Each year, Denver Urban Spectrum recognizes individuals who are making a difference within Colorado communities and in the lives of others. After being nominated by their peers, a group of remarkable change makers undergoes a rigorous selection process based on service impact and achievement. This year, 12 men and women were selected from a group of 32 noteworthy nominees. In addition to their enormous efforts to affect positive change within their communities, they explained the motivation behind their civic and social engagement, provided suggestions for how to best address challenges facing the Black community and shared how they would like to be remembered. By
Al Gardener
•Executive Director of General Services, City & County of Denver
•Adjunct Instructor, University of Denver Graduate School of Technology
A A l Gardner is a champion of diversity in public service and technology who works to advance municipal operations with a steadfast commitment to innovation and inclusion. His leadership in Denver is defined by his efforts to create equitable systems and foster emerging talent.
facing the Black community, and would like to see the creation of policies that promote sustainable inclusivity.
Remembered as a leader who made a tangible impact, Gardner’s legacy is one of authenticity, empowerment and a dedication to fostering systemic change and inspiring others to serve.
Carlotta Todd
•Owner, Splash Rite Swim School
•Founder, Splash Rite Foundation
be unable to afford private swim lessons.
Todd’s efforts extend beyond lessons and books. Recognizing access to water-related resources and subsequent water-related deaths as challenges facing the Black community, she created a nonprofit foundation that secures grants and partnerships. She also hopes for the creation of legislation requiring water safety lessons in schools.
Over the past year, he has implemented cost-saving measures and advocated for inclusive procurement practices, directly benefiting the Black community. As a mentor, he creates pathways for career advancement and recognition, ensuring that minority professionals in Denver have opportunities to thrive.
In the last five years, he has served on the Denver Civil Service Commission and as Board President of the Citizens Oversight Board, where he worked to enhance accountability in law enforcement. His advocacy through the African American Commission and his leadership in technology have empowered individuals and strengthened the community.
Gardner’s philosophy is rooted in service. He believes in creating environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed. Looking to the future, he aims to continue championing minority-owned businesses, mentoring leaders and advancing equitable policies that benefit all. He recognizes systemic equities in education, economic opportunity and representation as challenges
C C arlotta Todd is an aquatics facility operator, swim coach and author who has transformed lives by teaching essential swimming skills and fostering diversity in aquatics. She is dedicated to promoting water safety and providing swimming opportunities for underserved communities.
Her work addresses disparities in water safety, particularly within the Black community, where drowning rates are significantly higher. She is best known for her free and low-cost swim lessons, public speaking engagements and her water safety children’s book series, including “The First Splish Splash” and “Splish Splash Safely,” featuring the animated water safety guru, Pang the Penguin.
She recently launched an innovative online course designed to help individuals overcome their fear of water and learn life-saving swimming skills, even without pool access. Her efforts have reduced barriers to aquatic education for individuals who would otherwise
Her vision for the future includes developing water safety toys and completing her water safety and pool adventure book series, all centered around promoting inclusivity and safety in swimming.
With a legacy of compassion and empowerment, her unwavering dedication to saving lives and enriching communities through water safety and education makes her a remarkable member of Colorado’s Black community.
Carolyn Love, PhD Consultant, Facilitator & Trainer, Kebaya Consulting
D D r. Carolyn Love is recognized for her expertise in fostering equity, belonging and meaningful dialogue. Through her work, she has empowered communities by facilitating critical conversations and serving as a thought partner for Black women, especially those focused on social change.
In the past year, she has amplified the often-overlooked contributions of Black women. She has mentored and referred business to
Ruby Jones
Black entrepreneurs, ensuring that their work is recognized and supported. Her commitment to fostering equity extends to her nonprofit, Black Women Solutionaries, which highlights the pivotal roles Black women play in education and social justice. Collaborating with the Iliff School of Theology, she has hosted impactful panel discussions on K-12 education and Critical Race Theory.
She challenges mainstream narratives that trivialize the Black community, and advocates for diverse perspectives that highlights its uniqueness.
Looking forward, Dr. Love seeks to create projects that unite diverse communities and promote sustainable change. Her vision includes using tools like targeted universalism to address systemic challenges and facilitate impactful conversations.
