How to Jam for Justice
NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 | BY FUSION STAFF WRITER, RUDOLFO CARRILLO
Here’s a simple script for getting art, music, and justice into your life by visiting FUSION.
One Albuquerquean said to another: “Let’s jam for justice.”
“We’ll have a couple of opportunities to do that this week”, replies the other.
Together, the two set out for FUSION in Albuquerque. On the way, several of their friends and colleagues join them. Some of them arrive on Friday, March 6, just in time for the Jam for Justice Art Exhibition, opening at 5:00 PM. The others get there in time for a smoking music session at the Jam for Justice Battle of the Bands, on Wednesday, March 11, at 5:30 PM. Everyone has a good time, and justice—a deeply important American concept—in the form of equal access through legal aid, is well-served as a result.
As the scene slowly fades out, everyone at FUSION smiles, digging on the art and music, thinking about the future of truth and justice and the American way. Readers might well ask about this phenomenon, this “Jamming for justice.” To the sponsor organization of these two events and us, it means making art and music to support legal aid in New Mexico.
Legal aid is a necessary thing because some marginalized individuals and communities do not have the same access to the American justice system that we often take for granted. That is especially true in civil cases, where there is literally no such thing as a public defender.
Gratefully, organizations like New Mexico non-profit Equal Access to Justice exist in order to bridge that gap, providing necessary funding and access to funding for justice-minded organizations like New Mexico Legal Aid, New Mexico Center on Law & Poverty, and DNA People’s Legal Services.
Heather Norfleet, the executive director of Equal Access to Justice, Inc., took time out of her usual routine of providing legal help to New Mexico’s people in order to explain how the two upcoming events at FUSION will further her organization’s goal of upholding justice in these parts: “With access to justice, families remain secure in their homes, women gain safety from physical and economic abuse, seniors receive life-saving benefits, and children access critical healthcare services.”
Rudolfo Carrillo: What does Equal Access to Justice do? What's their role in the legal system?
Heather Norfleet: Unlike the criminal justice system, where people are guaranteed an attorney, in civil legal issues, you are not given an attorney [public defender]. Civil legal issues touch on all parts of life, from housing to social benefits to guardianship issues…a lot of the natural disaster work going on [in the state]. There are a number of marginalized or very vulnerable populations in New Mexico that would benefit from legal services; the non-profit that I am a part of was started about 37 years ago to address those needs. The non-profit was founded by attorneys in town that wanted to make a difference, who wanted to provide funding for the organizations that actually provide these legal services. We provide non-restricted, non-competitive funds to our partner organizations.
What does it mean to ‘Jam for Justice’?
Last year was the first year we did the Jam for Justice music event, the battle of the bands. The idea came out of conversations with our board of directors. I found out a lot of attorneys [that we work with] are musicians, too. March is the end of our fiscal year at Equal Access to Justice, so I wanted to create a positive, relaxed, celebratory space for our clients, attorneys, and staff where we could all reconnect and be together. Of course, [with all the creative types around us] a high school type “battle of the bands,” a jam session, came to mind; a fun event where we could still try and hit our last funding goal at the end of the fiscal year. People were generous, we had fun; the event was a huge success! We decided to do that again this year. We want to make Jam for Justice our signature event.
And this year, there’s an art show too, I’m told…
We went to tour the facility, and I really liked the exhibition space at FUSION. It turned out that no one had claimed the space for the month of March…and there are a lot of willing people in the legal system—paralegals, clerks, attorneys, judges—who want to show and sell their art. We have 29 artists that are showing this year. It is a juried exhibition. If a piece sells, 30 percent goes to our organization. We plan to host an opening for the exhibit on Friday, March 6, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. The opening coincides with First Fridays ARTScrawl [and ABQ Artwalk].
And what about this year’s epic battle of the bands?
If you come out to the show, you will hear some awesome music and be able to connect with the community. On Wednesday, the doors open at 5:30 PM…local poet extraordinaire and recent UNM Law School Alum Hakim Bellamy is the MC for the evening. We have five bands playing. One of them features Robert Lucero from UNM’s Music Department; he’ll be previewing new work. Then we have Controlled Burn; their drummer is Ben Bower, the Chief [Bernalillo County] Public Defender. We also have Moondogs playing; they’re a rocking collection of local legal minds. Flashback Prophets are coming down from Los Alamos; they’re retired attorneys. We are especially excited to have New Mexican music mainstays Dynette Marie and Darren Cordova performing this year. The admission money goes toward our mission, our mission, of course.
One more time, for those just joining us, what is that mission?
We’d hope to keep doing these sorts of events, and for several reasons. Obviously, it’s always good to introduce who we are to the community, to those who may not have heard about how we may be able to help. As far as our mission goes, I just think it’s important, especially these days, to create spaces where we can come together and reconnect, or connect with people on a human level.
Well, sometimes, the legal system can seem vast and indifferent, que no?
We want to humanize that experience. The events are great opportunities to step back and reconnect.
JAM FOR JUSTICE: THE ART SHOW
Opening Reception, Friday, March 6, 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Through Sunday, March 29, 2026, 7:00 PM
FUSION | 708
708 1st Street NorthwestAlbuquerque, NM, 87102United States
Equal Access to Justice presents JAM FOR JUSTICE
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
FUSION | 708
708 1st Street NorthwestAlbuquerque, NM, 87102United States
Tickets $25 available here.