MEET CHELA

Graciela “Chela” Garcia Irlando is a mom, community leader, and policy advocate running for the Colorado State Senate to put working families first and fight for a future worthy of the next generation.

Chela and her husband are proud to be raising their two young children in Barnum. Their lives are deeply rooted in the neighborhoods that make up the district—from school drop-offs in Baker to summer bike rides around Sloan’s Lake, Sunday morning strolls to the panadería, and community celebrations in Westwood and Sunnyside. For Chela, life in this district—its prosperity and its challenges—is not abstract; it is deeply personal.

Her decision to run is grounded in lived experience and a lifelong commitment to public service. Chela understands what it takes to deliver for Colorado families. Her story is shaped by generations of Coloradans and immigrants who instilled in Chela a belief in collective community prosperity and who have toiled their entire lives to build it. 

Chela has worked in and for this community—waiting tables at small local restaurants, supporting youth programs in Westwood and North Denver, and volunteering to get more families connected to parks and nature. She has spent more than a decade leading in Colorado’s nonprofit, environmental, and civic sectors. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Next 100 Coalition, and previously held leadership roles at the Hispanic Access Foundation, Latino Outdoors, and the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus. Whether supporting youth and families, organizing community-based campaigns, or managing boardrooms, Chela’s work has always centered on justice, dignity, and service to others.

A proud two-time graduate of the University of Colorado, Chela holds a B.A. in International Affairs and Ethnic Studies and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on policy and planning. Her academic and professional paths reflect her lifelong dedication to building sensible, people-centered systems.

Chela is running for State Senate to fight for an affordable Colorado, our climate, and a government that works for its people. She’s ready to bring her values, experience, and vision to the Colorado State Capitol—and to help build a future where all families can thrive.