Learn about 2024's Latino Community Service Award Recipients!
Each year, Denver Public Library celebrates the contributions of Latinos with the Latino Community Service Awards. Community members are invited to nominate individuals in the categories shown below. Award winners are then selected by a committee consisting of community members and library staff. The committee is chaired by a member of the Library Commission. A celebration is held with a public ceremony during Hispanic Heritage Month and honors award recipients for their contributions to the community.
Denver Public Library honored the 2024 Latino Community Service Awards winners at the Westwood Community Center's Sando Hall Gymnasium on September 28. Read about this year's awardees below.
2024 Eric J. Duran Community Service Award
Alejandro Flores-Muñoz
Through his catering business, Combi Taco LLC, Alejandro provided over 60,000 meals to migrants at emergency shelters through his partnership with Denver Human Services. His commitment to social responsibility and community service brought meals to a food-insecure population during a critical time.
As a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals federal program (DACA), his advocacy inspires many in the community, and he was recognized with an invitation to the White House to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of DACA in 2022. He frequently visits college campuses to share knowledge and insights from his experience as an undocumented business entrepreneur.
Alejandro has served on the Governor’s Minority Business Council and is the board chair for the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) Action Fund, advocating for the rights and opportunities of Latina women with a focus on reproductive rights and social justice. Using his platform, Alejandro inspires and supports others within the immigrant community.
2024 Lena Archuleta Community Service Award
Lori Marie Huertas
Lori’s positive impact on the Denver community can be seen through her work in youth development and education shaped by her diverse background and extensive experience in various fields. Her volunteer work includes participating in the Denver Public Library’s Read Aloud program, reading at the Denver Botanical Garden, coordinating a Military Children Reading Club, and supporting the Rocky Mountain PBS.
Lori is a prolific children's book author and the Assistant Director of DEI Industry Partnerships at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She's led initiatives such as the Parents as Teachers 0-3 program and HIPPY 3-5 which supports families with kindergarten readiness. Her bilingual outreach efforts cater to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Denver's residents, ensuring that educational resources are accessible to all.
Her expertise in Psychology has earned her recognition as a 2024 Metropolitan State University of Denver Future Shaper and has been featured in commercials on Channel 9 and radio station, 97.9. She teaches the next generation of changemakers as a Psychology professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Lori's contributions to education and youth development have touched the lives of countless individuals.
John Perez Jr.
John's impact on the Denver community is multifaceted and is most profound among the youth. He is the Project Manager at Denver Healing Generations, a Denver Nonprofit, and a Juvenile Diversion Officer with the Denver Public Safety Youth Program. His approach to community solutions is informed by his lived experience of growing up in the Northside of Denver during the 1990s, his professional background, and his cultural identity.
He is certified by the National Compadres Network as a Wisdom Keeper/Healer for the El Joven Noble Rites of Passage curriculum and the Sacred Circle Transformative Healing Spac. John is about community and works to provide pathways for families to heal from the negative effects of youth violence. John uses ancestral teachings to prevent cultural identity erosion allowing young people to break cycles of trauma and reclaim their cultural identities. He is often called to support healing circles at various schools, providing authentic mentorship rooted in deep care.
John fosters an inclusive culture and models critical thinking while fiercely advocating for justice for young people. His strengths in community orientation, self-management, and commitment to racial justice and liberation are evident in his work, and his dedication to addressing systemic issues through culturally competent and community-centered approaches makes him an asset to the Denver community.
2024 César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award
D. Atekpatzin Young
Atekpatzin is the author of four books, a musician of international acclaim, a teacher, and an activist for the Indigenous, Queer, and HIV communities. He holds a Master’s degree in Ethnic Studies and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Mental Health and spent fifteen years studying with traditional healers from the Apache, Chicano, Genízaro, Lakota, and Nahua communities. Atekpatzin has presented workshops and trainings at local, national, and international conferences and has worked across North America and Europe as a traditional healer.
Founder of Calmecaztlán, a school for learning traditional Indigenous teachings, Atekpatzin has held annual summer camps for youth in the mountains for the past 30 years. He’s also been invited to higher education institutions to be a guest lecturer such as Yale, the University of Colorado, Denver University, and many more. Atekpatzin participated in the USDA and Bureau of Indian Affairs in DC. and is the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Award, a three-time recipient of the White Rose Scholarship Award and the Alexander Foundation Award. He also received the Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Leadership Award and the Cesar Chavez Leadership Award for his contributions to the community.
His activism includes working toward changing municipal codes to allow for ceremonial fires, obtaining 40 acres of property from a municipality for Chicanos to hold ceremonies, and recently going toe to toe with the Department of Corrections to ensure inmates can continue to hold their sweatlodge ceremonies. Atekpatizin’s wisdom is valuable and has supported communities in immeasurable ways.
Rudolph “Rudy” Gonzales
Rudy Gonzales has been a lifelong leader championing causes for Colorado’s Chicano/Latino communities. As President and CEO of Servicios de La Raza, Rudy's leadership accelerated the organization’s growth and extended the services provided to underserved communities while uprooting racial discrimination for the many vulnerable Latino communities throughout Colorado.
