The Rural Communities Resource Center is a grassroots, nonprofit organization in Northeast Colorado. The Resource Center provides advocacy, education, and support to create systems change and develop programs that promote the physical, emotional and economic health of the area.
Tanya Leon-Chair
Marylu Smith-Treasurer
Mayra Candelario-Director
Jessica Witte-Director
Auturo Vega-Director
Margo has worked at the RCRC as a volunteer, an intern, and as a full-time staff member and now Executive Director since May of 2001. She has very deep roots at the RCRC; her Aunt Charlee McGraw was an early staff member as is her mother Lucie. Margo is a bilingual community advocate who has worked in many of the RCRC’s programs. She currently serves as the Director of the
Oral Health Program and the Director of Youth program focusing on ESTRELLAS young women’s leadership development.
Margo has an Associate of Arts Degree from Northeastern Junior college, Family Development Credential, Family Literacy Credential and is a certified medical interpreter. She is trained and certified to provide many curriculums including Life Skills, Girls Circle, and Wyman Teen Outreach Program. Margo is also trained as a Domestic Violence advocate. In the past, Margo has served as a Board member of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and is currently part of the Baby Bear Hugs Advisory Committee and the Latino Council of Yuma County.
I began at The Resource Center as a volunteer in 1986 advocating for victims of domestic violence, after receiving training from SHARE in Fort Morgan that same year. I became a part time employee in 1991 and became the Director of New Directions Violence Project in 1996. I am still in that position and also in our Emergency Services Program that helps with basic needs. I’ve also had many training’s and certifications from Family Credentialing to Nurturing Fathers. I have a strong belief in a ‘circle of helping’. We all receive some kind of assistance from time to time and that inspires us to help someone and then that person is inspired and so on… My inspiration came from my parents, whose philosophy and example of sharing what they had helped determine my career path. My co-workers, past and present, inspire me as well.
Jamie started with RCRC/Washington County Connections in April of 2008. She was drawn to her passion for serving youth in our community. Jamie started out working at AJ’s the Youth Center in Akron and provided everything from prevention education programs to quarterly celebrations, K-4 after school craft program for kiddos k-4th grades, and youth coalitions. Since 2008 Jamie has continued to grow her passion for youth while developing professionally and adding more programming and skills to her toolbox. She has also provided Healthy Living programs, Literacy Activities, Teen baseline, and Health and Safety Fairs in Washington and Yuma Counties along with years of family development work.
Jamie is now the senior facilitator and Train the Trainer for the Cooking Matters Program, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Program Manager, lead Incredible Years Parenting Program facilitator and is the Financial Director for RCRC.
Berenice moved to Yuma in July 2017 and joined the RCRC team as the Bilingual front desk receptionist and family advocate in September 2017. She was raised in Imperial, Nebraska and continued her education at Mid Plains Community College in North Platte where she graduated with her Associates of Arts. She was drawn to the resource center because of her love for helping individuals. She hopes to acquire more knowledge, skills and develop professionally while giving back to the community. Berenice is very excited to be a part of Yuma County and the RCRC team.
Mercedes was raised in Wray, Co and graduated in 2008, she had moved to Texas from 2012 to 2017, she then moved back to Yuma and joined the RCRC team in Feb. 2018 as the Family Advocate. Mercedes is also bilingual. She has had a great interest to the Resource Center for her passion of helping individuals and families, she also helps families within are most affected populations. She assists clients by helping with Public Assistance applications, Translations, Interpretation, Resources and Referrals. Mercedes was the Health Coordinator for the Healthy Snack program that was taking snacks to children at the schools from Pre-k to 4th grade. She also completed the Colorado Health Learning Series training and is doing the Continuance of that training to learn more about Health Equity. She is also the Hispanic Outreach Organizer for the Yuma Unified Making Advances team in Yuma. On top of all this she is a wife and a mother of three. She loves puzzles, coffee and making people smile.
Junice was born and raised in Los Angeles California. Moved to Yuma in 2010 and started as front desk receptionist in RCRC in January 2021. She loves helping others in any way, it makes her feel at peace with herself.
Junice is bilingual and helps out the community with many things including dental screenings, community events and literacy as well. She is now part of the Community Leaders of Health Equity and it is opening her mind to issues in the community. She is very excited to be part of the Resource Center Team and help out the community. She would like to learn more and grow within this environment.
Food justice is an important part of community justice. We take donations form local businesses and use them to fight hunger. Help us connect with donors and with people in need.
Every 3rd Monday in Yuma and 4th Monday in Akron, we mobilize our teams of volunteers to make a real difference at Mobile Pantry. Join us and see what can be accomplished when you get an impassioned team to focus on change.
Our community is full of people who want to help. We work to help the people providing services with the people who need them. Come connect with people in new ways.
Provides confidential assistance for individuals and families hurt by abuse. Services include but are not limited to assistance in locating emergency shelter, assistance obtaining protection orders and navigating and advocacy during interactions with law enforcement and the court system, counseling with a Domestic Violence Advocate, and referral to other counseling, emergency, and legal services.
Monthly meetings of organizations, agencies, and individuals in Yuma County for information sharing and collaboration opportunities.
Monthly meetings of organizations, agencies, and individuals in Washington County for information sharing and collaboration opportunities
The evidence based parenting programs focus on strengthening parenting competencies and fostering parent involvement in children’s school experiences, to promote children’s academic, social and emotional skills and reduce conduct problems.
The Nurturing Fathers Program (NFP) is an evidence - based course designed to teach parenting and nurturing skills to men. Each class provides proven, effective skills for healthy family relationships and child development. NFP has been successfully implemented in Schools, Head Start, Churches, State DSS, Prisons, Halfway Houses, Prevent Child Abuse, Parenting and Counseling Centers, Military, Community Action Agencies and many others. Available in Spanish.
The best way to protect children in the car is to put them in the right seat at the right time. On staff is multiple Child Passenger Safety Technicians certified by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. The technicians help educate caregivers on the correct selection, installation, and use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts based on the best practice as set forth by both seat and car manufacturer instructions and manuals. For more information click here ⇒ National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.
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