Denver Urban Spectrum - Mayor Mike Johnston - August 2023

Photo by Lens of Ansar

The Denver Urban Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to spreading the news about people of color. Contents of the Denver Urban Spectrum are copyright 2023 by Bizzy Bee Enterprise. No portion may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

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Ceremonies and Celebrations

This month we continue the tradition of publishing key speeches from Denver’s mayor – with this one being the first from Mike Johnston, who was sworn into office on July 17 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. In his inaugural address, he shares his vision for “our dream of Denver.”

In honor of African Immigrant Month observed this month in Colorado, contributor Mariam Sylla highlights the 8th Annual Afrik Impact month-long celebration of “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.” Activities include an education forum, business summit, a community celebration, fashion show, a performance by Senegalese singersongwriter, Baaba Maal and a gala. Afrik Impact is presented by African Leadership Group, founded by Papa Dia to improve the quality of life for African immigrants and members of the diaspora.

On a similar note, DUS Associate Publisher Brittany Winkfield co-writes a piece with Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado President and CEO Ryan Ross on their recent trip of a life-time to Accra, Ghana. Their International Leadership Experience, which included 13 Coloradoans, offered an immersive experience to provide a connection and understanding to support mending and bridging the gaps between Black Americans and their brothers and sisters living in America from Africa.

This issue also shares perspectives on the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action by Thomas Holt Russell, as well as, a well-deserved salute to Colorado-based Tuskegee Airman James Harvey, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

There is always more to commemorate and celebrate as you peruse this issue, including the selection of the Denver Urban Spectrum for a prestigious journalism program.

LETTERS, OP-EDS AND OPINIONS

Affirmative Action

Curtailed Fallout from the Students for Fair Admissions Case

Op-ed by Thomas Holt Russell

Just as projected, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision that resonates through the hallowed halls of Ivy League institutions and beyond, shaking the bedrock of affirmative action in higher education. As a followup to my previous 2018 piece about the lawsuit brought by the group Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard University, let’s revisit the issue and examine the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Let’s rewind: The 2022 lawsuit accused Harvard of discrimination against Asian Americans in its admissions process. Spearheaded by conservative activist Ed Blum, the group’s ultimate goal was to eliminate the consideration of race in college admissions, thereby dismantling affirmative action.

Fast forward to today - the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Students for Fair Admissions, resulting in a severe curtailment of affirmative action programs nation-

wide. It seems Blum’s agenda has triumphed, yet the consequences are much broader than the mere increase in the acceptance rates for Asian Americans at Harvard.

This decision challenges the philosophy of “holistic admissions” that many top-tier schools have held dear. Until now, universities like Harvard emphasized a whole-person philosophy, considering qualities such as kindness, courage, community involvement, and more alongside academic merit. This ruling risks reducing admissions to purely quantitative methods, potentially altering the diverse landscape of campuses nationwide.

The decision also stands to affect African Americans disproportionately. It’s important to note that eliminating affirmative action was never solely about ensuring fairness for Asian Americans; it’s been suspected of harboring an underlying motive of disadvantaging African Americans in the quest for quality education. The fear now is that the fallout will primarily benefit white students rather than the Asian American students whose alleged plight fueled this lawsuit.

Angelia D. McGowan Managing Editor

The effects of this decision are wide-ranging and insidious. It threatens to divide the country along racial lines further as we previously warned. It’s a divisive move that pits one minority group against another, straining relationships and fueling existing racial tensions.

Worse still, this decision could have repercussions beyond the realm of education. If affirmative action is eradicated in higher education, it might also face challenges in hiring practices, aligning with conservative agendas that seek to diminish diversity in professional sectors.

What’s most disheartening is the question of what improvements this ruling will make for Asian American admissions. If holistic admissions factors remain intact, will we see a notable rise in Asian American admissions? Or have Asian Americans been used as a pawn in a broader ideological battle?

The aftermath of this Supreme Court decision will take time to manifest fully. It is undeniable that the change in direction will have profound and lasting effects on the face of

Continued on page 12

The 8th Annual Afrik Impact Celebration African Leadership Group Prepares for Largest Event Yet

By Mariam Sylla

If you are not at the table, you are on the menu. Everything we do is catered to community members having a seat at the table,” says Papa Dia, Founder and Executive Director of the African Leadership Group.

The African Leadership Group (ALG) is an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for African immigrants and members of the diaspora. Over the past 15 years, the organization has focused on helping families and individuals successfully integrate into their local community by using social, economic, and educational empowerment programs.

Dia’s journey began in Senegal, West Africa, as one of 13 children. He says that growing up in such a large family that was “literally poor,” taught him the value and importance of caring and sharing.

“I remember in order for me to go to school, I had to wait for my brother to come home and take off his pants and shoes so that I could put them on to go to school,” he recalls. “For me, what we were doing was just the norm.”

Having studied law in Senegal, Dia found himself having to start over when he decided to immigrate to the United States in 1998. “I came here looking for opportunities to support myself, and to support the family that I left behind,” he says. “When I came

over here, obviously I couldn’t transfer my credits because they were French credits and I didn’t have the money to pay for it.”

Upon his arrival in Denver, Dia was hired at Tattered Cover Book Store, where he was limited to stocking books and arranging displays due to his inability to speak English. He used the opportunity to teach himself the language, and within a year he was prepared for the next chapter in his story. He left the bookstore and began to work as a bank teller.

Working at the bank is where Dia believes the concept of ALG was born. A hotel near the bank employed several African immigrants who arrived every Friday to cash their checks. Naturally, he wanted to connect with them and assist them as much as he could.

“Back then, if you did not have a bank account, the bank would charge you seven dollars to cash your check because you

explains, “So I started educating them about opening a bank account and getting their first car loans.”

Almost immediately, word spread throughout metro Denver’s African community. Soon, the lobby was filled with people hoping to meet the “brother from Africa” who spoke French and Wolof. On any given day, 30 to 50 people waited with questions about services or documents needing translation; Dia was able to teach financial literacy in ways they could relate to and understand.

“All of a sudden, I found myself doing social work more than the banking job,” jokes Dia, “But it was good because I became the banker for this entire un-bankable community.” He realized how valuable it was to have someone who looked and sounded like them as their guide through the journey of living in America.

Singer-songwriter Baaba Maal

Minister of Culture Senegal Aliou Sow

Model of Senegalese designer Oumou Sy

When the increasingly large group meetings at the bank began to concern his employer, Dia looked for an alternative location to continue helping the community. He came up with an idea to create a platform that would help African immigrants successfully integrate into America.

“We didn’t have anything like that in Colorado, nor in the United States. That’s how I decided to start the African Leadership Group – with the vision to help facilitate the professional integration of the African diaspora through social, economic, and educational impact.”

