Colorado Association of Latinx Administrators and Superintendents

09/30/2026

Speaker Spotlight:
Dr. Diana Roybal
Somewhere along the way, someone believed in you before you believed in yourself. For Dr. Diana Roybal, that kind of belief, and the mentors who offered it, shaped an entire career.
Over 30 years, she has served across the full leadership continuum, including as Superintendent of the Goleta Union School District and Assistant Superintendent of Performance Improvement in the Cherry Creek School District. Since retiring, she has launched Rise Up Leadership Consulting and serves as Director of Programs for CO-ALAS.
At Mujeres Leading with Purpose, she'll lead "Lifting as We Lead: Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders to Increase Diversity and Representation."
Women and leaders of color, especially Latine and Black educators, are still underrepresented in executive roles, even as the work grows more complex. In this session, participants will:
Explore mentoring as a strategy for diversifying leadership pipelines
Learn evidence-based mentoring practices that strengthen retention
Understand how networks like CO-ALAS help leaders grow and stay in the work
We don't rise alone. We rise by bringing others with us.
📅 Wednesday, October 14, 2026
📍 CO-ALAS Latina Leadership Conference

09/29/2026

💫Speaker Spotlight: 💫
Dr. Charleanea Arellano
Purpose is easy to hold onto when things are going well. The real test comes when the pressure is on.
That's when many of us start overfunctioning, pushing through, second-guessing ourselves, or carrying more than we should. Not because we've lost our purpose, but because old survival patterns take over.
Dr. Charleanea Arellano has spent more than 30 years helping leaders and organizations turn adversity into growth. A psychologist, speaker, and board-certified leadership coach, she created the Embodied Narrative™ framework to help leaders see how their nervous system, personal story, and identity shape the way they lead.
At Mujeres Leading with Purpose, she'll lead "When Purpose Meets Pressure." In this interactive session, participants will:
Recognize the hidden stories that drive their leadership under stress
Notice the nervous system responses that pull them off course
Identify the identity patterns worth keeping and the ones worth releasing
The goal is to lead with intention, authenticity, and purpose, especially when it's hardest to.
📅 Wednesday, October 14, 2026
📍 CO-ALAS Latina Leadership Conference
🔗 REGISTER TODAY https://www.co-alas.org/events-1

09/29/2026

💫Speaker Spotlight💫
Dr. Patricia Arredondo
Before the research, the books, and the historic firsts, there was an abuela from Oaxaca, a feminist father, and a family-centered mother in Lorain, Ohio, an immigrant city. Those roots shaped what Dr. Patricia Arredondo calls a Mujerista mindset, and she has carried it into every role since.
She is the founding president of the National Latinx Psychological Association, the first Latina president of the American Counseling Association, and former president of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has written more than 100 articles and book chapters and seven books. Today she leads the Arredondo Advisory Group from Mexico City.
At Mujeres Leading with Purpose, she'll lead "Mujeristas Signal Wisdom, Vision, Resistance, Collective Mentorship, and Purpose." In this workshop, participants will:
Name the women ancestors whose courage and resistance shaped them
Unpack entre fronteras and Marianismo, the often invisible barriers to women's empowerment
Explore the Mujerista mindset framework and the attributes already showing up in their own leadership
Nuestras ancestras led with purpose and left legacies worth carrying forward. This session is about honoring them and bringing the next generation of Mujeristas with us.
IT’S NOT TO LATE TO REGISTER!
📅 Wednesday, October 14, 2026
📍 CO-ALAS Latina Leadership Conference
🔗 https://www.co-alas.org/events-1

09/22/2026

Who’s coming to Denver and where are you from?

The 2026 CO-ALAS Latina Leadership Conference is only THREE WEEKS AWAY, and tickets are starting to go fast!

Join us on October 14 at the Grand Hyatt Denver for an unforgettable day celebrating Mujeres Leading with Purpose. Come ready to learn, connect, grow, and be inspired alongside Latina leaders from Colorado and across the country.

If you have been thinking about joining us, now is the time. Register today so you do not lose your spot!

Register for the 2026 Latina Leadership Conference: https://www.co-alas.org/event-details/2026-latina-leadership-conference

Already registered? Drop a comment and tell us where you are coming from! We cannot wait to welcome you to Denver.

09/21/2026

CO-ALAS was proud to serve as a Silver Sponsor of Adelante Mujer, Inc.’s 12th Annual Butterfly Brunch, Wings of Change!

It was a beautiful morning celebrating comunidad, connection, and the incredible Latina scholars who are growing into the leaders of tomorrow.

Supporting opportunities that empower Latina youth and strengthen pathways to leadership aligns deeply with the work and mission of CO-ALAS. We are grateful to Adelante Mujer Inc. for the important work they do and honored to stand alongside them in investing in the next generation of Latina leaders.

Together, we continue creating opportunities for our comunidad to learn, lead, and thrive.

Red Rocks Community College, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, Latin American Educational Foundation, The Women's Foundation of Colorado, Denine Echevarria, Janet Estrada Suarez, Carrie Yantzer, Teresa Barajas

09/14/2026

For those who have already registered for the CO-ALAS Latina Leadership Conference, don’t forget, your registration includes entrance to our special evening celebration, La Noche de las Catrinas! 🌼✨

After a powerful day of learning, join us for an enchanted evening of culture, community, and connection, featuring Mariachi Las Dahlias, a photo booth, and CHAC art.

🎟️ Your evening admission is included with your conference registration, but you MUST RSVP to reserve your spot.

Please RSVP here: https://www.co-alas.org/events-1

RSVP for La Noche de las Catrinas⁠

We can’t wait to celebrate with you as we honor our roots and inspire what’s next. 💐🕯️💙

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

We are excited to close out the Latina Leadership Conference: Mujeres Leading with Purpose with Dr. Candelarie. She will be sharing insights on regenerative leadership, equity, and leading through disruption. Hope to see you there! Tap the link to register. https://www.co-alas.org/event-details/2026-latina-leadership-conference

09/06/2026

COALAS is excited to announce our Featured Luncheon Speaker at the Latina Leadership Conference: Mujeres Leading with Purpose! Dr. Guajardo will be sharing insights on global leadership, equity, and unleashing transformative growth. Reserve your spot today! https://www.co-alas.org/event-details/2026-latina-leadership-conference