2023 Annual Report | The BIPOC Alliance of Larimer County

2023
Annual Report

A love note,
Colors of the earth,
Gratitude blooms in hearts bright,
Strength in unity.

what we do

OUR IMPACT

HEALING

We draw power, teachings, and inspiration from our ancestors to guide our way forward.

Monthly Curanderismo Ceremonies

Curanderismo is an ancestral practice used in Mexico, Central, and South America to aid mental, spiritual, and physical ailments. It can be defined as a set of traditional practices, beliefs, and rituals that address social and spiritual needs, supports mental health, and offers solace to individuals at different times. We offer both a collective ceremony and free-of-charge individual times for BIPOC people.

Featuring Dr. Lisa Martinez and Dr. Samuel Nez.

45 community members most receiving AcuDetox

AcuDetox

Developed and championed for decades by the Young Lords and Black Panther Party, AcuDetox/AcuWellness is a 5 Need Protocol to treat points on the outer ear using needles or ear seeds. This simple, inexpensive, safe, and effective ear acupuncture treatment created for non-acupuncturists has been used over the last 40 years to address issues related to addiction, support in recovery, trauma, pain, toxic stress, and more.

4 team members trained Auricular Acu Technicians

Weekly Healing Circles

Our stories and experiences hold value, power, and hope.

When we voice our struggles and strengths in community, we heal and empower one another. Any and every emotion is brought to the circle so folks don't have to hold it alone, as pain shared is pain lessened. We hold space for listening and witnessing one another’s pain and lived experiences at Unity in Community, a peer support group, led by others who have “been there.”

Co-hosted 30+ Unity in Community Healing Circles

“I am thankful for a space that feels like home.”

“I have been searching for a community where I feel seen in all of me, past, present, and even my trauma. This community has helped me reconnect with my roots and has guided me in my spiritual awakening. I have learned so much.”

LIBERATION

The voices and experiences of BIPOC must be centered in conversations and calls for change at the level of community, institutions, and local government.

Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, community comes together to celebrate Black history and participate in creative workshops for self-expression and self-love. Events serve youth and families of color. Workshops include community art projects, a rap writer's workshop, and more. We extend the celebration starting with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January. Black history is American History.

50 families participated in Black History Month events

30 youth participated in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day

Political Education

Centuries of lawmaking in this country have come without the input of, and often explicitly to the detriment of, non-white communities. Through community-led education, we empower community members of color to advocate for the changes we need in our systems and institutions, and make our voices heard. Education includes understanding ballot initiatives, meeting elected officials, learning the process to join boards and commissioners, Sheriff Accountability, and more.

40 attendees for Poudre School Board Candidate Forum

10 attendees for the Ballot Fiesta

JOY

Joy, self-care, and celebration are integral parts of how we sustain ourselves and practice the liberation we are seeking.

Annual Seafood Boil

The seafood boil is a celebration and preservation of community. On the journey to liberation, BIPOC communities need each other - and allies. Systemic racism limited our communities' access to food by what we could harvest ourselves - from fishing, hunting, foraging, and gardening. Together, a community could thrive with shared resources to make a whole meal and a boil was one of the best & most flavorful ways to prepare it. The intention of this gathering is to replicate this community wholeness. We invite attendees to bring what they can, even if it's good intentions & love.

Together, we can feed everyone's mind, body, and soul.

FoCo Juneteenth Weekend Celebration

Celebrate liberation & freedom with dance, music, arts, theatre, health & wellness, vendors, and more: focojuneteenth.com

500+ attendees throughout weekend

DONATE

See the full report with donation and membership information below.