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Non-profit

Dreams in Action NM

Website:

dreamsinactionnm.org/
Location:

Albuquerque, NM
Tax ID:

85-3360508
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Type:

Voter Mobilization Group
Formation:

2020
Executive Director:

Elizebeth Cuna
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $ 679,871
Expenses: $ 636,890
Total Assets: $ 241,877

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Dreams in Action NM is a left-0f-center lobbying and advocacy group focused on increasing voter participation LQBT individuals, women, immigrants, and young people in New Mexico’s state and local elections. Established in 2020, the group runs get-out-the-vote campaigns and endorses left-of-center candidates in local New Mexico primaries. 1

Related Organizations

Center for Civic Policy

Center for Civic Policy is an advocacy group that mobilizes voters in New Mexico to support left-of-center policies. 2

The Center organizes the New Mexico Civic Engagement Table (NMCET), a coalition of over 40 groups working in New Mexico that mobilizes voters and advocates left-of-center causes. 3 NMCET is an affiliate of State Voices, a national left-of-center lobbying and advocacy group that organizes state-level civic engagement tables. 4

Dreams in Action NM’s privacy policy states the website is “owned and operated” by the Center for Civic Policy. 5 Both the Center and Dreams in Action NM share an address, according to IRS filings. 6 7

The Center for Civic Policy is related to the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, a partner in the NMCET. The groups share an address, and ProgressNow New Mexico Education claims the CCP as a Schedule R organization, according to IRS filings. 8 9 10

As of December 2023, the groups had shared leadership. Oriana Sandoval was listed as the chief executive officer of the Center for Civic Policy and its related lobbying and advocacy arm, the Center for Civic Action, on both group’s websites. She was also listed as the chair of the board of the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund. 11 12 13

As of August 2024, Melanie Aranda was listed as the chief operating officer and founding member of the Center for Civic Policy. She was a director at the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund and its lobbying and advocacy arm ProgressNow New Mexico from 2018 to 2020, according to IRS filings. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

As of June 2023, Aranda was also on the board of Dreams in Action NM. 21

New Mexico Civic Engagement Table

The New Mexico Civic Engagement Table, a project of the Center for Civic Policy, is a state affiliate of State Voices. 22 23 The stated purpose of the NMCET is to increase voting engagement of the “New American Majority” each general election cycle. New American Majority voters include “historically and systemically excluded communities — people of color, women, LGBTQ+,” according to the CCP’s website. The NMCET’s expressed goals include voter registration and get out the vote campaigns to realize “decolonized freedom through access and attainment of justice.” 24

As of August 2024, Orianna Sandoval was listed as the chief executive officer of the Center for Civic Policy, which operates Dreams in Action NM, 25 and Center for Civic Action; she was also listed as co-director of the New Mexico Civic Engagement Table and was listed on the board of State Voices. 26 27 28 29 She was also listed on the boards of the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, a partner in the NMCET. 30 31

Melanie Aranda was listed as the chief operating officer of the Center for Civic Policy and Center for Civic Action, as well as a co-director at the New Mexico Civic Engagement Table. 32 Previously, she was on the board of ProgressNow New Mexico and the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund. As of June 2023, she was on the board of Dreams in Action NM. Aranda was a founder of the Center for Civic Policy. 33

NM Dream Team

The NM Dream Team is an advocacy group of “undocumented students and allies working in and alongside our community to inform and empower immigrant families and students,” according to its Facebook page. 34 Dreams in Action NM claims to be the “electoral arm” of the NM Dream Team in articles from 2021. 35 The NM Dream Team is a participant in the NMCET. 36

The CCP lists the NM Dream Team as a fiscally sponsored project on its tax return for 2023. 37

Elizabeth Cuna was listed as the executive director of Dreams in Action NM as of 2023. She is also a senior policy advisor to NM Dream Team, which she helped found. 38

Itzayana Banda, the communications manager for the NM Dream Team, was listed on the board of Dreams in Action NM as of June 2023. 39 40

Semilla Project

The Semilla Project is a member of the New Mexico Civic Engagement Table. 41 Elizabeth Cuna, the founder and executive director of the Semilla Project, is campaign director for the Center for Civic Policy and co-founder and senior advisor for the NM Dream Team. 42 43 Cuna was also listed as the executive director of Dreams in Action NM, and the president of the board of the Center for Civic Policy. 44 45 Cuna is a co-founder of a political consulting firm, Semilla Strategies LLC. 46 The Center for Civic Policy and Dreams in Action NM contract Cuna’s firm, according to IRS filings. 47 48

