Polly Baca | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Colorado Senate from the 25th district | |
| In office January 10, 1979 – January 14, 1987 | |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 34th district | |
| In office 1974 – January 10, 1979 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 13, 1941 Greeley, Colorado |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Miguel Barragan (divorced) |
| Profession | Political |
Polly Baca (born February 13, 1941) is an American politician who served as Chair of the Democratic Caucus of the Colorado House of Representatives (1976–79), being the first woman to hold that office and the first Hispanic woman elected to the Colorado State Senate and in the House and Senate of a state Legislature.
She also was the first to co-chair a National Democratic Convention.[1] She was a member of the Colorado State Legislature for 12 years and was elected to the Colorado Senate in 1978. She was also the founder and director of the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA), as well as its president and CEO. She founded the LARASA nonprofit organization in 1964 "to lead and influence change to improve the quality of life for Latinos through advocacy, capacity building, and education."[2]
In addition, she's currently the president and CEO of "Baca Barragan & Perez Associates", "a consulting firm specializing in political campaigns, multicultural leadership development, diversity training, motivational presentations, policy analysis and development, and government relations."[2] and still remains active in her community working on behalf of local and national issues important to low income Americans. She also continues to help with issues on civil rights, political campaigns and consulting with companies and organizations on developing multicultural relations programs.[1]