This week on New Mexico in Focus, a group of New Mexico Black community leaders and elders tell us about the importance of celebrating Juneteenth. In the first of three conversations, Senior Producer Lou DiVizio asks Joe and Rita Powdrell about the roots of Juneteenth celebrations in New Mexico.

Then, Ron Wallace talks about his work covering Black communities at the magazine he founded, The Perspective, before Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell tells DiVizio about the importance of protecting Juneteenth festivities from becoming commercialized. In their final discussion, Tim Green IV and Marsha K. Hardeman reflect on how younger generations can help preserve the historical and cultural significance of Juneteenth.  

City Councilor Nichole Rogers speaks with DiVizio about the International District being labeled a "pharmacy desert" — and how she plans to address residents’ pharmaceutical needs. 

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, June 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.     

NMiF Segments 

Celebrating Juneteenth in NM 
Correspondent 
Lou DiVizio 

Guests
Joe Powdrell, Director, Juneteenth Albuquerque 1976-1989 
Rita Powdrell, President, African American Museum and Cultural Center of NM 
Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 
Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rio Rancho 

How Juneteenth Brings Generations of Black New Mexicans Together 
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio 

Guests 
Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 
Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rio Rancho 
Ron Wallace, Publisher, 'The Perspective' 
Tim Green IV, Culture Change Leader, City of Albuquerque 

Providing Medical Access in a Pharmacy Desert 
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio 

Guest
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6 

Preserving the History and Culture of Juneteenth 
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio 

Guests
Joe Powdrell, director, Juneteenth Albuquerque 1976-1989 
Rita Powdrell, president, African American Museum and Cultural Center of NM 
Marsha K. Hardeman, professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 
Tim Green IV, Culture Change leader, City of Albuquerque 

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs, is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. “Our Land” Senior Producer is Laura Paskus. The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Antonio Sanchez, and co-producer is Kathy Wimmer.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You.

Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund.

The Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV provides funding for Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present & Future.