The Circle of Latina Leadership Alumnae are an incredible resource of talented and experienced women, who are prepared to strengthen and enhance organizations and our community. To contact our distinguished alumnae for speaking engagements, non-profit board placements, job opportunities and commissions, please email us with complete details of your request to: clldenver@gmail.com.

MARLENE DELAROSA
Marlene received the 2008 Juana Bordas Leadership Award for her work in Denver Public Schools as the chairwoman of the Parent Empowerment Council and founder of the Mile High Parent Campaign, designed to track the time DPS parents spend furthering their children’s education. The goal is 5,280 minutes per year or 30 minutes each school day.

CYNTHIA GALLEGOS
Cynthia is the Executive Director of Focus Points, a non-profit that serves young, low-income, Spanish-speaking immigrant families through family-literacy programming. She is currently a member of the Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative through the Denver Foundation, a member of the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Advisory Board and graduated from Leadership Denver in 2008.

DUSTI GURULE
Dusti leads the Latina Initiative that affect social change and civic involvement in the Latino communty. She is a member of the Denver Latino Commission and the Colorado Conservation Voters Education Fund. In 2007, Dusti was named one of ’50 for the Future’ by The Colorado Statesman, received a 2006 NEWSED Civil Rights Award, was named one of Colorado's most politically influential Latinos by 5280 Magazine, and one of Colorado’s Influential Women of 2008 by Denver Women’s Examiner. She was chosen as one of 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Womens ENews for 2009.

PAULINE HERRERA
Pauline was contracted to manage Mayor Hickenlooper's inaugural One Book, One Denver program in 2003 and now serves as the Communications & Marketing Director for the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs. She is a graduate of the Downtown Denver Partnership Leadership Program, Leadership Denver, and in 2008 was accepted into British Council's Transatlantic Network 2020. She is also Vice-Chair of the board of the Young Philanthropists Foundation.

MONIQUE LOVATO
Ms. Lovato the recipient of the first Juana Bordas Leadership Award in 2007. She is a long-time supporter of early childhood education and served as the chair of Mile High Montessori Early Learning Center’s board of directors. She was recently promoted to the Director of the XCEL Energy Foundation and graduated from member 2009 Leadership Denver and participated in the Denver Metro Chamber’s city exchange program.

SUZAN MOORE BUSTOS
Suzan was promoted in 2007 to the Director of Boards & Commissions in the administration of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper where she is responsible for recruiting and placing citizens to serve and advise various City agencies on public policy matters. Previously she was his Director of Scheduling. Prior to her work with the City of Denver she was the first program director of the Circle of Latina Leadership for two years.

ERIKA REYES
Erika is currently the Director of Marketing & Communications for the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and served as the Director of the Chamber’s Education Foundation. Erika led the Circle of Latina Leadership program from 2006-2008. She coordinated the Hermanitas Mentoring Program, a middle school mentoring program of the Circle of Latina Leadership, and was a finalist for the 2007 Colorado Rockies Adult Leadership award. She is a member of the 2009 Leadership Denver class and the Junior Achievement Hispanic Initiative Advisory Board.

JULIE RODRIGUEZ
Ms. Rodriguez served as the Director of Public Programs for the 2008 Democratic National Convention where she did outreach and promotion of the DNC. She is a recipient of the 2008 Forty Under 40 Award by the Denver Business Journal and received the 2007 Outstanding Alumni Award from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She was appointed by Mayor Hickenlooper in 2005 to serve on the Denver Public Library Commission and is a founding member of the Latina Chamber. Julie recently was selected by Colorado State College in Pueblo to launch and expand their giving program, particularly with alumnae.

YESSICA HOLGUIN
Yessica is currently a Senior Financial Aid Advisor for the Denver Scholarship Foundation at Denver South High School. She served as the funding chair for the La Raza Youth Leadership Institute for 4 years and currently stepped up to chair this needed program. Yessica also serves on the Circle advisory board and was recognized by The Latina Chamber Foundation Youth (Hermanita) Business Leader Award and the Colorado Rapids Hispanic Hero of Our Community Award.

MARCELA DE LA MAR
Marcela is director of the Mexican Cultural Center and is coordinator for events for the Mexican consulate in the Denver Metro area. She coordinates the Cinco de Mayo celebration with the Denver Symphony Orchestra which has been acclaimed nation-wide. Marcela has been awarded the highest civilian award by the country of Mexico for her efforts to promote the culture and history of Mexico. She was just appointed by Mexico as the Colorado representative as their representative for Mexico’s Centennial celebration.

DARIA SERNA
Daria works for one of the top ten largest transit agencies in North America and manages local, regional, national and international media as the Public Affairs and Media Relations Specialist for the Regional Transit District (RTD). She was awarded the RTD General Manager’s Award for Excellence in Performance for her leadership and work ethic. She is on the advisory board of the Circle, chaired the La Raza Youth Leadership Conference, and served as a coordinator for the Hermanitas program for four years.

RACHEL CHAPARRO
Rachael was the Education and Development Manager for the American Civil Liberties Union and also served as field director for the Colorado Women’s Agenda. In 2004, she ran the Women’s Vote Project. She moved to the Latina Initiative in 2008 where she ran the Latina Vote Project resulting in a 5% increase in Latinos voting in Colorado. Rachael served on the Greater Education Colorado and the Colorado Youth at Risk boards of director.