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The following is the second in a series of collaborations between The Paper. and the New Mexico Black Leadership Council set to run throughout Black History Month. Through these features, we will explore how our state’s diverse cultures have impacted and continue to impact the New Mexico landscape.
Activist and community organizer Fannie Lou Hamer once said, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” Service is the rent we pay for living on Earth, and it’s the real work of liberation and freedom. It’s not charity; it’s building legacy. It’s the quiet grind of those who realize that true power is shared.
We rise because we reach back to elevate others. We lead because we serve. And we climb so others can stand tall. Within historically excluded communities, giving back is a necessity — not a luxury. Enter Kristin Bell, Xavier Jones and Ron Shinault Sr., three local volunteers who’ve contributed sweat equity, creating long-term community resilience and lifting others as they climb.
In Black/African American communities, the value and practice of service seems to exist on a DNA level. From professional societies to Greek letter orgs, from churches to barbershops, Black-led volunteer organizations and their members continue to do the work of building a spectrum of advocacy and continuum of care for every person in their respective communities.
Whether these contributions take the form of mentoring the next generation, inspiring folks to get out the vote or preserving culture, volunteering is about strengthening our communities. The Paper. talked with Bell, Jones and Shinault about why community advocacy remains vital.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ron Shinault Sr., of Omega Psi Phi, Community Mentor Network and New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative (NMBVC), jumped in to volunteer work early. “Junior high was when I first got involved with the National Association of Colored People’s youth branch,” he says. That experience set him on a lifelong path of activism. When he relocated to New Mexico, he knew volunteering was the fastest way to tap in. “It’s how you stay connected and really know what’s happening around you,” Shinault says.
Through volunteerism with NMBVC, Shinault helps young people register to vote and understand their power at the ballot box. “They don’t teach civics anymore, so there’s this huge gap,” Shinault says. He’s invested in making sure the next generation knows both the history behind and the importance of their right to vote. “If you don’t use your power, you’re giving it away,” he adds.
Xavier Jones — who studies business administration at the University of New Mexico, works as a student success leader at UNM African American Student Services and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity — keeps it real about why volunteerism isn’t optional within historically excluded communities. “A lot of times, we don’t have people willing to step up for us,” Jones says, so self-reliance and shared resilience are key. “We’ve got to lean on each other, build our own and create the opportunities we need.”
Community-building work is about solidarity. It’s understanding that no one else is coming, and we’ve got us. It’s making sure that history, culture and a multitude of voices aren’t drowned out. It’s knowing that every hand given to the struggle, to paraphrase noted composer and American history professor Bernice Johnson Reagon, builds up our union and our collective strength.
“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. … You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
That said, volunteering isn’t solely about helping others — it’s also a game changer for personal growth. Shinault’s leadership in Omega Psi Phi has empowered him to cultivate skills that extend beyond service. “I’ve been the [Omega Psi Phi] scholarship committee chair, the voter registration and education chair. And now I lead our fatherhood and mentoring initiatives,” he says. Every role sharpened his ability to lead while making a real, positive impact.
Jones backs that up, saying volunteerism instilled in him the confidence to take charge.
“It showed me I don’t need permission. I can just go out and make things happen,” he says. His work at UNM and with Phi Beta Sigma further proved to him that he didn’t need a fancy title to get involved. “It’s not about what group you’re in. It’s about why you’re doing the work.”
For Kristin Bell, whose education and background is in technical management and mechanical industrial engineering, volunteerism opened doors she never expected. What began as one-off inventory work at the African American Performing Arts Center expanded into a yearlong deep dive into cultural preservation and curating an exhibition of AAPAC’s art collection. Learning how to properly store and protect these pieces became her mission. “This is our legacy,” Bell says. “If we don’t protect it, who will?”
When history is left in the hands of someone who isn’t invested in preserving it, it too often ends up neglected, forgotten or erased altogether. That’s why people like Bell work to ensure our stories stay intact, so future generations can see their roots, know their strength and feel their impact.
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” — Maya Angelou
At the heart of these local volunteers’ stories is understanding that change always starts with us. Shinault is investing in young people, helping them set goals and build leadership skills through the Community Mentor Network. “Middle school is that critical point,” Shinault says. “If you can reach them then, you can help them find their way.”
Jones keeps it simple for anyone wondering how to give back: “Just go do it.” He sees endless ways to plug in here, from supporting the unhoused to advocating for immigrant and refugee rights. “New Mexico has so many opportunities to get involved. You’ve just got to find what speaks to you.”
And let’s be real, there’s no shortage of work to do. From educating youth on the value of civic engagement to keeping the arts alive, from mentoring youth to advocating for policies that uplift us all, every effort counts. The best part? You don’t need to be rich or famous to make a difference. You have to care and show up. Bell’s volunteer work with AAPAC prevents African American culture in Albuquerque from getting lost in the shuffle. Her dedication to curating and preserving those stories isn’t just about history — it’s about the future. “If we don’t take care of our own narratives, they get erased,” Bell says.
Bell’s advice for people who are interested in getting involved is simple: follow what excites you. “I get lost in the research because it’s just that interesting,” she says. “I’ll spend a whole night diving into it and not even realize it.”
“The proof that one truly believes is in action.” — Bayard Rustin
Volunteering within our communities isn’t just feel-good work — it’s how we build, protect and sustain ourselves. Whether it’s making sure all voices are heard, mentoring the next generation or preserving culture and history, stepping up matters now more than ever. Kristin Bell, Xavier Jones and Ron Shinault Sr. are living proof that giving back means cultivating leadership and claiming our power while creating a more vibrant, inclusive future for everyone.
Volunteerism isn’t a one-time deal. It’s a movement — a lifestyle. It means making sure we’re all present and accounted for and that we’re in control of our lives and stories. It’s about showing up, not just when it’s convenient, but when it’s necessary.
So how will you step up and give back? If you’re looking to contribute to our
communities, reach out to New Mexico Black Leadership Council by calling (505) 407-6784 or emailing info@nmblc.org. We’ll make space for you within our work— learn more about that at nmblc.org — or connect you with local nonprofits and volunteer organizations.