About CLLARO
Our Story
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.
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).
In 2007, LARASA changed its name and became the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, & Research Organization.
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.
2025 Board Members
Chair - Fred Galves, Attorney, Pueblo
Vice-Chair - Celeste Montoya, Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder
Secretary - Elvis Rubio, City & County of Denver, Denver
Treasurer - Evan Smith-Acuña, Vice President, First American State Bank, Greenwood Village
Members:
True Apodaca, Political Director, Service Employees International Union, Local 105, Denver
Uriel Berrum, ScholarLead.com Co-Founder and CEO, Effect.org Co-founder, Denver
Cristal Corral Macias, Senior Vice President, FirstBank, Denver
Mike Cortés, President and CEO, CLLARO, Denver
Cristal Torres deHerrera, COO, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Denver
Iris Lozano, Attorney, Denver
Bruno J. Meli, Vice President, U.S. Bank, Denver
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).
In 2007, LARASA changed its name and became the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, & Research Organization.
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.
2025 Board Members
Chair - Fred Galves, Attorney, Pueblo
Vice-Chair - Celeste Montoya, Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder
Secretary - Elvis Rubio, City & County of Denver, Denver
Treasurer - Evan Smith-Acuña, Vice President, First American State Bank, Greenwood Village
Members:
True Apodaca, Political Director, Service Employees International Union, Local 105, Denver
Uriel Berrum, ScholarLead.com Co-Founder and CEO, Effect.org Co-founder, Denver
Cristal Corral Macias, Senior Vice President, FirstBank, Denver
Mike Cortés, President and CEO, CLLARO, Denver
Cristal Torres deHerrera, COO, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Denver
Iris Lozano, Attorney, Denver
Bruno J. Meli, Vice President, U.S. Bank, Denver
Our Mission
CLLARO’s mission is to help Latino communities to empower themselves politically, socially, and economically, to strengthen Colorado.
CLLARO works with the community, policymakers, and advocacy groups to accomplish this mission.
CLLARO works with the community, policymakers, and advocacy groups to accomplish this mission.
- A Capitol Fellowship Program that increases the number of Latino civic leaders who know how to influence legislation.
- Public policy advocacy in coalition with other advocates promoting Latino community interests in Colorado.
- Rigorous and credible research and analysis providing factual evidence about policy issues affecting vulnerable or oppressed Latino populations in Colorado.
We focus on public policy issues affecting Latinos across the State of Colorado.
Meet our Team
Our bilingual and bicultural staff are acutely aware of Colorado’s local Latino community. Get to know them!
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