This article originated from Sol del Valle and has been translated for English readers.
Aspen was the setting for the 2025 Raizado Festival, Aug. 21-24, an event that honors the heritage, culture and power of the global Latino community. The centerpiece of the festival, the Icon Awards Gala, recognized outstanding figures in the arts, activism and civil rights advocacy, solidifying the festival’s role as a vital space to celebrate Latino legacy and social progress.
Under the theme of “Legacy,” the four-day program highlighted Latino excellence in literature, gastronomy, music, film, television, storytelling and social impact, culminating in a gala evening that brought together community leaders, artists and activists from across the country.
Honoring with purpose
This year’s honorees included Chilean author Isabel Allende (Culture Icon), actor Harvey Guillén (Truth Icon), attorney and activist Blanca Uzeta O’Leary (Colorado Icon), president and CEO of The Gathering for Justice, Carmen Pérez (Power Icon) and actresses Diana Maria Riva and Lisa Vidal, co-founders of Latinas Acting Up (Changemakers).
Mónica Ramírez, the festival’s founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, emphasized that the awards go far beyond recognition, “…they are a call to remember our origins, recognize who we are fighting for and consider the legacy we are leaving for future generations.”
Ramírez stressed the importance of honoring visionaries who represent strength and power in a time when harmful narratives about the Latino community continue to persist.
Blanca Uzeta O’Leary
Uzeta O’Leary, recipient of the Colorado Icon Award, was recognized for her civil rights advocacy and lasting impact on the Roaring Fork Valley.
During the ceremony, a video was shown highlighting her work in voter mobilization, pro bono legal service and community advocacy through Voces Unidas de las Montañas, the organization she cofounded.
Uzeta O’Leary explained how her work reflects the growing influence of Latino leaders beyond Denver and the Front Range. She expressed pride in what she and her team have accomplished. “I am indeed very proud of the work that Voces Unidas is engaged in, all over the Western Slope. Just to highlight a few, Voces is involved with helping empower parents to engage with the school boards of their children’s schools in advocating to close the achievement gap between Latine [sic] students and the rest of the student body.”
She also described how the organization supports mobile home park residents in defending their basic rights, “The aspect of Voces of which I am most closely involved in is to help increase voter participation in local and statewide elections and to endorse and support candidates who champion issues of social justice and equality for all,” she added.
In addition, she highlighted her role in Colorado’s Legislative Redistricting Commission, which led (in part) to the election of the first Latina state representative from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys: Elizabeth Velasco.
Speaking about her personal and professional motivations, Uzeta O’Leary noted that she finds inspiration in the tangible local progress being made and increased attention
from policymakers.
“I am inspired by our incremental local successes. We are drawing attention to systemic unfairness within our valley and public officials at local and state levels are paying attention.”
Uzeta O’Leary went on to reflect on the shared energy among fellow honorees. “The other ICON Awards recipients also inspired me with their legacy of activism and pursuit of social justice across the country. It is energizing to see that there are so many other Latine folks also working hard in so many creative ways to improve our country,” she expressed enthusiastically.
Looking ahead, Uzeta O’Leary spoke with optimism about the future, sharing that she is inspired not only by her fellow honorees but also by the next generation, including her own son, combining culture and music as tools for political and social change.