Future Focused Education is helping to shape conversations, policy and practices regarding social, emotional learning (SEL) as a vehicle for educational equity and deeper learning. Presently, Future Focused participates in a workgroup, led by the New Mexico Public Education Department, in developing a New Mexico SEL Framework that will offer schools and school districts with the theoretical foundation and overview of critical core practices necessary in integrating SEL into the infrastructure and classrooms of schools statewide. This work is especially critical in responding to the “twin pandemics” of racism and COVID-19.