2023 Eric J. Duran Community Service Award Recipient:
Gina Millan has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to advocating for immigrant rights and reproductive justice. She created a platform for open dialogues through her Spanish language radio program, Mujeres de Color, where she addresses sensitive topics within the Latino community. Her social justice journey began in 2007 after witnessing the mistreatment of immigrants, and she started collaborating with organizations like Rights for All People and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. Millan’s involvement with Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) offers her a valuable avenue to continue advocating for justice while supporting women and children in the community.
2023 Lena Archuleta Community Service Award Recipient:
Olga Gonzalez’s dedication to education and community development is evident through her transformative leadership as the Executive Director of Cultivando. As the first Indigenous woman to lead the organization she has expanded the organization’s impact and budget. She offers equity coaching to businesses and nonprofits as the head of O.G. Consulting Services. Her accolades include the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Denver Citizen and she holds a dual Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree. Gonzalez’s visionary leadership and commitment make her an inspiring Latino leader driving positive change in Denver.
2023 César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Inductee:
Ellen Grace Alires-Trujillo dedicated her life to social justice and community service, serving as an attorney at Colorado Legal Services for over three decades. Despite battling ALS, which left her without the use of her limbs or voice, she persisted in mentoring and engaging with students and scholarship groups. She played a vital role in Colorado’s inaugural Medical Legal Partnership and engaged actively in diverse organizations and boards receiving multiple accolades along the way. She leaves behind a lasting legacy of unwavering dedication to social activism and cultural heritage. The award will be presented posthumously to her family and friends.
Leo Tanguma’s impact on the Denver community stems from his captivating murals, prominently featured at Denver International Airport, which gift Colorado with symbols of unity, peace, and love transcending origins. His influence extends through a 3D mural in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Jordan Student Success Center, created in collaboration with individuals dealing with mental health issues. As an accomplished Chicano muralist, Tanguma’s national resonance is centered in Denver, where his art bridges divisions, cultivates inclusivity and nurtures a sense of belonging among diverse communities.