Despite not knowing how to start an organization, Dia was fueled by his passion and vision of helping others. ALG was officially established in 2006 and operated for nearly 13 years without funding. From only about five members and regular small lectures, the organization has grown tremendously, welcoming approximately 1,000 participants throughout the years.

ALG eventually received funding in 2016 from the Walton Family Foundation after researching grant criteria and identifying Dia’s campaign as a grassroots movement. After spending a day with the CEO of the philanthropic foundation, Dia received an investment of $350,000, and the opportunity to leave the bank and focus solely on operating the organization.

“Since then, not only has my life changed, but so many lives have transformed,” Dia expresses proudly; “From there everything changed.”

Today, ALG’s executives, members, and volunteers take pride in its status as a true grassroots organization, with the community as its biggest focus. The top initiative of the organization is to serve the African immigrant population’s most critical needs, while

adhering to the core values of transformation, integrity, diversity and excellence.

“Everything comes from the community; everything is about the community; everything is put together by the community and everything is driven by the community,” Dia says.

In 2015, ALG hosted its first annual Afrik Impact event, celebrating the great contributions and impact that the African and Black diaspora have had on the state of Colorado. In 2021, dur-

ing the Afrik Impact Gala, Governor Jared Polis issued an honorary proclamation establishing the month of August as African Immigrant Month in Colorado.

“With this proclamation, it allows for us to know that we are embedded into this society and we are a part of this society,” Dia says. “We are not just the immigrants that crossed the border; we are not just those immigrants that do not have papers; but we are the immi-

grants that contribute to the great advancement of this country and we are now being recognized and seen.”

This year’s Afrik Impact celebration will span the entire month, starting with a highly anticipated Community Cultural Event and Concert on Saturday, August 5 at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. The festivities will begin with a community celebration, followed by a fashion

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Afrik Impact

Continued from page 5 show by Senegalese designer, Oumou Sy, and will end with a spectacular performance by singer-songwriter, Baaba Maal, known for his music on the Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

Philip Sneed, President and CEO of the Arvada Center, is also a good friend of Dia and a partner of ALG. When the two met at a dinner several years ago, they discussed the Arvada Center’s new IDEA initiative, and the facility’s efforts to focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. Sneed considered Dia’s involvement in the African immigrant community and remembers thinking, “We should not only look at the African American cultural work, but also the contributions of African immigrants and maybe the whole diaspora.”

The conversation sparked so much interest that the men traveled with their wives to Senegal earlier this year and met with

Mbagnick Ndiaye, the country’s Minister of Culture. Ndiaye suggested Baaba Mal as the concert headliner and even offered to pay for the artist and his band’s travel expenses.

Dia has hosted several events at the Arvada Center in the recent past, but Sneed says, “This by far is the biggest one.”

After the opening celebration, events will take place throughout the month, featuring the Education Forum on Thursday, Aug. 10, Business Summit on Thursday, Aug. 17, and other activities organized by partner organizations.

Afrik Impact will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 26, with the Afrik Impact Fundraising Gala, to be held at Denver Botanic Gardens’ UMB Bank Amphitheater. The theme of this year’s gala is “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.”

Unlike in previous years, Dia’s goal for this year’s event is to focus on representing not only the Black and African diaspora, but also cultures from all groups. The theme was sparked by an initiative created by members of ALG’s Leadership Africa Program to create a space for dialogue between African immigrants and Black Americans.

LaTerrell Bradford, team leader for the Black/African American Affinity Group and one of the founders of the Breaking Barriers initiative, explained the rationale for the innovative theme. “In the leadership cohort, we were placed in groups and we had to come up with a project, and I was the only Black American in my group. I suggested to the group that our project was breaking barriers and building bridges between African immigrants and Black Americans because there’s definitely some tension there,” Bradford explains. “I had visited Ghana three times and I’ve been to Togo and Benin; I realized that they really don’t know us and they don’t know our struggle.”

After working on the bridge between Africans and Black Americans for three years, the organization decided it was too limiting. The initiative has now been expanded to other “affinity groups” which are comprised of members from the Jewish, Indigenous American, Asian, Black, Hispanic, European, African and other communities. The collective came together to create a unity poem that will be a blend of individual poems created by each group and will be unveiled during the Afrik Impact events.

Alan Frosh, a participant of the Breaking Barriers project, president of Frosh Philanthropy Partners, member of the AntiDefamation League board of directors, and now co-owner of Tattered Cover Book Store was introduced to Dia by a friend. He was encouraged to meet the man who had learned English at the same bookstore he now owns. After meeting Dia and learning about ALG, Frosh believes the project and poem are transformational ideas.

“The work he’s doing within his own community is exceptional. This led to literally building bridges of understanding, especially in a time when we are all divided by politics, by background, by religion,” says Frosh, “A lot of people could learn from what he’s done in convening these disparate ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds together towards a very beautiful communitybuilding activity.”

The public is invited to join in the Afrik Impact celebration, take a seat at the table, and build bridges toward a more unified future..

Editor’s note: For more information or to purchase community concert tickets, visit https://arvadacenter. org/events/day-of-african-culture and/or Afrik Impact fundraising gala tickets, visit, https://usalg.org /initiatives/afrik-impact-2023/.

business banking for good

Eight Black-owned Local News Outlets Selected for Cohort 3 of Knight x LMA BloomLab

By LMA Staff

Since the Knight x LMA BloomLab launched in Spring 2022, the focus has been on leveraging technology to grow revenue and audience, leading to long-term sustainability. In its recent impact report, the lab reported growth of 133% in digital revenue after one year for Cohort 1, along with overall revenue growth of 21%. Last fall, eight more outlets joined the lab as Cohort 2, and their numbers are trending in a similar direction through nine months.

Local Media Foundation is excited to announce the launch of Cohort 3, consisting of eight Black-owned local news organizations:

•Denver Urban Spectrum

•Flint Beat (Michigan)

•Indianapolis Recorder

•LA Focus

•Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder

•Our Weekly (Los Angeles)

•Bay State Banner (Boston)

•The Times Weekly (Joliet, Illinois)

BloomLab and LMF leaders selected these media outlets from 25 applicants after a thor-

ough review process, including a panel of outside experts and individual interviews conducted by the three BloomLab directors.

The review panelists were Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, publisher of Black Voice News and founder of Voice Media Ventures, and Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of The Washington Informer, in addition to the three BloomLab directors: John Celestand, Apryl Pilolli and Robert Walker-Smith

The Knight x LMA

BloomLab is a three-year immersive experience with 26 Black-owned local media outlets, with funding of $3.2 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The participating organizations will receive technology grants of $50,000. The 18 publishers in Cohorts 1 and 2 will continue their work in the lab through 2024.

Continued on page 8

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Cohort 3

Continued from page 7

Cohort 3 will benefit from the early learnings of the previous two cohorts focusing on the lab’s three key areas: technology upgrades, business transformation consulting and shared learning opportunities.

