The Birth of the Boulder County Latina Women’s League
One might say that Latinas like a good party as much as the next person. So it is not too surprising that on a warm night in the summer of 1998 the Boulder Latina Women’s League got it’s start. A group of Latinas talked about our vision of how wonderful it would be to get together regularly. Those brief moonlit conversations were the beginnings of the League. The regular dinners gave attendees a chance to socialize, network professionally and discuss topics ranging from cross-cultural issues to happenings in the workplace, family and community.
Latinas with backgrounds ranging from nurses, therapists, government, private companies, and educators gathered and found that they were linked by their work with young Latinas. That common ground fueled the League’s focus on mentoring and supporting the educational efforts of Latinas within the county.
In 1999 the “founding mothers” of the League began the process of electing officers, seeking board members and becoming a non-profit organization. In the spring of 2000, we raised $600 for the League and our 1st scholarship was awarded. Since then, we’ve awarded over $180,000 in scholarships. We are a volunteer organization and became incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation in 2005.
Awards Ceremony Class of 2008-2009
Scholarships are also awarded for students already in college who have received a scholarship from the League in previous years. In 2008 we added Latino boys to our scholarship awards program.
In 2010-20011, the League awarded thirty-one (31) scholarships totaling $37,500 at our Annual Scholarship Awards Event.
School officials, students, parents, community mentors, student mentors, community members, League board members and volunteers attended the scholarship event and provided praise and support for the accomplishment and dedication of the recipients.
Since 2000, we have awarded scholarship dollars to 182 Latina and Latino students.