Staff

Belinda García, M.S.W., C.A.C. III
Founder/Executive Director

Executive Director and Co-founder of Sisters of Color United for Education Belinda Garcia, M.S.W., C.A.C. III, has 25 years experience in creating, developing and implementing ground-breaking human-service projects. In 1991, she established this nonprofit with the vision of advocating for health equity and improved quality of life predominantly for women of color, their families and their communities.

Belinda earned a Masters in Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of Denver in 1994 and is a certified addictions counselor (C.A.C. III). She also teaches part-time at Metropolitan State College of Denver in the Chicana/o Studies Department, bringing cultural fluency to all students. In addition to her work with SISTERS, Belinda has extensive experience addressing the special needs of inner-city populations, developing health programs for women of color, and writing and publishing curriculum in reproductive health-education and rights.

Belinda has received many awards and much recognition for her far-reaching community involvement, including:

  • The Annual Hispanic Salute Award (April 2003)
  • The Women of Color Award for HIV/AIDS Prevention (November 2002)
  • The Cesar Chavez Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership; Belinda was the first woman in Colorado to receive this award! (March 2002)
  • The AIDS Coalition for Education Award (December 2001)
  • 1997 Women of Color Conference on HIV/AIDS for “Exceptional Contribution to the Prevention of the Spread of HIV/AIDS” (November 1997)
  • Las Estrellas (Shining Star) Award for Latina Leadership (July 1995)
  • The Chicano Mental Health Institute Award – West Side Drug-Free Youth Team (May 1994)

Bernadette Berzoza
Co-Founder/Program Manager/Financial Manager/Promotora

Bernadette Berzoza has been dedicated to community health education for 14 years. Co-founder of Sisters of Color United for Education, Bernadette serves as Financial Manager, and also coordinates the 18-week Promotora program.

In 14 years, Bernadette has become an expert in HIV prevention and has implemented innovative community programs on the following topics:

  • Health concerns for women of color
  • Education in reproductive health and rights
  • Prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and improvement of mental health
  • Leadership building
  • Promotion of advocacy skills and women’s empowerment
  • Youth development and empowerment

Bernadette remains active in the community. She is currently a member of the Mayor’s Planning Council on HIV/AIDS and is also a board member for People Living with AIDS Action Network. She has been honored for her dedication to working with women living with HIV/AIDS.

Adrienna Corrales
Lead Promotora/Outreach Specialist

Adrienna Corrales is a Project Coordinator and Community Health Educator for Sisters of Color United for Education. For 10 years, she has been involved in community education, awareness and mobilization. As one of the lead trainers for SISTERS, Adrienna developed the comprehensive, bilingual curriculum used in SISTERS 18-week health-awareness Promotora training.

Currently, Adrienna is working as the creator and organizer of specialized educational programs. She is:

  • Program Coordinator for Colores Humanos (a youth development and education program)
  • Creator and Organizer of HipHipOsiums (intergenerational conferences and trainings with community artists, students, organizations and urban youth to promote cultural literacy through Hip Hop).

Ceasar Montoya
Promotor/Outreach Specialist

Bi-lingual and bi-cultural, Ceasar Montoya has been working for Sisters of Color United for Education for two years as a Community Health Educator. He co-facilitates bi-monthly groups for Latino injection drug users (IDUs), advocates for Latinos living with HIV, gives presentations on HIV/AIDS at local schools and conducts community outreach.

Before joining the SISTERS team, Ceasar gained a wide variety of community health and community education experience as a case manager and instructor for Servicios de la Raza, Inc. in Denver, Colorado. He also worked for Mexican-American Community Services Agency, Inc. in San Jose, California as a mentor and ESL instructor. A native of California, Ceasar moved to Denver, Colorado in 2001 where he has continued to work with the Latino community, including serving as a member of the Mayor’s Planning Council on HIV/AIDS.

Debora Berzoza
Promotora/Outreach Specialist

Debora Berzoza has been a Community Health Educator for Sisters of Color United for Education for 11 years. She first became involved with SISTERS as a participant in the 18-week Promotora training program and later became a community trainer, holding health educational meetings once a week.

In addition to providing crucial support services to SISTERS, Debora has consistently trained in health issues, ultimately becoming an expert in the following health issues: harm reduction, prevention case management, helping children from addicted families, diabetes and hepatitis C. She now works full-time for SISTERS as an outreach specialist while continuing her service to the community.

Belem Gonzáles
Promotora/Outreach Specialist

Since April 18, 2005, Belem has been working full-time for Sisters of Color United for Education as a Community Health Educator. However, she has five years volunteer experience with SISTERS, teaching the local community about health issues important to their lives. Belen is Sisters’ Spanish language instructor, conducting home health presentations, outreach, and promotora trainings in Spanish.

Belem completed her Masters education in Social Work in Mexico in Torreón, Coahuila. Belem has worked in social services in various Mexican institutions prior to joining SISTERS in Denver, Colorado:

  • The Mexican Social Security Hospital
  • Management of Training and Education
  • Federal Electoral Institute

Mary Loring
Grantwriter/Development Specialist

Mary Loring is SISTERS’ grant writer and development specialist. Involved with SISTERS since spring 2005, Mary provides years of know-how in the community service sector. She has been involved in sexual-assault victim advocacy since founding an organization called Ending Violence Effectively, Inc., in 1981. This organization was the first in Denver that was dedicated to providing support services to sexual assault survivors.