The Semilla Project lists the Center for Civic Policy, Dreams in Action NM, and NM Dream Team as partners on its website. 49

ProgressNow New Mexico

ProgressNow New Mexico publishes an annual voter guide endorsing left-of-center candidates in New Mexico’s state and local elections. 50 The voter guide aggregates endorsements from partner organizations including Dreams in Action NM and the Center for Civic Action. 51

In the June 2024 primary elections, the voter guide provided information on every contested Democratic race in the New Mexico state house and senate. The voter guide’s recommendations are determined by criteria including candidates’ policy, partner organizations’ endorsements, as well as racial and other identity factors of the candidates. 52

ProgressNow New Mexico and Dreams in Action NM share an address, according to IRS filings. 53 54 Melanie Aranda, who was listed on the board of Dreams in Action NM as of June 2023, used to be on the board of ProgressNow New Mexico. She is also listed as the chief operating officer of the Center for Civic Action. 55

Activities

Dreams in Action NM runs get out the vote campaigns and endorses left-of-center candidates in local New Mexico primaries. 56

Funding

Dreams in Action NM has received money from the Center for Civic Action and the Center for Civic Policy:

In 2023, the Center for Civic Action granted $30,000 to Dreams in Action NM for “Redistricting.” 57

In 2023, the Center for Civic Policy granted $20,000 to Dreams in Action NM. 58

Leadership

Staff

Elizabeth Cuna was listed as the executive director of Dreams in Action NM as of June 2023. Cuna was campaign director for the Center for Civic Policy and was listed as president of the board as of 2023. She is as senior advisor for the NM Dream Team, which she helped found. Previously, Cuna was as United We Dream’s national field director for four years. 59 She is co-founder and owns 90% interest in Semilla Strategies LLC, and she is the executive director of the Semilla Project, which she helped found. 60

Board

Melanie Aranda was listed on the board of Dreams in Action NM as of June 2023. Aranda was listed as the chief operating officer and founding member of the Center for Civic Policy and a co-director of the New Mexico Civic Engagement Table as of August 2024. Previously, Aranda worked as a volunteer for the Petroglyph National Monument Protection Coalition. Prior to founding the Center for Civic Policy, Aranda was vice president of an Albuquerque based political consulting firm that helped elect local progressive leaders into office. She was previously on the boards of ProgressNow New Mexico and the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund. 61

Itzayana Banda, the communications manager for the NM Dream Team, was listed on the board of Dreams in Action NM as of June 2023. 62 63

