ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico's Women's Resource Center (WRC) has been a leading force in promoting women's rights and equality since its inception in 1972. The center continues to uphold its mission by providing support, advocacy, and resources for the UNM community and beyond.

"The Center champions awareness and the advancement of everyone’s right to access their education to ensure equity regardless of gender identity, sex, race, ability status, age, sexual orientation, economic class or religious affiliation," according to the WRC.

The WRC offers various services such as mental health counseling, confidential advocacy, student-led programming, a leadership and mentorship program, scholarships for single parents, lactation stations with breastfeeding support among others. It also shares numerous resources cultivated over time.

Partnerships play a crucial role in the center's operations. "It thrives on creating partnerships and collaborating with peer organizations, students, and the greater Albuquerque community to provide a safe and healing environment for all," says the WRC.

Notable collaborations include ongoing work with El Centro de la Raza through the Mental Health Collaborative which provides free multicultural counseling to UNM students. The WRC has partnered with the LGBTQ Resource Center for projects like an astrology workshop on April 16 and hosting the 2nd annual Dyke March on April 26.

To promote wellness within the community, weekly yoga classes are offered every Tuesday at noon in collaboration with several organizations including LoboOasis and Yogasaar yoga studio. Additionally, they are observing Sexual Assault Awareness Month by partnering with UNM LoboRespect Advocacy Center for a Crafternoon event.

Long-standing partnerships exist with UNM’s Recreational Services offering activities such as cooking classes for mentorship cohorts and snowshoeing trips each January. Further initiatives involve mixers hosted by Women in STEM and Women in Health programs alongside lectures organized with UNM’s Feminist Research Institute scheduled for April 15.

Supporting parent students is another priority through collaborations like those with Children's Campus co-teaching programs such as Raising Rebels. A partnership through Generation Hope aims at making UNM more family-friendly via workshops provided by FamilyU.

A notable new initiative this year involves collaboration between Sigma Chi Fraternity and WRC’s Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT). They will host their first-ever Conference on Engaging Men & Masculine People in Violence Prevention set for April 8 at the Student Union Building.

"From mental health services to student advocacy and community-building initiatives," these collaborations underscore WRC's success by continuously empowering members of UNM one step at a time through joint efforts across diverse groups within their network.

For further information about supporting their mission visit UNM’s Women Resource Center website.