Additionally, Mary has been director of the Sexual Assault Interagency Council since 1996. She is a very accomplished grant writer and non-profit program manager who brings vital skills to SISTERS.

Board of Directors

Carla Padilla
Board Chair

Carla currently works at The Council, a drug/alcohol treatment agency that treats the same population as SISTERS. Carla has over 20 years of non-profit experience that includes all aspects of financial compliance; she has also trained in accounting, programming, management and client services. She has over 20 years in community service in the Latino/a population, currently serving on CDM/SIAC for Denver Public school, Globeville Justice Council, Cross Community Coalition committees.

Toby Leroux
Board Co-Chair

Working with Denver Public Health as a Project Coordinator for 10 years with injection drug users, Toby has been an integral link between communities of color and Denver Health and Hospitals. Toby also is a research assistant for youth focused program. Committees which Toby sits on are: Caesar Chavez Peace and Justice committee; Finding Common Grounds Latino Liaison Mayors’ office committee, YHAC youth HIV/AIDS coalition, Community IDU Collaboration

Chris Armijo
Treasurer

Chris Armijo has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He has been working in the field of health disparities for over five years including two fellowships at the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities and a Project Director for several cancer prevention and control projects at Latino/a Research & Policy Center at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. His work has included epidemiological research, cancer prevention research and education, tobacco policy and education, community needs assessments, teen pregnancy research, and diabetes research. Mr. Armijo is a graduate of the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership and the National Cancer Institutes Summer Curriculum for Cancer Prevention and Control. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Sisters of Color United for Education/Hermanas de Color Unidas para Educación. His current position is Project Director for the Equality in Health Initiative at Colorado Foundation for Families in Children.

Rosa Prieto
Secretary

Rosa Prieto, a community advocate and researcher, is a member of the evaluation team at JVA Consulting, with over 19 years combined experience in research, evaluation, data management, training and business administration. She currently serves as a board member to Sisters of Color United for Education, the Colorado Professional Researchers Association (CPRA) and MANA de Metro Denver. She is a member of the César Chavez Peace and Justice Committee, Latinos Finding Common Ground Boards and Commissions Task Force, the Colorado Unity Coalition, and the Mile High United Way Latino Initiative.

Jenny Davies-Schley
Member At Large

Jenny is a partner in Progressive Promotions, a PR and media consulting firm serving progressive nonprofit organizations and causes--including women’s health, immigrant rights, labor, family violence prevention and liberal political organizing. As NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado’s Field and Political Director, she defended reproductive rights and promoted health care access for all women at the state Capitol: she is proud that not one anti-choice bill passed in the majority-Republican legislature during her seven years there! For years she was a consultant with JVA Consulting, specializing in strategic planning, social marketing and fundraising. Her family—husband Charlie, a bilingual DPS teacher; seven-year old son John; and four-year old daughter, Sarah--are her first priority, but her community work is important to her, too. In addition to Sisters, she currently serves as Secretary of the NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado Foundation board, the grants committee at Academia Ana Marie Sandoval Dual Lenguaje Montessori, the SOS fundraising committee at the Polaris Program at Ebert and at any given time can be found volunteering on various progressive candidate and issue campaigns.

Lila Orr
Member at Large

Lila has been a registered nurse for 24 years. She graduated from Regis University in 2000 with a masters in nursing, family nurse practitioner. She worked at Denver Health HIV/AIDS clinic for 6 years and started the Women in AIDS/HIV consortium which provided education for women and their families living with HIV/AIDS. She has been in a private dermatology practice for the past 5 years (Aurora-Meridian-Parker Skin Care). The Aurora office serves a very diverse population including many indigent and people of color.

Joan Garcia
Member at Large

Joan is a freelance graphic designer. She has over 16 years experience in advertising, public relations and graphic design. She is also an actor, sculptor, painter, singer and community activist. As an artist, Joan believes that art can be used as a force for positive change in the community. She is a member of CHAC (Chicano Humanities and Arts Council) and has volunteered at El Centro Su Teatro for a number of years. She is also chair of Sisters of Color’s Public Relations committee.

Collaborating Partners and Funders

Annie E. Casey Foundation
Anschutz Family Foundation
Caring for Colorado
Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Colorado Department of Education
Colorado Department of Public Health and Hospitals
Colorado Latina Cancer Network
Denver Area Youth Services
Denver Health and Hospitals
Denver Housing Authority
El Centrol Bienestar
Ford Foundation
HealthOne Alliance
Hispanics in Philanthropy
La Alma Recreation Center
La Clinica Tepayac
La Voz y Fuerza
Making Connections–Denver
Mental Health Corporation of Denver-El Centro de Las Familias
Mercy Housing–Decatar Place
Metro State College Department of Chicana/o Studies
Metro State College Campus Recreation
Mi Casa Resource Center for Women
NMAC
People Living with AIDS Network
Rocky Mountain Head Start
Rose Community Foundation
Ryan White Title I Minority AIDS Project
PacifiCare
Project CADENA
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services–U.S. Women’s Health

 

Home What's New Health Programs Events & Training Facts Resorces & Links How to Help Who We Are Contact Us En Español

Sisters of Color United for Education • 2895 W. 8th Ave., Denver, CO 80204 • 303-446-8800