2025 All-America City Finalist – Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, the Land of Enchantment, is a city where rich cultural traditions meet forward-thinking innovation. Shaped by its Indigenous roots and historic role as a vital trade hub, it has long been a crossroads of diverse cultures and ideas. In recent years, Albuquerque has focused on expanding economic opportunity, advancing sustainability, and ensuring progress reaches all corners of the community. It’s a city that honors its heritage while embracing a future grounded in equity and inclusive growth.

Facing the challenges of the 21st century, Albuquerque is taking bold, community-centered action on issues such as economic development, transit access, and environmental resilience. At the heart of these efforts is a deep commitment to public engagement—residents play an active role in shaping the policies that affect their daily lives. Through initiatives focused on climate justice, housing affordability, and community empowerment, Albuquerque is paving the way for a sustainable, inclusive future.

J40 in Action: Advancing Environmental Justice Through Community-Driven Action

In Albuquerque, a critical challenge emerged: ensuring that environmental and climate investments benefit every resident, especially those historically marginalized by underrepresentation and environmental hazards. To address this, the city established the J40 Oversight Committee, charged with advancing the city’s commitment to environmental justice in line with the federal Justice40 Initiative. This effort stems from a historic policy commitment under the Biden administration, directing that 40 percent of climate-related investments reach disadvantaged communities. Local leaders in Albuquerque recognized the need for continued action at the municipal level to ensure this goal was met even after federal priorities shifted.

The committee’s first steps involved deep community engagement. They prioritized gathering input from residents to ensure that the City’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Taskforce, a key component of Albuquerque’s Climate Action Plan, would reflect the concerns and needs of those most impacted by climate challenges. Additionally, the committee provided technical assistance to local organizations and city departments, helping them navigate federal grant processes to increase their ability to secure funding for environmental initiatives.

The committee’s efforts have already made a significant impact. Increased public participation has strengthened local organizations, and the city’s budget audit has highlighted opportunities for a more equitable allocation of resources. Moving forward, the J40 Oversight Committee remains focused on refining its strategies, ensuring that Albuquerque’s path toward environmental justice continues with community-driven action at its core.

Resilient Communities Initiative

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program is a strong example of community-centered climate action, with equity embedded throughout every phase. A central challenge was avoiding the repetition of past harms—particularly the unintended consequences of previous engagement efforts that negatively impacted marginalized communities. Addressing this required a thoughtful approach to gathering and applying community feedback, as well as a recognition of the time and care needed to authentically understand diverse perspectives.

In Phase 1, funding supported language access and participant support costs, the hiring of an Equitable Development Fellow, and the completion of an external equity audit. The project team also researched best practices for equitable climate engagement.

Phase 2 expanded on this foundation through stakeholder interviews with members of the 2021 Climate Action Task Force, regular consultations with the Justice40 Oversight Coordinating Committee, and targeted meetings with the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Their input helped shape the Public Engagement Plan and launch the Resilient Futures Initiative.

Now in Phase 3, the project is focused on establishing a stipend-supported Community Task Force composed of frontline community representatives. This group will play a central role in co-developing the city’s climate action plan. The engagement strategy continues to address power imbalances and the legacy of harm caused by government policies.

Black and Native American Homeownership Initiative

In October 2022, a transformative vision emerged in Albuquerque to empower Black and Native American residents by addressing systemic barriers to homeownership while promoting sustainability and inclusive community engagement.

The Black Chamber of Commerce New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque’s Office of Equity partnered with community organizations to design the Down Payment Assistance Program. This dual-approach initiative prioritizes both financial education and direct support for Black and Native American first-time homebuyers.

Participants receive immediate assistance through grants or low-interest loans to cover down payments and closing costs. The program also emphasizes education, offering workshops on credit repair, financial literacy, and mortgage readiness.

Complementing this effort is the newly launched Go Green program, which plans to develop energy-efficient housing complexes—tackling both economic and environmental challenges with community-led solutions.

Stakeholder engagement has been central to the program’s design. Strategies include culturally relevant education, targeted digital outreach, and grassroots workshops. By collaborating with Black and Native American organizations, tribal housing entities, and community advocates, the program ensures that those most affected help shape its direction. Ongoing community feedback sessions will further refine the initiative.

This is more than a housing program—it’s a holistic effort to build equity, reduce wealth disparities, and create a sustainable future for all.

Return to the complete list of the 2025 All-America City Award Finalists.