Celebrating 20th anniversary of Latino Leadership
The Denver Public Library announced the recipients of its annual Latino Community Service Awards today, Sept. 24. This year the library celebrated the 20th anniversary of awards.
The awards honor individuals who have made a deep and lasting impact on our city and state. Winners are selected by a committee of library commissioners, community members and library staff. Each year, the library honors Latino leaders with three awards, the Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award, Eric J. Duran Community Service Award, and the César Chávez Leadership Hall of Fame induction.
The Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award: Dr. Irene Martinez Jordan
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.
Dr. Irene Martinez Jordan has devoted over fifty-five years to the improvement of education in the Denver Public Schools as a teacher, counselor, principal, area superintendent, consultant, and volunteer. As an educator, she taught English and Hispanic Cultures and Contributions, a curriculum she co-developed, and revised the college and bilingual counselor programs for Hispanic, refugee and immigrant students at West High School, and collaborated to transform non-performing schools into successful high performing schools. Active in many community organizations, her honors include the 2009 Girl Scouts Women of Distinction Award and the Hispanicize 2015 Conference Positive Impact Award.
Eric J. Duran Community Service Award: Elaine D. Torres
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.
Elaine Torres is the Director of Community & Strategic Partnerships at CBS4. She oversees the station’s community and strategic partnerships, station initiatives, and special events where is responsible for sponsorships, charitable giving, and community outreach. Elaine serves on several community boards and committees, from being Chair of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado Board of Directors, to local institutions such as the Denver Zoo and Denver Art Museum, and also as part of the Colorado Non-Profit Association’s Leadership Advisory Committee. She was recently named Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Top 25 Women in Business for 2022.
The César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Inductee: Jordan T. Garcia
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.
Jordan T. Garcia is the Organizing Director for the American Friends Service Committee AFSC Colorado Immigrant Rights Program. For the past 16 years, Jordan has served as the Immigrant Ally Organizing Director for Coloradans For Immigrant Rights, a project of the American Friends Service Committee, an international Quaker Peace and Justice Organization. Jordan advocates for justice using a community wide anti-oppression lens to do vision-based leadership development in our movements for justice.
“This important public event is aligned with our mission of creating welcoming spaces where all are free to explore and connect. We host this award ceremony to honor and celebrate the many contributions of Latinos throughout Colorado,” said Denver City Librarian, Michelle Jeske.
Background on Latino Community Service Awards:
The Latino Community Service Awards were established in 2002 and recognize Latino leaders who have made a deep and lasting impact on the city and state. The awards presentations are part of the library’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. The in person event was held at the Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library located at 1498 N. Irving Street.
