MOTHERS LEADING CHANGE

A Statewide Advocacy & Leadership Retreat for Mothers and Caregivers of Individuals with Down Syndrome

February 19–21, 2027
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Approximately 15 women from across New Mexico will be selected to participate. All retreat costs are covered.

Your Experience Can Create Change

Being the mother or caregiver of a person with Down syndrome often means becoming an advocate, problem-solver, educator, connector, and leader—whether you ever intended to be one or not.

Mothers Leading Change is a three-day retreat created to recognize that experience, strengthen those skills, and help women use what they have learned to create meaningful change for their families and communities.

This is more than a weekend away.

Our goal is to build a statewide network of informed, connected, and confident women who can support other families, strengthen their communities, and help improve opportunities for people with Down syndrome throughout New Mexico.

Your experience has value. Your voice has power.

[ APPLY FOR THE RETREAT ]

RETREAT INFORMATION

What Is Mothers Leading Change?

Mothers Leading Change is an intimate, three-day leadership and advocacy retreat bringing together approximately 15 mothers and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome from communities across New Mexico.

The weekend will combine learning, conversation, advocacy training, leadership development, wellness, and time to connect with women who understand many of the same opportunities and challenges.

Participants will leave with practical tools, new relationships, and ideas they can put into action in their own communities.

Who Is This Retreat For?

We are seeking mothers and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome from across New Mexico.

We especially want a group representing different communities, backgrounds, perspectives, and stages of life—from mothers of young children who are just beginning to navigate services and systems to women who have spent decades advocating alongside their adult children.

You do not need previous advocacy or leadership experience.

Lived experience matters.

We are looking for women who are curious, willing to share, ready to learn, and interested in helping make their communities stronger.

What to Expect

The retreat will include a mix of:

• Advocacy and leadership workshops

• Conversations with people who have created meaningful change

• Education about navigating systems and resources

• Peer-to-peer learning and discussion

• Financial planning and future-focused conversations

• Wellness and self-care activities

• Time for reflection and connection

• Practical planning for creating change at home

• Opportunities to develop resources that can be shared with other New Mexico families

The weekend is intentionally small, allowing participants to build real relationships and have meaningful conversations.

What Do We Mean by “Leadership”?

Leadership does not necessarily mean running an organization, speaking at the Legislature, or having a title.

It might mean helping another parent prepare for an IEP meeting.

It might mean approaching a local employer about inclusive hiring, talking with a healthcare provider about better care, helping a family find services, or advocating for greater inclusion in a school or community.

Leadership starts by recognizing that what you have learned can help someone else.

Mothers Leading Change is designed to help you turn that experience into action.

What Happens After the Retreat?

Our goal is for the weekend to be a beginning—not an ending.

Participants will be encouraged to take what they learn back to their communities, share information with other families, connect people with resources, and identify opportunities for positive change.

During the retreat, participants will also help develop practical resources and materials that can be shared with families throughout New Mexico.

Together, we hope to create a growing statewide network of women who can learn from one another, support one another, and make change possible in communities large and small.

What Does It Cost?

There is no cost to selected participants.

Retreat expenses are covered, including lodging, meals, retreat programming, workshops, and activities.

We do not want the cost of participating to prevent someone from applying.

Where and When?

February 19–21, 2027
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The retreat begins Friday evening, continues throughout Saturday, and concludes Sunday morning.

Additional travel and schedule information will be provided to selected participants.

Why Only 15 Participants?

Mothers Leading Change is intentionally designed as a small retreat.

A group of approximately 15 participants allows for deeper conversations, meaningful relationships, individual participation, and the opportunity for every woman to be heard.

We also hope to select participants representing different parts of New Mexico and different stages of the Down syndrome journey.

Do I Need Advocacy Experience?

Absolutely not.

You do not need to consider yourself an advocate, activist, leader, or expert.

If you have supported and cared for someone with Down syndrome, navigated schools or healthcare, searched for services, solved problems, asked questions, celebrated successes, or helped your family through challenges, you already bring valuable experience to the room.

We can build from there.

What We Ask of Participants

Come ready to:

Learn. Share. Listen. Connect. Reflect. Participate.

And most importantly, come willing to consider one question:

How can what I have learned help someone else?

APPLY TO ATTEND

Participation is limited to approximately 15 women from across New Mexico.

The application is not intended to test your knowledge or previous advocacy experience. It simply helps us learn about you, your family, your community, and what you hope to gain—and contribute—during the weekend.

We encourage women from every part of New Mexico and every stage of the Down syndrome journey to apply.

[ BEGIN APPLICATION ]

About DSORC

The Down Syndrome Office and Resource Center (DSORC) connects people with Down syndrome and their families with information, support, resources, and opportunities throughout New Mexico and beyond.

Through education, advocacy, healthcare navigation, employment and housing resources, training, community engagement, and family support, DSORC works to help individuals and families navigate today while creating greater opportunities for tomorrow.

DSORC.org

A Final Thought

You don’t need a title to be a leader.

You don’t need to know all the answers.

And you don’t need to change the entire state by yourself.

Sometimes change begins when one person takes what she has learned and brings it home to her community.

That is what Mothers Leading Change is about.