Special Announcement: Updates on our response to the new administration.
As we are receiving an increased amount of demand at the moment, we would like to invite you to read the following rather than calling or visiting our office so that we can best prioritize our limited resources to the most pressing needs of our community members and programs. Thank you for your understanding and support!
In light of the new administration and the emerging challenges facing immigrants, our organization is taking bold steps to protect and empower our community. The following is an overview of how we are responding, and below is information about how you can get involved:
In light of the new administration and the emerging challenges facing immigrants, our organization is taking bold steps to protect and empower our community. The following is an overview of how we are responding, and below is information about how you can get involved:
- Providing Immediate Help to Families in Crisis
As the lead organization of the Southwest Rapid Response Network, Compañeros collaborates with partners to provide immediate assistance such as legal aid and emergency shelter. Together, we ensure that every call for help is met with swift, compassionate action. - Keeping Schools Safe for Immigrant Students
We are working with the 9-R School District to develop and implement policies that protect immigrant students and their families. By fostering supportive environments, we ensure that schools remain places of safety and growth. - Helping Families Secure Legal Status
With demand for immigration legal services on the rise, Compañeros is expanding our programs to help more families obtain citizenship, residency, and stability. Your donations help make these vital services possible.
- Donate: The best way to support our work is by making a financial contribution to support our work. Donations enable us to provide life-changing services to immigrant families, and you can contribute by visiting the Donation page on our website.
- Volunteer: We have limited volunteer needs available due to the nature of our work, but do have occasional opportunities throughout the year. If you'd like, please fill out this volunteer interest form and we will reach out to you know if needed
Our Mission StatementCompañeros is a grassroots organization dedicated to the mission of empowering immigrants and their families through resource navigation, education, legal services, and community engagement in order to achieve the vision of a diverse, empowered and liberated community of immigrants thriving in Southwest Colorado.
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HistoryCompañeros began in 1999 as a diverse grassroots coalition that formed to block the construction of an immigration detention center in La Plata County. Following this victory, the coalition formalized into a program of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, a local environmental justice nonprofit, until becoming an independent 501(c)3 organization in 2011. The founders of Compañeros differed in race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, immigration status, and political affiliation but all shared the values of promoting social justice, equity, and inclusivity.
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Compañeros TodayIn the last few years we have grown considerably and gone through many changes, but our commitment to our mission remains the same. We play a crucial role in the local ecosystem of service-based entities by specializing in addressing the particular needs of our constituency; we are the only immigrant resource center in our region and our unique programs are not duplicated anywhere else.
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Programs
Our programs work to promote social justice, equity, and inclusivity for people of all backgrounds.
Resource NavigationOur bilingual staff helps anyone who comes to our door with a wide range of issues ranging from translating documents to finding health, mental, or specialized service providers.
Education OutreachWe aim to empower our constituents and their children with the knowledge and educational support they need to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. We facilitate culturally competent children's programs and activities for immigrant youth to embrace their identity and broaden their horizons.
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Community EngagementCompañeros works to strengthen the community, create coallitions with allies, and increase community capacity through resource distribution and leader development.
We ensure that all immigrant residents of our area have access to the legal assistance they need to successfully obtain residency, asylum, citizenship, and more through a special certification granted to us from the Department of Justice.
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