Please join us for this year's Latino Community Service Awards honoring this year's award recipients. The ceremony will take place at Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at 10 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Each year, Denver Public Library celebrates the contributions of Latinos with the Latino Community Service Awards. Awards are given to individuals who have made contributions to our community and are celebrated during a public ceremony during Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebration is a lively event with entertainment and a community reception.
Community members are invited to nominate individuals in the below categories. Award winners are selected by a committee consisting of community members and library staff. The committee is chaired by a member of the Library Commission.
If you have any questions, please email community@denverlibrary.org.
The Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award
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)
Eric J. Duran Community Service Award
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).
The César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award
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).
The awards committee, in its discretion, can place a nominee into another award category where they are a better fit per the nominees impact/service to the community.
About the Awards
Lena L. Archuleta Award
The award is named for Lena L. Archuleta, 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.
Eric J. Duran 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.
César Chávez 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.