The Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization (CLLARO), Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, The Civic Canopy, and National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), and a number of organizations working in partnership with the Colorado Civic Health Network released new data on the civic life of Colorado Latinos. We know Colorado communities are stronger, more resilient, and healthier when residents are engaged as active volunteers, empowered voters, and community leaders. The issues we face as a state require the experience, passion, and perspective of all Coloradans – working together. The Latino Civic Health initiative has shed light on a critical civic equity gap in our state. The release of this data, however, is just the beginning. The Civic Health Network is collaborating with CLLARO and other partners to understand the barriers to engagement. Over the next year, we will gather feedback from community members and develop strategies to improve the civic life for all Coloradans.
In September 2015, NCoC released a national Latinos Civic Health Index. Colorado is one of only two states to use the data to better understand what it would take for Latinos to become full participants in our state’s civic life.