Bringing years of work experience in public service and nonprofits, along with his family’s legacy of “warriors of change”, Servicios de La Raza has benefitted from his expertise. Rudy celebrates diversity across the state of Colorado and built on Servicios de La Raza’s support of the underserved Latino community and broadened services to ALL communities, irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Thanks to Rudy’s efforts, the organization expanded services in job training, mental health awareness, and health coverage.
Community events such as the Pueblo Dia del Nino Celebration have become grandiose events for communities. Families have benefitted from free clothing, food, and school resources at these events and programs. These events also give families a place to gather and come together as a community. New opportunities are available and generational changes are happening because of Rudy's tireless commitment.
If you have questions about the Denver Public Library's annual awards, please email community@denverlibrary.org.
Eric J. Duran Community Service Award
The award is named for Eric J. Duran, community leader, and former Denver Public Library Commissioner, who worked tirelessly to strengthen and maintain ties between the Hispanic Community and the Denver Public Library.
The recipient will be a person of Latino descent who has made a positive impact on the Denver community, beyond paid employment, to advance community development and/or cultural life through their involvement with the Denver Public Library or another civic institution. The recipient does not have to live in Denver to receive the award; however, their work must impact the Denver community. Nominations encouraged for early to mid career professionals.
Past award recipients are:
- Eric J. Duran (2015)
- Frank Fresquez (2016)
- Antonio Mercado (2017)
- Anthony R. Aragon (2018)
- Diana Chavez (2019)
- Jesse Ogas (2020)
- Gloria Rubio-Cortés (2021)
- Elaine D. Torres (2022)
- Georgina "Gina" Millan (2023)
The Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award
The award is named for Lena L. Archuleta, a longtime educator, civic leader, and former Denver Public Library Commissioner, who worked tirelessly to establish greater ties between the Hispanic Community and the Denver Public Library.
The recipient will be a person of Latino descent who has made a positive impact on the Denver community, beyond paid employment, in the field of education, youth development, early childhood programming, or education policy. This includes formal and informal educators. The recipient does not have to live in Denver to receive the award; however, their work must impact the Denver community. Nominations encouraged for early to mid career professionals.
Past award recipients are:
- Lena L. Archuleta (2002)
- Olibama Lopez Tushar (2003)
- Beverly Martinez (2004)
- Carlos Fresquez (2005)
- Anthony J. Garcia (2006)
- Magdalena Aguayo (2007)
- Rosa Linda Aguirre (2008)
- Clara Ricciardi (2009)
- Florence Hernández-Ramos (2010)
- Rita Flores de Wallace (2011)
- Lucia S. Aandahl (2012)
- Carlota EspinoZa (2013)
- Adelia Trujillo-Cisneros (2014)
- Jamie Torres (2015)
- Pilar Castro-Reino (2016)
- Olga J. Garcia (2017)
- Dr. Michele Trujillo (2018)
- Solicia E. Lopez (2019)
- Angela Cobián (2020)
- Phillip Benitez Gallegos, Jr. (2021)
- Dr. Irene Martinez Jordan (2022)
- Olga Gonzalez (2023)
The César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award
The award is named for César Chávez, a national Hispanic leader who served the Latino community and helped Latinos gain recognition for their contributions to the nation. He is known for his support of farm workers, which resulted in the formation of the United Farm Workers, and his commitment to public action, social justice, and non-violence.
The award, presented annually, will celebrate the induction of an individual into the César Chávez Leadership Hall of Fame. The recipient will be a Coloradan of Latino descent who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to social justice and has made a significant positive impact on their community through community organizing, direct service, and/or advocacy and public policy.
Past award recipients are:
- Ruben Valdez & Lena L. Archuleta (2002)
- Manuel “Sam” Sandos & Polly Baca (2003)
- Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales & Mary Baca (2004)
- The Honorable Roger Cisneros & Rosemary Rodriguez (2005)
- Senator Ken Salazar & Reverend Lucia Gúzman (2006)
- Secretary Federico Peña & Flora Rodriguez Russel (2007)
- Salvadore (Sal) Carpio Jr. & Patricia Barela Rivera (2008)
- Jim Garcia & Katherine Archuleta (2009)
- Bernard “Bernie” Valdez & Denise Maes (2010)
- Carlos Castañeda & Dr. Patricia Baca (2011)
- Guillermo “Bill” Vidal & Theresa K. Peña (2012)
- Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia & Councilwoman Judy H. Montero (2013)
- Ramon Del Castillo, Ph.D. & Lydia Prado, Ph.D. (2014)
- Don Mares & Angie Rivera-Malpiede (2015)
- Dr. Luis Torres & Marlene De La Rosa (2016)
- Jenny A. Santos & Manuel Ramos (2017)
- Renee Fajardo J.D. & Carlos Santistevan (2018)
- Dr. Priscilla Falcón & Councilwoman Deborah “Debbie” Ortega (2019)
- Emanuel Martinez & Guadalupe “Lupe” Briseño (2020)
- Veronica Barela, Geraldine Irene Gonzales (posthumous inductee)
- Shirley Romero Otero (2021)
- Jordan T. Garcia (2022)
- Ellen Grace Alires-Trujillo (2023)
- Leo Tanguma (2023)
The awards committee, at its discretion, can place a nominee into another award category where they are a better fit per the nominee's impact/service to the community.