Message from the President
Yá’át’ééh. Shi eí April Hale yiníshyé. She eí Tábąąhá nishlį dóó Áshįįhí bashishchiin. Kinyáa’aanii da shichei dóó Tódich’iinii da shinalí. Iyanbitódęę’ naashá. Naʼnízhoozhídi shichʼįʼ yáłtiʼ. Bééahdiildasinildi kehashtį. (Hello. My name is April Hale. I am of the Water’s Edge clan born for the Salt people. My maternal grandfather is of the Towering House clan and my paternal grandfather is of the Bitter Water clan. I am from Iyanbito, NM; grew up in Gallup; and reside in Albuquerque.)
I introduced myself in my Navajo/Diné language to show respect for myself, my family, and my ancestors. It also extends an offer of kinship to those who may have the same clan and are relatives. This sense of family and community is intuitive and innate for indigenous people like the Navajo. As a Diné woman and small business owner, supporting, building, and providing for community is my nature and my heart work.
NMPRSA has been my supportive and encouraging community since my years working in Washington, DC (2006-2017) when I was a member of the National Chapter. When I moved to Albuquerque in 2017, and started my own firm– A.Hale PR, Inc, I was happy to join and collaborate with the New Mexico Chapter. A.Hale PR specializes in strategic communications and community engagement with Native American tribes and tribal organizations as well as public and media relations and a host of other services. You can view my bio here. It is my honor to serve as your NMPRSA 2026 President.
2026 Vision
As I step into this role as NMPRSA President, I do so with deep gratitude and humility. My vision for 2026 is simple – focus on members, engage students and partners, build and support community. This vision is only successful with YOU too!
Membership: Retention & Recruitment
Let’s focus on increasing our membership! New Mexico PR professionals bring unique perspectives, cultural connections, and lived experience that enrich our work. From students to Emerging Pros to seasoned leaders, we invite you to call NMPRSA your home. Share NMPRSA info with your comms and PR peers across the state too! We’d love for our membership to grow in areas like Farmington, Gallup, Taos, and Las Cruces! lease reach out to our Membership Committee Chair Jennifer West to learn more about member benefits and resources – [email protected].
Engagement: Mentorship & Partnership
Engagement is what keeps an organization alive. A chapter cannot thrive if its members are disconnected. We must be intentional about creating opportunities for participation, conversation, and leadership. This is especially important for PR students who are seeking mentors and real-world guidance. Reach out to me if your passionate about sharing our years of experience with the next generation of the profession. This year, we are committed to offering monthly programs that include panel discussions, speaker presentations, webinars, and member mixers in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, and Las Cruces. If you have an idea about a program or speaker, please share it with us! Send an email to [email protected].
Community: Diversity & Support
At the heart of this vision is community. Building community is not optional—it is integral to our growth. This chapter has an opportunity to shine and lead by example in June when the PRSA Travel & Tourism Section Conference comes to Albuquerque. Let’s support our colleagues working on the conference and show visitors our New Mexico style and pride! We can also support NM pride through partnerships with tribes, cultural organizations, disability advocacy groups, and others while remaining committed and responsive to the NMPRSA community.
I’m looking forward to an amazing year ahead for NMPRSA! Thank you y gracias dóó ahéhee’.
April Hale, President, NMPRSA
Owner, A.Hale PR
