The Winds of Change

The Spanish-speaking population of the Roaring Fork Valley (from the city of Aspen to Parachute) has increased from about 500 to approximately 12,000 in the past five years; many are first-generation immigrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Belize, and other Latin American countries. This represents a challenge to both the new residents and the existing community, which has previously experienced very little cultural diversity.

The Winds of Change project addresses the issues of cultural isolation and language barriers presented by the new population of Latino immigrants coming to the rural resort areas of Colorado. The project assists and trains individuals, advocates for fair treatment for Latinos (including working for the hiring of Spanish-speaking staff in public agencies), and builds bridges and coalitions between the Anglo and Latino cultures. It provides services in four areas: health and human services, education, business, and public safety/immigration.

The mission of Asistencia para Latinos is to empower the Latino community towards self-sufficiency through service, education, advocacy, and inter-agency collaboration. The Winds of Change is a movement developed by Asistencia para Latinos to address the issues of cultural isolation and language barriers presented by the new population of immigrants coming to the rural resort areas of Colorado.

-Through the program's advocacy, businesses and public agencies have increased their number of Spanish-speaking staff. Now every human services agency in Pitkin County has a bilingual staff person, and over 5,000 people have received services.
-Two Latin American festivals were conducted with a total attendance of over 6,000 people.
-A new coalition of 100 people, professionals, educators, law enforcement, and community members, Latinos and Anglos, have come together to work on issues affecting the Latino community, and the issue of integration of both communities.
-Partnerships between law enforcement and Latino youth have been created to address the issues of crime and violence.
-The private sector, particularly the banking industry, is directing efforts toward economic development of the local Latino community. In past 2 years, 10 small Latino-owned businesses have opened in the area.