Her legacy is one of compassion, thoughtfulness and an unwavering dedication to equity and justice. She hopes to be remembered as someone who mastered the art of forgiveness while inspiring meaningful progress in her community.
Dianne Myles CEO, Human Focused Media
D Dianne
Myles is a storyteller, advocate and philanthropist whose work reflects a deep commitment to equity and empowerment. She has produced Emmy-winning content that amplifies diverse community voices, and spearheaded initiatives that have left an indelible mark on the Denver community. Continued on page 16
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From producing impactful shows on mental health, to raising over $1 million for Black nonprofits and initiatives like Denver’s first Black Women Loan Fund, her work consistently fosters connection and inspires action.
Showcasing her dedication to economic equity, she played a pivotal role in reigniting the AJL Foundation’s reparations grant, distributing $450,000 to Black-led nonprofits in 2023.
Over the past five years, she has celebrated Black excellence through storytelling and innovation, awarding over $100,000 in prizes at Denver Startup Week. She also produced the “Open for Black Girl Magic” exhibition at the Denver Art Museum, and launched the series I Am More Than, amplifying diverse voices across the city.
A proud Black woman and active community leader, Myles honors the legacy of her ancestors while creating pathways for future generations and helping to resolve systemic racism, economic inequality and educational disparities. She hopes for policy change, reparations and increased access to resources, and views storytelling as a vehicle to create momentum for transformative action.
Looking ahead, she envisions establishing funding models to elevate Black voices in media and retiring as a professor, mentoring the next generation of storytellers. She hopes to be remembered as a joyful, creative force – “sunshine in human form” – who used her talents to inspire change, connect communities and leave a lasting legacy of love.
Kent Ware II
(aka DJ Fa’Dorah)
•Creative, Artist & Entertainer
K K ent Ware II, known as DJ Fa’Dorah, is a dynamic artist, entertainer and community leader who curates nostalgic, one-of-akind R&B, old-school and underground soul musical experiences that resonate across generations.
As the first official locker room DJ for the University of Colorado Boulder football team under Coach Deion Sanders, he plays an integral role in fostering a sense of home and creating cultural connections for players whose collegiate experience has taken them far from their roots.
Beyond his artistry, he is an advocate for service and mentorship. For over a decade, he has volunteered at Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center during Thanksgiving and Kwanzaa celebrations. He also engages with Denver’s Black community at events such as the Black Arts Festival and the Juneteenth Music Festival. His groundbreaking performance as the first DJ to headline the Cherry Creek Arts Festival exemplifies his dedication to bridging communities through music.
A former state-ranked football player, DJ Fa’Dorah mentors young athletes and shares his craft with aspiring DJs, empowering them to turn their passions into careers. He recognizes disparities in education, economic opportunities, healthcare access, criminal justice and media representation as challenges facing the Black community, and attempts to alleviate issues through unification and collective action.
He sees music as a powerful means of resistance and a symbol of resilience that can elevate lives. Aspiring to be remembered as a community advocate, he makes a personal effort to pour into those around him to create a ripple effect of inspiration.
Eboni Boneé Coleman
•Owner,
EB Pixs
EEboni Boneé Coleman is a multimedia artist, storyteller and advocate dedicated to cultural preservation and community empowerment. Specializing in photography, videography and digital media services, she amplifies Black voices through creative expression and non-fiction storytelling.
She serves as the advisory board secretary for the Stiles African American Heritage Center, and is a co-founder of Black Pride Colorado, which promotes and celebrates Black LGBTQIA2+ voices. She is also a member of Black Women Photographers and Brown Girls Doc Mafia, which supports diverse representation in visual media.
By providing affordable multimedia and marketing services, she is helping to expand the reach and influence of Black-owned businesses and organizations across Colorado. Her acclaimed multimedia series, We Believe in God, Too, has gained recognition through collaborations with DCPA and Rocky Mountain PBS, as an exploration of the intersections of queerness, spirituality and Black culture.
Inspired by her late father, Reggie Coleman, a community leader honored by Tiger Woods for his dedication to education and empowerment, her commitment to service runs deep. She actively participates in initiatives like the Lavender Hill Cultural District and Colorado Council of Black Nurses, while advancing public art projects like the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit Public Art Project.