“It is really exciting to see the Knight x LMA BloomLab evolve with the launch of Cohort 3,” said Nancy Lane, CEO, Local Media Association. “The work is hard but the payoff is huge. We have publishers in the first cohort with overall revenue growth of more than 50%. One of them quadrupled staff size. Transforming to a digital future requires serious technology and human capital resources. We are grateful to the Knight Foundation for making this kind of impactful investment in the Black press.”

The eight publishers will benefit from training and oneon-one coaching from the lab’s three directors, in addition to monthly group meetings often featuring industry experts. The lab directors will also visit each organization in-person to collaborate with local teams, advancing technology tools and implementation, sales outcomes and organizational capacity.

“We look forward to welcoming another amazing group of Black-owned local news publishers to the BloomLab,” said John Celestand, program director of the Knight x LMA BloomLab. “Because of the learnings we’ve

been able to gather working with the first two Cohorts, I believe we are in a prime position to assist these eight new publishers and help them advance their businesses immediately.”

Leaders from all eight organizations met with members of the BloomLab and LMF teams on July 31 in Chicago, coinciding with LMA Fest, for the official Cohort 3 launch event.   Meet the cohort

Denver Urban Spectrum

“Being selected to participate in the final phase of the Knight x LMA BloomLab experience is more than just an honor. It reflects the hard work and commitment in journalism that Denver Urban Spectrum has exuded for more than three decades. We are grateful that it is recognized by affording us the opportunity to enhance our mission of spreading the news about people of color – for and about our community.”

— Rosalind “Bee” Harris, publisher Flint Beat

“We are excited to be part of Cohort 3 of the BloomLab. Our Flint Beat team is working to develop a diverse revenue strategy and implement systems that will help operations run smoothly. Through the lab, we hope to learn best practices, implement systems and gain revenue through digital advertising. We aim to build a strategy to help sustain our newsroom without relying heavily on one area for revenue.”

— Jiquanda Johnson, founder and publisher

Indianapolis Recorder

“I am thankful and incredibly excited that the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper will be a Cohort 3 member of the Knight x LMA BloomLab. This transformational opportunity will enhance our technology and accelerate our business growth. I am eager to learn and collaborate with current and former cohort members, as this opportunity will help propel the Recorder toward another 128 years.”

— Robert Shegog, publisher L.A.

Focus

“L.A. Focus is thankful to have been selected to participate in Cohort 3 for the Knight X LMA BloomLab. We are confident that the program, with its transformative business model techniques, can propel our operations to the next level and help us achieve outstanding success in this digital age. ”

— Lisa Collins, publisher/CEO Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

“The Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder is beyond excited to participate in BloomLab Cohort 3. Working with the Lab will help us increase our multimedia platform’s presence and value as a critical resource provider, and increase engagement with our readers. What a wonderful opportunity to come as we begin our 90th year of continuous publication!”-

— Tracey Williams-Dillard, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Our Weekly

“I am delighted that Our Weekly Los Angeles Newspaper

has been selected for Cohort 3 of the Knight x LMA BloomLab. I am confident that working closely with three coaches who are experts at what they do will help develop Our Weekly’s digital footprint in the Los Angeles market. The web is one of the areas of critical growth, and we want Our Weekly’s website to be one of the top areas in our market for getting news about African Americans and the communities in which we serve.”

— David Miller, chief operating officer Bay State Banner

“We are excited to participate in the BloomLab since we just purchased one of the oldest Black newspapers in New England that had a very slight digital presence. We are looking to transform the Bay State Banner website into a community portal, where people can apply for a student loan or find a mental health expert from their communities and expand our reach into different New England states. We just started a Black business portal where African American businesses of all types can put their name onto an active list for the public to see. It is growing exponentially, and the BloomLab can help teach us to tailor it for maximum exposure.”

— Andre Stark, COO The Times Weekly

“I am excited to join the BloomLab cohort and look forward to learning new ways to build our digital footprint. Participation in the lab is what we need to aggregate our digital newsroom.”

— Jayme Cain, Publisher

Senator Rhonda Fields Launches Campaign for

Arapahoe County Commissioner

issued the following statement: Arapahoe County’s population and economy are booming. In fact, within a few short years, we are destined to become the most populated county in Colorado. In that context, my core objectives as a county commissioner will be to:

1) Serve as a trusted partner for our sheriff’s department and the Aurora and Glendale Police Departments to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to keep us all safe.

2) Elevate the profile of Arapahoe County Works as a resource for connecting people to jobs and apprenticeships, internships, and mentorships.

I recognize that county roads, parks, trails, open space, our tree canopy, and every other county asset require ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M) — all of which come at a cost. Anticipating and preemptively planning for O&M costs is essential to strategic planning.

Citing her unrelenting commitments to public safety, crime prevention, affordable housing, a vibrant business climate, smart growth, and transportation infrastructure Senator Rhonda Fields announced her candidacy for Arapahoe County Commissioner, District 5.

Incumbent Commissioner Bill Hollen, who is term-limited, immediately endorsed her. “I’ve known Senator Rhonda Fields for many years. She’s a highly effective leader with public policy expertise in many realms,” said Commissioner Bill Hollen. “From public safety, workforce development, and early childhood learning to protecting air and water and supporting open space and infrastructure investments, Rhonda is an ever- vigilant champion of the people of Aurora and Arapahoe County. She’s independent, thoughtful, and known for respectfully but effectively taking on legislative leaders of both parties to serve her constituents. Her work ethic, experience, and effectiveness are outstanding. I wholeheartedly support Rhonda for Arapahoe County Commissioner District 5.”

In announcing her candidacy, Senator Rhonda Fields

3) Invest in enrichment and recreational opportunities for our youth to engage them constructively; keep them safe and off the streets; steer them away from gang activity and graffiti; and place them on a positive trajectory to adulthood.

4) Collaborate with local senior advocates to enhance opportunities and quality of life for our seniors, who deserve a dignified retirement after a life of hard work.

5) Honor our veterans and military families, and support every facet of their well-being.

6) Collaborate with fellow county commissioners, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the Aurora Economic Development Council, and the City of Aurora to recruit new corporate headquarters (employers) to Arapahoe County while positioning our county as the best place in the metro region for entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow and thrive.

7) Aesthetically shape inevitable county growth while mitigating undesirable growth impacts. That also means making strategic investments in our transportation infrastructure and pothole repair. By extension, that means planting and maintaining many more trees to enhance the tree canopy and beauty of our county, to combat the pervasive heat-island effect, and to provide residents with shadier respites during historically hot, dry summers.

Lastly, as a sitting senator and aspiring county commissioner, my message to the business community is simple: Arapahoe County is open for business, and I’m standing by to help you succeed! Whether you’re a large corporation seeking to relocate to the metro region, an entrepreneur pursuing a new venture, or an established businessperson, please be advised: we want you! You generate the sales tax revenues that help pay for essential county services.

