“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”

– Cornel West

As Deputy Director, Desiree aligns UNE’s policy and narrative strategies to target corporate villains and win structural changes that work for all of us – no exceptions. She also manages finances and fundraising to resource local power-building for justice.

Desiree grew up in Adams County, and since her childhood, she has held an unwavering belief that a more just world is possible. As veterans, her grandfathers were able to build lives for their families in Adams County with the benefits of VA loans and good paying union jobs. As she grew older, Desiree learned that these advantages and many others were not available to women, people of color and immigrants, a fact that inspired her to do social change work.

Desiree previously held organizing roles with Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Service Employees International Union Local 105, and Together Colorado. After joining UNE’s senior leadership team in 2011, she fundraised for and built UNE’s first Organizing Team, laying the groundwork for UNE to become a member-led organization.

Desiree has spent her time at UNE developing narrative strategy within basebuilding, ensuring that UNE reaches a broad audience, expands what everyday people think is possible, and speaks to the lived experiences of working-class Coloradans. Desiree ensures UNE’s operations are compliant and flexible so that the organization is well-prepared to achieve its vision of economic, political and social systems that value human lives over profit, no matter what challenges stand in our way.