The Sopris Sun / el Sol del Valle

A nonprofit organization


An Informed Community is Empowered. No Matter What the Language.

Join Our Effort to Inform, Inspire and Build Community by Fostering Diverse Voices in Local Journalism


In 2024, The Sopris Sun turns 15 and el Sol del Valle turns 3. With so much progress the last few years with our Language Equity initiative our Youth Program and Sopris Sun itself, we are in critical juncture in our evolution as a valued community asset the bridges language barriers and communities in Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield Counties and the town of Marble. 

In 2023, with your help we were able to hire our first Latina editor for el Sol del Valle. She along with our many other local Latino contributors are giving us an important new voice to help empower our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and employees who speak only Spanish. 

As a  nonprofit community bilingual newspaper The Sopris Sun / el Sol del Valle, features news and information that reminds us that we are a community and helps bring us together. With over 25 regular local contributors, Sopris Sun and el Sol del Valle is unique with so many diverse voices being able to deliver news and information about our communities. 

Our Youth Journalism Program is training the local Valley journalist of the future. These young journalists not only learn important skills, they contribute to the newspaper and get paid for their work! Learning at an early age their work is valued.



Giving Activity

Mission

Our mission is to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism. The Sopris Sun and our new Spanish Language insert el Sol del Valle, focuses in-depth on issues and stories not covered by other local newspapers, providing a forum for the rich exchange of news and views and offering a unique platform for promotion of local businesses and events in Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin and Gunnison Counties.

Background Statement

Formed thirteen years ago when the former local newspaper, The Valley Journal, was purchased and shut down by a large corporate media business. The Sopris Sun brings together people who live and work in this diverse area of the Western Slope; Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin and Gunnison Counties. The Sun reaches out beyond tourism and business to families, professionals, ranchers, laborers, educators and people who make this place their full-time or part-time home. As a nonprofit, we are a trusted source of local news both in English and Spanish.

We had many accomplishments in 2021. The Sopris Sun launched our new journalism program for area High School Students. Through this program students are mentored and learn the art and business of journalism. They also get to be published in The Sopris Sun and el Sol del Valle. This year we also launched el Sol del Valle, our Spanish language insert. Working in collaboration with many groups across the area, our Spanish insert has content created by native Spanish speakers. On many issues you can also read the same article in English, which makes it a handy tool to learn the other language. We also continued to expand our program that provides free advertising to local nonprofits and struggling small businesses.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

The Sopris Sun / el Sol del Valle

Year Established

2009

Tax id (EIN)

26-4219405

Category

Public & Societal Benefit

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

520 S Third Street Unit 26-B
Carbondale, CO 81623

Mailing

PO Box 399
Carbondale, CO 81623

Service areas

Garfield County, CO, US

Phone

970-510-0246

Other

970-987-9866

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