Radical Reflecting, Recentering & Rejoicing: A Look Back on 2024 

As we come to the end of 2024, it's that time again to pause, reflect, and celebrate all that we have accomplished toward supporting Native women and communities in New Mexico. The theme for this month—Radical Reflecting, Recentering & Rejoicing—encourages us to look back on the year with gratitude and to recommit ourselves to our mission of ending violence against Native women. It's also a time to honor the resilience, strength, and spirit of the communities we serve. 

Radical Reflecting: A Year of Challenges and Triumphs. 

We have proudly seen our efforts in raising awareness around the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis gain more traction, as we worked alongside our partners to keep this critical issue at the forefront of local and national discussions. We held our first Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Day event partnering with the Indian Affairs of New Mexico. The number of impacted families we’ve been able to support has grown, and the partnerships we’ve formed with local and national organizations have been key to amplifying our impact. We would like to thank the Crime Victim Reparation Commission (CVRC) for helping us support the families. We would also like to thank the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for supporting us with funding for another year. With these two funding sources, we are able to support our MMIWG initiatives. 

Recentering: Reaffirming Our Values and Mission 

As the world around us continues to shift, it’s important to recenter ourselves on the core values that drive our work. At CSVANW, we are committed to kinship, culture, innovation, healing, and inclusiveness. These values have guided us as we navigated complex issues of violence, trauma, and advocacy with every event and training we offered. As the ED, I am proud of my staff for planning each training and event with a lot of love and care.

Our commitment to kinship is more than just a value; it’s a way of life that informs every part of our work. We’ve witnessed the incredible strength of Native communities coming together, sharing resources, and supporting one another. Our work this year has been fueled by this deep sense of community, ensuring that every voice is heard, and that every individual feels valued and supported. We cannot wait until we have more in-person Membership Meetings in 2025 in our Tribal communities. 

The importance of cultural healing has been at the heart of our work. Whether through offering prayer at the beginning of our events, community care days, or training events and focus groups, we’ve seen firsthand the powerful role that culture plays in the healing journey of survivors, advocates, and community. We are committed to continuing to integrate our cultural knowledge into our advocacy and support services in the coming year. 

Rejoicing: Celebrating Our Achievements and Looking Ahead 

As we look back, we also look forward with excitement. The theme of Rejoicing isn’t just about celebrating past accomplishments; it’s about honoring the future we are building. We’ve made significant changes this year to support staff capacity and joy, and there is much to celebrate. 

We successfully hosted our Annual Tribal Leaders Summit and our "I Will Run for Them 5K" event, both of which brought our community together in powerful ways. These events were more than just gatherings—they were opportunities to raise awareness, honor survivors, and show solidarity with those who continue to fight for justice. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue building on the foundation we’ve established. 2025 holds the promise of more community engagement and stronger collaborations with other organizations and Tribal Nations. As we move forward, CSVANW is committed to deepening its work in policy advocacy, survivor support, and community resilience. IN 2025, CSVANW will be celebrating our 30th Year Anniversary! 

We are also committed to expanding our educational efforts and ensuring that future generations of Native youth have the knowledge, resources, and support they need to thrive. 

Thank You for Your Continued Support 

None of this would be possible without the support of our members, donors, partners, and the communities we serve. Your commitment to our mission has been the fuel that keeps us going. We are deeply grateful for your contributions, whether through your time, your advocacy, or your financial support. 

As we close out 2024, let us take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made, recenter ourselves around the work yet to be done, and rejoice in the strength and resilience of our communities. We look forward to continuing this important work with all of you in 2025. 

Together, we are creating lasting change and building a brighter future for Native women and children. 

Kherkem, 

Tiffany Jiron 

Executive Director