CoCEAL is composed of education professionals representing both the postsecondary education sector as well as the education service sector, including institutional representation as well as representation from colleagues in different education organizations. CoCEAL members have made an intentional and concerted effort to work together to provide greater access to higher education for all students, with a specific concentration on Latine students throughout the education pipeline.
The CoCEAL Executive Board and Steering Committees are made up of individuals who are leaders in their respective fields and who are highly committed to the group’s vision and mission. The larger CoCEAL membership is comprised of other education leaders and practitioners representing various education, civic and private sector professions within and across the state of Colorado. CoCEAL’s goal, throughout its first two years of existence, is to obtain non-profit status. This status will allow the organization to leverage financing in order to execute its vision and mission to facilitate change and transform the P-20 education pipeline on a broader, holistic level, allowing CoCEAL to cultivate and foster success for all students, with a particular focus on Latine students.
CoCEAL adheres to the following core values:
- Promoting, advocating, and supporting the role of Latines as full participants and leaders of society.
- Creating a legacy of empowerment, civic engagement, and social justice.
- Closing the higher education attainment gap for Latine students.
- Meeting these goals through collaboration and partnership with higher education institutions,
professionals and their allies. - Engaging in state-wide dialogue that impacts state educational policies that affect Latine students.
A Letter From COCEAL’s Current President
¡Saludos a Todos!
CoCEAL is entering an exciting new chapter as we continue to build on the foundation established by our founders and strengthen our commitment to supporting Latino students, faculty, staff, and communities across Colorado.
Over the past year, we have worked to revitalize the organization, expand our community partnerships, and strengthen our focus on student advocacy and higher education policy. One of our most exciting accomplishments has been supporting and helping pass Colorado’s HB26-1006, the Thriving Institutions bill, which creates new opportunities to recognize and strengthen institutions that are committed to serving their students.
We have also developed amazing new collaborations with Young Invincibles, COLOR Latina, Mi Familia Vota, CLLARO, and many other organizations that share our commitment to supporting our communities. Through these partnerships, we will continue to engage in higher education legislation and advocacy across Colorado, ensuring that the voices and experiences of our students and communities are represented in the decisions that impact their education.
Another exciting part of this new chapter is bringing students directly into the leadership of CoCEAL. We have welcomed student representatives onto our board and are developing a Student Lobby Day that will provide students with opportunities to engage directly with legislators, advocate for their communities, and learn how they can participate in the legislative process. We are also working toward establishing a separate student board to ensure that students have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of our organization.
As CoCEAL continues to grow, we remain deeply grateful to the founders who made this organization possible. Their vision and commitment created a space for our community to come together, support one another, and advocate for meaningful change in higher education.
We are honored to carry that vision forward, building on their legacy while creating new opportunities for the next generation of students and leaders across Colorado.
¡Con el corazón puesto en nuestra comunidad!
Karl Diaz, MA
President – CoCEAL
