From Undocumented Immigrant Daughter to Powerhouse of Social Change: Ana Temu Otting, CEO of Corazón Printing and Champion for Immigrant Rights
Ana Temu Otting is a business owner, political campaign strategist, community activist, and lifelong organizer. Ana is the President/CEO of Corazón Printing, the only Latina-owned unionized print shop in the State of Colorado. She founded this print shop alongside her husband with the vision of providing quick turnaround prints to fill the ever-growing need in the political niche.
Since 2010, Temu Otting has been at the forefront of strategically planning years and decades’ worth of work for social justice movements, like the immigrant rights movement, with partners like United We Dream and Center for Community Change, with a human-centered lens to pass federal and state legislation. She has helped research, create, and pass several pro-immigrant bills in the state, like driver’s licenses for all, In-state Tuition for Undocumented Students, repeal of Colorado’s “Show Me Your Papers” law, and the nation’s first state-funded Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, among others.
What’s your personal story?
My story really starts with my parents. My dad came to the U.S. from Mexico as an economic refugee, and my mom fled Guatemala during the Civil War, escaping genocide. Growing up, I was instilled with a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities this country offered us, as well as a strong drive to support my family and do meaningful work in the world.
As a child, I witnessed firsthand the struggles my parents faced as undocumented immigrants. It wasn’t until I was older that I could fully understand and name the injustices they experienced. That awareness is what sparked my journey into activism.
For nearly 15 years, I’ve worked in the realms of politics and public policy. My career began with community organizing, bringing people together to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act. Over time, I contributed to several key pro-immigrant legislative efforts in Colorado—like the passage of driver’s licenses for all, in-state tuition for undocumented students, and the repeal of the “Show Me Your Papers” law.
But after years of policy work, it became clear to me: real change required more than just advocacy; it needed people from the community in positions of influence. That’s when I shifted my focus to candidate campaigns—everything from presidential races to gubernatorial ones. I hosted rallies, organized key stakeholders in Colorado and across the country, and led voter outreach strategies to mobilize new Americans.
Eventually, I decided to take all that experience and start my own political consulting firm, creating strategies that genuinely uplift communities. Along the way, I found myself dealing with the printing needs of my clients, and I quickly realized how tough it was to find an accessible, unionized print shop specializing in political printing with fast turnaround times. So, I thought, “I can hit print!” and started with two small office printers in my basement, tackling small print jobs. Today, that idea has grown into a fully operational, unionized print shop serving all of Colorado and the Mountain West, proudly staffed by Teamsters and ready to meet the political printing needs of the region.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
My defining "spider bite" moment came when I watched a documentary called Papers, which followed the struggles of undocumented youth trying to find work and access higher education. It hit me hard because I realized my family had lived through the same experiences. At that moment, I knew there was a solution—I had to help fix our broken immigration system. I began sharing my own story, and before long, I was testifying in support of legislation aimed at making real change.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
I believe that everything we do should be done with care and love—it has to come from the heart. My mother always reminded me to make myself available to help others. Growing up, there were many times when my mother and I needed help, and we were fortunate to encounter angels along the way. Now, I want to pay it back and pay it forward, giving back in gratitude for all the support and opportunities I’ve been given.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?
Growing up, education was always presented to me as a luxury. My parents didn’t have the opportunity to continue their education for long, and it was something they deeply wished they’d been able to pursue. That’s why I’m passionate about breaking down barriers to higher education. I believe we’re all lifelong learners, and it’s crucial to bring education and resources to communities where they are.
I serve as Board Chair for the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, where we provide matching funds to institutions for scholarships, including the popular "Finish What You Started" grant. Additionally, as a Commissioner of Higher Education, I’m passionate about hearing the stories of learners and understanding the ecosystem that supports them.
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