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SPEAK UP New Mexico is a statewide awareness and educational initiative of the New Mexico Public Education Department. SPEAK UP New Mexico provides students with tools to improve the safety of their schools and communities. Based on the fact that in 81% of school shootings at least one other person had information about the attacker’s plans beforehand, the SPEAK UP New Mexico program empowers students to report threats of weapon-related violence.
SPEAK UP New Mexico features a toll-free hotline for students to report threats of violence at school - 1-866-SPEAK-UP. The hotline is supported by a school-based awareness initiative, as well as a statewide media campaign including powerful public service announcements.
1-866-SPEAK-UP is a toll-free hotline for students to anonymously report weapon-related threats. Since the hotline launched nationally in October 2002, it has received more than 25,000 calls. The hotline is operated in accordance with a rigid protocol developed in collaboration with national education and law enforcement authorities. It is completely anonymous, addressing students’ most critical concern, and is staffed full-time by professionally trained counselors who are available in 140 languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Upon receiving a tip, hotline counselors immediately contact the relevant school district officials and local law enforcement agency by phone and fax so the threat can be safely and quickly resolved.
The 1-866-SPEAK-UP hotline will be promoted in every public school in New Mexico. Students will receive informational wallet cards and posters will be placed around each school. The goal of the awareness campaign in schools is to ensure that every student in New Mexico is aware of the 1-866-SPEAK-UP hotline number and of the importance of speaking up to prevent violence.
The SPEAK UP New Mexico media campaign consists of advertising and public relations. The centerpiece is a powerful television media campaign called "Signs," which communicates that students can truly help prevent a tragedy by calling PAX's anonymous 1-866-SPEAK UP hotline if they see a "sign" of violence. View the public service announcements, print and outdoor advertisements here. Special thanks to the companies and stations that have generously helped to promote the SPEAK UP New Mexico hotline and message. They include ABC stations KOVT, KOAT and KOCT, Clear Channel Outdoor, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Lamar Transit Advertising, MTD Radio Inc., Newman Outdoor Advertising and Santa Fe Place Mall. If your organization would like to help publicize SPEAK UP New Mexico, please email us.