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After graduating from college, CLLARO Capitol Fellows remain committed to civic and community service as they pursue their new careers. Here, for example, are some of their own testimonials.
"I was getting close to completing my college education as a non-traditional student, looking for an opportunity that could change my life. When I discovered the Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO), they helped provide me with the direction I needed. I graduated from their flagship program, the Capitol Fellowship. It transformed my life and career ambitions in a way I had never thought possible. . . . I am fulfilling my childhood ambitions to help individuals of diverse backgrounds reach their full potential and to help communities prosper." - Kara Birnbaum
"It is so important for Latinos to be present at the capitol in order to advocate for our communities. Rep. [Joe] Salazar said something that really inspired me: 'The one thing everyone is scared of is someone who is brown and smart.' I have been thinking about considering applying to law school and Rep. Salazar's comment reminded me about the power of intelligence and the significance of having big dreams." - Melissa Mendes
"We are the same people but that does not mean we all have the same experiences, we share similar issues but what might be a priority to me and my family might be something that a senator has never even thought about. It is great that we have Latinos in the Capitol but we have to understand that we all have different experiences and cultural needs." - José Castaneda
"I always knew how important the political process was, but was never aware of any opportunities for someone who looked like me to get involved. After successfully completing CLLARO's Capitol Fellowship, I no longer feel out of place when going to the Colorado State Capitol. I now have purpose in my work and feel proud." - True Apodaca
"Being a CLLARO fellow has given me a great network and foundation of other Latinos interested in politics, based in Denver, but now spread across the country. Based on this network I have access to other organizations to give back to the Latino community. I have used my fellowship to continue to contribute to the Latino community through supporting political campaigns for local Latino candidates. I have donated my money to non-profits that focus on Latino issues including the Denver Urban Debate League, which serves a large Latino population of high school and middle school students. Before law school I worked for the Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farmworker Division and did outreach for free legal services to almost exclusively indigent Latino farm workers. . . . As an attorney working at a big law firm in San Francisco I've been involved in diversity and inclusion efforts at the firm in bringing speakers to the firm to speak on issues affecting the Latino community in big law. I've helped with fundraising for local non-profits, buying Christmas toys for kids in impoverished Latino communities in the city, and contributed to a campaign to give evictee's the right to adequate legal counsel, which disproportionately affects the Latino community. I've worked on pro bono projects:" on a US Supreme Court amicus brief regarding an immigration issue arguing against automatic deportation for convicts who have already served their sentences and have been reintegrated into society. I've worked on other pro bono immigration issues for childhood arrivals, including completing DACA applications, translating for other attorneys, completing Legal Permanent Resident applications for multiple child asylees from Guatemala, and an intake clinic at an immigration detention center in Maryland. I've also served as a mentor through Judge Arguello's law school si se puede mentorship program." --Rubén Aguirre
"I am proud and grateful to say that I just finished my second year of studies here (at Harvard Medical School). I plan on specializing in Family Medicine and will likely return to Colorado to work in primary care with under-served and Latino communities. As a CLLARO Capitol Fellow . . . I learned the importance using one's position of leadership and privilege to positively impact the community, and I plan to do so as a future physician in primary care, the same way that Senator Aguilar modeled for me during the fellowship. My time with CLLARO taught me many lessons, connected me to my community and to amazing mentors, opened many doors to opportunities, and was truly invaluable. I sincerely hope that you can support this organization, so that they can continue their valuable work to support the development of our Latino youth, our future leaders, and our community...
Mission: Empowering Latinos through leadership development, advocacy and policy research to strengthen Colorado.
Vision: A Colorado where Latinos are achieving their fullest potential.
Motto: CLLARO seeks equal opportunity for all Coloradans, to increase labor force productivity, promote equity in civic institutions, and improve quality of life in Colorado for decades to come.
The Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, & Research Organization (CLLARO) was founded in 1964 as LARASA - the Latin American Research and Service Agency. Although Latinos have been in Colorado a long time and some families can trace their roots here to the 1600s, when the organization was founded in Denver in 1964, there was widespread discrimination. The city's neighborhoods, labor market, churches and public schools were more strictly segregated than they are today. LARASA was founded to help Latinos gain access to quality education, job development and training opportunities, health services, meaningful work, and ultimately, to lead successful lives.
Today, although Latinos are more than 25% of the population of Colorado, too many are experiencing continuing disparities and discrimination. Political and economic costs to Latino health, education, civic engagement, career opportunities, housing, disabilities, income security in old age, and dignity remain unacceptably high. Working to address these challenges, CLLARO empowers Latinos through leadership development, advocacy and research. CLLARO's vision for the future is a State of Colorado where Latinos can thrive and reach their fullest potential.
An organizational milestone happened on March 13, 1964, when Lena Archuleta, Charles Tafoya and Bernie Valdez joined the President and Executive Director of the United Fund (now Mile High United Way) to sign the first agreement in the nation between a United Fund and a Latino 501(c)(3) organization: the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA).
Another milestone happened in 2007, when LARASA changed its name and became the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization.
What We Do –
1. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT -- CLLARO CAPITOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Over the past 13 years, CLLARO has been developing new generations of civic leaders through the Capitol Fellowship Program. As of 2025, 162 college students have been trained in policy analysis, state legislative process, and community engagement. The CLLARO Capitol Fellows Program began by training and placing five college-level fellows with state legislators in 2013. Evaluation shows fellows gain knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to develop and promote public policies benefiting Colorado's Latino communities. CLLARO now seeks financial support to (a) pay the stipends for the fellows, (b) add to the curriculum substantive public policy in health, education, and aging, (c) help fellowship alumni achieve civic leadership roles in Latino communities, and (d) add more fellows hailing from colleges throughout the state.
2. CLLARO RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The CLLARO Research Institute is conducting research on neglected needs and aspirations in Latino communities in Colorado.
Latinos are an increasingly important presence in Colorado. Today, Latinos are nearly 25% of the state’s population. And thanks to their higher birth rates, their numbers are increasing. The Colorado State Demographer projects that by 2050, Latinos will be one in three. (Colorado State Demographer, Population of Colorado’s Race and Ethnic Groups, 2000-2040, 2018:Denver)
The needs and aspirations of Latinos in Colorado have not been adequately researched and are not adequately understood by policymakers.
The size and composition of Latino families are changing. CLLARO research is examining the consequences of those trends. For example, there is a rapidly growing population of Latinos over 65 years of age. Today, the CLLARO Research Institute is conducting groundbreaking original research on social isolation of Latino elders and its affect on their heath and well-being.
In addition to original research, the Research Institute conducts culturally responsive bilingual meeting facilitation and evaluation for other organizations.
3. POLICY ADVOCACY
CLLARO advocates for policies benefiting Colorado's growing Latino communities, especially those who are most vulnerable.
We are proud of CLLARO's 60 years of successes at
-Increasing Latino participation in the U.S. Census,
-Increasing U.S. citizen Latino voters' political influence through legislative redistricting,
-Increasing U.S. citizen Latino voter registration and turnout,
-Advocating for policies benefiting Colorado's growing Latino communities, especially those who are most vulnerable,
-Developing new generations of civic leaders, and
-Conducting ground-breaking research on neglected needs and aspirations in Latino communities in Colorado.
CLLARO's vision for the future is a State of Colorado where Latinos can thrive and reach their fullest potential.
Organization name
Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy Research Organization
other names
CLLARO, Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA)
1964
Tax id (EIN)
84-0562952
Category
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
924 West Colfax Ave., Suite 102Denver County, CO, US