Historias; Fashion For A Passion..Denver’s Most Beautiful Latinas Strut Support for Day & Domestic Laborers…

Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media (see 5 photo galleries below: (1) Backstage, (2)Hosts, Salon Participants, Centro Humantario Board of Directors, (3)  SAM VILLA: A show of his own, (4)The Show (5)The people)

It was standing room only as a diverse crowd of hundreds of supporters turned out to see some of Denver’s most beautiful Latinas at Charlie Price and Centro Humanitario’s second annual “Historias” Hair & Fashion Show on Sunday, July 31st. The spectacular event featured the Hot Latin Music by DJ Markie who also served as host. The high energy extravaganza showcased the most inspired and outrageous hair and fashion from 10 of Denver’s hottest Salons. “Historias” was held at Exdo Event Center, 1399 35th St. in the RiNo Neighborhood. Latin Life Denver Media was honored to be a media sponsor along with Telemundo & Univision

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Several members of Centro Humantiarios’s Board of Directors took the stage to not only thank everyone for their support but to tell them about the challenges day laborers and domestic workers face each day. “They get into a car or truck in the morning not knowing the person who picked them up. They don’t know what the working conditions will be nor if they will be paid a fair wage if the get paid at all. They often have to travel long distances and are away from their families for most of the day and most times the compensation in nowhere equal the sacrafice,” the audience was told.

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Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores (El Centro) is Denver’s only day laborer center promoting work, dignity and community. The mission is to promote the rights and well-being of day laborers and domestic workers in Colorado through education, job skills, leadership development, united action and advocacy.

Since 2002, over 2,000 workers have accessed El Centro’s programs, including know your rights training, direct access to jobs, workforce development and job skills training, as well as leadership development and community building.

El Centro’s dedication and continued efforts have played a crucial role in promoting awareness and advancing reforms that address everyday struggles and hardships, as well as structural barriers, surrounding this underrepresented and often invisible, community. El Centro’s history and role in the greater community are captured in El Centro Story and El Centro Domestic Worker Study, both of which were published by Dr. Tony Robinson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Colorado Denver.
Vision

“Day Laborers and Domestic Workers are agents of change they belong, thrive and contribute in a significant way to their families, communities and the global social change movement.”

Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores (El Centro) has become more than a humanitarian center for workers; it is a symbol of hope – a place where transformation happens. Since 2002, El Centro has advanced economic opportunity for day laborers and domestic workers with direct employment and micro business development; prevented worker exploitation, promoted worker rights, and supported community leadership for more than 1,800 worker members.

In 2015, El Centro achieved the following objectives: Increased worker membership from 200 to 300. Engaged over 60 workers in decision making that strengthened our programs and campaigns. Increased the average hourly rate earned by workers from $12 to $14. Celebrated the enactment of The Wage Protection Act. Recovered over $8,000 for victims of wage theft.

In 2016, El Centro expects to achieve the following worker member identified goals: 1. Build a strong, professional organizational identity. 2. Increase access to employment for 300 day laborers and domestic workers. 3. Advance public policy and worker rights through campaigns and united front community organizing. 4. Eliminate barriers to employment through direct services, community collaboration and linkages to public and community resources. 5. Foster leadership and ownership of the organization by worker members and support community leadership roles and activities.

“Los jornaleros y trabajadoras domesticas son agentes de cambio, ellos pertenecen (son parte de) triunfan, contribuyen en una manera significante a sus familias, comunidad y el movimiento global de justicia.”

HOURS OF BACKSTAGE PREPARATION TAKES PLACE FOR THE FEW SECONDS OF ATTENTION EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVES….
Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media


Hosts, Salon Participants and Centro Humantario Board of Directors


A SHOW OF HIS OWN:  SAM VILLA, “Sam Villa is known for doing things differently to challenge, inspire and motivate change. His encouragement to stylists is unrivaled, as he genuinely wants each one of them to reach deep to identify how they can make a change to promote their own growth. His talents stretch far beyond his brilliant cutting and finishing skills; he has a plethora of business skills that enliven stylists to think about how they speak to their guests to add value behind the chair.”


Finally….The Show…!




The people who came out to support and celebrate the hard work of Centro Humantario