Dusti Gurule - Executive Director
Dusti@latinainitiative.org
Dusti, a Denver native, spent the majority of her childhood as a student at Escuela Tlatelolco, the school founded by the Crusade for Justice, the Denver Chicano social justice organization of the 1960-70s. She went on to receive a Bachelor Degree in Chicano Studies at Metropolitan State College of Denver and received a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University as a Colorado Trust Fellow.
Dusti is dedicated to serving the Latino community on issues that affect social change and civic involvement. She is an active participant in organizing and policy reform on a variety of issues, including Latina civic engagement and economic/civil rights. She serves on the board of the Women’s Lobby of Colorado, the Highlands United Neighbors Inc. (HUNI), and is a commissioner on the Colorado Pay Equity Commission. Dusti is alum of the Circle of Latina Leadership and currently serves as a mentor in the program. Dusti was named one of ’50 for the Future’ by The Colorado Statesman in 2007 and received a Civil Rights Award from NEWSED CDC in May of 2006.
Maria Federica De Cambra - Program Coordinator
Maria@latinainitiative.org
Maria grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. In 2000 she moved to the United States to study at Ohio State University. After taking time off to serve as the Hispanic/Outreach Organizer for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, she graduated with a degree in political science in 2005. Maria has organized delegations to be electoral observers in Russia and Argentina, and has served as an international electoral observer in the 2002 Ohio local elections.
Maria moved to Denver in May of 2006 to serve as the Director of Hispanic/Latino outreach for Coloradans for Fairness, a statewide organization that campaigned to pass Referendum I, which would have given same-sex partners basic legal rights. In February of 2007, Maria joined the COLOR board of directors because she believes in the need to educate and empower women around reproductive health issues.
Rachel Chaparro- Field Director
rachel@latinainitiative.org
Rachel Chaparro was the Manager of Education and Outreach for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado. Other experience includes serving as the Field Director for the Colorado Women’s Agenda, managing a successful campaign for CU Regent Michael Carrigan, working as a political consultant for a ballot initiative and doing policy research for the Bighorn Center for Public Policy and the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ms. Chaparro has a Political Science degree and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Jade Camarena- Field Organizer
jade@latinainitiative.org
Jade originally a Southwest native, spent most of her early year between Denver and the small town of Arboles outside the Southern Ute Reservation. Jade recently graduated from Fort Lewis College, where she received a BA in AIS and a Minor in Cellular Molecular Biology. While attending Fort Lewis Jade became heavily involved with environmental/social issues such as the Dooda Desert Rock Campaign, Save the Peaks Campaign, and Native vote during the 2004 elections.