Making a difference in 2022
We want to take a moment to share some of the incredible accomplishments Voces Unidas de las Montañas achieved in the last 12 months.
When we started in May of 2020, our goal was to elevate the voices of Latinas and Latinos, create opportunities where Latinas and Latinos can advocate for themselves, and increase Latina and Latino representation and participation in decision-making tables.
Thanks to our amazing (and growing!) staff, community members, volunteers and supporters, we are meeting those lofty expectations.
Take a look of our successes by pillar. Click on each pillar to learn more.
Advocacy/Policy/Organizing
Opened regional offices in Glenwood Springs and Frisco and hired two Regional Organizing Managers to start to organize and support core leaders in the central-mountain region;
Engaged nearly 4,000 people in more than 5,009 advocacy, organizing and policy activities/actions;
Engaged more than 1,304 people in efforts to write letters, send emails, sign a petition or meet in person with an elected official to advocate for themselves and their families;
Hosted nearly 1,000 people at one of our workshops, trainings or organizing/advocacy/policy meetings;
Organized 400-plus leaders to participate in Latino Advocacy Day in Denver in March and 15 leaders who traveled to D.C. in May to advocate with their members of Congress for the first time;
Commissioned two historic statewide nonpartisan polls, surveying more than 2,000 Latino voters, and released comprehensive reports to help political leaders and local communities better address community needs;
Created opportunities for local leaders to testify and help inform 6 successful pieces of legislation during the 2022 legislative session:
Reproductive Health Equity Act (HB22-1279), which modernizes Colorado statute to ensure Coloradans can continue to make their own reproductive health choices.
Mobile Home Park Resident Protections (HB22-1287), which updates and strengthens mobile home resident protections by giving more rights and agency to residents in mobile home parks. This addressed some of the concerns that we heard from community leaders.
Health Benefits For Colorado Children And Pregnant Persons (HB22-1289), which provides health coverage for undocumented pregnant people in Colorado and provides comprehensive public health insurance for all children in Colorado, regardless of immigration status, up to the CHP income-eligibility limit.
In-state Tuition For Colorado High School Graduates or The Val Vigil Act (HB22-1155), which increases the number of undocumented students eligible for in-state tuition through the Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) program.
Small Community-based Nonprofit Grant Program (HB22-1356), which creates an infrastructure grant fund for smaller nonprofits that are providing culturally appropriate and relevant services and resources to families and communities who have historically been underrepresented, underfunded, under-resourced, and continue to struggle with pandemic recovery.
Loan Program Resident-owned Communities (SB22-160), which establishes a revolving loan and grant program to provide assistance and financing to mobile home residents seeking to organize and purchase their mobile home parks.
Leadership
Graduated and supported 13 participants in our year-long leadership programs;
Sponsored 2 leaders to attend national training programs;
Developed a custom fellowship program to better support the local pipeline of future leaders with an interest in public service to launch in 2023
Civic Engagement
Launched a comprehensive, bilingual GOTV campaign, reaching more than 24,779 Latino voters in the Western Slope;
Made 23,176 phone calls targeting 11,588 Latino voters in the central-mountain region;
Sent a total of 4 nonpartisan mail pieces targeting 13,191 Latino voters in the central mountain region;
Reached 980,000 ad impressions and 120,000 video views, targeting about 25,000 Latino voters in the central mountain region;
Helped to educate voters on 10 successful local and statewide ballot issues during the 2022 election, including statutes guaranteeing access to free school lunches for all students, a state affordable housing program, and lodging taxes approved by several counties and municipalities dedicated to funding local affordable housing.
Services/Other
Sponsored local community events and a community sports team, and gave direct financial aid to 4 leaders;
Secured funding to start a Legal Defense Fund and continue our Emergency Aid Fund;
Reached 167,295 people on our websites, and on social media
Thank you for your support of Voces Unidas de las Montañas in 2022 — and in the future.