Farewell from Latina Initiative's Executive Director

Dear Friends of the Latina Initiative,

One of the most important things we can do to improve our lives is to exercise the vote we have worked so hard to earn. It has been an incredible honor to work with you to support the civic engagement of Latinas.  Since I came on in January, the Latina Initiative has made rapid progress with a one to two person staff to implement successful programs, increase systems, and gain recognition for LI’s work at local & national levels. To see our accomplishments please click here. 

Sadly, it takes more than good work to make it right now. Due to the difficult economic climate, the Latina Initiative board of directors has moved into a three to six month due diligence process to determine the evolution of the Latina Initiative. All programmatic work is suspended.  All staff including Dymarie Colon Flores our operations manager and myself have been laid off effective August 31^th, 2011.  Our citizenship program and instructor Sandra Zamora are now at Mi Familia Vota. This has not been easy for the board or staff.

My sincere and heartfelt thanks goes out to you our members, our staff, our partners and our funders.  I appreciate the hard work you have put into our collaborative efforts to make “I’m Latina and I vote” one of the most powerful phrases in our state and our nation.

If you need more information about:

• Latina/o Advocacy day, please contact Lorena Garcia and COLOR who have taken over the helm with our sincere gratitude.

• Ya Es Hora and Citizenship Classes -- Grace Lopez Ramirez and Celia Reyes Martinez at Mi Familia Vota have taken on all of the responsibilities -- We are so appreciative.

• Youth Action and Advisory Council -- Yoselin Gracia and Kaylee Ortega from Lincoln High School will build a chapter at Lincoln this year and may be calling you for support.  A big thanks to them for their courage and leadership.

My contact information will change to the information below.  I would welcome a call or email from you.  Together we have accomplished much and I appreciate the opportunity to have served you as the Executive Director of the Latina Initiative. The LI Board has the message below for you and Dr. Janet Lopez, board president, is in charge of all further Latina Initiative matters after my departure. 

 With gratitude,

Amber Tafoya
Executive Director

Amber Tafoya
720-371-7496
ambertafoya@gmail.com

 Message from the Board

Dear Supporters of the Latina Initiative,

Over the last nine years the Latina Initiative (LI) has become a nationally recognized nonpartisan leader in voter education and voter mobilization.  We have worked hard to develop distinctive programs and partnerships that engage and empower Latinas about issues which directly impact their lives. The organization’s mission has been to cultivate, maintain and support the civic engagement of Latinas in Colorado.  We have achieved this work with wonderful relationships with generous funders, non-profit organizations, community partners and of course Latinas from all across the state who stood up and made their voices heard.

Due to the economic climate and the challenges in civic engagement work  in a non-election year, the Latina Initiative Board of Directors has decided to suspend all programming in order to engage in a comprehensive 3-6 month due diligence process of its evolution. 

We want to express our gratitude to our departing staff including Executive Director Amber Tafoya and Dymarie Flores Colon  We appreciate the contributions they have made to the organization and the deep commitment that each has to civic engagement in the Latina community.

The LI board will communicate its outcome once a decision is made regarding the future work of the organization. 

Sincerely,

Janet Lopez, Latina Initiative Board President

Juanita Chacon, Board Member

Monica Guardiola, Board Member

Carlos Martinez, Board Member

Meshach Rhoades, Board Member

Veronica Rios, Board Member

Monika Celado Stenger, Board Member

Thank you to Wells Fargo!

On behalf of the Latina Initiative we would like to thank Wells Fargo for their generous support which allowed our fundraiser to be the most successful one to date. Your generous contributions of over $4.4 million have allowed countless non-profits such as ours to thrive. It is because of organizations like Wells Fargo that make it possible for us to continue to educate and inspire Latinas to register to vote and engage themselves in the overall political process.

Voter registration

Latina Initiative has been proud to be part of the Campaign to Reform Immigration for America! Click here to learn more!