A prominent Denver activist and educator has been recognized by the White House for her service to the community in the areas of social justice and equality and received additional praise from Mayor Michael Hancock.

Nita Gonzales, president and CEO of Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios is one of 10 local leaders to receive the “Champions of Change: Cesar Chavez Legacy” recognition, which highlights citizens who exemplify the late labor leader’s mission of “service, knowledge, innovation, acceptance of all people and respect for life and the environment.”

In her capacity as president and CEO of the 41-year-old Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios, Gonzales leads the effort to present predominately Latino youth with “culturally competent and socially conscious education” .

In addition to her work with Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios, Gonzales is the founder of the Chicano/Mexicano Education Coalition, the Denver Youth Employment Education Task Force and the co-founder of the Colorado Latino Forum. Gonzales also serves on the boards of the Clinica Tepayac, the Denver City and County Community Oversight Board, among other organizations. She is also a member of the President’s Cabinet for Metropolitan State College.

“Nita is most deserving of this honor as she has boldly continued the legacy of her father Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales,” Hancock continued, evoking the memory of the late boxer, poet and civil rights leader who convened the first Chicano youth conference in 1969 and is considered one of the leaders of the Chicano civil rights movement. Rudolfo Gonzales died in 2005.

“Through her leadership at Escuela Tlatelolco and numerous other organizations, she has stood in the gap for our students of color and pushed for meaningful change in the lives of many…We are truly proud of her accomplishments and proud to call her a daughter of Denver.”