Heinrich Welcomes Reproductive Justice Advocate From Las Cruces Charlene Bencomo As Special Guest To State Of The Union Address

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that Bold Futures New Mexico Executive Director Charlene Bencomo will be his guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol today, Tuesday, February 7. Bencomo, a lifelong New Mexican, has played a driving role behind reproductive rights advancements in the state and across the country. Bold Futures, formerly Young Women United, has been advocating for policy change, research, place-based organizing, and culture shift by and for women and people of color in New Mexico for over 20 years.

 

During his address, President Biden is expected to highlight the historic achievements of the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress from the past two years. Senator Heinrich selected Bencomo as his special guest in part to recognize her advocacy and deep commitment in New Mexico to build communities where women, people, and families can live and thrive with respect and dignity, but to also underscore the work that still lies ahead.

 

“My special guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address tonight is Charlene Bencomo, executive director of Bold Futures. Charlene is a lifelong New Mexican and driving force for change. She uses her work and life experiences to educate, inspire, and inform others. Her leadership has been central to reproductive rights advancements in our state and across the country. Honored for Charlene to join me,” said Heinrich.

 

Last year, Senator Heinrich convened a roundtable discussion in Las Cruces with Bencomo, local health care providers, and advocates to talk about current and future plans to provide abortion services to New Mexicans and others from nearby states.

 

About Charlene Bencomo: 

 

Charlene Bencomo is a lifelong New Mexican, wife, mother, Chicana, and former bilingual special education teacher. Her experiences as a Nationally Board Certified educator have given her in depth knowledge on many of the challenges facing families in New Mexico today, and a unique perspective on the supports that help maintain and build resilience. Charlene uses her work and life experiences to educate, inspire, and inform others through her writing and public speaking. Charlene has also taken her experience as a sexual assault survivor to help others find strength in recovery.

 

Bold Futures New Mexico (BFNM) is an organization that leads policy change, research, place-based community organizing, and culture shift by and for women and people of color in New Mexico. Under Charlene’s leadership, BFNM has grown from a local advocacy group to a well-recognized organization which has played a driving role behind almost every reproductive rights advancement in the state of New Mexico, and now the United States.