STAFF
pamela reséndiz trujano, Executive Director, pamela@cojwj.org:
Originally from Mexico City, Mexico, Pamela grew up undocumented and queer in the suburbs outside of Dallas, Texas. Their worker rights education and advocacy began at a young age by the experiences and teachings of their parents and community. Pamela became heavily involved in the movement after being detained and placed in deportation proceedings in March 2010. Upon their release from the Don Hutto Detention Center, Pamela co-founded and led a Texas University hunger strike that launched at the national level for passage of the DREAM Act. They served as board member for United We Dream from 2012-2016, during the historic victory and implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Pamela is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, and holds a B.A. in Political Science, minor in Latin American studies, and was accepted to the Institute for Law and Public Affairs Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA). Post-graduation, Pamela completed an internship with the Mexican American League Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). They began working with the labor movement in Albuquerque as member coordinator with Working America and as mobilization coordinator with the Dallas AFL-CIO CLC, where they worked on local and state campaigns ranging from increasing the minimum wage in Bernalillo County to running field work during state and city council elections increasing union membership voter turnout. Pamela has been trained in strategic digital organizing and communications, campaign and membership development and story telling. Shortly after serving as Executive Director of Texas Jobs with Justice, Pamela moved to Denver in 2016 to serve as Deputy Director of United for a New Economy and UNE Action to co-create and launch their unique membership model and lead their field organizing efforts. Pamela is excited to continue the work Colorado Jobs with Justice has done in Colorado to advance and defend workers rights and the inter-sectional identities workers hold.
They currently serve on the Chinook Board of Directors and are a U-VISA holder.
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” -Angela Y. Davis
Pronouns: They/Them/Elle
Originally from Mexico City, Mexico, Pamela grew up undocumented and queer in the suburbs outside of Dallas, Texas. Their worker rights education and advocacy began at a young age by the experiences and teachings of their parents and community. Pamela became heavily involved in the movement after being detained and placed in deportation proceedings in March 2010. Upon their release from the Don Hutto Detention Center, Pamela co-founded and led a Texas University hunger strike that launched at the national level for passage of the DREAM Act. They served as board member for United We Dream from 2012-2016, during the historic victory and implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Pamela is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, and holds a B.A. in Political Science, minor in Latin American studies, and was accepted to the Institute for Law and Public Affairs Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA). Post-graduation, Pamela completed an internship with the Mexican American League Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). They began working with the labor movement in Albuquerque as member coordinator with Working America and as mobilization coordinator with the Dallas AFL-CIO CLC, where they worked on local and state campaigns ranging from increasing the minimum wage in Bernalillo County to running field work during state and city council elections increasing union membership voter turnout. Pamela has been trained in strategic digital organizing and communications, campaign and membership development and story telling. Shortly after serving as Executive Director of Texas Jobs with Justice, Pamela moved to Denver in 2016 to serve as Deputy Director of United for a New Economy and UNE Action to co-create and launch their unique membership model and lead their field organizing efforts. Pamela is excited to continue the work Colorado Jobs with Justice has done in Colorado to advance and defend workers rights and the inter-sectional identities workers hold.
They currently serve on the Chinook Board of Directors and are a U-VISA holder.
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” -Angela Y. Davis
Pronouns: They/Them/Elle
Eric Leveridge, Strategic Research Analyst, eric@cojwj.org:
Eric Leveridge is the strategic research analyst with Colorado Jobs With Justice. His research informs the organization’s power-building strategy and policy campaigns. Eric began working with Colorado Jobs With Justice as a fellow with the Clean Slate for Worker Power project at Harvard Law School. Prior to joining Colorado Jobs With Justice, Eric was a policy analyst and strategic researcher with United for a New Economy, where he formulated campaign strategy for multiple housing justice campaigns in the Colorado General Assembly and researched the historical root causes of Colorado’s affordable housing crisis. Eric has degrees in law and social work.
Pronouns: He/Him
Eric Leveridge is the strategic research analyst with Colorado Jobs With Justice. His research informs the organization’s power-building strategy and policy campaigns. Eric began working with Colorado Jobs With Justice as a fellow with the Clean Slate for Worker Power project at Harvard Law School. Prior to joining Colorado Jobs With Justice, Eric was a policy analyst and strategic researcher with United for a New Economy, where he formulated campaign strategy for multiple housing justice campaigns in the Colorado General Assembly and researched the historical root causes of Colorado’s affordable housing crisis. Eric has degrees in law and social work.
