great day to have family and friends around me on that day. I got to see my great grandsons and my grandchildren, that was really special," shared Mother Fleta.

Ron Edwards, a singer/songwriter, CEO and President of Focus Advertising Specialties Ltd. Co. and Focus Publishing; and who is a second generation U.S. Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, has set his sights on making a significant difference for homeless Veterans.

The atmosphere in the Pit was like going to a basketball game and having a school reunion break out. The place was filled with old Dogs with even older stories being told. The Dogs were back and their fans, as in the past, were in a frenzy.