Miriam Estelle Madrid

Born on August 18, 1988, Mimi was the Founder and Executive Director of Fortaleza Familiar, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to the wellness of Indigenous, Chicanx, Latinx, LGBTQ, and Two-Spirit young people and their families in Colorado. They earned their degree in Convergent Media and Journalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

In 2011, Mimi joined their life with their beloved wife, Eleanor Dewey. Mimi and Eleanor built a home full of laughter, love, and service to their community, surrounded by their cherished pack of chihuahuas and cats. Together, they loved visiting family, dancing the night away, and spending a little too much money to see Beyoncé. Mimi was a dancer at heart, fighting for the revolution by day and moving their body to music by night.

Mimi is survived by their wife, Eleanor Dewey; their siblings Gabby, Ricky, and Tahiyari; their mother, Norma; their 13 nieces, nephews, and godchildren; their best friend Guadulpe Vargas; and a vast community of chosen family and friends. They were preceded in death by their grandmothers, Dolores Puga and Rosa Torres, and chosen family, Yvonne Sandoval.

A proud brown, queer, Two-Spirit artist, documentarian, columnist, and community organizer, Mimi dedicated more than 20 years of their career to movements for reproductive and racial justice, youth leadership, and LGBTQ+ liberation. They championed intergenerational learning, gender freedom, self-expression, singing out loud, and living life on one’s own terms. Mimi faithfully followed the sacred teachings of their elders and moved with grounded intentionality.

An avid outdoorsperson, Mimi felt most fulfilled when inviting others to deepen their connections to the land. Mimi often led river-rafting and camping adventures through Colorado’s wild beauty for LGBTQ+ youth. Their greatest joy came from time with family and from tending to fires – both real and symbolic – that brought light and warmth to all who knew them. Mimi always turned even the most ordinary tasks into grand adventures.

Mimi’s lasting revolutionary legacy will live on in the streets, over cafecitos, at community rallies, and even in the plant department of the local hardware store. Mimi reminded everyone that resistance and celebration were two wings of the same bird. Whether organizing, marching, or simply sharing space with community, Mimi brought people together with purpose and joy.

To all who were lucky enough to love and be loved by Mimi: their life was woven into existence itself — essential and irreplaceable. The trees, the birds, and the earth will feel their absence. Yet their memory calls us still — to continue the work of lifting the voices of oppressed peoples everywhere, for the liberation of all. A celebration of Mimi’s life will be held at Jefferson Unitarian Church, 14350 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401, on Wednesday, November 19, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, Mimi’s family requests that donations or gifts be made through Fortaleza Familiar to benefit Mimi’s community. Donation link: https://bit.ly/HonoringMimi

Miriam “Mimi” Madrid, de 37 años, nacida en El Paso, Texas, y criada en Denver, Colorado, en las tierras ancestrales de los pueblos Ute, Cheyenne y Arapaho, falleció el 6 de noviembre de 2025.

Nacida el 18 de agosto de 1988, Mimi fue la fundadora y directora ejecutiva de Fortaleza Familiar, una organización comunitaria sin fines de lucro dedicada al bienestar de jóvenes indígenas, chicanos, latinos, LGBTQ+ y de dos espíritus, así como de sus familias en Colorado. Obtuvo la licenciatura en Medios Convergentes y Periodismo de la Universidad Estatal Metropolitana de Denver.

En 2011, Mimi unió su vida con su amada esposa, Eleanor Dewey. Juntes, construyeron un hogar lleno de risas, amor y servicio a su comunidad, rodeados de sus queridos chihuahuas y gatos. Disfrutaban visitar a sus familias, bailando hasta el amanecer y, por supuesto, gastando un poco más de la cuenta para ver a Beyoncé. Mimi era bailadora de corazón, luchando por la revolución durante el día y bailando al ritmo de la música por la noche.

Mimi es sobrevivida por su esposa, Eleanor Dewey; sus hermanos Gabby, Ricky y Tahiyari; su madre, Norma; sus 13 sobrinos, sobrinas y ahijados; su mejor amiga, Guadalupe Vargas; y una gran comunidad de amigos y familiares. Les precedieron en la muerte sus abuelas, Dolores Puga y Rosa Torres, y su querida amiga Yvonne Sandoval.

Apasionade por la naturaleza, Mimi se sentía más llena al invitar a otros a profundizar su conexión con la Tierra. A menudo, guiaba aventuras de rafting y campamento a través de la belleza salvaje de Colorado para jóvenes LGBTQ+. Su mayor alegría venía del tiempo con su familia y de cuidar el fuego —tanto real como simbólico— que brindaba luz y calidez a todos los que la conocían. Mimi siempre convertía incluso las tareas más cotidianas en grandes aventuras.

El legado revolucionario de Mimi perdurará en las calles, en las charlas informales con un cafecito, en las protestas comunitarias e incluso en la sección de plantas en la tienda de ferretería. Mimi nos recordaba a todos que la resistencia y la celebración eran dos alas del mismo pájaro. Ya fuera organizando, marchando o simplemente compartiendo un espacio con la comunidad, Mimi unía a la gente con propósito y alegría.

A todos los que tuvieron la fortuna de amar y ser amados por Mimi: su vida estaba entretejida en la existencia misma, esencial e irremplazable. Los árboles, los pájaros y la tierra sentirán su ausencia. Sin embargo, su memoria nos llama aún a continuar la labor de alzar las voces de los pueblos oprimidos en todas partes, por la liberación de todos. Se celebrará un homenaje a la vida de Mimi en la Iglesia Unitaria Jefferson, ubicada en 14350 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401, el miércoles 19 de noviembre a las 11:00 a. m. En lugar de flores, la familia de Mimi solicita que se realicen donaciones o regalos a través de Fortaleza Familiar en su memoria para beneficiar a la familia de Mimi y a la comunidad.

Donation link: https://bit.ly/HonoringMimi

A visitation will be held at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, located at 7777 West 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, on November 18, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

The funeral service is scheduled for November 19, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the External Service Location, 14350 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401.

A graveside service will follow on the same day from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, 7777 West 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.

A reception will be held afterward from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the same location.