Lisa Saenz

Servicios de La Raza is a non-profit with the mission to provide, and advocate for culturally responsive, essential health and human services and opportunities to all Colorado communities in need. At the end of the 1960s, the United States was at the height of the civil rights movement. In Colorado, this movement was centered in Denver’s Latino communities, where individuals were beginning to demand equality on a number of fronts, including the provision of culturally relevant and effective social services. In 1972, a dozen advocates came together to form Servicios de La Raza (Servicios), a bilingual human service organization, to serve Denver’s Latino/a population. Initially, Servicios was a licensed facility for the treatment of mental health and chronic mental illnesses. In 1974, the agency applied to Colorado’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division for funding and licensure and was approved as an alcohol and substance abuse treatment center. For over 38 years, Servicios has continued to respond to the unmet needs of the Latino community by adding programs for youth, victims of domestic violence, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, provision of basic emergency services and benefits acquisition.