Celebrating the 2025 Latino Community Service Awards

October 7 Update: Congratulations to AARP Colorado Executive Council member and volunteer Erlinda Archuleta on receiving the 2025 Eric J. Duran Community Service Award!


This Hispanic Heritage Month, the Denver Public Library is celebrating the contributions from Latinos to make an impact on Denver.

Each year, Denver Public Library celebrates the contributions of Latinos shaping the city through art, activism, education, culture, and more with the Latino Community Service Awards.

Held 10 a.m. October 4 at the Central Library, the 2025 Latino Community Service Awards will shine a spotlight on nominees for the Eric J. Duran Community Service Award, the César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award, and the Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award nominees. A special screening of Lena L. Archuleta: Building A Community of Belonging will follow the awards ceremony. The documentary will also run on Rocky Mountain PBS October 9 at 7:30 p.m. MT.

“AARP Colorado is honored to play a small role as a sponsor of the awards,” Jessica Krough, director of outreach, said. “It is important to stop and take a few moments to recognize so many amazing people working hard to make Denver the special place that it is to call home.”

AARP Connections

AARP has multiple special connections to the awards.

AARP Colorado Executive Council member Erlinda Archuleta is nominated for the 2025 Eric J. Duran Community Service Award. Archuleta is a prolific community volunteer and retired educator who also served as director for the Colorado Department of Education. Additionally, AARP volunteer Karen Gonzales is nominated for the César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award.

Lena L. Archuleta, who the Community Service Award is named for, was an educator and former Denver Public Library Commissioner. Archuleta devoted her time in retirement to the community and volunteered in multiple capacities at AARP – including a six-year stint on the nationwide association’s board of directors.

Two AARP volunteers have received the Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award: Magdalena Arellano-Aguayo (2007) and Irene Martinez Jordan (2022).

Aguayo continues to see Archuleta’s legacy as a reason to keep contributing to Colorado.

“Lena was an inspiration to so many,” Arellano-Aguayo said, “but of course I remember how she encouraged me to engage in our community so many years ago and my commitment is still strong.

“I think often of Lena, especially when my volunteer work sometimes goes thankless or difficult, and I recommit because of her lifetime of giving. I will always be thankful to her and always continue my volunteerism because of her.”

About Denver Public Library’s Latino Community Service Awards

The Eric J. Duran Community Service Award

The award is named for Eric J. Duran, community leader, and former Denver Public Library Commissioner, who worked tirelessly to strengthen and maintain ties between the Hispanic Community and the Denver Public Library.

The recipient will be a person of Latino descent who has made a positive impact on the Denver community, beyond paid employment, to advance community development and/or cultural life through their involvement with the Denver Public Library or another civic institution. The recipient does not have to live in Denver to receive the award; however, their work must impact the Denver community. Nominations are encouraged for early to mid-career professionals.

The Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award

The award is named for Lena L. Archuleta, a longtime educator, civic leader, and former Denver Public Library Commissioner, who worked tirelessly to establish greater ties between the Hispanic Community and the Denver Public Library.

The recipient will be a person of Latino descent who has made a positive impact on the Denver community, beyond paid employment, in the field of education, youth development, early childhood programming, or education policy. This includes formal and informal educators. The recipient does not have to live in Denver to receive the award; however, their work must impact the Denver community. Nominations are encouraged for early to mid-career professionals.

The César Chávez Leadership Hall of Fame Award

The award is named for César Chávez, a national Hispanic leader who served the Latino community and helped Latinos gain recognition for their contributions to the nation. He is known for his support of farm workers, which resulted in the formation of the United Farm Workers, and his commitment to public action, social justice, and non-violence.

The award, presented annually, will celebrate the induction of an individual into the César Chávez Leadership Hall of Fame. The recipient will be a Coloradan of Latino descent who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to social justice and has made a significant positive impact on their community through community organizing, direct service, and/or advocacy and public policy.