About Us
Our Mission
Movimiento Poder strives to reimagine and transform our society through collective healing, transformational leadership development, community wealth-building, civic engagement, and community organizing.
Our Vision
Movimiento Poder is building a world where first-generation, migrante, women, and queer Latines can thrive, live with a sense of belonging, have enough abundance to keep each other safe, and build collective power to liberate themselves and their communities from all systems of oppression.
Who We Work With:
Movimiento Poder prioritizes working with first-generation, immigrant, women, and queer youth and their families in Southwest Denver. While these communities are at the heart of our mission, we welcome all who seek to be part of our movement. Our doors are open to anyone committed to building collective power, equity, and belonging.
Our Legacy
Padres Unidos (Parents United) grew into a dynamic, multi-issue organization led by low-income people of color committed to advancing equality and justice in education, health care, and immigrant rights across Colorado. The organization traces its roots back to 1991, when immigrant parents organized in outrage after a local elementary school forced their children to eat off the floor as a form of discipline.
In 2001, during the Cole education justice campaign, youth leaders created Jóvenes Unidos to build a space where young people could express themselves, develop leadership, and support one another. Around this same time, our collective work turned toward dismantling the mass criminalization of Black and Brown youth, fighting to end the School-to-Prison-and-Deportation Pipeline.
In the fall of 2021, after 30 years of work, Padres & Jóvenes Unidos evolved into Movimiento Poder. Following a two-year process with our leaders, staff, and board, we rebranded and renewed our vision and mission to reflect the realities of today. We recognized that the community we organize is made up of Latinos not only from Mexico, but from across Latin America. It became essential to honor our members in their entirety, acknowledging and celebrating the richness of their diverse identities.
As part of this transformation, we also uplifted the experiences and leadership of first-generation families, ensuring their voices and contributions remain central to our movement.
Fostering safe, healthy, and equitable communities for all.
2000+
Youth reached in 2024.
1,500 +
people reached via our Know Your Rights presentations in 2025.
150 +
Families reached in two months through our conectora program in 2025. Learn more about our conectora program here.
3
pieces of legislation that we supported all became law in 2025. These essential pieces of legislation will support healthy school environments, protect immigrant families, and protect queer youth.