Interview with Diana Higuera, RMWC Founder and Executive Director: Building Stronger Futures for Latino and Hispanic Communities

by Vanessa Candito

At a time when Latino and Hispanic communities across the country face mounting

challenges, our Executive Director, Diana Higuera offers a powerful voice rooted in lived

experience, visionary leadership and deep commitment to equity.

Diana Higuera, Rocky Mountain Welcome Center Executive Director with her parents.

“We are not a burden, we are an asset”

says Diana Higuera, founder and executive

director of Rocky Mountain Welcome Center. Latino and Hispanic families are often the

backbone of entire industries working long hours that too often lack stability, fair pay or essential benefits. This creates a stressful home environment making it hard for these families to plan for the future and knowing what their next steps will be. It’s a reality she knows intimately not as a policy talking point, but as a lived truth felt across countless households. The economic stress is

real, and so is the determination to overcome it.

Beyond economic hardship, the community faces critical barriers in accessing healthcare, particularly mental health services. “Services are limited, and when they exist, language and cultural barriers can make people feel they’re not really being heard or understood,” she notes.

This becomes even more concerning given the trauma and stress many families carry from their

migration journeys especially during today's political climate and how it affects these families

daily lives in the U.S. At Rocky Mountain Welcome Center we continue culturally responsive

services and safe, inclusive environments for all.

One of the most pressing yet often overlooked challenges is the climate of fear

surrounding immigration enforcement.

”Families are cautious about engaging with schools, hospitals, or public services because they worry about being targeted. That fear isolates them and prevents them from fully participating in community life.”

This fear and isolation reinforces systemic inequalities. It also makes the work of building trust, offering support, and creating safe

community spaces even more urgent.

Diana’s leadership and passion is deeply influenced by her parents’ legacy. Her mother,

the daughter of Spanish immigrants in Venezuela, made education her mission both for herself, as an architect, and her children. “She made sure we understood the value of learning and gave us her full support to pursue our dreams.” Her father’s path, also an architect, was one of service as a volunteer firefighter who built entire departments from scratch and rose to the highest ranks by serving others with integrity. “They showed me what resilience, vision, and service looks like in action. They are the foundation of the values I carry into my work every day.”

As Diana says “We are proud, we stand tall, and we are resilient. We carry joy even in difficult times ,we are loud, we are creative, we dance our sorrows, and we find strength in each other.”

At Rocky Mountain Welcome Center that vision and passion drives everything we do. We

believe in the strength of our community. And we believe that when Latino and Hispanic

families thrive, our entire society becomes stronger, more just, and more vibrant.

We invite you to stand with us whether by supporting our work, attending our events, or

simply amplifying these stories. Together, we can build a future rooted in equity, dignity, and

opportunity for all.