References

  1. “Local Primary Races We Are Supporting in 2024.” Dreams In Action NM. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://dreamsinactionnm.org/.
  2. “About the Center for Civic Policy.” Center for Civic Policy, August 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/about/.
  3. “New Mexico Civic Engagement Table.” Center for Civic Policy, September 28, 2020. https://civicpolicy.com/nmcet/.
  4. “New Mexico.” State Voices, September 22, 2022. https://www.statevoices.org/states/new-mexico/.
  5. “Dreams in Action NM’s Privacy Policy.” Dreams In Action NM. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://dreamsinactionnm.org/privacy-policy/.
  6. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Box C.
  7. “Center for Civic Policy,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Box C.
  8. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule R.
  9. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Box C.
  10. “Center for Civic Policy,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Box C.
  11. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Page 7 Part 7.
  12. “Home.” Center for Civic Action, May 23, 2024. https://centerforcivicaction.com/.
  13. “Oriana Sandoval.” Center for Civic Policy, Accessed July 12, 2024. https://civicpolicy.com/oriana-sandoval-2/.
  14. “Melanie Aranda.” Center for Civic Policy, June 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/melanie-aranda-2/.
  15. “ProgressNow New Mexico,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2020 Page 7 Part 7.
  16. “ProgressNow New Mexico,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2019 Page 7 Part 7.
  17. “ProgressNow New Mexico,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2018 Page 7 Part 7.
  18. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2018 Page 7 Part 7.
  19. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2019 Page 7 Part 7.
  20. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2020 Page 7 Part 7.
  21. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Page 7 Part 7.
  22. “New Mexico.” State Voices, September 22, 2022. https://www.statevoices.org/states/new-mexico/.
  23. “New Mexico Civic Engagement Table.” Center for Civic Policy, September 28, 2020. https://civicpolicy.com/nmcet/.
  24. “New Mexico Civic Engagement Table.” Center for Civic Policy, September 28, 2020. https://civicpolicy.com/nmcet/.
  25. “Dreams in Action NM’s Privacy Policy.” Dreams In Action NM. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://dreamsinactionnm.org/privacy-policy/.
  26. “Home.” Center for Civic Action, May 23, 2024. https://centerforcivicaction.com/.
  27. “Oriana Sandoval.” Center for Civic Policy, Accessed July 12, 2024. https://civicpolicy.com/oriana-sandoval-2/.
  28. “Home.” Center for Civic Action, May 23, 2024. https://centerforcivicaction.com/.
  29. “Our Board.” State Voices, May 4, 2024. https://www.statevoices.org/board-members/.
  30. “ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Page 7 Part 7.
  31. “About the Center for Civic Policy.” Center for Civic Policy, August 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/about/#partners.
  32. “Home.” Center for Civic Action, May 23, 2024. https://centerforcivicaction.com/.
  33.  “Melanie Aranda.” Center for Civic Policy, June 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/melanie-aranda-2/.
  34.  “NM Dream Team.” Facebook. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/NewMexicoDreamTeam.
  35. “Immigrant Youth Endorse Emma Jones for Albuquerque Public Schools Board District 5.” Dreams In Action NM. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://dreamsinactionnm.org/2021/10/emma-jones-for-albuquerque-public-schools-board/.
  36. “About the Center for Civic Policy.” Center for Civic Policy, August 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/about/#partners.
  37. “Center for Civic Policy;” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule D.
  38. “Our Team Members.” Semilla Strategies. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://semillastrategies.org/team/.
  39. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Page 7 Part 7.
  40. “Meet the NM Dream Team.” NEW MEXICO DREAM TEAM. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.nmdreamteam.org/team/.
  41. “About the Center for Civic Policy.” Center for Civic Policy, August 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/about/#partners.
  42. [1] “Meet Our Semilla Project Leadership.” The Semilla Project. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://semillaproject.org/our-team/.
  43. “Our Team Members.” Semilla Strategies. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://semillastrategies.org/team/.
  44. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 7 Part 7.
  45. “Center for Civic Policy,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 7 Part 7.
  46. “Our Team Members.” Semilla Strategies. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://semillastrategies.org/team/.
  47. [1] “Center for Civic Policy,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule L.
  48. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule L.
  49. “A Center for Transformation for Rising BIPOC Leaders.” The Semilla Project. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://semillaproject.org/#mission.
  50. “New Mexico Progressive Voters Guide.” Progressive Voters Guide. Accessed July 24, 2024. https://progressivevotersguide.com/newmexico/?L=0.
  51. “New Mexico Progressive Voters Guide.” Progressive Voters Guide. Accessed July 24, 2024. https://progressivevotersguide.com/newmexico/about.
  52. “New Mexico Progressive Voters Guide.” (listed in Progressive Voters Guide). Accessed July 24, 2024. https://progressivevotersguide.com/newmexico/aboutnm.
  53. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Box C.
  54. “ProgressNow New Mexico,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022. Page 1 Box C.
  55. “Home.” Center for Civic Action, May 23, 2024. https://centerforcivicaction.com/.
  56. “Local Primary Races We Are Supporting in 2024.” Dreams In Action NM. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://dreamsinactionnm.org/.
  57. “Center for Civic Action,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Schedule I.
  58. [1] “Center for Civic Policy,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Schedule I.
  59. “Our Team Members.” Semilla Strategies. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://semillastrategies.org/team/
  60. “Center for Civic Policy,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule L.
  61. “Melanie Aranda.” Center for Civic Policy, June 9, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/melanie-aranda-2/.
  62. “Dreams in Action NM,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Page 7 Part 7.
  63. “Meet the NM Dream Team.” NEW MEXICO DREAM TEAM. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://www.nmdreamteam.org/team/.
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Dreams in Action NM


Albuquerque, NM