El Centro AMISTAD

Latino families face increased barriers to clean water, healthy food and wellness because of systemic and historic injustices.
Join us in our effort to bring Health Equity to Latino Families in Boulder County by supporting AMISTAD.

Testimonials

AMISTAD ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Promotoras de Salud Program :
This nationally recognized promotora program provides the only Latina-led leadership program for underserved Latinas in Boulder, providing educational sessions on health and wellness with a focus on the prevention of obesity and diabetes.

• In 2020, 75 participants completed the Wellness Challenge that consist on a 90 day program to support individuals to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, increase of consumption of water, healthy eating and physical activity. The Wellness Challenge initiated in September of 2018 and a total of 272 individuals have completed the program.

• In 2019, 10 promotoras were trained and they served over 1340 Latinos through door-to-door outreach, participation in classes and community events.

• 83% of participants indicated that they make healthier food choices in preparing meals for family members.
• 80% of participants indicated that they and their family members are more physically active.
• From March 2019 to March 2020, Promotoras have reached a total of 2,847 Latinos in the City of Boulder through home visiting, outreach and education.
• Promotoras were trained and certified on Mental Health First Aid.
• Promotoras were trained and certified as Lifestyle Coaches on Diabetes Prevention.

Passage of the City of Boulder's Sugary Drink Tax:
AMISTAD helped lead a successful campaign to gain passage of a 2 cent tax on sugary drinks in the City of Boulder. This will be generating up to $3.5 million a year to support access to clean drinking water, healthy foods, and physical activity opportunities for Latino families.
• In 2016, AMISTAD staff and promotoras provided education on the ballot initiative to more than 800 Latino residents. Senior AMISTAD staff served as one of the chief campaign spokespeople.
• With a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, produced Justicia Refrescante. Three bilingual videos featuring a Latino family described the need for access to clean water, health foods and physical activity.
o The water inequality video reached 17,807 people through social media and was viewed 7,372 times.
o Over 23,000 community members were reached through the Justicia Refrescante campaign.

Escuela de Madres y Padres:
Companeras founder Elena Aranda developed a first-of-its-kind curriculum for Spanish speaking parents to improve their parenting skills. Modelled on dialectical behavior therapy, parents learn how to use skills to better regulate their emotions, manage stress through mindfulness and be more present for their families.
• The pilot was launched in 2016 with two groups of 12 couples, with the program lasting eight weeks, with 90 minute weekly classes.
• Now, AMISTAD is implementing this program in partnership with the Boulder Valley School District at University Hill and Sanchez elementary schools. The psychology department at the University of Colorado at Boulder will be designing and implementing an evaluation.
• In April 2018, 45 parents graduated, completing the full curriculum.

• From September 2018 to March of 2020, 127 parents graduated and completing the full curriculum.

Boulder Community Foundation's 1% Pledge:
AMISTAD won a $10,000 prize in this competition, sponsored by the Boulder Community Foundation.
• Local non-profits presented a three-minute "pitch" to over 400 leaders in technology, business and philanthropy. The Promotoras de Salud presented on AMISTAD's health equity work to win first prize.
• [Note: these funds will be used to fund the expansion of the number of promotoras.

Health Equity Learning Series:
AMISTAD received a grant from the Colorado Trust to launch the Health Equity Learning Series, a video presentation and training session offered four times during 2016-2017.
• Over 100 community partners participated in an all-day training session.
• AMISTAD recruited medical providers, non-profit organizations, government representatives, school departments, and community members.
• AMISTAD is serving as a coach to these organizations and community members on a range of health equity issues.

Access to Physical Activity:
AMISTAD has created access to affordable soccer activities for more than 800 elementary school children since 2014.

COMPAÑERAS Annual Summit and Youth Summit LATINX:
This is AMISTAD's annual conference organized by and for Spanish-speaking women and youth to support their leadership and build a movement for health.

Goal: To increase awareness of social justice and equity, develop leadership, build resiliency in the Latino community...