La Cocina, or the Kitchen in English, is the warmest, most inviting, and most nourishing place in our homes. It is also where change happens, difficult conversations occur, and revoluciones are born. One of our heroines, Dolores Huerta, would end organizing meetings by saying, “Todas las revoluciones comienzan en La Cocina!” We get it and feel affirmed by her words.

Nuestra Historia began in early 2017 when La Cocina’s founder, Dr. Janina Fariñas, and a small group of Colorado State University students became outraged at the mounting unmet need for Spanish-speaking mental health services in Northern Colorado. After the 2016 election, the growing rates of anxiety and depression among immigrant groups were cause for alarm. It was a call to action.

In its first 10 months, La Cocina served more than 50 immigrant families. Today, we have facilitated mental health recovery for more than 4000 Latine families throughout the state of Colorado, and La Cocina’s multidisciplinary teams have grown to include trainers and program leaders building capacities both in communities and professional settings ready to develop and learn La Cocina’s Liberation Psychology applied model of services delivery.