STAFF
Sofia Solano, Executive Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Email: [email protected]
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 the United Farmworker in Southern Colorado and made sure Sofia was always aware of workers' struggles and the need for worker power.
Sofia is a graduate of 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 of 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
Email: [email protected]
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 the United Farmworker in Southern Colorado and made sure Sofia was always aware of workers' struggles and the need for worker power.
Sofia is a graduate of 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 of 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.
Karla Chavez, Lead Wage Theft Organizer,
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Email: 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
Email: 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.
Nichole Foster, Lead EPIC Organizer
Pronouns: She/He/Them
Email: [email protected]
Nichole Foster’s ancestors are from what is now known as the state of Colorado. After the Land was taken from them, they were forced onto a reservation in the Southwest part of the state to Towaoc, CO. This is where Nichole originates from, Nichole is from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and was raised by her mother, who is from the Dine’ People. She is the oldest of five siblings, all of whom they are very proud of. Nichole is married to her partner as of 2022, who is an active organizer for Indigenous people and is a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
Nichole's background and experiences are very broad and detailed. Before they found themselves working for two separate Unions here in Denver, they worked several years for her tribe. Nichole worked with tribal membership through our recreation center and Human Resources department, with some of her most important work directing a youth shelter, where she worked with parents and youth to gain the tools needed to maintain their family units.
Later on, Nichole spent some years in college but found their calling after she finished trade school in Tulsa, OK. Nichole moved to Denver in 2016, where she trained and worked for the Boilermaker & Carpenter Locals. As Nichole continued to voice the struggles of her own people, she was also faced with experiencing many other negative encounters as a Queer Woman of Color. This detoured Nichole from continuing their journey as a trade worker. Nichole is excited to be able to join COJWJ and even more enthusiastic about helping create change in the building trades and advocate for the social issues BIPOC queer women face in the trades.
Pronouns: She/He/Them
Email: [email protected]
Nichole Foster’s ancestors are from what is now known as the state of Colorado. After the Land was taken from them, they were forced onto a reservation in the Southwest part of the state to Towaoc, CO. This is where Nichole originates from, Nichole is from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and was raised by her mother, who is from the Dine’ People. She is the oldest of five siblings, all of whom they are very proud of. Nichole is married to her partner as of 2022, who is an active organizer for Indigenous people and is a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
Nichole's background and experiences are very broad and detailed. Before they found themselves working for two separate Unions here in Denver, they worked several years for her tribe. Nichole worked with tribal membership through our recreation center and Human Resources department, with some of her most important work directing a youth shelter, where she worked with parents and youth to gain the tools needed to maintain their family units.
Later on, Nichole spent some years in college but found their calling after she finished trade school in Tulsa, OK. Nichole moved to Denver in 2016, where she trained and worked for the Boilermaker & Carpenter Locals. As Nichole continued to voice the struggles of her own people, she was also faced with experiencing many other negative encounters as a Queer Woman of Color. This detoured Nichole from continuing their journey as a trade worker. Nichole is excited to be able to join COJWJ and even more enthusiastic about helping create change in the building trades and advocate for the social issues BIPOC queer women face in the trades.
BOARD MEMBERS
Victor Galvan, Board Co-Chair
Victor Galvan was born is Chihuahua, Mexico and raised in Denver, Colorado. For the past 15 years Victor has helped shape immigration policy in the state of Colorado. Notable policies include ASSET, which provides instate tuition for undocumented students in Colorado, the expansion of the Colorado Road and Safety Act, giving more undocumented people access to licenses in Colorado and Virginia’s law which made it illegal for police to utilize ICE warrants to hold immigrants in custody for Immigration. Victor led the walk-outs in 2017 as the Trump administration tried and failed to end the DACA program championed by thousands of undocumented youth across the country and created through executive order under the Obama administration in 2012. He is currently working at Protégete as the Strategic Partnership Manager where he is building and strengthening networks and coalitions that will foster the development of Latinxs voices to bring diverse solutions to environmental justice and conservation movement.
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Salvador Hernandez
Born in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico in the outskirts of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Salvador Hernandez grew up with his 3 siblings and Parents. As a young boy he liked to play soccer and ride his bicycle with his friends. His mother brought him the Las Vegas, NV at the age of 15 in search of a better future. There, he volunteered a local campaigns to raise the awareness of Latinos in the electoral process. He then moved to the Centennial State on 2014 to help turnout latinos in the Midterm elections.
His musical taste is very diversified from genres such as Rock, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Banda, Corridos and Bachata. You might see him at the “Baile” dancing quebradita and at the Slipknot concert the next week. His favorite band of all time is “Molotov”. On his free time he likes to play basketball and watch Quentin Tarantino films. He is a proud DACA recipient and he is not afraid to say it. Favorite food is pinto beans.
Pronouns: He/Him/El
His musical taste is very diversified from genres such as Rock, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Banda, Corridos and Bachata. You might see him at the “Baile” dancing quebradita and at the Slipknot concert the next week. His favorite band of all time is “Molotov”. On his free time he likes to play basketball and watch Quentin Tarantino films. He is a proud DACA recipient and he is not afraid to say it. Favorite food is pinto beans.
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Iris Halpern
Iris Halpern is a partner at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC and a nationally recognized civil rights attorney. A former Senior Trial Attorney at the EEOC, she has led groundbreaking cases involving workplace discrimination, LGBTQ+ rights, and First Amendment retaliation, securing millions in damages and systemic reforms. Iris advocates for employees, students, and public workers facing harassment and censorship, and has helped shape major civil rights laws in Colorado. Her work has earned awards from the Colorado LGBTQ Bar and trial lawyer associations, and she regularly writes, teaches, and speaks on employment and constitutional law.
Pronouns She/Her/Hers
Pronouns She/Her/Hers
Derek Molyneux
Derek Molyneux grew up in a low-income household and became involved with the IUPAT after witnessing firsthand the benefits his family experienced through the UAW. With over 15 years of experience, he has held various roles within the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), including President of his local union, Director of Service and Communications for his district council, and Trade School / Health and Safety Instructor, among others.
Derek is dedicated to advocating for workers’ rights, with a focus on combating wage theft and promoting job protections. He continues his work in community organizing, striving to amplify workers' voices and create equitable job opportunities. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and working on their home.
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Derek is dedicated to advocating for workers’ rights, with a focus on combating wage theft and promoting job protections. He continues his work in community organizing, striving to amplify workers' voices and create equitable job opportunities. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and working on their home.
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Jillian Cruickshank
Jillian is a dedicated advocate for working people and climate justice, now serving as a Policy Analyst with National Jobs With Justice. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she was raised in a working-class family by a public school teacher. Jillian earned her degree in Political Science with a focus on American Policy and Environmental Studies from the University of Central Florida, where she began organizing through Fight for $15 and Amendment 4 campaigns. She previously served as the Lead Digital and Campaign Organizer for Colorado Jobs With Justice and as the Climate Digital and Civic Engagement Associate at Central Florida Jobs With Justice, where she launched Central Florida Climate Action—a frontline alliance led by communities most impacted by the climate crisis. She recently relocated from Orlando to continue her advocacy on a national level.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
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.
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Colorado Jobs With Justice 1600 N Downing St. Suite 100 Denver, CO 80218 [email protected] | www.cojwj.org |