BOTTOM LINE: as county commissioner, I intend to use my influence to enhance our community as an idyllic place to live, work, raise a family, grow a business, and retire.

Rhonda is a 30-year Aurora homeowner and raised two children in Aurora public schools. Before serving in the legislature, Rhonda worked in management for United Airlines. The double homicide of her young son, Javad Fields, and his fiancé, Vivian Wolfe, propelled her into public service as one of Colorado’s leading crime-victims’ advocates. Rhonda has one adult daughter, Maisha Fields, and four grandchildren.

Throughout her legislative career, Senator Fields has consistently given voice to the voiceless and sought to represent the most vulnerable people and families in Arapahoe County and throughout the state. Her legislative legacy is undeniable. Having sponsored dozens of legislative bills that ultimately became law, she is among Colorado’s most highly effective lawmakers. Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg called her the “conscience of the Senate.”.

Getting Rid of Affirmation Action is Not the End of the World

By Thomas Holt Russell

Everybody has asked the question, and they learned to ask it early of the abolitionist

‘What shall we do with the negro?’ I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! You’re doing with us has already played the mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on a tree of their own strength, if they are worm-eaten at the core, if they are early ripe and disposed to fall, let them fall! I am not for trying to fastening them on the tree in any way except by nature’s plan and if they will not stay there let them fall.

And if the Negro cannot stand on his own legs let him fall also. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone! If you see him on his way to school, let him alone, don’t disturb him! If you see him going to dinner the table at a hotel, let him go! If you see him going to the ballot-box, let him alone, don’t disturb him! If you see him going into a workshop, just let him alone - your interference is doing him a positive injury.

Frederick Douglass Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society

April 1866

If Frederick Douglass were alive today, he might have a hard time convincing the African American community that the Supreme Court’s decision to curtail affirmative action for college admittance is good for them in the long run.

While we are still collectively trying to figure out where the country is headed after the Court’s decisions on abortion and affirmative action, there seems to be a march towards policies that, on the surface at least, indicate that we are going backward. In the short run, removing affirmative action may seem to be a positive stepin the wrong direction. However, some think that eliminating affirmative action policies will force African Americans to develop habits they presently lack, such as financial security.

It seems that both sides overrate this whole affirmative action thing. Maybe I have been hanging out with the wrong crowd (a very good possibility), but I don’t think I can name three people I know who benefited from affirmative action. I can’t name any; l just thought three sounded good. If I listen to the right-wing folks, they have lost thousands of jobs to unqualified people of color and the world is falling apart because of this. If I listen to the left wing, affirmative action is a birthright; it is the thing that keeps African Americans’ heads above the shifting currents of racism, poverty and all its children, drugs, violence, poor education and ill health.

Affirmative action is (was) a real thing. But no large swaths of unemployed white people have been kicked out of the race for the American Dream. That population does not exist. Affirmative action has not made a positive dent in the numbers that really count: the poverty level of African Americans. Many have benefitted from affirmative action

programs, and colleges have enforced policies and quotas that helped people of color, but affirmative action for jobs has yet to do what some claim. Blacks are at the bottom of every significant financial and educational statistic.

What is the big deal about the supreme court decision?

Like many social programs, affirmative action was primarily designed to treat the illness’s symptoms instead of the cause. If we never address the root cause of our poverty, we will forever put band aids on wounds gushing blood instead of addressing the real problem.

Many people, such as the late Walter E. Williams, say African Americans suffer from two types of poverty: financial and spiritual. By spiritual poverty, he means that African Americans lack the moral values usually required of successful people. He calls these pathological lifestyles, including alcohol addiction, crime, violence, incarceration, illegitimacy, dependency and erosion of work ethic. Whew!

While the Supreme Court decision against affirmative action in college admissions has made the headlines, it’s important to look beyond the headlines and consider its ramifications from a broader perspective. The potential effects of this decision aren’t just confined to the African American community; they will likely reverberate across the nation, affecting various demographic groups and communities.

When evaluating the impact of this decision, it’s worth considering individual states’ responses. California and Washington had already banned affirmative action in college admissions years before the Supreme Court ruling. These states may offer us a preview of what could happen nationally.

In California, after the ban on affirmative action (Proposition 209) was implemented in 1996, the percentage of underrepresented minority students enrolled in the University of California system schools fell sharply. However, this trend has been reversed over the years through the university’s increased efforts to boost college readiness among these populations. It remains a contentious issue, with efforts

to repeal Proposition 209 narrowly failing in the November 2020 elections.

All of this doesn’t mean the end of the fight for racial and economic equity. It only underscores the importance of addressing systemic issues such as poverty, educational disparities and the lack of social mobility head-on rather than relying on piecemeal solutions. It is a reminder that the path toward equality and justice

often isn’t straightforward but requires continuous commitment, creativity and resilience from all segments of society.

As we consider the future of affirmative action, we must strive for a society where everyone, regardless of race or socioeconomic background, has a fair shot at success. The Supreme Court decision isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning of a new chapter in this ongoing struggle..

Affirmative Action

Continued from page 3 higher education and, potentially, the corporate world.

As we move forward in this altered landscape, it’s vital to remember why affirmative action was needed in the first place. Its absence is akin to demanding escape from a sinking ship while actively dismantling the lifeboats. Affirmative action served as a countermeasure to socio-economic disadvantages, providing access to high-quality education to those who, due to historical and systematic inequalities, might otherwise struggle to attain it.

If this decision marks the end of affirmative action, it’s critical to consider alternate solutions. The challenges underprivileged communities face won’t disappear with the policy; they’ll just be less visible. The fight for equality and social justice must continue, albeit in a different form. The change may spark

greater political involvement and resourcefulness in the affected communities, building resilience.

Let’s not forget, before this resilience takes root there will be a period of upheaval. We must prepare and brace ourselves for this significant transition, staying committed to the ideals of equity and inclusion, no matter the legal or political landscape. In the long run, we may look at this as an advantage as it forces us to change the root cause of why we need affirmative action in the first place: poverty, low-paying jobs, lack of healthcare, and, yes, racism. Some look at this as an opportunity for positive development. However, the people who have pushed this to the supreme court are claiming another victory in the right-wing dismantling of all systems and programs that benefit many African American and Hispanic communities..

Through September 24, 2023

Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is presented with generous support from the Adolph Coors Exhibition Endowment Fund, The Christensen Fund, U.S. Bank, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado.

IMAGE: Carlos Frésquez, The Obsidian Ranfla Series #1 (detail), 1999. Spray paint, screen print and oil paint on MDF panel; 13 x 20 in. From the collection of Manuel and Flo Ramos. © Courtesy of Carlos Frésquez.

ince 2007, the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado (ULFC) has been in existence with the simple goal of bolstering Black professionals’ lived and professional experiences. The work has been rewarding and effective, boasting over 450 alumni who are engaged and impacting every major industry in Colorado, from nursing and veteran services to politics and entrepreneurship.

