The four women honored at Cafecito Alto, a high tea hosted by the Latinas First Foundation, made bold strides in fields ranging from law enforcement to academia. Yet like a majority of the 200 who attended this late afternoon gathering at the Governor’s Mansion recently, they downplay just how remarkable their accomplishments are.
“So many of the ladies here today think they haven’t done anything extraordinary,” observed Juanita Chacon, a Denver Realtor who started the Latinas First Foundation with Mesach Rhoades, an attorney at . “But they certainly have.”
Honoree Beverly Martinez, for example, is an Emmy-winning, 30-year veteran of Denver television who is believed to be the nation’s first Latina to host and produce her own TV talk show. “She’s our Oprah Winfrey,” Chacon said.
In 1973, when honoree Amy Alonso became the Denver Police Department’s first Latina police officer, she was required to stand behind her male colleagues in roll call and to wear a uniform that included a skirt, Earth shoes and a ball cap. Alonso, who retired in 2005, also was the first female lineman at Mountain Bell.
Susana Cordova, honored for her role as chief academic officer for the Denver Public Schools, is responsible for shaping the curriculum offered to the DPS’ 81,438 students. Cordova firmly believes her mission in life is “Not just to pave a path, but widen it.” Sharon Cordova was recognized for being the first Latina to serve as president of , the second-largest union in Colorado. Three months into her tenure, the 8,000 members went on strike. “Her dedication, perseverance, experience and ability to solve problems secured a favorable outcome for her members,” mistresss of ceremonies Luisa Collins said. “Norma Rae, Dolores Huerta, Sharon Cordova: The great women labor leaders of our time.”
Collins is an Emmy-winning news director for in Denver.
Guests at Cafecito Alto included Linda Alvarado, the founder and president of and a co-owner of the ; president Elsa Martinez-Tenreiro; Terrie Martinez, a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch; senior program officer Elsa Holguin and Latino Age Wave executive Cec Ortiz from ; Maria Barsallo, manager of operations for the ; entrepreneur Lindita Torres-Winters; Perla Gheiler, chair of the board; Wells Fargo vice president Marybell Trujillo; clothing designer Gabriela Martinez; Michelann Cordero-Sweeney, founder of Colorado’s first plus-size modeling agency; and Maria Guajardo, former director of the Mayor’s Office for Education and Children and a 2010 inductee to the .
“When I look around the room today, I see so many unsung heroines,” Chacon added. “Women who are not on the front page of the newspaper every day, but women who stand on the shoulders of their mothers and their grandmothers, who maybe didn’t have the opportunities that we have. It’s very gratifying.”
The Latinas First Foundation is made up of professional women in Colorado who are dedicated to providing support for Latinas as they seek to reach their highest potential. In addition to recognizing those who have blazed trails, the foundation also awards a college scholarship. The 2012 recipient is Dulce DeHerrera, a junior at the University of Northern Colorado. To learn more, call 720-297-3005.
Cancer League Hope Ball
Few people can say “no” to Realtor Edie Marks, or to retired MDC Holdings executive Gary Reece, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that 2012 Hope Ball sold out weeks in advance and will raise about $800,000 for research and patient services.
Marks chaired the black-tie dinner-dance held May 5 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center; Reece is the CLC president.
“That Edie is a real taskmaster,” shared Lorraine Salazar, who with Arlene Johnson chaired the party that Linda and Dr. Richard Kelley hosted several weeks ago to thank the ball’s patron-level supporters. “She gave me heck when I went for a facial instead of a committee meeting. But she sure gets the job done.”
She also gives credit where it is due. “There isn’t a person on the committee who hasn’t worked their fingers to the bone to make the Hope Ball a success,” Marks said. She also expressed gratitude for the large number of “new faces” in the crowd.
“It has taken a while to get some of you here,” Marks added, “but after tonight, I know you’ll be back again and again.”
The 620 guests included artist Eva Makk, whose “Enchanted,” an original oil painting created for the occasion, was valued at $46,000 and sold for $56,000 in the live auction called by Gary Corbett.
Corbett described the Hope Ball as an occasion supported by “Denver’s movers, shakers and policymakers,” a group that included Dealin’ Doug Moreland, who donated the 2012 Jeep Wrangler that was raffled off at the ball; U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman; honorary CLC trustee Sharon Magness Blake and her husband, Ernie; Walt Imhoff; Bonnie and David Mandarich; Jerry and Debi Tepper; and such young professional supporters as Jesse Schroffel, Quinn Washington, Garret Hommel, Braun Salazar, Lisa Light, Calen Brennen and Erica Montgomery.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, blogs.denverpost.com/style and @GetItWrite on Twitter
RSVP Catching up with the social scene
See additional pictures from these events at denverpost.com/seengallery