Pronouns: He/Him
Sofia Solano, Organizing Director, sofia@cojwj.org:
Sofia Solano is Denver born and raised with a strong commitment and extensive experience in movement building. From a young age, Sofia began learning about the importance of activism and labor rights. Her father worked for with the United Farmworker in Southern Colorado and made sure Sofia was always aware workers' struggle and the need for worker power.
Sofia is a graduate from Metropolitan State University with a B.A. in Modern Languages and a Minor in Chicano Studies. During her time at MSU, Sofia spent a little over two years studying abroad at the Universidad de Guadalajara in Jalisco MX.
Sofia has spent her career working for living wages, immigrant rights, racial equity, and worker’s rights. She has wide-range experience working with many non-profit organizations on issues ranging from voter education to sexual harassment in the workplace. Throughout her career she has organized in schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, and has organized workers ranging from healthcare workers to janitorial staff. Most recently as a labor organizer with SEIU, Sofia worked with predominately immigrant communities supporting workers to form a union. Sofia is excited to continue her work to defend and empower workers at Colorado Jobs with Justice as the Organizing Director.
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Sofia Solano is Denver born and raised with a strong commitment and extensive experience in movement building. From a young age, Sofia began learning about the importance of activism and labor rights. Her father worked for with the United Farmworker in Southern Colorado and made sure Sofia was always aware workers' struggle and the need for worker power.
Sofia is a graduate from Metropolitan State University with a B.A. in Modern Languages and a Minor in Chicano Studies. During her time at MSU, Sofia spent a little over two years studying abroad at the Universidad de Guadalajara in Jalisco MX.
Sofia has spent her career working for living wages, immigrant rights, racial equity, and worker’s rights. She has wide-range experience working with many non-profit organizations on issues ranging from voter education to sexual harassment in the workplace. Throughout her career she has organized in schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, and has organized workers ranging from healthcare workers to janitorial staff. Most recently as a labor organizer with SEIU, Sofia worked with predominately immigrant communities supporting workers to form a union. Sofia is excited to continue her work to defend and empower workers at Colorado Jobs with Justice as the Organizing Director.
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Jillian Cruickshank, Organizer, jillian@cojwj.org:
Jillian is a labor and climate justice organizer from Jacksonville, Florida. Her family of four was raised in a poor working-class family by an elementary school teacher. She is relocating from Orlando, Florida, where she has lived for the last four years studying political science, focusing on American Policy and Environmental Studies, and graduated from the University of Central Florida. During undergrad, Jillian was introduced to organizing through efforts around the fightfor15 and Amendment 4 (restoration of voting rights for felons) on campus. She joins us from her previous position at Central Florida Jobs with Justice as the Climate Digital and Civic Engagement Associate. Jillian was key in the development of the Central Florida Climate Action, a frontline strategic alliance building a climate movement in Central Florida rooted in justice and led by those most directly impacted by the Climate Crisis.
Pronouns: She/Her
Jillian is a labor and climate justice organizer from Jacksonville, Florida. Her family of four was raised in a poor working-class family by an elementary school teacher. She is relocating from Orlando, Florida, where she has lived for the last four years studying political science, focusing on American Policy and Environmental Studies, and graduated from the University of Central Florida. During undergrad, Jillian was introduced to organizing through efforts around the fightfor15 and Amendment 4 (restoration of voting rights for felons) on campus. She joins us from her previous position at Central Florida Jobs with Justice as the Climate Digital and Civic Engagement Associate. Jillian was key in the development of the Central Florida Climate Action, a frontline strategic alliance building a climate movement in Central Florida rooted in justice and led by those most directly impacted by the Climate Crisis.
Pronouns: She/Her
Karla Chavez, Organizer, karla@cojwj.org:
Karla Chavez, identifies as Mexican American, registered voter and single mom of one. She grew up all over the Denver Metro area and Aurora. She is a graduate from Montbello High School during it's phase out and graduated from the Denver School of Massage Therapy. Karla loves meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends and creating long-lasting relationships. She joins Colorado Jobs with Justice with 4 years of organizing with Mi Familia Vota and is thankful to MFV for molding her into an organizer. In the four short years she had with MFV she went from a part time canvasser collecting Voter Registrations to State Coordinator. Karla helped collect about 20, 000 Voter Registrations. This work was mostly from being able to connect with high schools and students. She has attended various trainings, ranging from My City Academy to how to become a leader (women who lead) both with the City of Denver.