Over the last few years, like many organizations, ULFC has been reflective and has conducted many organizational assessments, taking a critical look at who we are as an organization and how we need to show up for the community. Completing this work resulted in a new strategic plan, additional programs, and a stronger focus which now includes a deeper focus on service, executive leadership presence and cultural identity.

The cultural identity aspect is essential for us; after all, how can a Black leader truly lead if they don’t understand who they are? How can children be complete without actual rites of passage programs? Can we heal as a people if daily forces actively work to silence, block, or erase our access to our historical roots and culture? What does it mean for our mental health to have vital information gaps about who we are? These are only a few questions that led to creating the ULFC international cultural emergence experience in Africa.

This immersive experience helps not only answer these questions but provides a connection and understanding that we believe will support mending and bridging the gaps between Black Americans and our brothers and sisters living in America from Africa. The International Leadership

ULFC International Leadership Experience

By Ryan Ross, Ph.D. & Brittany Winkfield

flex power all over the place. The 2023 group in all our Black Excellence, role-modeled diplomacy spread laughter and leaned into an authorizing environment. We stood out like a sore thumb for all the best reasons, and individuals noticed we were calm during the storm.

Our approach led to new friends and individual attention, and unlike many other impacted travelers, our journey continued.

Travel challenges forged a deep connection throughout this cohort; our travel woes and experiences in the country led to a group of people that will lead, serve, and grow together for years to come.

Experience (ILE) is not designed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but rather a journey home, a healing opportunity, a connection with cultural identity, and an opportunity to see leadership, service, and an authentic village mentality from the perspective of the family we have been disconnected from for far too long.

This 9-day intentionally curated experience:

•Brings fellows face-to-face with the origin story and impact of enslavement on Africans and African/Black Americans.

•Provides an international perspective on business, leadership, local history, politics, and development.

•Provides an opportunity to connect with a tribe through a formal invitation to join and receive an African name through a traditional ceremony.

•Gives a deeper understanding of political challenges and opportunities in Africa

•Dispels dramatized narratives commonly shared in the United States about African countries through physical experiences.

•Promotes psychological safety and healing.

The 2023 Experience

It is often said that the road home is always a journey and something one earns. This thought rang true and was the experience of the 13 individuals who embarked on the 2023 ULFC ILE. Despite two years of planning, flawless leadership execution, relationship-building across the ocean, and childlike eagerness to begin, fate decided that some hazing had to happen.

A singular mechanical issue on an American Airlines jet thrust this year’s group into a cycle of unfortunate events that only grace, patience, leadership, and understanding of the authorizing environment could deliver them from. A trip scheduled to take 20 hours and one transfer took nearly four days, two states, and an unexpected visit to Qatar.

Managing groups is a task alone, but doing it over the holiday weekend with a less-thanresponsive travel agency, an airline providing alternative facts, and travel destinations abroad could have been a nightmare if working with underevolved leaders, but that wasn’t the case. There was yelling, cursing, and people trying to

After an unexpected passport stamp and a fantastic experience in Doha, Qatar (simply amazing), we made it to the Motherland: Accra, Ghana. From the moment we set foot in Accra, the group was greeted by the warm and welcoming nature of the Korleman Community. Ghanaians are known for their hospitality, and the group quickly discovered their eagerness to share their rich cultural heritage with visitors. We were met by prayer, celebration, pouring of libations by Chief Nii Mantse Beetei, and a delegation of the GA tribe.

Although our time had been condensed, the impact was undeniable. Going home to Africa, even in the first two hours of being there, changed the lives of our fellows. The love, amazement, joy, and sense of “this is incredible” in their eyes is a sight no one will forget.

Our leaders were excited but hadn’t seen anything yet. The naming ceremony, which is

Continued on page 14

Photos by Ajay Kyle

ULFC Int’l Leadership Experience

Continued from page 13

Our walk led us to the chief’s palace, where the king and queen mother greeted us. The

tance of community support and collective responsibility. With this, the tribe leaders installed Ross as Chief of Development for a brighter future.

By forging international alliances, ULFC enhances its capacity to drive sustainable change and leverages collective resources to address systemic challenges. These partnerships also offer fellows invaluable networking opportunities, connecting them to explore and connect with the roots of our heritage.

considered a crucial rite of passage in Ghanaian culture, was like a scene from the movie Ali, where village members chant as Will Smith (who portrays Ali) walks and is received by the people.

Our bus took us about an hour outside of Accra to Korleman, the village of the GA tribe. As the bus turned, we heard thunderous yelling and drums. When we pulled up, men, women, and children were everywhere! We unloaded the bus and were embraced, cheered for, and welcomed. We walked behind drummers, dozens of people, and the chief village warrior, who donned a ceremonial helmet. Everyone was dancing, recording, taking selfies, and shouting welcoming expressions.

king poured libations, prayed over us and the community, and prayed for good and just to overcome evil and wrongdoing. Although we couldn’t understand every word because he prayed in the native languages of Twi and GA, we felt every word through his passion, commitment, and intention. It was like we knew every word when he translated after he finished.

The naming ceremony began with us receiving and subsequently being changed into our ceremonial clothing; beautiful head wraps, stunning handmade sandals, traditional skirts, and robes. We were then brought into the main room of the village palace, where we were once again met by the king and queen mother and asked to sit on beautiful stools with prominent Adinkra symbols carved into them. It was time to begin, the emcee yelled in Twi, “It’s time to receive the chief.” Everyone immediately got quiet and then entered Chief Nii Beetei with a chief of a neighboring tribe. While this wasn’t the entrance that many of us have grown accustomed to from watching “Coming to America,” it was full of pride, respect, admiration and love.

“To be clear, I knew we would be receiving African names, but I had no idea the celebration would include student presentations through song, reciting history, and attendance of members of the royal court and village elders. Nothing about my previous conversations informed me that the event would be a standing room only on the inside and practically a block party on the outside,” exclaimed Ross.

“I speak for every fellow when I say we were humbled, believed we were in the middle of a miracle-filled moment, and were utterly speechless. We walked in as Dr. Ryan Ross, Wafa Saeed, Ahmad Lowe, Danielle Johnson, Betty Hart, Brandon Bruce, Hanifah Chiku, Jeffrey Kass, Towanna Henderson, Antoinette Kyle, Ikra Mohammed, Nicole Jones, and Brittany Winkfield of the United States by way of Colorado. We left with Ghanaian names and official status as members of the GA tribe in Ghana who live in Colorado. I am so thrilled about this relationship and excited to see all that comes because of it.”

about slavery, sometimes learning about it in schools, and fighting for equity, our group would be ready to come face-toface with the atrocities of our ancestors – we were not.

