2026 Better Because of Her Luncheon Awardees
Better Because of Her: Manuela Stewart Sifuentes
YWCA Boulder County is proud to present the Better Because of Her Award to Manuela Stewart Sifuentes. The Better Because of Her Award celebrates extraordinary women who have dedicated their time, passion, and expertise to advancing women's rights and eliminating barriers, leaving our community stronger and more equitable for generations to come. Manuela’s work as the Language Access Program Manager for the City of Boulder embodies the significance of this award, highlighting her commitment to fostering an inclusive community where language is not a barrier in access to services and information.
Born in Guatemala and raised both in Guatemala and Boulder, Manuela’s personal journey is deeply connected to her professional mission. Her parents instilled in her the values of advocacy and empowerment, motivating her to speak up for those who may not have the opportunity to do so. With a background in public health and years of experience interpreting for her family, Manuela recognized the critical gaps in bilingual communication within government and nonprofit sectors in Boulder County. She became an advocate for effective language access, ensuring that every resident can engage meaningfully with their local government and access services.
Manuela’s leadership is demonstrated through her development of the city’s first Language Access Plan, a comprehensive initiative designed to facilitate communication for Spanish-speaking residents. By introducing professional interpretation services at city meetings, she has transformed the way community members participate in local governance. This work not only empowers individuals to engage in local democratic processes but also strengthens Boulder County’s community by ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.
At the core of Manuela’s work is a commitment to collective empowerment. She emphasizes the importance of listening to diverse experiences and minimizing personal ego leadership roles. Manuela believes that effective change comes from collaboration and shared responsibility, creating an environment where everyone can contribute to the community's growth. Her approach has been pivotal in encouraging a culture of inclusivity within Boulder, reminding us that true progress is achieved when we uplift one another. Manuela also shares her passion for community and culture as a host of the KGNU radio show “Corriente”, where you can find her on the first Saturday of every month.
Receiving the Better Because of Her Award reflects Manuela’s significant impact on the community and her dedication to equity. Her work exhibits the belief that everyone deserves a life in which they can feel empowered and thrive, free from the barriers that language can form. Manuela Stewart Sifuentes continues to inspire others through her passion for accessibility and advocacy, creating a more equitable Boulder for all.
Active Ally: Michael Dougherty
This year, at YWCA Boulder County’s Better Because of Her Luncheon, we are honored to award District Attorney Michael Dougherty with our Active Ally award.
The Active Ally Award celebrates people who turn allyship into action by advancing justice, dignity, and opportunity across our community. Active Allies model how people of all genders can help build systems rooted in trust, accountability, and belonging to make space for women, girls and all communities to thrive. Michael Dougherty’s commitment to justice, community partnership, and equity makes him a strong embodiment of what this award represents.
Michael Dougherty has served as Boulder County’s District Attorney since 2018, bringing with him more than a decade of experience from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where he spent 13 years as a prosecutor. Raised in Brooklyn as the grandson of Irish immigrants, his background shaped his understanding of opportunity, fairness, and the challenges many communities face in accessing justice. From early on, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in law to serve others and strengthen the communities around him.
In Boulder County, Dougherty has led with a focus on both accountability and compassion. In 2018, he launched Colorado’s first Hate Crimes Initiative, setting a new standard for how these cases are handled through stronger training, improved response, and deeper community partnerships. He has worked closely with LGBTQ+ leaders and other communities across the Front Range to rebuild trust in the justice system and ensure that people feel safe coming forward. His office also became one of the first in the state to examine racial inequities within the justice system and implement internal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
His approach to justice goes beyond prosecution. Dougherty created a Mental Health Diversion Program that focuses on treatment and early intervention to reduce repeat offenses. He also established a Human Trafficking Unit and launched Colorado’s first Domestic Violence Acute Response Team to better support victims. Understanding the fear many immigrant families experience, he implemented policies to protect immigrant communities, including an immigrant protection program and a commitment that his office does not report immigration status to the federal government.
Currently campaigning for Attorney General, Dougherty hopes to expand many of these efforts statewide, including the Hate Crimes Initiative, so that all communities in Colorado are protected and supported. He is also a husband of more than 20 years, a father of twins, and an ultra runner. His leadership reflects a steady commitment to service and a belief that a stronger justice system is one that works for everyone.
Energizing the Future: Lucinnia Tonya-Mystique Majik
YWCA Boulder County is honored to award Lucinnia Tonya-Mystique Majik with our Energizing the Future Award. This award honors a young leader who is actively creating a more equitable, inclusive, and empowering community for all. We recognize and honor Lucinnia as an individual who challenges systems and institutions to advance equity in Boulder County and beyond.
Lucinnia Tonya-Mystique Majik is an Afro-Latinx transfeminine non-binary performer, artist, and community leader whose work is rooted in creativity, spirituality, and liberation. Originally from the Bay Area of Houston, Texas, she first came to Boulder at 18 years old and has since spent the past seven years building community and creating spaces where people can feel supported, and empowered. She is currently the Trans and Racial Equity Coordinator at Rocky Mountain Equality, where she works to advance equity and opportunity for queer and trans people of color across Boulder Valley.
Lucinnia’s work is deeply informed by her personal journey navigating the complexities of identity at an early age, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to creating more inclusive and affirming spaces. She is the daughter of an immigrant mother and an African American father who is a musician, and she draws inspiration from both her family’s resilience and creativity. Her mother, the first woman in her family to earn a doctorate, has been a powerful influence in her life and a reminder of what is possible.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Naropa University in art therapy, where her passion for blending creativity, healing, and advocacy began to take shape. During her time at Naropa, she became involved in leadership, serving as a student member on the Board of Trustees. It was also during this time that she began to see the gaps in support for students navigating identity in Boulder County, which led her to explore how systems could be reimagined to be more inclusive and responsive.
As a painter, dancer, poet, and performer, Lucinnia brings an artistic and holistic approach to her work. She integrates art, nature, and spirituality into her programming, creating spaces where identity, creativity, and healing can exist together. At Rocky Mountain Equality, she has focused on developing programming that centers QTPOC experiences while embracing artistic expression and community.
Lucinnia is also deeply connected to Kiki ballroom culture, where she engages in activism, performance, and chosen family. She describes some of her most meaningful experiences as those spent in community creating, dancing, and supporting one another. These spaces continue to fuel her work and remind her of the importance of taking up space. She carries those experiences with her into her work in the community, always grounded in the people she represents.
Receiving the Energizing the Future Award marked a meaningful moment in her journey and a reflection of the impact she has made in Boulder. At the heart of her work is a commitment to ensuring that QTPOC people have the space to create, explore, and innovate. She continues to lead with intention and a deep belief that listening to community with grace and gratitude is what makes this work truly transformative.