Summer | Issue 11 | Date: June 16, 2021
Funding Great Schools. Rooted in Community. 
Meet the New Team Members
RootED Denver recently introduced two new leaders who have joined the team: Ambar Suero as the Partner of Community Partnership and Advocacy and Latia Henderson as the Director of Communications.

As the Partner of Community Partnership and Advocacy, Ambar Suero will lead RootED’s community investment activities and maintain essential community relationships with partner organizations. This role is vital in achieving the organization's goal of investing in community-driven change. 

Latia Henderson is joining the RootED team as the Director of Communications, a new role that will support raising awareness on RootED’s work and elevating the impact of grantee organizations through storytelling and network building.

We asked our new team members questions to learn a few fun facts about them.

What is your favorite quote?
Ambar: “Anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given.” - Deepak Chopra
Latia: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” - Maya Angelou  

What is your favorite restaurant in Denver?
Ambar: Fruition or Taco Truck (6th Ave. and Federal Blvd.).
Latia: Uno Mas Taqueria y Cantina (Love the South Pearl Street location!).

What would you tell your 14-year-old self?
Ambar: Don't be afraid to ask for help, and advocate for what's important to you. Also, eating a full bag of family size potato chips will eventually catch up to you 😂! 
Latia: Dream big and go for what you want to achieve! 

What do you enjoy doing when not working?
Ambar: Cooking with my daughter. It's our bonding time. We are both foodies and love to spend time in the kitchen trying new recipes. 
Latia: Being with my family and exploring Denver's best brunch spots. 

What’s your favorite book or a book that had an impact on you?
Ambar: A book that has impacted my life is “I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)” by Brené Brown. It talks about the courage to be real and highlights how important it is to have compassion for ourselves and others. One of my favorite takeaways is the importance of tuning in the connection for true purpose and our own individual meaning of life.
Latia: “Becoming” by Michelle Obama is my favorite book because I loved learning about Mrs. Obama’s personal journey to discovering her passions and voice to impact the community.
Welcome Dr. Alex Marrero to Denver Public Schools
RootED Denver welcomes Dr. Alex Marrero, the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Dr. Marrero, a child of a Cuban refugee and an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, has education experience from his time at the New York City Department of Education and as the Interim Superintendent at the City School District of New Rochelle.

As Dr. Marrero transitions to the Mile High City, we believe it’s essential that he hears and honors the lived experiences of Denver’s students and families, and elevates their voices in policymaking conversations that chart a new path forward for the district.

Through robust outreach to and communication with Denver families, it’s vital Dr. Marrero recognizes a mandate to advance racial equity in Denver Public Schools, and begins to implement strategies to increase academic achievement for historically underserved students, particularly Black, Latinx and Indigenous students. We hope his listening tour includes learning about the value various types of schools bring to the community in the hopes of working to find ways to collaborate and expand education models that are successful for all students.

We look forward to the work ahead.
Grantee Feature
FAST Team at Rocky Mountain Prep
Rocky Mountain Prep has implemented a game-changing program for families and students. The charter network’s Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST) provides help for families struggling to meet basic needs, including paying for rent, food, utilities, transportation costs and immigration support. Often, those challenges can prevent students from attending school or from being fully engaged during lessons. 

Rocky Mountain Prep team members can refer families for support. The program is anonymous to prevent families from feeling stigma or shame about their circumstances. The program aims to empower families to learn how to better navigate complex systems or processes to access available community resources. 

Now, the American Rescue Plan Act will help grow the FAST program, so the Rocky Mountain Prep network can continue to connect families to community resources, and empower them to navigate challenges. The network hopes this program helps close academic gaps and allows students to reach their full potential.
Thank You Verónica Figoli for Your Service to DPS

Thank you, Verónica Figoli, for your leadership and service with Denver Public Schools and the Denver Public Schools Foundation. 

Verónica will transition to a new role after June 30 - she will be the Vice President of Institutional Partnerships for Accion Opportunity Fund, a national financial support system for small businesses that advances racial, gender, and economic justice for all. 

Verónica’s near-decade of service to Denver Public Schools including a half-decade at the helm of the Denver Public Schools Foundation has had an immeasurable impact on our kids. Under her leadership, the DPS Foundation provided tremendous support to Denver’s schools, including the distribution of large grants directly to schools to support high-impact work through the $1 Million Fund. 

Thank you, Verónica, and best of luck on your new endeavor!
DPS Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act
The Denver Board of Education adopted the 2021-22 budget that includes funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The plans for the federal stimulus funds extend through the 2023-24 school year, and make significant investments in “accelerated learning with design groups to reimagine education” and direct-to-school allocations, which includes a centrally-managed pilot program to provide mental health support. The most sizable investment is in approved expenses for general operations and fiscal health.

It is unclear what this means for Denver’s families, students and communities, who may be struggling to recover from learning disruptions caused by COVID-19. Additionally, it’s even less clear how these investments will benefit communities hit hardest by the effects of pandemic. COVID-19 exacerbated inequities in education, healthcare, housing, and employment, which resulted in more students of color and students from low-income families opting for fully remote learning - a model rife with challenges.

We encourage the district to be transparent with how these stimulus funds are spent, so that families can understand how their students will benefit.
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