Silent tears rolled down our faces, and shared glances spoke volumes. The dungeons were indeed dungeons; perhaps worse than you can imagine. The floors were not smooth floors that felt good beneath your feet. They were fossilized layers of blood, sweat, tears, bones and vomit from our ancestors. The air was thick with death, psychosis, crime and hypocrisy.

We walked the rooms where coercive power was used to rape women, kidnap humans and brainwash children against their own people. We sat in the dark and cold dungeons where the light was not welcome, and food was a suggestion; in other words, we sat in a room designed for murder. We walked through chapels where the gospels were preached, and prayers were sent to God; but underneath the pulpit, our ancestors were tortured, starved, stripped of identity and held against their will.

“I have never felt so loved, welcomed, wanted, or seen in my life!” expressed Dr. Ryan Ross, ULFC President and CEO.

Within the Korleman community is a sense of collaboration. This communal gathering signified the group’s integration into the larger social fabric, emphasizing the impor-

The heavenly experience of community, joy and connection quickly became a state of complexity, anxiety, deep sadness, and honestly, anger the next day as our delegation toured the Elmina and Cape Coast enslavement castles. One would think after years of hearing

Captured Africans were terrorized for at least 90 days until they were barely alive. Then, they marched through the Door of No Return to the slave ships, where they were laid side by side like animals in horrific conditions and shipped to the new world, never to see Africa again.

It was a tough day, but we took strength in realizing that

we are the descendants of resilient people who refused to die. Their refusal to die meant we all could come home through the Door of Return (renamed for those returning home).

The next leg of our journey took us East to the cradle of civilization, better known as Egypt.

Famous for its ancient civilization, Egypt is home to one of the wonders of the world, and the monuments of the majestic pharaohs; most famous are the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum and the newly constructed Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

Riding camels, tipping for any service, and enjoying a dinner cruise down the Nile were amazing experiences, but seeing what is considered to be the origin story for so many was astonishing. The text, images and hieroglyphs on papyrus paper looked as if they were written yesterday. The

engineering and ingenuity it took to build the pyramids and create these giant structures is unbelievable. The attention to detail, the excellent condition of artifacts, and the enormous amount of gold used truly showed the abundance of resources available in this area at one point in our existence.

Academicians and researchers have argued about the authentic ethnicity of Egyptians for years, however, it was as clear as a sky without clouds for us: Blacks, Africans, African Americans, and people of color were present in the beginning. We saw ourselves in every exhibit, statue, mummified remains, picture and display case. Whether it was facial features, hips, and thighs, or simply the swag, no one can tell the 13 leader-adventurers from Colorado that Black folks aren’t critical to the cradle of civilization.

There’s no argument for us. We, too, are a part of this his-

tory, and we can’t let colonizers or those seeking to control the narrative discount or erase our existence or claim that we weren’t there. After all, isn’t it Africa?

From the Perspective of Our Fellows

There was so much to see, feel, and experience. One account doesn’t give this experience the justice it deserves. The following are some highlights and key takeaways from ILE Fellows:

“For me, this was a manifestation of a longtime goal of placing my footprint on the soil of my ancestors. It affirmed how necessary it is for those of us, the descendants of ‘the stolen ones,’ to make this journey. The emotions felt from being in Ghana and seeing the slave dungeons where our ancestral journeys began were powerful. I’m thankful to have shared with this group.”

- Hanifah Chiku

“I will always remember the warm welcome that we received in Ghana! Starting from our arrival at the airport with Chief Nii Mantse Beetei and the elders of the Korleman community. We were immediately immersed in the Ghanaian culture with drumming, dancing, and prayer and it continued with the community ritual for our naming ceremony. Seeing all of the people greeting us with so much joy made me feel like a valued member of the community and that I was home. This experience motivates me to learn about my roots, and I am honored to be able to support the Korleman community by building a library for the children.”

-Towanna Henderson

A phenomenal experience that mere words can’t honestly describe. We encourage you to see for yourself; it is time to return home..

Editor’s note: For information on the next ILE experience, reach out to ryan.ross@ulfcolorado.org or wafa.saeed@ulfcolorado.org.

There are moments that mark chapters in our lives, like a climber halfway to the summit, who stops at a lookout to see where we’ve come, and where we still have to go, who we have been and who we still aspire to be. The last time a new mayor took this oath 12 years ago, we could never have imagined the path that waited ahead.

Some of us watched our mothers take their final breaths from the other side of a glass window, unable to hold their hands because the pandemic that was taking them, might take all of us.

Some of us saw a cousin stumble slowly into addiction, and now has lost his home, his job, his family, and we shudder to wonder where he’s sleeping or what he’s doing to survive.

Some of us have waited, heart racing too fast to breathe, for a text back from your son who is inside a school with an active shooter; just please God, text me that you’re ok.

We have given the last hug to a neighbor, with her entire life packed into the back seat, as she drives out of Denver for the last time because no matter how many hours she worked, she couldn’t afford to live in the neighborhood where she grew up.

And even as we faced these struggles one day at a time, the very ground beneath us shifted as we climbed, a country founded on the belief that good people can come together to solve hard problems saw our public discussion go from productive to combative, from optimistic to antagonistic, from hopeful to heartbroken. And those trials were tinder for the fires of division, where every unsolved problem fueled a story that these problems are unsolvable, or that we had to wait for someone else to solve them. Instead of turning to each other, we turned on each other instead of reaching out a hand, we pointed a finger.

But today’s question is not how we found ourselves here, but how we find our way out of here.

At our worst we get caught in the cycle of American hurt we face a hard challenge, we blame others, we sow division rather than building coalitions, we don’t take strong action, we fail, the problem

gets worse, the hurt gets harder, the blame gets louder, the bonds of democracy get weaker, the dreams get smaller.

At our best we build a cycle of American hope: we set ambitious dreams, we bring together broad coalitions, we take courageous action, we deliver steady small successes, that each day build our trust in our neighbors, and build our faith in our ability to achieve big dreams. If we can integrate one bus line in Birmingham, then maybe we can integrate buses and schools and businesses for an entire country. If we can open up the franchise for women in one state, then maybe we can do it in all 50. If we can send a rocket into space, then maybe, just maybe we can send a man to the moon. With each small success our bonds grow tighter, our progress grows steadier, our belief grows stronger, and our dreams grow larger.

Mayor Mik An Oath to Dream, to Inaugural Address Foc

Photos by Le July 17

Nowhere is that cycle of hope more evident that it is here in Denver, we dreamed a city at the base of a mountain range that once seemed uninhabitable, we survived a fire and a flood that twice devastated this city, we connected a railroad to the rest of the world, we built industries from the land and its

Ellie Caulkins

ke Johnston Serve, and to Deliver cuses on Homelessness

resources, and then we reinvented ourselves over and over with new ideas, new industries, new innovations; and at each stage big dreams matched with hard work and shared sacrifice led to historic success. Now Denver is ready for a new dream.