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Karla Chavez, identifies as Mexican American, registered voter and single mom of one. She grew up all over the Denver Metro area and Aurora. She is a graduate from Montbello High School during it's phase out and graduated from the Denver School of Massage Therapy. Karla loves meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends and creating long-lasting relationships. She joins Colorado Jobs with Justice with 4 years of organizing with Mi Familia Vota and is thankful to MFV for molding her into an organizer. In the four short years she had with MFV she went from a part time canvasser collecting Voter Registrations to State Coordinator. Karla helped collect about 20, 000 Voter Registrations. This work was mostly from being able to connect with high schools and students. She has attended various trainings, ranging from My City Academy to how to become a leader (women who lead) both with the City of Denver.
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
BOARD MEMBERS
All board members for Colorado Jobs with Justice are selected with the aim of broadening the set of political perspectives and backgrounds in labor and community organizations on the board.
Candace Johnson, Board Chair:
Before joining The Colorado Trust as the community partner for the Denver Metro Area, Candace was the organizing director at Colorado Jobs with Justice. Her background is in community organizing and advocacy. Candace is passionate about traveling, good food and spending time with good friends.
Pronouns: She/Her
Before joining The Colorado Trust as the community partner for the Denver Metro Area, Candace was the organizing director at Colorado Jobs with Justice. Her background is in community organizing and advocacy. Candace is passionate about traveling, good food and spending time with good friends.
Pronouns: She/Her
Victoria Gonzalez, Secretary: Victoria Paige Gonzalez is a cultural producer dividing her time between Texas and Colorado. Currently, Gonzalez is the Digital Strategist for the Latino Cultural Arts Center (Denver, CO)–an interdisciplinary art complex that strengthens the knowledge of and appreciation for the extensive artistic expressions of Latinxs by preserving and highlighting the history and ongoing contributions. During the fall of 2018, she was selected to attend The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) Emerging Leaders of Color Conference–a regional non-profit arts service organization dedicated to the creative advancement and preservation of the arts. She graduated from the University of Houston with a BFA in Photography and Digital Media, with a minor in Interdisciplinary Art.
Originally from Houston, TX, Victoria has been working collectively with students and local arts community to expand opportunities for aspiring cultural workers. Victoria moved to Denver in 2016 to gain access to Latinx museums and work directly within her community. Victoria is passionate about learning how she can help fellow artists and cultural workers gain clarity in the ways we can come together to build dignity as facilitators of culture.
“...The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change…” - Audre Lorde
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Originally from Houston, TX, Victoria has been working collectively with students and local arts community to expand opportunities for aspiring cultural workers. Victoria moved to Denver in 2016 to gain access to Latinx museums and work directly within her community. Victoria is passionate about learning how she can help fellow artists and cultural workers gain clarity in the ways we can come together to build dignity as facilitators of culture.
“...The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change…” - Audre Lorde
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Vincent Cervantes: Vinnie Cervantes is currently the Organizing Director with Denver Alliance for Street Health Response (DASHR), an organization that works on building alternatives to policing and jail. He is also one of the tri-chairs of the Colorado Poor People’s Campaign and a founding member of the Enough Action Coalition. Vinnie has mostly focused on organizing around criminal justice reform and issues related to homelessness. He is a graduate of MSU Denver and a current student at CU Denver pursuing a Master’s degree in political science. He joined the Colorado Jobs With Justice board in 2017.
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Br. Daniel Klawitter, OSL: Daniel is an award-winning poet and a Brother in the Order of Saint Luke, an ecumenical religious community founded in 1946. He has a BA in Religious Studies from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico and an M.Div with a justice and peace studies concentration from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver (where he currently works as an Admissions Counselor). Daniel brings 15 years of previous experience as both a labor and community organizer/activist having worked in the Philippines with migrant workers, in Jacksonville, FL with faith communities in the DART (Direct Action and Research Training) network, and in Denver, CO as a union rep for mental health care workers with SEIU Local 105. He was also the founder of the Interfaith Worker Justice Committee of Colorado in his role as Religious Outreach Organizer for 6 1/2 years with (FRESC) now United for a New Economy. Daniel is a union member of the Colorado branch of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World).
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Contact the board: board@cojwj.org