English

Newsed: Half a Century Promoting Development, Prosperity, and Culture

Posthumous tribute to Stevon Lucero| Present to accept the recognition were his wife, Arlene, his children Josh, Paul, Jovian, and his brother and brother-in-law Perry González and Lori González. (Pictures/El Comercio de Colorado)

CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS CEREMONY

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

Haga click aquí para leer la versión en español

Newsed Community Development celebrated its 50th anniversary with the 32nd edition of the Civil Rights Awards. The gala has become one of the most prestigious events in Denver, as it recognizes individuals and institutions making a positive impact on the community. This year, the Civil Rights Awards were presented to outstanding artists and cultural institutions in the city of Denver.

The awardees included Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC), a creative community dedicated to preserving and showcasing the essence of Chicano, Latina, and multiracial communities; the Museo de las Americas, a museum of Latin American Art in the Rocky Mountains; Redline Contemporary Art Center, an organization fostering interaction between artists and communities; and Carlos Sandoval, a prominent artist from southern Colorado.

Newsed, medio siglo promoviendo desarrollo, prosperidad y cultura

NEWSED PRESIDENT| Andrea Barela, president and CEO.

AN AWARDEE| Carlos Sandoval, alongside his son Carlos and his grandson Ronny, and Deborah Quintana.

Newsed paid posthumous tribute to Stevon Lucero, a visual artist who passed away on November 28. Present to accept the recognition were his wife, Arlene, his children Josh, Paul, Jovian, and his brother and brother-in-law Perry González and Lori González. The choice of Lucero was particularly fitting, as this artist, a practitioner of “metarealism,” had produced a diverse body of work. His final piece, “Indigenous Futurist Dreamscapes Lounge,” was a collaboration for Meow Wolf.

MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAS| Claudia Morán.

Half a Century of Achievements

This landmark event became even more special as it marked half a century of the organization’s existence. Newsed has been a driving force in Denver for five decades, known for its vision and dedication to advancing significant urban development initiatives, entrepreneurship, homeownership encouragement, and the promotion of Hispanic culture. The organization has developed thousands of affordable homes and created Denver’s first cultural and innovation district on Santa Fe Drive.

GOOD COMPANY| Tammy Quintana, Brenda Aguilera, Carolina Castro, Rogelio Rodríguez.

PIONEER| Verónica Barela, Newsed founder, and Ryan Fitzgerald.

Moreover, Newsed has provided numerous opportunities for small businesses and maintained important traditions like the First Friday celebration of local artists. It has also succeeded in preserving and expanding its Cinco de Mayo festival, one of the most significant commemorations of this historic event in the entire southern United States.

AMONG FRIENDS| Jesús Sánchez Meleán, Elizabeth Muñoz, Flor Alvídrez, Denise Suárez, and Milo Márquez.

During the celebration of Newsed’s 50th anniversary and the 2023 Civil Rights Awards, there were also words of recognition for Verónica Barela, the founder and Executive Director of Newsed for 40 years. Verónica was present at the celebration. “Our organization continues to be a beacon of community support and a catalyst for positive change in Denver and beyond,” concluded Andrea Barela, Newsed’s President.