Latin America

Denver Community Overview

Mexican-Americans and Spanish settlers came to the wilds of Colorado over 400 years ago. Today their descendents share a proud heritage with immigrants from Chile, Argentina, Columbia, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras to name a few countries.

Hispanic Denver is vibrant, alive and teeming with energy. Denver was recently included among the top ten cities for Hispanics in the U.S. by Hispanic Magazine, on the basis of population share, political and cultural influence, and quality of life. Mexican, Central and South American cultural influences can be found throughout the Denver metro region from place names to architecture, businesses, local art and cuisine. This translates into a crossroads of culture, language, entertainment, food music and festivals bursting with flavor from South of the Border.

According to the Colorado State Demography office, 34% of Denver’s population is Latino and a majority of them speak Spanish in the home. Because of the prevalence of Spanish speaking people in Denver, Colorado and the American Southwest, there are many resources here devoted to serving this close knit and growing community.
Sources:
Renee Fajardo
Ed Winograd,
Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
http://www.marketingymedios.com/marketingymedios/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576741

Community Resources

Al Dia
The Denver Post recently unveiled al Dia online, a Spanish extention of DenverPost.com. The site’s content consists of translated news stories from the Post, offering Spanish speakers a daily local news source. The site also has related streaming video with Spanish-language voiceovers.
www.denverpost.com/aldia

The Latino/Latina Research and Policy Center
The Latino/Latina Research and Policy Center conducts research on health issues facing Latino/as. They are part of the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences center.
Director: Estevan Flores
303-556-6705
eflores@carbon.cudenver.edu

El Centro Humanitario
El Centro Humanitario is Denver's first immigrant day laborer organization that defends the human rights of day laborers. They promote the rights and well-being of day laborers in Denver through education, job skills and leadership development, united action and advocacy.
http://www.centrohumanitario.org/

Mi Casa Resource Center
Mi Casa Resource Center for Women promotes the self-sufficiency of low income Latinas and youths. They offer a variety of programs and services to assist women in business and in education.
http://www.micasadenver.org/

El Centro Amistad
The El Centro Amistad is located at 205 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, Colorado, 80302. They provide adult ESL classes, skills training, and social activities. They are also available to offer legal advising.
Rusty Denham, intake coordinator: 303 443-3970 ext.1

La Gente Unida
La Gente Unida is an organization serving the needs of Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Latinas and Latinos in the Denver and Colorado Area.
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Heights/6404/lagente.html

Denver Hispanic.com
Denver Hispanic.com is a listing of the various community organizations and associations in the Denver area.
http://www.denverhispanic.com/html/Orgsnew.htm

Servicios De La Raza Inc.
The mission of Servicios de la Raza is to provide and advocate comprehensive, culturally relevant human services. They primarily serve, but are not limited to the Spanish speaking population.
http://www.lared-latina.com/Servs.htm

Latin American Research and Service Agency
The Latin American Research and Service Agency mission is to lead and influence change to improve the quality of life for Latinos throughout Colorado. In their efforts to fulfill their mission they compile research on various issues affecting Latinos and the community in Colorado at large; provide services to the community, government and local corporations; and train members of the entire community in cultural competency, awareness, and leadership to help them influence change as well.
http://www.larasa.org/index.html

Colorado REFORMA
Colorado REFORMA's mission is to improve the full spectrum of information services for Latinos, Hispanics, and Spanish-speaking persons in the United States.
www.reformacolorado.org/

The Lambda Community Center
The Lambda Community Center is a resource center for the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered community and allies in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming through education, outreach, advocacy and collaboration. There are located in Fort Collin’s Colorado.
http://www.lambdacenter.org/

The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association primary function is to serve the public interest by cultivating the science of jurisprudence, promoting reform in the law, facilitating the administration of justice, advancing the standing of its members in the legal profession and promoting the cooperation and development of Hispanic attorneys.
http://www.chba.net/

The American GI Forum; Mile High Chapter
The American GI Forum is a veteran’s family organization since 1948 is the only Congressionally Chartered non-profit Hispanic Veterans organization in the United States.
http://www.agifmh.org/

Hispanic Contractors of Colorado
The Hispanic Contractors of Colorado is a non-profit association committed to creating a positive environment for Hispanic construction firms.
http://www.hispanic-contractors.org/

Smoky Hill Library – Book Club
5430 S. Biscay Circle
Centennial, CO
303-542-7279
Smoky Hill Library has a bilingual book club in English and Spanish. Discussions are in English, but participants read books in English and Spanish. The library has other programs for Spanish speaking and bi-lingual members.
http://www.arapahoelibraries.org/locations.cfm?lid=SM

