With the election of President-elect Joe Biden last week, we are cautiously optimistic that the lives of Latinos and immigrants in the state may improve. A Biden administration may finally provide a pathway to citizenship for dreamers, the end of child separation at the border, and an end to the public charge rule, among other policy changes that have disproportionally impacted this population. But we cannot look ahead without acknowledging that it will take a generation for America’s Latinos to begin to heal from the trauma endured in recent years.
Not only have we seen the rise of white supremacist groups—and their hate crimes—throughout the state and the nation, but Latinos' daily experience with discrimination, bias and outward racism is now a well-covered topic inside our homes and around our kitchen tables, as family members admit they are living in fear.
The current administration’s immigration and deportation policies shined a light on the complacency of the established elected officials, the media and other decision makers who allowed xenophobia and the dehumanization of immigrants to take root.
We call on decision makers and leadership nationally, and especially in Colorado, to double down on their commitments to support Colorado’s Latino, immigrant, and refugee communities, including foundations, elected representatives, and those in leadership across sectors. We also ask for the support of all statewide leaders of conscience.
We ask Colorado Foundations to continue to invest in the Latino and Immigrant serving nonprofits who are providing trusted services.
We implore Elected Officials to represent and support legislation that will positively impact Latino interests including economic opportunities, social needs, safety, and health.
We encourage our Community Leaders to honor the contributions of Latinos in the state and support their mental and physical wellbeing
The institutions who have signed this statement come together as one voice to speak to an urgent need for the incoming administration to set in motion true systems-level change that will support, uplift and provide communities of color with hope for the future in its first 100 days and beyond.
Advocates Against Domestic Assault - Charlene Tortorice, Executive Director
Alianza NORCO– Patricia Miller, Executive Director
Casa de Paz– Sarah Jackson, Executive Director
Centro Humanitario- Sarah Shikes, Executive Director
Clinica Tepeyac- Jim Garcia, CEO
Colorado Circles for Change– Angell Perez, Executive Director
Colorado Jobs with Justice- Pamela Reséndiz Trujano, Executive Director
Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition– Lorena Garcia, Executive Director
Cultivando– Olga Gonzalez, Executive Director
El Groupo Vida– Elisa Aucancela, Executive Director
Focus Points Family Resource Center, Jules S. Kelty, Executive Director
Girls Inc. of Metro Denver – Sonya Ulibarri, President & CEO
Hispanic Affairs Project– Ricardo Perez, Executive Director
INSPIRE- Jesse Ramirez, CEO
Justice & Heritage Academy– Aaron Abeyta, Founder
La Cocina– Dr. Janina Farinas, CEO
Latin American Educational Foundation– Jim Chavez
Latina SafeHouse– Angela Cesena
Latino Community Foundation of Colorado– Carlos Martinez, CEO
Latino Leadership Institute– Joelle Martinez, Executive Director
Latinx Center at The University of Denver – Dr. Debora Ortega, Director
Mi Casa Resource Center- Monique Lovato, CEO
Mujeres de Colores– Betty Aragon-Mitotes, Executive Director
Museo de las Americas– Claudia Moran, Executive Director
OneMorgan County– Susana Guardado
Padres & Jovenes Unidos- Elsa Bañuelos, Executive Director
Project Voyce– Vanessa Roberts, Executive Director
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network– Mekela Goehring, Executive Director
San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center- Flora Archuleta, Executive Director
Servicios de La Raza– Rudy Gonzales, Executive Director
Voces Unidas de las Montañas– Alex Sánchez, Executive Director
Las instituciones latinas y aquellas que prestan servicios a inmigrantes en todo Colorado instan a los responsables de la toma de decisiones del estado a mantener el cambio de sistemas a la vanguardia de todo lo que hacen
Con la elección del presidente Joe Biden la semana pasada, somos cautelosamente optimistas que las vidas de latinos e inmigrantes en el estado puedan mejorar. Una administración Biden finalmente puede proporcionar a los Dreamers un camino hacia la ciudadanía, el fin de la separación infantil en la frontera y el fin de la regla de carga pública, entre otros cambios en las políticas que han afectado de manera desproporcionada a esta población. Pero no podemos mirar hacia adelante sin reconocer que tomará una generación para que los latinos de Estados Unidos comiencen a sanar del trauma sufrido en los últimos años.
