Local grassroots social justice activist, the late Rita J. Martinez, left a legacy of humanitarian efforts to uplift our community. Luckily, she also planted and cultivated seeds in many people, organizations, and efforts that are now blooming. She passed on several batons for others to grasp and continue the work. Proudly, I am one of them and am happy to honor her by continuing this important work as Board President of El Movimiento Sigue.
As the founder of the nonprofit, El Movimiento Sigue, Rita set in motion the goal of having a long lasting effort in Pueblo that would continue organizing, educating, and doing systems change work with folks impacted by marginalization and historic neglect — primarily Chicanx, Indigenous, and immigrant people. Since the fall of 2020, El Movimiento Sigue (EMS) has been involved in several efforts to do exactly that.
Here is a recap of some of the work the nonprofit has led or been involved with.
The Transforming Justice Project is a project that is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation to work on decreasing incarceration rates in Pueblo County. There are three such projects in Colorado. Pueblo, El Paso, and Mesa counties were noted to have high rates of incarceration, especially for people of color, and were thus funded to address the issue. Incarceration has devastating effects on individuals, families, and entire communities. EMS is working to address this issue and is advocating for a more humane, proactive approach to help uplift and support members of our community rather than put them behind bars. We are delving deeply into local data and planning to push for reinvestment in our community and people and divesting from harmful policies that do little to deter crime or support citizens. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to us at our office (719) 582-6567.
In October, 2023, EMS planned and hosted the Rita J. Martinez Youth Leadership Conference at Colorado State University – Pueblo. The event drew in 350+ youth from Pueblo and surrounding communities, including San Luis. The students were given the opportunity to attend culturally relevant workshops that included Lowriding, Know Your Rights, Mayan Math, and several other leadership development opportunities. The acclaimed actor and songwriter, Daniel Valdez, was the keynote speaker. The students were also able to hear from Colorado State Representative Tim Hernandez who is the first Gen Z legislator in our state. This conference will be a biennial event, happening every two years.
Our most consistent event, El Cinco de Mayo, is celebrating its 54th annual occurrence this year. This event is rooted in the Chicano Movement in Colorado. It has been billed as a day of education and celebration as the stage includes speakers addressing issues relevant to the Chicano community as well as showcasing the many beautiful aspects de nuestra cultura. In addition to the mainstage activities, a car show and food giveaway are also happening simultaneously. The committee puts in countless hours in planning and organizing this event. The 2023 event drew in 3,000 plus attendees. The goal is to celebrate our culture, support those experiencing food insecurity, show off some beautiful art on wheels, and just be together as one united community, sin fronteras.
All of the above projects and activities align with Rita’s original intent, to uplift the Chicanx community through social justice efforts and activities. Our hope is to grow and expand our impact on Pueblo and Colorado. It is my deep honor to help lead these efforts and continue Rita’s legacy. If you are interested in joining or supporting El Movimiento Sigue, reach out via email: elmovimientosigue@gmail.com or on our Facebook page: El Movimiento Sigue – Pueblo, CO. https://www.facebook.com/chicanopueblo
