Shooting Stars Cultural and Leadership Center

04/13/2026

‼️📅 Submission Deadline: April 20, 2026 ‼️

04/13/2026

Our newest newsletter is live!

We invite our community to see the programs, partnerships, and youth leadership opportunities continuing to grow at Shooting Stars Cultural & Leadership Center.

Together we are building spaces where every voice is honored and every story matters.

Culture • Leadership • Youth 🌱

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

🌟 Shooting Stars Shout-Out 🌟

Honoring a Leader Who Is Helping Shape the Future!

This month, our hearts are full as we celebrate Cristalray Dominguez for being highlighted during Women’s History Month at Adams State University’s Nielsen Library. 💛

Cristalray’s work was recognized as part of a collective group of women who are creating meaningful change in the San Luis Valley , women who are shaping a stronger, more compassionate future for our community.

For years, Cristalray has poured her heart into building spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Through her leadership at Shooting Stars Cultural & Leadership Center, she continues to help youth and families reconnect with their identity, discover their voice, and believe in their own potential.

Her recognition reminds us that the work we do is not always loud or visible but it is powerful, lasting, and deeply needed.

Cristalray leads with humility, strength, and a deep love for community. The seeds she plants today will continue to grow for generations to come.

We are incredibly proud to see her work honored and recognized. She reminds us that leadership is not about titles it is about service, courage, and believing in others even before they believe in themselves.

Thank you, Cristalray, for being a light in our community and for helping build a better tomorrow. 🌱

03/22/2026

✨ Imagine your art speaking for your ancestors… and your future.

🎨 CALL 📞 FOR ARTISTS in Colorado & New Mexico!

We’re honored to be part of something powerful in collaboration with & ✨

DREAMSCAPES LOUNGE: Future Town 2045

We are calling in artists, creators, storytellers, and visionaries from our communities 💫

What does the future look like when we center culture, identity, land, and people?

We’re looking for work that reflects:
🌱 Chicano, Mestizo, Indigenous, and POC experiences
🌎 Past, Present, and Future visions
🔥 Culture, storytelling, resistance, and imagination

This is more than an exhibit it’s a space to honor where we come from and dream forward together.

🎨 All mediums welcome (art, photography, music, poetry, film + more)

🔗 Here is the link for all the categories — check them out and see where your art fits!

https://warmcookiesoftherevolution.org/futuretown2045/

📅 Submission Deadline: April 20, 2026

📍 Installation at Shooting Stars Cultural & Leadership Center

Let’s create something that speaks for our communities and future generations 💛

👉 Please share this post so we can get this opportunity to the artists who need to see it.

Tag an artist who should apply 👇

02/17/2026

🌟 Employee Spotlight – Minga Maribel Francisco 🌟

This month, we are proud to celebrate Minga Maribel Francisco, one of our incredible FLTI Facilitators at Shooting Stars!

Minga first joined our community as an FLTI participant and quickly discovered her voice, passion, and leadership. Today, she continues that journey by helping others grow, guiding families, and creating meaningful connections throughout our community.

Known for her open mind, learning mindset, and compassionate spirit, Minga brings a safe and welcoming presence to every space she enters. She truly values seeing people for who they are and building genuine relationships with youth and families.

Her dedication to lifting others up and her commitment to growing alongside the community reflect the heart of what Shooting Stars stands for.

💬 “I hope to bring compassion to the group and families that join programming at Shooting Stars.”

Thank you, Minga, for your leadership, your kindness, and the light you bring to our work every day. We are so grateful to have you on our team! ✨

01/20/2026

🌟 Staff Shoutout: Ja’Nya Dominguez 🌟

We’re proud to spotlight Ja’Nya Dominguez, a dedicated Facilitator and FLTI Site Coordinator at Shooting Stars. Ja’Nya is an empath at heart and a powerful listener someone who meets people exactly where they are and adapts with grace in any space she enters.

Helping others isn’t just something she does; it’s who she is. Growing up immersed in community work, Ja’Nya brings a deep-rooted passion for service and a genuine commitment to uplifting others. What she values most is the impact this work has on the community and the joy of doing it alongside people she loves.

Ja’Nya’s greatest strength is her story. Her lived experience and resilience allow her to connect authentically, lead with compassion, and create spaces where healing and growth can happen. In addition to her role at Shooting Stars, she also facilitates a women’s youth circle at OMS Middle School and is a proud mom to a little boy who inspires her daily.

Ja’Nya hopes to bring lasting change, laughter, and ambition to our community and we’re grateful to walk this journey with her. 💜✨

11/20/2025

07/07/2025

01/27/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Soul Players of the Valley has been honored with the 2025 Community Trailblazer Award! This prestigious award, presented by Community Resource Center, Colorado Nonprofit Association, and Philanthropy Colorado, recognizes organizations that exemplify collaboration and lead innovative, grassroots social change in Colorado’s nonprofit sector.

Soul Players of the Valley is a coalition of local Latinx community leaders from the San Luis Valley (SLV). They create individual, symbiotic plans that are mutually beneficial to all of the communities they serve. This communal model encourages communities to lend assistance, resources, and implementation strategies, fostering unity and effective change across the SLV.

Join us in celebrating this achievement at the State of the Sector 2025 event on Thursday, January 30, 2025. Ticket sales end tomorrow 1/28.

The event will feature a panel discussion with change-makers in our field, including Jamie Dominguez, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Soul Players of the Valley and Shooting Stars Cultural and Leadership Center , as well as the presentation of the Community Trailblazer Awards.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://crcamerica.org/state-of-the-sector-2025/

Let's come together to honor the outstanding contributions of Soul Players of the Valley and other trailblazers who are making a significant impact in our communities.

Special thank you to our Premiere Sponsor Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)!