No solo hemos visto el surgimiento de grupos de supremacía blanca y sus crímenes de odio en el estado y la nación, sino que la experiencia diaria de los latinos con discriminación, prejuicios y racismo externo es ahora un tema constante en nuestros hogares y alrededor de nuestras mesas donde los miembros de la familia admiten que viven con temor.
Las políticas de inmigración y deportación de la administración actual mostraron la complacencia de los funcionarios electos, los medios de comunicación y otros tomadores de decisiones en permitir que la xenofobia y la deshumanización de los inmigrantes echaran raíces.
Hacemos un llamado a los responsables de la toma de decisiones y al liderazgo, a nivel nacional y especialmente en Colorado, para que dupliquen sus compromisos de apoyar a las comunidades latinas, inmigrantes y refugiadas de Colorado, incluidas las fundaciones, los representantes electos y los líderes en todos los sectores. También pedimos conciencia a todos los líderes estatales.
Le pedimos a las Fundaciones de Colorado que continúen invirtiendo en las organizaciones sin fines de lucro latinas o que atienden a inmigrantes que brindan servicios de confianza.
Imploramos a los Funcionarios Electos que representen y apoyen leyes que impacten positivamente los intereses de los latinos en cuanto a oportunidades económicas, necesidades sociales, seguridad y salud.
Alentamos a nuestros Líderes Comunitarios a honrar las contribuciones de los latinos en el estado y apoyar su bienestar mental y físico
Las instituciones que firman esta declaración se unen en una sola voz para manifestarse ante una necesidad urgente de que la administración entrante ponga en marcha, en sus primeros 100 días y en adelante, un verdadero cambio a nivel de sistemas que apoye, eleve y proporcione a las comunidades de color esperanza en el futuro.
Con el respaldo de:
Advocates Against Domestic Assault - Charlene Tortorice, Executive Director
Alianza NORCO– Patricia Miller, Executive Director
Casa de Paz– Sarah Jackson, Executive Director
Centro Humanitario- Sarah Shikes, Executive Director
Clinica Tepeyac- Jim Garcia, CEO
Colorado Circles for Change– Angell Perez, Executive Director
Colorado Jobs with Justice- Pamela Reséndiz Trujano, Executive Director
Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition– Lorena Garcia, Executive Director
Cultivando– Olga Gonzalez, Executive Director
El Groupo Vida– Elisa Aucancela, Executive Director
Focus Points Family Resource Center, Jules S. Kelty, Executive Director
Girls Inc. of Metro Denver – Sonya Ulibarri, President & CEO
Hispanic Affairs Project– Ricardo Perez, Executive Director
INSPIRE- Jesse Ramirez, CEO
Justice & Heritage Academy– Aaron Abeyta, Founder
La Cocina– Dr. Janina Farinas, CEO
Latin American Educational Foundation– Jim Chavez
Latina SafeHouse– Angela Cesena
Latino Community Foundation of Colorado– Carlos Martinez, CEO
Latino Leadership Institute– Joelle Martinez, Executive Director
Latinx Center at The University of Denver – Dr. Debora Ortega, Director
Mi Casa Resource Center- Monique Lovato, CEO
Mujeres de Colores– Betty Aragon-Mitotes, Executive Director
Museo de las Americas– Claudia Moran, Executive Director
OneMorgan County– Susana Guardado
Padres & Jovenes Unidos- Elsa Bañuelos, Executive Director
Project Voyce– Vanessa Roberts, Executive Director
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network– Mekela Goehring, Executive Director
San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center- Flora Archuleta, Executive Director
Servicios de La Raza– Rudy Gonzales, Executive Director
Voces Unidas de las Montañas– Alex Sánchez, Executive Director