A week or two ago, Judy sponsored an official Council recognition of District 9 activist Lorraine Granado, the founder and longtime director of Cross Community Coalition in Swansea. Lorraine retired last week after more than 30 years of tireless, effective advocacy. The Denver Post and the High Country News both had writeups about Lorraine recently; here is the statement Judy made honoring Lorraine:
Lorraine has been a force of change in Northern Denver for nearly 30 years, over 20 of them with Cross Community. In fact, in 2000, the United States House of Representatives recognized Lorraine during the 106th Congress in a Tribute read by Representative Diana DeGette.
In the Proclamation we just read, you heard about several of the organizations that Lorraine has worked with over the last 30 years. We should also recognize her diverse and impressive skill set because, with these skills, Lorraine has helped foster an atmosphere in which the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods have developed a strong voice on behalf of economic and environmental justice.
That voice comes from one of her best qualities – that of leadership development centered in a non-violence, peacemaking approach. The ability to both inspire and grow leaders in a community can make the difference between a truly thriving and healthy neighborhood and one that withers. Lorraine can be a model for all of us for her ability to motivate others to help themselves.
Lorraine has also been a role model with her abilities to foster public participation in policy development and implementation. Her media and organizing skills are to be commended and her ability to create partnerships among unlikely allies is a skill we can all appreciate.
Lorraine has worked tirelessly for this community, while raising her own family of three sons and four grandchildren. I want to offer her my most sincere gratitude and wish her great happiness in her retirement years.
