Rebound New Mexico is holding a virtual speech contest for young New Mexicans to talk about what patriotism means to them with a prize of up to $500 on the line.

The contest will be held Monday, July 26 at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

“(The) winner receives $100, and the opportunity to compete against other speech contest winners in Rebound NM’s "Best of the Best" Speech Contest, held once a year,” Rebound New Mexico stated on its website. “(The) winner of the Annual Best of the Best Speech Contest earns $500.”

Young New Mexican residents between the ages of 14 and 21 will have five minutes to discuss patriotism and what it means to them. Apart from winning $100 and qualifying for the 2021 finals with a $500 prize. According to Rebound NM, contest participants will reap many benefits including improved communication and articulation skills, increased confidence and enhanced self-respect.

“Rebound New Mexico (RNM) works to break the chain of generational poverty in our state, empowering New Mexicans to achieve prosperity and improve their quality of life with job opportunities and less dependence on government,” RNM stated on its website.

RNM is is a nonprofit organization established in 2009. Among the organization's many focuses are community involvement and employment.

“In New Mexico, many are overly reliant upon governmental and/or private entity funding for sustenance,” RNM stated. “These people often do not know or have the tools to break free from that dependence and provide for themselves and their families. The training RNM provides empowers people to leave this lifestyle of dependency for one of individual responsibility and increased opportunities.”

According to their website, RNM has trained over 200 people between 15-70 years old, at its Leadership Symposium & Job Skills training events.