This session traces the journey of the New Mexico Worker Equity Alliance from formation to today, offering a candid look at what it takes to build a state-funded, worker-centered workforce system grounded in equity, inclusion, and accessibility. As federal supports face growing uncertainty, states and communities are stepping into a more central role, creating both urgency and opportunity to redesign systems to better serve workers, especially those historically excluded. Speakers will reflect on how the Alliance built trust, aligned around a shared understanding of equity, and navigated tensions with partners not always centered on those principles. This session highlights practical lessons in community engagement, stakeholder alignment, and designing workforce systems that reflect and respond to the priorities of the communities they serve.