Looking ahead, Coleman aspires to produce feature documentaries that highlight Black women’s stories, and to create an international residency for Black media artists. She recognizes mental health, systemic racism and dis-
crimination as challenges facing the Black community, and hopes for the normalization of mental health conversations to shift narratives and change lives.
Her enduring legacy as a catalyst for transformative stories and opportunities will empower communities and generations to come.
Jason Shankle
•Founder & CEO, Inner Self & Wisdom
•Founder & Executive Director, Black Mental Health & Wellness Coalition
•Owner, Book King Publishing, Inc.
JJason
Shankle is a prominent therapist, author and activist who advocates for mental health awareness and cultural healing while empowering Black voices through literature.
Best known in the Denver community for his work as a therapist, professor and community activist, the Park Hill native takes pride in operating a private therapy practice in his hometown, where he has helped numerous clients navigate trauma and embark on healing journeys.
His contributions to the community include the “Bridge is Here” project, a nonprofit initiative that celebrates the cultural heritage of Black and African communities. He also offers free workshops on topics such as healing family-inherited trauma and addressing racial battle fatigue. Recognizing a lack of collective economics and healing as the biggest challenges facing the Black community, he believes that collective healing and economic empowerment are essential to uplifting the Black community. His efforts to address family trauma, substance use and mental health are intended to help the community grow in unity.
Looking to the future, Shankle aims to secure additional funding for The Black Mental Health and Wellness Coalition to support
free, transformative workshops for community members. He also plans to continue writing impactful books on Black mental health and education.
Jason hopes to be remembered as a fearless, compassionate leader who dedicated his life to empowering and liberating his community while inspiring others to embrace their purpose and potential.
Lorraine Hoover
•Founder & CEO, The Raymond Rountree Jr. Foundation
LLorraine Hoover’s advocacy is rooted in personal loss, having transformed the tragedy of losing her brother to an opioid overdose into a mission of hope and healing. As founder and CEO of The Raymond Rountree Jr. (RRJR) Foundation, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and families affected by substance use disorder.
Looking ahead, Hoover envisions establishing a permanent recovery and resource center in Denver to provide holistic services such as sober-living access, treatment resources and mentorship programs for youth.
Her legacy is one of empowerment, resilience and healing, and she hopes to be remembered as a passionate advocate, a bridgebuilder fostering hope and a relentless voice for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder.
Marcus Weaver •CEO, The People’s Pickles Executive Director, Lower the Barrier Colorado
M M arcus Weaver is a transformative leader dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities.
She champions recovery support services, housing initiatives and programs that reduce stigma surrounding addiction. Her efforts include the creation of initiatives that increase access to rent assistance and public transportation support for sober living residents. She also hosts quarterly fundraising events to raise awareness about addiction and promote healthy lifestyles.
Over the past five years, Lorraine has worked tirelessly to address systemic challenges facing the Black community by securing grants for housing assistance, coordinating health and wellness events and cultivating partnerships with local organizations. Recognizing that access to culturally competent care, affordable housing, healthcare equity and destigmatization of substance abuse are vital to overcoming barriers, she remains committed to creating sustainable solutions for underserved populations.
Renowned for his commitment to providing vocational training and job placement for individuals overcoming incarceration, homelessness and addiction, he has helped hundreds of individuals rebuild their lives through workforce training and mental health support.
A survivor of the Aurora Theater shooting, Marcus has channeled personal adversity into advocacy, entrepreneurship and social justice. His book, “Chosen to Forgive,” addresses themes of forgiveness and growth after early childhood trauma.
His advocacy work has shaped policies like Ban The Box, automatic record sealing and the repeal of the death penalty, which address systemic barriers disproportionately affecting communities of color. As the executive director of Lower the Barrier Colorado (LTBCO) his efforts have earned him numerous accolades, including the Juneteenth Verizon Dream Big Award.
He is a member of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative and a graduate of the Black Resilience
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Looking to the future, he envisions expanding LTBCO and The People’s Pickles into major cities while creating opportunities for sustainable change and continuing to combine social enterprise with community impact. This year, he will join The Barton Institutes’ 2025 Pathways Program, where he will work with mentors to initiate bold visions for social change.
With influences from several of Colorado’s inspiring community leaders guiding his footsteps, he hopes to be remembered as a resilient survivor and advocate who used his experiences to inspire and empower others.
