A community-based New Mexico nonprofit organization is hosting a speech event where participants are asked to answer the question, "What does patriotism mean to you?" 

The event scheduled for July 26 is open to New Mexico residents ages 14 through 21 with Internet access. Participants are provided an opportunity to improve their communication skills, increase their confidence and become more involved in their community, according to Rebound New Mexico (RNM), host of the event. The winner will receive $100 and will quality for the 2021 finals which will offer a $500 cash prize.

RNM says it aims to break the cycle of poverty in New Mexico and partners with neighborhood groups, businesses, individuals and others who wish to “empower New Mexicans to achieve prosperity and improve their quality of life without as much dependence on government assistance.”

Larry Sonntag, co-founder of RNM, said this speech contest will be the organization's second this year. Toward the end of the year, they will have a final speech contest where the winners of each of the previous contest will compete against each other for a $500 cash prize. 

RNM's previous speech contest was won by a man who spoke about the importance of community involvement.

"This upcoming speech in July is about patriotism ... with it being July and the holiday where we just celebrated the birthday of American independence," Sonntag said. "We thought it was a great topic to just say in five minutes or less, what does patriotism mean to me?" 

Sonntag said that about half of New Mexico is on some form of public assistance, and the poverty across the state is generational and "didn't sneak up on us a couple of weeks ago."

"In order to break out of some of the cycles of poverty, we help people improve their job skills, which improves their job opportunities and outlook going forward for less dependence on government," Sonntag added. 

The speech contests seek to help improve people's communication skills and increase their confidence.

"It's actually old school but it's a creative way to help people build confidence and communication skills," Sonntag said. "And then with everything so many people have been through over the last year and a half  [with] reduced incomes and reduced opportunities, this is a good outreach to to encourage young people to to get involved in the community. And they can even win some money." 

Sonntag touted a couple of success stories regarding past participants of the program. In one instance, a graduate of a 10-week course taught at a homeless shelter and went on to teach leadership communication and job interviewing skills. 

In another, a graduate who had never publicly spoken before, gave a keynote address to 250 people at a community event. She left the homeless shelter and got a job in another state, where she is currently pursuing her dreams of starting her own small business.

"The graduate said she was inspired by the training that we had given her and she wanted to pass that forward to start her own business and help others who were disadvantaged to try to achieve their goals," Sonntag said. "And we've since found out that she is no longer at the homeless shelter. She moved on. She initially got a job and has actually moved to another state. Now to where she is pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams that that we helped inspire. So that's a definite success story." 

The contest aligns with Rebound New Mexico's goal of breaking the chain of generational poverty.

"We want to empower individuals to achieve their goals as opposed to being long-term dependent on government ... safety net programs are absolutely important," he said. "And we work with homeless shelters and others who are providing for immediate safety and security needs. We come in on the back end and say, let's also work on your personal skills and confidence that you can carry forward the rest of your life." 

New Mexico has one of the highest poverty levels in the country, which RNM wants to reverse.

"We have been for a number of years, either number one, two or three worst in the nation for the level of poverty in the state. And it's something that others may not realize who are not familiar with New Mexico," Sonntag said. 

Rebound New Mexico's Adelius Stith, the organization's lead instructor for the leadership, communications and jobs skills training program, told the New Mexico Sun, "I know that the training and the information that we've passed on to people have helped other people, but also the person that it has helped is me. I'm still growing in my craft and I am looking forward to continuing to grow and develop. And that's one thing that Rebound New Mexico is all about."

Stith recalled a young woman who "left Albuquerque and moved back to to Maryland in pursuit of her photography business. There were people who were able to to go through job interviews and be more comfortable. And I believe a couple of them from the organization that we were working with, they were able to secure employment as well."

Those who wish to participate in the speech contest must register by 5 p.m. Friday. The contest will be held virtually via Zoom on July 26, at 6 p.m. Participants will have five minutes maximum to articulate what patriotism means to them.