Juntos Program On The Verge Of Closure

Posted on November 15, 2011 | By: admin

Category : News, Rudy's Corner

It seems as though we have hit a dead-end on all of our hard work to procure funding for personnel and operations in our basic emergency services program, Juntos.  I am extremely saddened and frustrated for the hundreds of individuals, families, children, seniors, and disabled; and the prospect of having to look into their perplexed eyes and tell them we may no longer be able to assist them in their time of great need.

We have taken drastic measures to secure funding, including emergency funding from our current partners.  I am making preparations for the reality that we may have to shut the program in its entirety down by January  1, 2012.

We are calling on you as community members and supporters to help us support this program. Below are some action items and ways in which you can help:

 

  1. Make a donation on Colorado Gives Day, when you give on December 6th, your donation is doubled.  You can also mail or drop-off any cash or check donations.
  2. Connect with your contacts. Know anyone in the foundation or funding community? Let them know that we need their help.
  3. Write a letter of support and send it to us. Tell our funders how important our programming is to you as a community member. (Send to 4055 Tejon St. Denver, CO 80211 or info@serviciosdelaraza.org)
  4. Leave a Facebook comment on our page about how Servicios’ Juntos, basic emergency services program has impacted you.
  5. Share this link our page with your Facebook friends.
  6. Do you have any ideas? Let us know!
Sinceramente,
Rudy Gonzales
Executive Director

Servicios’ Updated Mission Statement

Posted on August 30, 2011 | By: admin

Category : News, Rudy's Corner

I am excited to report on July 22, 2011, Servicios de La Raza staff and I revised and updated the agency’s long-time mission statement.  For as long as I can remember, Servicios’ mission, “To provide and advocate for comprehensive, culturally relevant human service primarily, but no limited, to the Spanish-speaking community” focused this venerable agency, and drove its programs, services and daily practice.

 

However, presently Servicios has been reaching and serving a much more diverse customer base with its services; and, while still very much a Latino serving agency, we are experiencing a rising customer demographic that includes Muslim refugee communities, poor Caucasian communities, and African-American communities.  Also, due to the fact that individuals and families are coming for our domestic violence victim services from such locales such as Alamosa, Craig, Granby, Longmont, Loveland, Greeley, etc. we are, indeed, serving Colorado.

 

It is considering these changing events that we decided it was time to revise and update our mission statement.  At the August 17, 2011 Servicios Board of Directors meeting, the Servicios de La Raza revised and updated mission statement was approved to read:

To provide, and advocate for, comprehensive, culturally responsive human services to all Colorado communities in need.

We think our new mission statement is clearer and more concise; and it will drive us forward in unity of practice and service to our communities in need.  We hope you appreciate it too.

 

Rudy’s Corner- July 2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 | By: admin

Category : Rudy's Corner

It seems as though times have never been busier here at Servicios de la Raza.  We hired a new mental health therapist, Anna Rocío Brown, who has jumped right into the fray and is presently providing an excellent array of quality services to both our long-time and new clientele.  Anna’s expertise is second to none and our customers have expressed a high level of trust in her.

We are preparing for an agency-wide training in the “Results Oriented Management and Accountability” (ROMA) quantitaive evaluation model for social service agencies on Friday July 22, 2011.  Our very own Board member Ms. Jacqueline Pickett (one of four statewide certified trainers in this model) will be facilitating the training.  This training will help Servicios move to an agency-wide paradigm shift in the way in which we conduct our activity, program, customer, and agency evaluations; and will exponentially improve our data in quantitative impact, outcomes and return on investment.

As important as the first two items, is the agency’s active support for the repeal of the Denver I-100 Impound Ordinance.  Along with numerous service and advocacy agencies, Servicios actively supported the repeal of the ordinance.  A large number of our customers have been adversely affected by this unconstitutional and discriminatory law.  Servicios supported our Councilman Paul Lopez in his work to see justice done and repeal the ordinance.  It is with a great joy and relief that on Monday July 11, 2011 Denver City Council, with a super majority of 9-1 voted to repeal this unjust, unconstitutional and discriminatory ordinance.  Servicios sends a big mil gracias y abrazo to Councilmen Paul Lopez, Michael Hancock, Doug Linkhart, Chris Nevitt, Councilwomen Judy Montero, Jeanne Robb, Carol Boigon, Peggy Lehman and Marcia Johnson for your courageous stand to move forward Denver’s reputation for justice and compassion.  “An unjust law is no law at all”– St. Augustine

Rudy’s Corner-April 2011

Posted on April 29, 2011 | By: admin

Category : Rudy's Corner

Saludos a Todos:  On Thursday April 22, 2011 staff member Fabian Ortega and I traveled to San Diego, California to meet with Mr. Casey Gwinn, President of the Family Justice Center (FJC) Alliance and Ms. Gael Strack, CEO, FJC Alliance.  San Diego serves as a sort of headquarters for the Family Justice Center concept that has been replicated 75 times around the world with nine more FJC opening in Mexico in the next year.   The meeting was extremely informative and both Casey and Gael impressed us with their expertise and work in the domestic violence victims’ arena.  We were then afforded a tour of the FJC San Diego and the facility was truly a phenomenon of integrated services and care.  Servicios is a stakeholder on the Denver Family Justice Center Planning Committee and promises to help lead the way to securing a FJC in Denver.

An ancillary agenda was the 41st Chicano Park Commemoration on Saturday.  Thousands of people came together to enjoy a day long event that commemorates the Barrio Logan Heights community take-over of vacant land first promised then denied by the City of San Diego in April of 1970.  The day was resplendent with dance, music, song, culture and arts along with a host of speakers on the importance of education and political activism to improve the living conditions of Latinos in San Diego, California, and across this nation of ours.

 

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