Our Dream of Denver is when you land at your lowest, without a job or a place to stay, shackled by addiction or struggling with mental illness, we will not judge you or abandon you, and we will not give up on you. We will get you a home, we will get you help, we will get you healed.

Our Dream of Denver is a city that belongs to all of us, so if you serve this this city, as a nurse or a teacher or a waitress or a bus boy or a bus driver, you can afford to live in this city and raise a family here.

Our Dream of Denver is a city where you feel safe in every part of our city, so you can send your kids out to play in any neighborhood at any time of day and not once worry about their safety.

Our Dream of Denver is refusing to abandon our city center, but promising to reimagine it, as centers of commerce

and culture, art and music, where all of us can live and work and play. To build industries that manifest the creativity of our diverse entrepreneurs, that showcase what makes us different and what makes us Denver, in spaces where all of us feel seen and safe and celebrated.

Our Dream of Denver is that the things we build support the people that built them; houses that house those who built them; hospitals that serve those who serve us; and roadways that carry home the hands that paved them. Our dream is a city that asks not only what we are building, but who we are building it for, mindful always of how we build a city that serves those who have been left out of the cities successes for far too long.

That is our Dream of Denver.

So today, we dedicate ourselves to two essential American ideas: every problem we face is solvable, and we are the ones to solve them.

Those of us on this stage swore an oath today, but for us to succeed, every Denverite must take their own oath, an oath to dream, serve, and deliver.

To dream a Denver bold enough to include all of us, to serve our city above ourselves, to march on shoulder to shoulder, undeterred by failure, until we deliver results.

That is our oath.

Democracy is the simplest belief to explain, and the hardest one to practice. At its essence, Democracy is an act of love. Our instinct as people is to reserve love for those closest to us, and reserve suspicion for everyone else. But the essence of democracy is that it calls on our ability to do something that feels unnatural — to love those who are different than us, to believe in them, to work with them, to sacrifice for them, to deliver for them.

That is our Dream of Denver, that is our promise to our people, that is our pledge to each other.

That is how we put our arms around those stuck in a cycle of hurt, and pull this city back into a cycle of hope. It is how we dream, serve and deliver Denver as America’s best city.

Now let’s get to work!.

Former Denver Bronco Terrell Davis Dances with CPRD Denver Stars Gala

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance 13th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars Gala Benefits Thousands of Students

A stunning cast of 13 new dancing stars prepares to take the stage in support of art education programming. The 13th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars Gala, held by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD) will take place on the evening of Aug. 12 at the Hilton Denver City Center.

Now celebrating its 53rd season, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, each year hosts the Dancing with the Denver Stars (DWTDS) fundraiser event to raise money and awareness for its Arts-In-

Education outreach program, which increases exposure and access to dance and global culture for metro-area students. Stars for the event represent community leaders who are identified by their demonstration of courage to those they serve. “They learn new steps in leadership to support critical arts programs, such as dance. It is a joyful and new educational experience in serving our community,” says CPRD Executive Director, Malik Robinson.

This year’s dancing cast, including former Denver

Broncos Running Back, Terrell Davis, has been practicing an exciting array of choreography since the annual kickoff event held in May at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The gala kickoff offered the stars a chance to meet several DWTDS alumni and be paired with their partners for this season’s performance. The stars and their professional dance counterparts from the CPRD Ensemble and CPRD apprentice company, Cleo II, selected music from a list of artists following this year’s theme: Celebrating the Divas of Music. Assisted by Cleo Parker

Robinson, CPRD Founder and Artistic Director, the pairs learned choreography on a grand scale, fine-tuning remarkable stylistic preferences to create a storyline for each performance. They have rehearsed diligently ahead of the August 12 gala and are expected to bring magic to the stage.

“We designed Dancing With The Denver Stars to demonstrate the level of dedication it takes to learn and present dance—it’s a complex pairing of mind and body. What better way than to have our community leaders learn and share the value of dance with their peers,” shares Gwen Brewer, CPRD Board Chair.

“Our 13 Stars demonstrate that dancers can start this journey at any point in life! Dance – and the stories behind each dance –create spiritual, mental, and physical energy, and strengthen academic health for the minds and bodies of the tens of thou-

sands of students we serve. Dance shows us how our minds and bodies can grow at any age,” says Parker Robinson.

Created in 2009 to demonstrate the level of dedication it takes to learn and present dance, DWTDS is directed by Gwen Brewer, a retired educator and CPRD Board Chair. This year’s event co-chairs are Holly Velasquez Horvath, Regional Vice President, Xcel Energy and Jerome Davis, Executive Vice President, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

While only a few tables remain, tickets for the August 12 gala can be purchased from the CPRD website at www.cleoparkerdance.org. Those who are unable to attend can support CPRD’s art education initiative and watch the event live with a $50 donation – a link to a live recording will be viewable from anywhere with an internet connection.

Meet the 2023 Dancing With The Denver Stars

Terrell Davis

Former Denver Bronco

Running Back

Dance Partner: Ralaya Goshea

Cody Field Safeway | 2013 Special Olympics Colorado Athlete of the Year

Dance Partner: Gabrielle Maduro

Maisha Fields, RN

Founder | Chief Nursing Officer Dayton Street

Opportunity Center & Clinic

Dance Partner: Tyveze Littlejohn

Kelly Marlin Flenniken

Director, Community Relations, Xcel Energy

Dance Partner: Samuel Gaines

Michelle Griego CBS4 Colorado, KCNC Morning/Noon Anchor

Dance Partner: Michael Battle

Lauren Guthrie

Global DEI & Talent Development, VF Corporation

Dance Partner: Lamar Rogers

Brian Holland Director, Bus. Development, Mortenson

Dance Partner: Samiyah Lynniece

Dakeana Jones-Bishop

Dance Partner: Devrae Jefferson

Meredith Leighty Mayor, City of Northglenn

Dance Partner: Corey Boatner

Laura Nieto Director, Community Outreach, Southwest Airlines

Dance Partner: Cedric Hall

Naquetta Ricks

Colorado HD 40 Representative

Dance Partner: Melvin Sutton

Chris Ross

SVP, Commercial Banking, US Bank

Dance Partner: Jasmine Francisco

Brian Vogt CEO, Denver Botanic Gardens

Dance Partner: Caeli Blake

Navigating the Denver Real Estate Rollercoaster

Selling Your Home in a Shifting Market with Rising Interest Rates

By Barry Overton

In the everevolving landscape of real estate, navigating the market can be a formidable task, especially when interest rates are on the rise and buyers approach with a cautious stride.

