Advancing Equality: Attitudinal Shifts
Rhonda Solis has lived most of her life in Greeley, Colorado, a fast-growing city with an agriculture-focused economy and a substantial Latino population. A Latina herself, Rhonda is constantly struck by the divisiveness that is caused by adverse attitudes toward the region’s Latinos. Her specific concern lies in the fact that there is a lack of Latino faces in elected office, representing a great void in their ability to shape public policy.
Rhonda became determined to take a stand on the inequities that marginalize Latinos and contribute to an inadequate Latino voice in public discourse. For Rhonda, involvement in The Latina Initiative has been a source of inspiration, and a path toward advancing equality.
According to Dusti Gurule, The Latina Initiative’s executive director, Latinas are a key audience because they serve as the entry point into families and are more likely to reach out to their circles of influence when they understand who and what they are voting for. “Latinas traditionally play an involved role within families, but when it comes to electoral and public policy work, the Latina voice is overlooked. Our idea was to build capacity among Latinas to encourage them to get more civically engaged,” she says.
A group of women started the organization in 2002 with an initial focus on building community awareness about the importance of voting. Today, it describes itself as an advocacy group that encourages Latinas to affect public policy issues through strategic, progressive action. By forming collaborations with other like-minded groups – such as 9to5 National Association for Working Women, Women’s Foundation of Colorado, White House Project, COLOR, and the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado – The Latina Initiative is working to achieve greater equity for all people.
This approach is one Rhonda embraces. “Making yourself heard on political and social issues is an intimidating realm. But I discovered that there is a powerful – and empowering – opportunity to affect change. The sisterhood engendered by The Latina Initiative and other women’s organizations celebrates the strength, history, and experiences shared by all Latinos,” says Rhonda. Now, she is passing the energy on to others by making her own voice heard.
Looking to Dusti as a role model, Rhonda is president of Hispanic Women of Weld County, and sees a political avenue in her future. Equipping herself with experiences ranging from the Latina Debate Boot Camp to the Progressive Majority’s leadership program, she is considering a run for City Council or the School Board, with an eye toward unity and leadership.
That vision of unity, and dialogue with a purpose, is echoed through the support of the Gay & Lesbian Fund, which donates an annual average of $5,000 to The Latina Initiative. “My vision is to bring the Latino population to parity with the rest of the state on issues that disproportionately impact us. The Gay & Lesbian Fund shares the same goals for civic engagement among all Coloradans. Working together, I believe we can accomplish this,” says Gurule.