The New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community came to the elementary school gym Tuesday night to help create a more safe and meaningful environment for children. This was the second forum in the town, where deeper questions were asked to not only combat youth violence, but to create a better community for everyone.

Mountainair Superintendent Jay Mortensen contacted the forum in July with hope of combating a "small but growing concern," bullying, according to the initial letter to the organization.

Tuesday night's forum was led by Michael Brown, director of training and professional development for the New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community.

Bullying is not just a school-based problem, Brown said, but one that can only be eased with involvement from the entire community. He pointed out the majority of people in prison today dropped out of high school.

"If you're uncomfortable at school, you're not learning," Brown said.

No one argued that bullying wasn't happening in Mountainair.

One young participant said she has become immune to bullying at school, because it happens every day.

"It's become like breathing," she said. "I think a lot of kids feel that way."

In the past bullying was so bad she stopped going to school, she said, and it was about a week before the school noticed.

More sobering comments came from elementary students. Last week, Peter Estrada, an AmeriCorps volunteer working with the New Mexico Violence Prevention Network, spent time with Mountainair students.

He asked the students who they look up to. The high school kids, they replied. He also asked them what they'd tell the older kids to make them better role models.

"They'd say 'stop smoking, it's bad for you,' " Estrada said. " 'Stop pushing and shoving and using curse words.' Your kids are smart, they know what's going on."

He also reported the children want more activities to participate in, and more support from their parents and community.

He asked fourth-graders if they feel safe.

"I'm going to be honest here, the majority said no," Estrada said.

The duration of the forum focused on why children are feeling that way, with hope in the future of reversing it. As the forum continues to work with the town, the goal is to get to the root of the issues and become a more safe, better place to be.