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Cultural Brokers Program (CBP)

Cultural Brokers Program (CBP)

The Cultural Brokers Program (CBP) focuses on recognizing and supporting the work of cultural brokers and community organizations in Boulder County. The program’s mission is to develop a common understanding of the cultural broker’s work by supporting existing efforts in organizations and groups that focus on serving diverse communities.

It is the vision of the CBP team to become thought partners with other organizations, elevate culturally-informed practices that broaden access to resources, and expand the representation of diverse communities through civic engagement and public participation.

The term cultural brokering was introduced within the context of health care delivery to diverse communities in the 1960’s.

Cultural Brokers are individuals who are considered bridges, connectors, or mediators between groups or people with different cultural contexts with the purpose of reducing conflict or producing change (Jezewski, 1990).

A local description of this work sees cultural brokers in Boulder County as trusted community partners who bridge diverse cultures and reduce current or potential conflict by co-creating, with the communities they serve, innovative strategies for change in areas of mediation, resource sharing and navigation, mentorship, culture promotion and civic engagement for advocacy and activism.

View Community Foundation’s “Elizabeth’s Story” to learn more about what is a cultural broker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEaWfPq7fM.

Read more in the Mosaics Report to read about the work of cultural brokers in Boulder County.

CBP offers “Cultural Brokers 101: An Introductory Training,” a five-week training session for community organizations and community members. Participants develop an understanding of cultural brokers’ work. The sessions cover topics such as historical context, definition, and scope of work of cultural brokers, among others.

Upcoming dates for trainings:

  • October 2, 2024 to October 30, 2024
  • January 29, 2025 to February 26, 2025

Cultural broker trainings are designed for anyone interested in building an awareness and understanding of key cultural factors of the diverse communities Boulder County serves. Sessions include:

  • Session 1: Cultural brokering 101 (Virtual)
  • Session 2: Culture/racism/Allyship (Virtual)
  • Session 3: Leadership & Civic Engagement (Virtual)
  • Session 4: Gaining Confidence in Cultural Brokering (Virtual)
  • Session 5: Wrap-up and Celebratory Meeting (In-Person)

Trainings are offered in English.

Cultural Collective Meetings are Bi-monthly Boulder County Community meetings. These gathering aims to foster a safe and collaborative space where Boulder County employees, stakeholders, non-profit organizations, and community members can engage with each other.

Our objective is to explore the topic of cultural brokering and engage in meaningful conversations that provide insights into diverse perspectives. These meetings also serve as professional and personal development with learning fostered through workshops and guest speakers.

Location and times vary. Meetings are held in English.

Suma’s meaning: everyone from different walks of life, unifying to create something great!

The purpose of ¡SUMA! is to have an external platform for community members and community organizations where relevant, trustful information is found. It serves as an educational tool to find out information about Cultural broker’s work and local resources.

We invite you to stay connected with Cultural Brokers Program! Our team offers multiple opportunities to support your organization. We invite you to schedule a meeting with us to request a training or consulting session for your organization and share resources at cultural brokers meetings.

Email Claudia Ibarra-Arellano at cibarra-arellano@bouldercounty.gov.

Contact Us


Community Action Programs

303-441-3975
303-441-1541 (fax)


Location

Sundquist Building
3482 Broadway St.
Boulder, CO 80304
Map and Directions
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday


Mailing Address

PO Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306

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