Colorado Rising Appoints Interim Director of Communications

DENVER, CO, April 28, 2020 – Rafael Espinoza has been named Interim Director of Communications and Marketing for Colorado Rising, a Colorado-based non-profit whose mission is to educate, advocate and legislate against statewide Oil and Gas development and fracking. Effective immediately, Espinoza will develop and implement Colorado Rising’s strategic communications and marketing plan.

After starting a career in broadcast media over twenty years ago as Rafael Medina on-air, Espinoza went on to become a marketing and programming executive for major Denver area English and Spanish language multi-media broadcast outlets and led communications and marketing roles for a small direct mail/digital marketing business. He brings a wealth of knowledge in a variety of outreach and crowd-sourcing platforms and excels at driving messaging deep into where his audience lives and connecting on shared progressive values.

“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to engage our stakeholders and beyond as an advocate and protector of Colorado’s way of life, especially on important issues that impact our environment, health, and public safety. I am excited to be a part of expanding Colorado Rising’s platform and promoting its mission of protecting communities and families from abuse by the Oil & Gas industry. As a Colorado native, and multi-generational landowner of sacred land in the San Luis Valley, my family’s Colorado roots run deep, settling and working our piece of Colorado before becoming a U.S. territory and being granted statehood. So this is personal,” says Espinoza.

According to Colorado Rising Executive Director, Joseph Salazar, “Colorado Rising is experiencing an unprecedented period of growth and public awareness so we are lucky to have his passion and expertise in grassroots campaign development, his knowledge of the media landscape, and his sense of Colorado voting trends. He’s a friend to small business, working people and a great spokesperson for the rights of all Colorado families.”

As Communications Director, Espinoza will be responsible for Colorado Rising’s overall communications and marketing strategy, including branding/co-branding, public relations, digital and traditional media outreach. He will lead the message as the organization’s deputy spokesperson while working with Colorado Rising’s community partners to advocate for larger setbacks, increased safety regulation, and to showcase the truth about how fracking is harmful to communities as well as how alternative energy transitions need to start immediately.

After attending the University of Colorado, Espinoza began his career in communications in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving both on active and reserve duty as a Communications and Intelligence Specialist and has honed his skills, particularly in the power of digital media and performance analytics. Espinoza has established himself as a passionate promoter of progressive initiatives and values. He has served on a variety of community boards of directors whose missions are to provide economic and educational opportunities to underserved populations.

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Colorado Rising is a statewide, 501(c)4, grassroots coalition of people and organizations working together to protect our communities from the dangers to public health and safety of fossil fuel operations to promote the transition off fossil fuels, and to protect our environment for future generations.

To learn more, please go to www.corising.org