Rakeis Timm
•Founder, CommunityKeis, “Black Spaces to Check Out” & Community Meets
and collaboration. She also serves as a member of the Urban League Young Professionals Metro Denver’s Board of Directors, contributing to initiatives that drive meaningful change.
In 2024, she launched “Community Meets,” a project designed to blend Black history education with economic empowerment by supporting local Black enterprise, an initiative that aims to circulate the Black dollar while strengthening community connections.
Committed to addressing challenges such as collaboration and cultural pride, Timm believes in the power of unity and shared history to inspire collective success. Her vision for the future includes expanding holistic wellness spaces and establishing trusted resources for mental health and empowerment in Black and Brown communities.
Black women. By hosting events like Movies in the Park and an annual Children’s Gala, CHIC creates spaces of joy, connection and celebration.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization mobilized resources to support those most affected, raising over $77,000 to provide critical aid. Its key achievement has been the establishment of an endowment fund that prioritizes long-term sustainability for Black-led organizations, making it a pillar of support, progress and advocacy.
Recognizing inequities in education, the criminal justice system, enterprise, homeownership and healthcare, Cooper played a pivotal role in passing the Justice for Black Coloradans Act in 2024, a historic piece of legislation that lays the groundwork for reparative justice.
deeply involved as a community doctor through the Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC), where she continues to educate and connect individuals with vital health resources.
Best known for her tireless advocacy and innovative health outreach initiatives, she conducts health screenings in barbershops and salons and provides mentorship to aspiring medical professionals. Her leadership was pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic. She gave educational presentations, authored informative blogs and coordinated the distribution of personal protective equipment and vaccines to underserved communities.
R R akeis Timm is a wellness entrepreneur, yoga instructor and community advocate dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown communities through connection, healing and empowerment. As the founder of Charismatic Movement Yoga, she promotes wellness with the tagline “Let’s Heal Together,” offering yoga and wellness classes that prioritize inclusivity and mental health. She has been instrumental in creating spaces for collective healing, including the popular summer “Yoga in the Park” series, which celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2025.
Her weekly “Black Spaces to Check Out” feature on Instagram and YouTube is widely recognized for its promotion of local cultural events and Black-owned businesses, fostering community pride
She hopes to be remembered as an authentic, joyful leader who encouraged her community to heal, connect and support each other; and as someone who helped continue the art of storytelling so that excellence in the Black community is acknowledged for generations to come.
Sade’ Cooper
•Founder, Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities (CHIC)
•Lead Visionary, Justice for Black Coloradans
SSade’ Cooper is a dedicated advocate who advances opportunities for Black women and youth in Colorado through education, workforce reentry and community-building initiatives.
Under her leadership, Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities (CHIC) has become a transformative force, addressing systemic challenges such as the school-to-prison pipeline and economic mobility for
She hopes to see an expansion of reparative solutions in the future, along with investments in policies and programs that drive strategic collaboration and lasting progress. Her unwavering faith and dedication drive her mission to create equity and empowerment for Black Coloradans, in addition to early examples of community advocacy she witnessed from her grandparents.
She hopes to be remembered as a “child of God, first,” and a compassionate, faith-driven leader whose life and work reflected a commitment to justice, community and lasting systemic change for generations to come.
Terri Richardson, MD
•Retired Internal Medicine Physician Colorado Black Health Collaborative
D D r. Terri
Richardson is a retired internal medicine physician who has dedicated her life to improving health outcomes and advocating for the Black community in Denver. With a clinical practice spanning 34 years, she remains
One of her recent accomplishments was her significant role in helping to pass Denver’s Flavor Ban legislation, a public health initiative to reduce harmful tobacco use. Her efforts exemplify her commitment to health equity and proactive community leadership.
Inspired by her upbringing in Northeast Denver and her parents’ teachings to give back, Dr. Richardson considers it her Godgiven duty to serve. She identifies systemic racism and anti-Blackness as critical challenges facing the Black community, and believes in the power of collective advocacy to address disparities in health, education and employment.
She hopes to be remembered as a humble servant leader who dedicated her life to uplifting others. Her future goals include documenting the legacy of Dr. Charles Blackwood and building initiatives that support Black health and empowerment. .
