Duane Gurulé (Dew-wayne Goo-do-ley)

Biographical information

Duane Gurulé brings a unique lens to rural Colorado and health equity as a formerly incarcerated person who has navigated state and private prisons, community corrections, and re-entry. He has a passion for serving low-income communities and those experiencing food insecurity, stemming from first-hand experience growing up facing many of the barriers and inequities that historically disenfranchise low-income populations.

He is a co-founder of Small Town Project, which works to improve health equity in Otero and Crowley counties by increasing access to healthy foods and empowering the underserved. Duane also serves his community as Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member for the City of Rocky Ford and on the Advisory Council for Otero College.

As a first-generation college graduate, Duane holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Metropolitan State University in Denver. He’s the Senior Database Administrator for Hunger Free Colorado, and prior to that role, was a community organizer for The Colorado Trust in Southeast Colorado.

He and his family live, work, and attend school in Rocky Ford, as well as enjoy traveling around Colorado and the Southwest connecting with history and exploring the secrets left behind by generations of ancestors.