Carlo James Aragón

As the inaugural Liaison for Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Affairs for the City of Albuquerque, my mission is to build visibility, power, and connection for our communities. Our office exists because our stories matter, because our contributions have too often been overlooked in the broader narrative of New Mexico.

We are Reclaiming Our Place in This City’s History, Culture, and Future

Some APINH community members came to Albuquerque through displacement, through the wounds of war, or in search of opportunity. Yet what unites us is the same force that called me home, querencia. It is the quiet pride we carry for our ancestral homelands and the shared love we’ve found here, in this city that has held us. It is the way we build family wherever we plant our roots.

My hope is simple yet profound: that our office becomes a home for the APINH community, a place where we see ourselves reflected in policy, art, and opportunity. A place where our elders feel honored, our youth feel inspired, and our businesses and organizations feel supported to thrive.

But this vision will only come alive if we build it together.

I invite you, community members, entrepreneurs, families, and allies, to grow with us. Join our events, share your stories, volunteer, and lend your wisdom. Creating visibility for our community is a shared light that strengthens us all.

Together, we can root our querencia in Albuquerque’s soil, transforming visibility into belonging, and belonging into power.

To our community, I offer this invitation: grow with us. Share your story, lend your wisdom, and help us build a querencia that includes us all. Because home is not just a place we return to, it’s something we create together.