Our Mission
The mission of the Latina Initiative (LI) is to cultivate, support and maintain the civic involvement of Latinas in Colorado.
Our History
In 2002, LI Board President, Katherine Archuleta, told then-Attorney General Ken Salazar that she had just participated in the last “honk and wave…” she was ever going to do. Expressing her frustration about the back seat Latinas were taking in campaigns, and recognizing the strength their sheer numbers along with cultural custom could bring to the electoral process, she persuaded Salazar that a new social movement was emerging that could take advantage of the talent and commitment existent within the Latina community. Together they designed a culturally based, Latina-targeted civic engagement project and presented it to the one person they knew would support their ideals – former U.S. Ambassador Swanee Hunt.
They were not disappointed: With a start up grant from the Hunt Alternatives Fund, the Latina Initiative began in 2002 as a grassroots movement designed to focus and solidify the immense civic engagement potential within Colorado’s growing Latina population. “I’m Latina and I Vote” became the mantra of women throughout the community along with yard signs that proclaimed their civic pride.
Today, the Latina Initiative (LI) is a nationally recognized nonpartisan leadership and education, voter registration, and mobilization project aimed at increasing the civic and political engagement of Latinas in Denver.
Notable Accomplishments as of 2011
- Mobilized members and testified to assist with the defeat of Arizona copycat bills and I-100.
- Testified as part of the Colorado Redistricting and Reapportionment Commissions to make sure Latina/os can elect candidates of choice.
- 40 young women have participated in the Youth Action and Advisory Council and Latinas Increasing Political Strength (LIPS) programs since 2008.
- 23 students from North H.S. and Manual H.S.participated in the Opportunity to Raise Awareness for Allies and Latinas/os through Education (ORAALE!) program in 2009.
- Over 1,940 views have been recorded for the two 2008 ORAALE! videos combined
- Registered over 11,800 Coloradans to vote since August 2004.
- Since the start in 2007 the ¡Ya Es Hora! Ciudadania campaign, over 2,250 LPR’s (Lawful Permanent Residents) have gone through the citizenship workshops.
- 72 students have passed the citizenship test through our citizenship classes
- 600 women from throughout Colorado participated in the Serious Women, Serious Issues, Serious Action conference since 2005
- 900 Latinas/os from throughout Colorado have been trained on issue advocacy since the first annual Latina/o Advocacy Day on January 29, 2007.
- Over 2,200 women and girls participated in Civic Education events and presentations since 2006.
