a nonprofit, arts, education, and
community-driven consulting group
Committed to systemic change
through innovation
creativity
& impact
Be Empowered.
About
Empowered is a ground-breaking consulting group transforming how we think about the arts, education, nonprofits, and community impact.
We believe that when we come together to innovate, create, & solve problems,
we can achieve great things that benefit and transform our communities.
We are committed to systemic change that empowers and uplifts our community.
When we lift one, we lift all.
Core Values
Our core values of altruism, integrity, honesty, creativity, innovation, respect, & community guide everything we do, and we are committed to living these values in our work and in all of our relationships.
Whether you are in the education sector looking to improve educational outcomes, an arts organization seeking ways to deliver culturally responsive programming,
a nonprofit set on pivoting toward the future, or a philanthropic foundation eager to innovate for greater community impact, we are your trusted partners.
Be Empowered, and let us help you advance your vision and mission not only in thought,
but in action.
Empowered Team: Kayla Gatling, Micah Ramirez,
Celia Gottlieb, Jesse Martinez, and Felicia Otero
Consulting Services
Organizational Leadership & Management
• Strategic Planning & Ideation
• Organizational 360° + DEIA 360° Review
• Board Development, Recruitment, & Training
• Professional Development & Training
• Project Management & Execution
• Executive Leadership Coaching & Advising
Program Development
• Program Impact Ideation, Innovation, & Planning
• Program Development & Evaluation
• Curriculum and Lesson Plan Development
• Program 360° + DEIA 360° Review
MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND OUTREACH
• Bilingual Marketing and Communications
• Bilingual Videography & Storytelling
• Bilingual Social Media
• Spanish Translation (Specialization in Arts, Culture, & Education)
Fundraising & EVENT MANAGEMENT
• Event Planning & Management
• Fundraising 360° Review + Strategic Planning
• Grant Management: Research & Grant writing
• Fundraising Event/Gala Ideation, Planning, & Management
K-12 Family & Community Engagement (FACE)
• District & School FACE Strategic Planning
• District & School FACE Programming, Best Practice, & Evaluation
• Family/Community Liaison Professional Development & Training
• ReachWell: Multilingual Communication Platform + App
Our Clients
Family, School and Community Partnerships
Family Liaison Training Modules
Taste of Mexico at Larimer Square + Fireside at Five
Cultural Advisor &
Event Management
Radical Arts Academy
of Denver
Strategic Planning
& Fundraising
The Word:
A Storytelling Sanctuary
Fundraising &
Development
Butterfly Pavilion
DEIA Strategic Planning & Community Engagement
ReachWell
Market Strategy, Sales & Outreach
DEI Leadership Institute Annual Conference
Outreach, Marketing
& Promotions
Colorado Youth Mariachi Program
Strategic Planning
& Fundraising
Fiesta Colorado Dance Company
Strategic Planning
& Development
Colorado Creatives Industries: Poetry Out Loud
Program Management
& Outreach
Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
Community Listening Sessions & Outreach
El Sistema Colorado
Fundraising &
Development
Colorado Association for Bilingual Educators
Grant Writing &
Development
Chicano Humanities
& Arts Council
Strategic Planning,
Fundraising & Development
Denver American
Indian Festival
Grant Research & Writing
Dynamic Downtown
Denver Grant
Festival Garibaldi: A Celebration of Mariachi & Folklorico
Client Feature
Colorado Creative Industries is partnering with Empowered to administer the statewide Poetry Out Loud program this year.
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry through a dynamic recitation competition open to any high school across the U.S.
2024 Poetry Out Loud State Finalist
Rize Simmons
2024 State Champion
Hana Kebede
2024 1st Runner-Up
Lorena Orozco
2024 2nd Runner-Up
Nonprofits
Arts & Culture
+
Work Experience & Impact
- Led strategic vision for DEIA adoption, practice, and programming
- Created Award-winning & Nationally recognized Artistic programming
- Established alliances to address systemic barriers to inequities in the arts
- Supported strategic efforts around place-based collective impact initiative
- Reorganized board and bylaws to reposition program for greater impact
- Researched and developed strategic social media recruitment plan
Education
Work Experience & Impact
- Support Family & Community Engagement expansion in Districts
- Oversaw District Family & Community Engagement Events & Institutes
- Broke annual participation records for Superintendent Parent Forums
Colorado Department of education
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLs
ADAMS 14 SCHOOL DISTRICT
- Established an Office of Family and Community Engagement
- Developed Family Liaison Training for CDE FSCP Certification
- Created state recognized FSCP Promising Practices programming
- Expanded Summer Migrant Youth Leadership Institute over 4 years
Founder & CEO
Grand Junction, Colorado
Jesse Martinez
CEO/Chief Social Impact Strategist
Jesse Martinez is a Colorado native from Grand Junction. He is the founder and CEO/Chief Social Impact Strategist of Empowered, Ltd. He has over 20+ years of experience in public service and the nonprofit sector. He started his career as an AmeriCorps volunteer serving two years in Mesa County Valley School District #51, supporting the expansion of service-learning across the district.
As a hands-on learner, he has always sought experiences to learn by doing and actively engaging
in solutions-based problem-solving to overcome barriers and deliver impact. Throughout his career, his work has centered on engaging and empowering communities from his time in Denver Public Schools, Adams 14 School District, the Piton Foundation, the Colorado Symphony, the Mexican Cultural Center, and Foothills United Way.
Jesse holds a bachelor’s degree in political sociology from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and a master’s degree in organizational leadership, specializing in project management, from Regis University. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado—Denver studying Leadership for Educational Equity and the importance of family and community engagement.
Empowered's logo allows for a clear and concise representation of the company's mission. The simplified sun symbolizes the core, the essence of empowerment, radiating warmth, light, and energy to inspire positive change.
As a universal symbol, the sun holds immense cultural and historical significance across various civilizations. It represents life, growth, and vitality, making it a fitting choice for a company dedicated to empowering individuals and communities.
The sun's radiating rays symbolize spreading knowledge, inspiration, and positivity aligning perfectly with Empowered's mission.
At the heart of Empowered beats an unyielding passion for catalyzing transformation. Our conviction rests on the principle of empowerment -- igniting a passion for change within people and communities.
We hope you'll consider us as a consulting group as you look to empower your community, pivot toward the future, and help deepen your impact.
Schedule a free consultation
Contact Jesse Martinez
720-205-2864