Hispanic Community Voices

Join Rocky Mountain Public Media and AARP, along with Colorado community leaders, for a virtual film screening and conversation.

We are all deeply impacted by the pandemic, but members of our community have not had the resources to navigate the crisis. “Hispanic Community Voices” reveals the hidden impact the COVID19 crisis is having on essential workers. Meet Larimer County immigrant workers whose industries are hard hit economically, who do not have the privilege to work remotely, and who are left out of many critical forms of assistance.

REGISTER NOW to screen the film with neighbors across the state, and dive into an important round-table discussion with Colorado leaders and activists. From Producer Betty Aragon and Director Shari Due of Be Reel Pictures – the team behind Fort Collins: The Choice City for Whom.

We invite you to a virtual community conversation on Sunday, April 25 from 5 to 6 pm. Featuring community panelists Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales, Denver City Councilwoman Jamie Torres, Aurora City Councilwoman Crystal Murillo, Producer and Activist Betty Aragon-Mitotes, and Professor Jonathan Alcántar – Lead and moderated by Journalist, Sonia Gutierrez. The Hispanic Community Voices: The Impact of COVID-19 documentary uncovers the hidden impact of COVID-19 on our Hispanic communities across the state, and particularly in Northern Colorado.

The documentary will be followed by a round table discussion featuring:

Journalist & event moderator Sonia Gutierrez is a Multi-Media Journalist with Rocky Mountain Public Media. She’s an immigrant from Chihuahua, Mexico who grew up in Colorado. Her passion is to tell stories in communities we often don’t hear about. Her work has sparked change and elevated voices from all walks of life. Before RMPBS, Sonia worked at 9NEWS, NEWS19 in South Carolina and Telemundo Denver.

Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales is a progressive Democrat serving north, west, and downtown Denver as the state Senator for Senate District 34. With roots that stretch back generations in Colorado, Julie has spent her life organizing working people, Latinos, and young people on issues of affordable housing, educational justice, and immigrant rights.

Denver City Councilwoman Jamie Torres is a third-generation Denverite, community advocate, and community connector to her core. Prior to being elected, Jamie spent 18 years in the Human Rights & Community Partnerships Agency (HRCP) in the City and County of Denver where she helped ensure Denver is focused on the civil rights, human rights, and social justice needs of its residents.

Aurora City Councilwoman Crystal Murillo became the first Latina and youngest person elected to Aurora City Council, the third largest city in Colorado, in 2017. In addition to her city council work, she currently serves as the Chair of the Water Policy Committee and was past chair of the Housing, Neighborhood Services and Redevelopment Committee. In 2020, she was appointed to the RTD Accountability Committee and elected as Co-Chair. In addition to her role on the City Council, she is the Director of the Latinx Pioneer Prep Leadership Institute, which focuses on leadership development, cultural identity and college access.

Producer and Activist, Betty Aragon-Mitotes has worked tirelessly to be an advocate for the Hispanic community and the working poor. She has gone to numerous City Council meetings to be the voice for those who feel they have no voice to stand up on issues that affect the Hispanic community, the Tres Colonias, and the working poor. It has been very important to showcase the Hispanic history and culture, to bring pride to so many people that have been overlooked for a long time.

Jonathan Alcántar, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Chicana/o and Latinx Studies Program at the University of Northern Colorado. His research focuses on the intersections between Latinxs literature, folklore, and popular culture. He’s currently working on a project that examines the effects of systematic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic on the representation of Latinx immigrant workers.

Thank you to our sponsor, AARP Colorado!

For additional community resources, visit KUVO.org/hispanic-voices