Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates generations of people whose culture, leadership, resilience and hard work have shaped Greeley and Northern Colorado. It’s also an opportunity to highlight those stories and ensure the next generation inherits that legacy.
The recently published book, “Our History Our Voice: The Mexican American History Project of Greeley,” by Lorretta Chavez, Juli Sarris and Andrés Gonzales Guerrero Jr., captures more than a century of that history. Through historical research and oral histories, including my own, the book documents how Mexican Americans cultivated the land, built neighborhoods, nourished families and sustained local industries. It also explores education and civic engagement, creating a cultural archive told through the voices and lived experiences of the community itself.
Honoring this history also requires us to look forward. How do we give future generations the knowledge, skills and opportunities to build on the legacy these stories preserve? As a Latina and a member of the Aims Community College Board of Trustees, I believe education is one of the most powerful ways we can answer that question.
Nearly one-third of Weld County residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, and that heritage is reflected at Aims, where Hispanic and Latino students represent 33% of our student body. These learners are future nurses, teachers, entrepreneurs, technicians, first responders and community leaders.
Aims is federally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). That designation is important, but being an HSI must mean more than enrolling Hispanic students. In higher education, this commitment is called “servingness.” It means intentionally creating an environment where students receive academic guidance, practical resources, a sense of belonging and clear paths to complete their education.
At Aims, serving students begins by recognizing that there are multiple measures of success.
Some students come to earn a career-focused certificate or degree that can lead directly to a good-paying job. They may study nursing, welding, automotive technology, aviation, agriculture or another field essential to our economy.
Others are on a path to a bachelor’s degree. Statewide transfer agreements allow them to complete their first two years at Aims and enter a four-year college or university as a junior. Programs like Aims2UNC make the transition to the University of Northern Colorado even smoother with coordinated advising and support.
Whether students plan to enter the workforce or further their education, the goal is the same: to provide an affordable, high-quality education that expands opportunity.
Many Aims students are the first in their families to attend college. Others are working, raising children or returning to school after years away. Some are newcomers to the community, learning English while preparing for a new career.
A medical concern, an unexpected expense or a lack of food or reliable technology can quickly interrupt an education. Aims helps our learners stay on course by providing medical, dental and mental health services on campus at the new Student Health and Wellness Center. The college also helps students meet essential needs through resources such as Arty’s Pantry, which provides free food, personal care items and supplies in partnership with Weld Food Bank. Students can also access housing support and emergency financial assistance when needed.
Meeting students’ basic needs is only part of helping them succeed. Students also need to feel welcomed, understood and connected on campus.
The Multicultural Office for Student Affinity, Inclusion and Community (MOSAIC) creates a space to find community and celebrate who they are. The team creates an array of cultural events and campus programs to build a foundation of unity on campus. The MOSAIC hosts small, ongoing groups for students who share an identity or experience. This includes groups for those of Hispanic/Latino heritage, neurodivergent students, those in LGBTQ+ communities, student parents and more.
Being a Hispanic-Serving Institution doesn’t mean serving only one demographic. It’s about becoming more effective at identifying barriers, respecting students’ experiences and providing the support people need to succeed.
When Hispanic and Latino students thrive, families gain stability, employers gain skilled professionals and communities gain leaders. Their success is not separate from Northern Colorado’s success. It is central to it.
Rhonda Solis is a longtime Greeley resident and current member of the Aims Community College Board of Trustees.
