Endorsements

 
 

Denver Teachers -
Denver Classroom Teachers Association

As a DPS parent, public education advocate and a community builder, we know that Xóchitl ‘Sochi’ Gaytán has a clear understanding for what our students and communities need for the future.

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Denver Federation for Paraprofessionals & Nutrition Service Employees

Click here to learn more about this organization.

 

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Colorado Working Families Party

CO-WFP endorses Xóchitl for Denver School Board because we know she is a strong voice on racial, social and economic justice for students, teachers and working families in Southwest Denver.
 

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Our REVOLUTION METRO DENVER

ORMD is pleased to announce our endorsements for Denver Public Schools School Board: Xóchitl ‘Sochi’ Gaytán. This candidate embodies the values of ORMD, particularly when it comes to issues of economic, social, and radical justice. She is hard-working with strong community support and fully embraces the importance of leading with community-based solutions rather than corporate-based solutions.

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Colorado Sierra Club

For more than 50 years we have inspired thousands of Coloradans to explore the outdoors, to appreciate our mountains and public lands, and to conserve wildlife, our environment, and our natural heritage. Today, along with taking action to get more people outdoors, we’re advocating to protect our ecosystems, wildlife, and wilderness. And we’re building momentum, with efforts such as our Ready for 100 campaign, a movement to transition Colorado to 100% clean energy. With Xochitl’s help, and the help of our environmental partners, we’re making incredible progress towards protecting our beautiful state for future generations.
 

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Polly Baca,
Latina Pioneer - 1st Latina to serve as CO State Representative and Senator

Xóchitl has earned the respect of the community as a trusted, reliable leader, and we believe she will continue to shine as a member of the Denver School Board. As the first Latina president of her neighborhood association, a mother of two DPS sons, and a small business owner, she has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to be successful as a DPS board member. Her business experience gives her a deep understanding of prioritizing and managing budgets, and the time her sons have spent in DPS schools has made clear the challenges she’s up against. Xóchitl is not afraid to have the hard conversations that will lead to innovative solutions. She knows what communities need, what families need, what teachers need and what will make Denver schools the best in the country.

With the endorsements of the DCTA, Nutrition and Paraprofessional union, many former and current legislators and council people, and other organizations, we truly believe she is the obvious choice.
 

DEBORAH "DEBBIE" ORTEGA,
Denver City Councilwoman At-large

Xóchitl Gaytán is a community leader that graduated from Denver Public Schools in Southwest Denver and is a Parent of a current DPS student. Her intentionality, determination and persistence in advocating for quality public education for our families, students and teachers is why I support her to represent the Southwest Denver community on the Denver Board of Education. I am proud to endorse and stand by Xóchitl Gaytán for District 2.
 

Lisa Escarcega,
CO State Board of Education - Congressional District 1

It is my pleasure to endorse Xóchitl Gaytán for the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. Xóchitl will bring integrity, knowledge and passion to the Board, as she has always done, in service to the students and community.
 

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VERONICA BARELA,
Former Executive Director of NewsEd and Civil Right Activist

As an advocate for public education, I support Xóchitl’s candidacy for Denver School Board District 2 in Southwest Denver as I know she’s been advocating the same for our community. As a servant leader and civil rights activist, I recognize the leadership ability the next generation needs to continue on working toward education justice in our communities. Xóchitl will be that servant leader with a strong voice to speak on reallocating funding to local schools to create a quality learning environment for students in Southwest Denver.
 

Honorable Joe Salazar,
former CO State Representative and Civil Rights Attorney

Xóchitl Gaytán is known as a community leader and an advocate for our public schools, students, and teachers. She has been tireless in fighting against the corporatization of our school systems. I’ve also had the privilege of working with Xóchitl throughout the years, and she has always been deliberate, thoughtful, and visionary. I wholeheartedly endorse Xóchitl Gaytán for the Denver Public School Board because our community deserves true community leaders.
 

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Lorena Garcia,
former candidate for U.S. Senate, Community Activist and nonprofit Leader

I am proud to endorse Denver Community Leader, Xóchitl Gaytán. I am confident that with her on the DPS Board, we will see renewed commitment to our neighborhood schools, a real commitment to equity, and a firm commitment to serving the Black and brown students who have been pushed to margins for decades.
 

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Ilana Spiegel,
CU Board of Regents

As a Denver small business owner, DPS graduate, and parent of DPS students. Xóchitl brings long term thinking and solutions to ensure that all students and families have access to great public schools.
 

