by Jane Everham
I am elated to report that we raised $5,000 for La Cocina, a non-profit mental health service for Latinx in Fort Collins during the month of October through our Share the Plate offering!
In January 2017, caring and concerned CSU faculty and students in the Marriage and Family Therapy program in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies created La Cocina. They launched the program in direct response to the many challenges facing immigrant families. Today, La Cocina has grown to a program of The Family Center/La Familia and provides a safe space for Latinxs to come together for a variety of support programs. These include open community dialogues, structured therapy groups for adults and adolescents, clinical behavioral and mental health services (including therapy through play to promote safe and healthy childhood development) and community Charlas (chat, talk) to understand what resources are available in times of need.
La Cocina’s services are provided to families at absolutely no cost. Additionally, La Cocina’s unique model of “kitchen table” support and care destigmatizes mental health services and delivers a welcoming, bilingual and bicultural environment where Latinx families may process current challenges and heal from past adversity.
“We are SO grateful and happy to be in partnership with you.” said Janina Fariñas, Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist at La Cocina. This money will certainly help La Cocina further their mission of helping Fort Collins Latinx in need of mental health services.
The generosity of Foothills members is extraordinary. As we forge relationships with other organizations committed to benevolence in the Fort Collins community, our mission of unleashing courageous love reaches far and touches many. The Foothills Unitarian Church congregation has a huge heart and our community feels its beat. Thank you for your generosity.
Katie believes the best things in life are the result of collaboration and diverse perspectives coming together to produce something greater than any individual could. She is passionate about systems, efficiency and collaboration for better community outcomes. She loves dreaming up the big picture and drafting the roadmap to make it happen. She has a background in operations, fundraising, communications and program development, as well as over a decade of nonprofit management experience in Northern Colorado.
Her greatest joy in life comes from her family. Her husband, Steven, a principal at Wellington Middle School, and daughters Emmaline and Esmae are the lights of her life. Together they love mountains, music and all kinds of food. She is passionate about women supporting other women in all stages of life and especially through the critical moments that make or break us. She believes that one of the most important things in life is to be kind.
Being outdoors makes her soul come alive. It always roots her in gratitude and is one of the reasons she loves living in Fort Collins.