Rowena Alegria

Board President

Rowena is a journalist. She has worked in the field of journalism her entire professional life as reporter, editor and now publisher.  She has also been actively involved with the Latino community for the past 25 years.

Dr. Ricardo Padilla

Vice President

Dr. Padilla works at Denver Health’s West Side Family Health Center as an attending physician in the adult clinic.  He has a particular interest in cardiovascular disease and was the lead physician on an important health initiative in cardiovascular health for Latinos in the Denver Metropolitan Area that was called Por Tu Corazon.  Dr Padilla is currently involved in a project looking at barriers to performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in predominantly Latino neighborhoods in Denver.  He is very proud to serve as Vice President for the Board of Directors for Servicios De La Raza.

Ms. Chy Montoya presently serves as Denver City Council Aide to District 8 Councilman Albus Brooks.  Previous to her current position, she served as Denver City Council Aide to former Denver City Councilman At-large Doug Linkhart.  Chy also worked for 10 years at LARASA administrating programs, services and serving as the Board of Directors/Staff Liaison.  Chy has been involved with her community most of her adult life and believes that “giving back” is one of the most important facets of her life.

Thiensa Nguyen

Board Treasurer

Thiensa is an Investment Advisor Representative & Branch Office Supervisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Transamerica Financial Group Division.  She has extensive experience in finance and has previously worked as an auditor, fraud investigator and loss analyst for a major government entity.  She also sits on the Asian Pacific Development Center Board of Directors.

Board Member 

Jim is a retired tax attorney for Holme, Roberts & Owens, LLP.  He served six years on the board for Mile High United Way including a portion of this time as Board President. He has also served as President of the Board for Swallow Hill Music.  He is widely recognized for his expertise on board governance and philanthropy.

Board Member

Lorenzo is the Founder and Director of the highly esteemed dance troupe Grupo Folklorico Sabor Latino.  He is the Community Liaison for LUCHAR.  He is also an HIV/AIDS expert, activist and consultant to national, state and municipal entities regarding the disease.  Lorenzo founded the La Gente program at Servicios and worked in many capacities for the agency for 16 years.

Steven Chavez

Board Member

Steven is the Director for the Colorado Division of Civil Rights under Governor John Hickenlooper.  Steven also served in this same capacity under Governor Bill Ritter.  Steven has also been active for most of his adult life in issues of justice and peace that affect the Latino community and the community in general.

Lt. Paul Pazen

Board Member

Lt. Pazen is a North Denver native who is presently serving as the Commander for Denver Police Department District 1.  Lt. Pazen is in the vanguard of a new movement in DPD to improve and strengthen community police relations and trust.

Elina Martinez

Board Member

Elina Martinez is a Northwest Denver resident who is presenly studying for her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Denver.  She is an ELA S teacher in Montbello.  She is also the Co-Managing Director of Highlands Mommies and has signicantly diversified and grown this neighborhood organization.

Qusair Mohamedbhai

Board Member

Qusair Mohamedbhai is an attorney who specializes in civil rights and employment law. He recently started up his own law firm Rathod/Mohamedbhai LLC with an office in Lower Downtown Denver. Qusair also serves as the Legal Counsel for the Colorado Muslim Society and is involved in many community issues of social justice and peace.

Stephanie Syner

Board Member

Ms. Stephanie Syner, MSW is a City Council Aide for Denver City Council, District 9.  Stephanie also has extensive experience in working with youth in Treatment Residential Child Care Facilities (TRCCFs).  As a Denver City Council Aide for District 9, Stephanie focuses her efforts on low income neighborhoods and organizing the community to voice their concerns around areas of change.  She is also a strong advocate of community policing and increasing respectful communication between law enforcement and communities of color.

Comilla Sasson, MD, MS

Board Member

Comilla Sasson, MD, MS is an Attending Physician at the University of Colorado Hospital (Anschutz Campus) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  Dr. Sasson is also a Ph.D. candidate in Health Services Research at the Colorado School of Public Health.  She has worked on numerous health research projects relevant to Latino cardiovascular health.  She is deeply invested in the Latino community in Denver and hopes to empower community members to become health educators in their own neighborhoods.