Chamber of Americas
The Chamber of Americas is a not-for-profit organization with a simple, profoundly important goal: To help you make the most of your business opportunity in the Americas. Stated more formally, the Chamber’s mission is to facilitate commerce and understanding between the businesses and governments of the Western Hemisphere. Through trade missions, educational classes and other initiatives, The Chamber facilitates your business contacts, promotes international networking and encourages cultural understanding. We connect you to the people, governments and companies that drive current and emerging cross-border opportunities in the Americas.
http://www.chamberoftheamericas.com/index2.htm

Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a membership driven organization of Hispanic businesses, professional associations, and corporations working together to provide partnership opportunities through programs and services designed to help our members to meet their goals.
http://www.dhcc.com/

Museo de las Americas
The Museo de las Americas educates and inspires all audiences to the art and culture of the people of Latin America, from ancient times to the present. In Exhibitions, The Museo’s curatorial premise is the principle of then and now. The Museo approaches all of its exhibitions in this way – with historical and contemporary viewpoints hand-in-hand. In Collections, the Museo has over 4,000 objects. The Museo has developed two main focuses: The Ancient Art of the Americas and Art of the People. Both collections provide a distinct look into two fascinating worlds of Latin America.
http://www.museo.org/

Clínica Tepeyac
The mission of Clinica Tepeyac is to serve as the gateway to health for the uninsured. The highest priority is to understand and provide for the health care needs and community needs of the Latino population of Metro Denver through the efforts of a nonprofit, volunteer health clinic. Services will be provided in an atmosphere of respect and dignity, as well as in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
http://www.clinicatepeyac.org/

Colorado Democratic Latino Initiative
The mission of the Colorado Democratic Party Latino Initiative (“the Initiative”) is to ensure the significant participation and influence of our diverse community at all levels within the Colorado Democratic Party. The Initiative supports political action to increase the involvement and leadership of Latinos in the Democratic party.
http://www.cdlatinoinitiative.org/

Colorado Heritage Camps
Colorado Heritage Camps provide educational, cultural and family related experiences which support the healthy development of families formed by adoption of children with diverse heritages.
www.heritagecamps.org

Rights for all People

Lisa Duran, Executive Director
3131 W. 14th Avenue
Denver, CO 80204
303-893-3500
The mission of RAP is to organize with immigrants and their allies to achieve justice, dignity, and human rights for immigrants in Colorado.
http://www.rap-dpt.org/

SLV Immigrant Resource Center
225 6th St. Suite B
Alamosa, CO 81101
719-587-3225
Their mission is to provide, direct, and connect the immigrant population with the resources necessary to improve their living conditions, in terms of developing social and cultural skills, in order to successfully integrate into the community.
http://www.slvirc.org/citizenship.htm

Hispanic News and Latino Press
http://www.hispanianews.com/index.htm

Regis University
Regis University has on the finest collections of Santos (saints) in the state. Academic writing and research materials are also available. The collection, which currently numbers over 700 items, is housed at Dayton Memorial Library, the main library on the Denver campus.
3333 Regis Boulevard
800-388-2366

Restaurants

Browse Latin American Restaurants

Fun, Sports, Culture and Education

Escuela de Guadalupe

Escuela de Guadalupe serves a diverse student-body from across the Denver-metropolitan area, and prides itself on making its quality educational program financially accessible to all families. Half of its students are native English speakers when they begin, and half are native Spanish speakers.  All students emerge with full literacy in all subjects in both languages. If interested in learning more about their programs check out their website.

http://www.escuelaguadalupe.org

Escuela Tlatelolco
The overall goal of Escuela Tlatelolco is to create a bilingual community of learning where close, trusting relationships with adults, peers and families create a climate for personal growth and intellectual development. Escuela Tlateloco provides services at all age levels for students; from a dual language pre-k to high school program as well as working with a family to make sure that all members needs are met. If interested in learning more about their programs check out their website.
http://www.escuelatlatelolco.org/index.html

Salsa

La Rumba

Salsa lessons on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.

99 W. 9th Ave.

Denver, CO 80204

303-572-8006

The Church
DJs play Latin mix on three dance floors. Salsa lessons on Saturday.
1160 Lincoln
Denver, CO
303-832-3528

The D Note
Lesson at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday
7519 Grandview Ave.
Arvada, CO
303-433-6683

The Denver Turnverein
All levels of classes, practice, open dance.
16th and Clarkson St.
Denver, CO
303-794-1332

http://www.denverturnverein.org

Flamenco

Flamenco
Denver’s Flamenco community is small but active changing venues frequently true Gypsy style.
720-771-7273
www.flamencowithnatalia.com

Flamenco Society of Colorado
303-274-7844

fiestacolorado@comcast.net
www.fiestacolorado.org