Press Release

Now Hiring: New Position at History Colorado Results from Community Partnership

A collaboration between History Colorado and the Latino Leadership Institute is supporting the creation of a new role.

DENVER, Colo. (OCTOBER 28, 2019)—A more inclusive strategy for understanding history is coming to Colorado in 2020.

At the 2019 Colorado Latino Hall of Fame Gala on Thursday, October 24, History Colorado and the Latino Leadership Institute announced a new partnership and a new position at History Colorado: the Associate Curator of Hispanic, Latino and Chicano History and Culture. The partnership will also bring Hall of Fame content, including photo exhibits and digital kiosks, to History Colorado’s eight museums statewide.

A permanent, full-time position on the core curatorial staff of Colorado’s official state history organization, the new job focuses on building a significantly more robust Hispanic, Latino and Chicano presence within History Colorado’s permanent collection, which dates back to 1879. The position is also responsible for increased engagement with—and public access to—Hispanic, Latino, and Chicano holdings. A full position description and details regarding the application process are available at h-co.org/newcurator. Applications will be accepted through November 10.

History Colorado and the Latino Leadership Institute, which is housed at the University of Denver, share many of the same values and objectives in their work and missions. Both organizations are dedicated to amplifying untold histories; sharing stories of Colorado people who have been transformational in their communities and our state; strengthening Colorado’s youth through education and connection to their roots; and preserving the important stories, artifacts, documents, contributions, culture, and traditions of Colorado’s Latino/Hispano/Chicano communities.

“These shared values create opportunities where our organizations can collaborate to extend the impact of our work,” said Joelle L. Martinez, Executive Director, Latino Leadership Institute. “History Colorado and the LLI are telling the complete story of Latino leadership, a narrative of success and influence that has contributed to every facet of our lives for generations.”

“Untold stories—stories discovered and shared through an open process of community engagement, rather than a single institutional voice of authority—hold the histories that are most relevant to today and tomorrow,” said Dawn DiPrince, Chief Operating Officer, History Colorado. “The work that comes from this partnership will revolve around these stories and bring them to life.”

History Colorado’s commitment to Hispanic, Latino, and Chicano history and culture has been growing exponentially in the five years since the opening of the El Movimiento exhibit at multiple History Colorado museums in early 2015. Originally a temporary display, El Movimiento is now a core exhibit on long-term view at the History Colorado Center. It was developed in partnership with an advisory committee of more than 20 activists, scholars, and community leaders. The ongoing Borderlands of Southern Colorado Initiative is another important precedent for upcoming work.

As an effort built around co-creation and co-authorship, this new partnership mirrors several ongoing public engagement initiatives at History Colorado. They include the opening of the new Ballantine Gallery at History Colorado Center in November 2019, which will feature exhibits built on community partnerships; the Women’s Vote Centennial Colorado, a grassroots effort to examine the power of voting and explore the largest voting-rights expansion in US history through contemporary voices and topics; the Year of La Chicana, a community partnership that connects the core issues of the Chicano movement with issues of social justice, identity, and inclusion; and the Museum of Memory project, a public-history initiative to help communities reframe challenges and struggles into histories of resilience and pride.

MORE
History Colorado’s ongoing Bold Women. Change History. speaker series—the standard-bearing public forum of the Women’s Vote Centennial Colorado—brings Emmy-award winning journalist Maria Hinojosa and legendary Chicana activist Dolores Huerta to History Colorado Center on November 6 and December 12, respectively. The series offers free child care for youth ages 6 through 12 to attendees. Tickets and details are available at h-co.org/boldwomen.

About History Colorado
History Colorado has become a force for finding new and inclusive ways to serve Coloradans. In 2018 History Colorado provided programs to more than 18,000 students in their own schools, and assisted more than 40 schools with bus funds, to expand efforts that now serve more than 85,000 students annually. Its all-day Hands-On History program at El Pueblo History Museum responds to the four-day school week that is now administered by 61% of Colorado school districts.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving the places, stories and material culture of Colorado through the History Colorado Center and statewide Community Museums, educational programs, historic preservation grants, research library, collections and outreach to Colorado communities. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information.