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Dr. Kathy Escamilla,
CU Professor of Educational Equity & Cultural Diversity

As a retired professor in higher education, I endorse Xóchitl because she understands the need for increasing teachers of color and direct resources that ensure the well-being of students. I taught students with a passion for teaching and Xóchitl respects the teaching profession. She knows that an equitably-funded public school education is a right for all and creates confident, civically-minded students that will make a positive impact in their community.
 

Dr. Joyce Brooks,
Activist for Quality Education

We need Xóchitl Gaytán on the Denver School Board. She’s a strong advocate for great education for all children. She’s a great mom and string family support for schools. She clearly understands the needs of our growing population of immigrant students. She has proven her commitment to working toward fairness and equity for students who have often been marginalized or completely dropped out of our school system. We need her perspective among our district policymakers. I strongly support her as the school board representative for District 2.
 

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Dr. Robert Davis,
Project Coordinator, Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety

I am honored to endorse Xóchitl Gaytán, a fighter for the underserved and marginalized. She has dedicated her life championing stronger public education and destroying the school-to-prison pipeline. Xóchitl and I teamed up to facilitate the Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety, which presented 112 recommendations to Denver City Council. Xóchitl will be a strong voice to push for wrap-around services deeply needed by black and brown students and their families. We need her representing us on the Denver School Board.
 

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Honorable Arturo Jimenez,
Immigration Attorney and former Denver School Board Director

I urge Southwest Denver friends and family to vote for Xóchitl as soon as they receive their mail ballots. Southwest Denver deserves the intelligence and thoughtfulness that Xóchitl will bring to the parents, students and taxpayers of District 2.
 

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Manuel Solano,
consumer and civil rights attorney

I believe Xóchitl Gaytán understands the unique needs of Denver’s southwest schools and is the most qualified school board candidate to represent the students and parents of her community.
 

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Honorable Judy Solano,
former CO State Representative

If you want someone to fight for your neighborhood schools and bring the representation they deserve, Xóchitl Gaytán is your candidate for Denver School Board.
 

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Father Joseph T. Dang,
Vietnamese American Community of Colorado liaison

The Vietnamese American Community of Colorado (VACC) is overwhelmingly endorsing Mrs. Xóchitl Gaytán for the Denver School Board, especially in the Southwest District, where many Vietnamese American students are residing. She has been a great community leader, an ally, and a voice for our minority students. I had the honor to work with her in the past to recognize our Vietnamese American students when she awarded them scholarships for higher education during her time as President of the neighborhood association. She believes every student deserves to be equally recognized and awarded.
 

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Johnnie Nguyen,
Southwest Denver Community Leader

As a first-generation student, born and raised in Southwest Denver, my family navigated barriers in the DPS system. I’ve known Xóchitl ‘Sochi’ for years and have always been impressed with her compassion and commitment to helping students and families in our community. I know she will be the voice for families like mine and all other students that deserve a quality education in District 2.
 

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Jorge Hernández Arjona,
Former candidate for Denver School Board At-Large & Student Activist

I am proud to extend my support to the true DPS champion, Xóchitl Gaytán, in the Denver School Board race. She is the perfect example our students need and deserve across DPS and especially for our students in SW Denver. As a Latino, as a community member, as a young activist, I know Xóchitl will listen to our students and will do everything she can to lead DPS in the right place for students that look just like me.
 

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Leslie Twarogowski,
Executive Director of the Federal Boulevard Business Improvement District

I trust Xóchitl will lead on the Denver School Board. She will be a strong voice for equitable funding to support teachers, and provide resources, and supports for the well-being of all students.
 

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Ean Thomas Tafoya,
Colorado Field Advocate for Green Latinos and
Co-Chair of the Colorado Latino Forum

Latinos need a strong voice to represent our community on the school board and Xóchitl has proven to be that voice. I went to Traylor Elementary, a school that had well-rounded curriculum, arts, and gym. This curriculum laid the foundation for my future. Every student should have access to quality community schools. Xóchitl won’t stop fighting until that happens. As a youth educator, I recognize her work in education justice and for our community. Vote Xóchitl for Denver School Board!
 

Robert Alvarado,
CEO and chairman of Palo Alto, Inc. and Alvarado Holdings

The Denver Business Journal’s most admired CEO and Latino entrepreneur supports Xóchitl’s vision for DPS.
 

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Gil Cisneros, Chairman and CEO of Chamber of the Americas

He supports Xóchitl’s vision for prioritizing a quality learning environment to develop global learners.
 

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Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood strives to provide confidential health services for youth and access to health equity to all students. They agree with Xochitl’s vision for expanding Denver Health’s School Based Health Clinics to cover more reproductive health care options, counselling, and education.