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Office of African American Affairs outlines literacy, HBCU outreach and Black Expo revival alongside modest budget variance
Summary
The Office of African American Affairs told the Appropriations & Finance subcommittee it requested a flat budget but will see small mandatory personnel risk‑rate increases; director Jean Grant described statewide literacy, HBCU outreach, a Black Expo revival and two pillar‑lead positions the office plans to fill.
Jean Grant, executive director of the Office of African American Affairs, described program priorities to the Appropriations & Finance subcommittee while analysts explained a small budget difference between the LFC and executive recommendations.
Emily Hilla, the LFC analyst for the office, said the difference between the two recommendations is about $16,300 and that both the LFC and the executive included slightly higher personnel costs to capture mandatory risk‑rate increases. "The office of African American affairs requested a completely flat budget and did not request increases to the base," Hilla said, adding that performance measures were in consensus.
Grant outlined four pillars—health care advocacy, economic empowerment, education advancement and community development—and emphasized programs already underway. He described a statewide literacy initiative called "It Starts With Me," led by education pillar coordinator Asha Ortiz, and a UNM partnership that produced a Black Health Careers Expo. Grant also said the office plans a statewide HBCU awareness tour with local churches and a push to revive the Black Expo, an event that historically drew attendees from across the state.
Grant said the office has a current staff of eight and two open positions (economic empowerment and health pillar leads) that will be advertised imminently. On APAC, Grant said his office has been meeting with Expo leadership to increase community programming and revenue generation.
The subcommittee treated the presentation as informational; no final appropriation vote was taken during this session.