As homeowners, we find ourselves at the crossroads of uncertainty, facing the challenge of selling our cherished properties amidst an environment of higher borrowing costs and prudent purchasing decisions. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore the strategies and insights essential for successfully selling your home in a market where interest rates loom larger than years past, and buyers proceed with a discerning eye. By delving into the nuances of this dynamic landscape, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and adaptability needed to not only weather the storm but also emerge victorious in this testing market. So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on this enlightening expedition, arming you with the tools to master the art of selling your home amidst cautious buyers and soaring interest rates.

Selling a home can be a challenging and daunting task, especially in a changing real estate market. However, with the right approach and strategic planning, you can increase your chances of selling your home quickly and at the best price. In this article, we will explore five key steps that can make a sig-

nificant difference in the selling process.

1. Decluttering the Home

First impressions matter, and potential buyers want to envision themselves living in your home. A cluttered space can be distracting and make it difficult for buyers to see the true potential of the property. Before listing your home, take the time to declutter and organize each room. Get rid of unnecessary items, pack away personal belongings, and create a clean, spacious environment that allows buyers to visualize their own belongings in the space. You want your home to show like a model home.

2. The Home’s Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see. A well-maintained and attractive curb appeal can instantly pique their interest and create a positive impression. Start by enhancing the landscaping, trimming bushes, mowing the lawn, and adding some colorful plants or flowers. Repaint the front door if needed and consider making minor repairs to any visible exterior issues. Investing in curb appeal can greatly increase the overall appeal and value of your home.

3. Pricing the Home Correctly

One of the most critical aspects of selling a home is pricing it correctly. Overpricing can discourage potential buyers and cause your property to linger on the market. Underpricing in our current market, on the other hand, may lead to financial loss. Work with a licensed real estate agent to determine the right price, research the current market conditions, consider recent sales of similar properties in your area, and listen to the advice of your real estate agent who has expertise in your local market. A competitive and realistic price will attract more buyers and increase the chances of receiving multiple offers.

4. The Marketing of Your Home is More Important Than Ever in a Changing Market

In a changing real estate market, effective marketing strategies are

vital to attract potential buyers. Utilize both online and offline marketing channels to reach a wide audience. Engage a professional photographer to capture high-quality images of your home to showcase its best features. Leverage social media platforms, real estate websites, and traditional marketing methods like yard signs and flyers. Additionally, consider virtual tours or 3D walkthroughs to give potential buyers a comprehensive view of your home.

5. Being Open to Lower Offers, with a Willingness to Negotiate

In a dynamic market, you may receive offers that are lower than your asking price. It’s essential to keep an open mind and be willing to negotiate with potential buyers. Understand that negotiation is a standard part of the home selling process. Work closely with your real estate agent to evaluate each offer and consider other factors like the buyer’s financial position and timeline. Be patient and ready

to make counteroffers if necessary, aiming to find a middle ground that satisfies both parties.

In conclusion, selling your home quickly and for the best price requires careful planning and execution. Start by decluttering and enhancing your home’s curb appeal to make a strong first impression. Price your property competitively based on market conditions and recent sales data. Invest in effective marketing strategies to reach a broad audience. Finally, be open to negotiation and work collaboratively with potential buyers to find a mutually beneficial agreement. By following these key steps, you can increase the likelihood of a successful sale and make your home stand out in the market.

Editor’s note: Barry Overton is a licensed Real Estate with New Era Group at Your Castle Real Estate. He has been an agent since 2001, and started investing in real estate in 1996. For more information, email: barrysellsdenver@msn.com or call 303-6685433.

CPA

Convention Keynote Speaker Michael Bolden

By Ruby Jones

From September 21 to 23, the Colorado Press Association (CPA) will collaborate with Colorado Media Project and Colorado News Collaborative (COLab) to host its 145th Annual CPA Convention at The Curtis Hotel in Downtown Denver. News leaders, Colorado legislators, creative directors and students from around the state will convene to discuss industry trends and find ways to build resilience in Colorado’s newsrooms and businesses.

The theme for this year’s convention, “Build Back Better,” is all about overcoming challenges within the print and digital news industries resulting from social advancements, technological changes and recent global events.

Like most industries, newsrooms across America were heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which presented unique developments in the ways in which people find and use news. The CPA Convention will provide opportunities to examine current and emerging revenue sources in order to maximize the efficacy of funding from philanthropy, events, and print and digital advertising. Attendees will also discover ways to reach new audiences and establish an environment of trust, with special focus areas including AI, democracy, and mental health.

A pre-convention summit will take place on Thursday, Sept. 21, followed by an open-

ing reception with COLab. The full schedule of conference sessions and events will begin on Friday, Sept. 22.

The opening keynote speaker for this year’s event is a journalism expert with a wealth of experience using innovation to create sustainable strategies for newsrooms across the country.

Washington Post, the Miami Herald, the Northwest Florida Daily News and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He joined the executive team of The San Francisco Chronicle as director of culture and operations, where he prioritized diversity and belonging.

Increased online harassment, cultural trauma, and other workforce stress prompted Bolden to create support systems for The Chronicle’s journalists. His focus on the newsroom’s internal culture and efforts to support its editors and reporters were both an asset and an example of ethical leadership.

Michael Bolden is the CEO and executive director of the American Press Institute (API), an organization that focuses on understanding audiences, growing reader revenue, advocating for accountability in journalism and supporting transformation. With Bolden at the helm, API has helped newsrooms evolve into learning organizations by discovering the opportunity within a changing industry.

Bolden is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and was a Maynard Media Academy Fellow at Harvard University. He is currently working on his Master of Liberal Arts thesis at Stanford University, and serves on the board of directors of the Student Press Law Center, which promotes and defends the First Amendment rights of student journalists.

In his early career, he worked as a journalism lecturer at Stanford, and was the managing director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships. He also served as editorial director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

After years supporting media change agents and industry innovation, Bolden worked as an editor and reporter in newsrooms across the country, including the

Bolden will open the convention with an inspirational keynote address titled, Building Back Better: Empowering local newsrooms for a resilient future. He will participate in the morning Building Bridges plenary panel along with several industry leaders who will discuss community engagement and inclusiveness as essential pillars in trust-building.

On Saturday, Sept.23, he will host the Empowering Communities of Color breakout session, along with journalist and COLab coach, Tina Griego. Bolden will discuss a Pittsburgh-based API initiative and share how the “Journalism Inclusion Index,” is being used to improve coverage of communities of color in the news.

After two full days of exciting breakout sessions, panels, luncheons and workshops, the CPA Convention will conclude with the CPA Better News Awards Dinner on Saturday evening.

News leaders and professionals across Colorado will benefit greatly from Bolden’s impassioned advice. With the guidance and instruction provided by all of this year’s carefully selected speakers, newsrooms will leave the convention revitalized and prepared to meet the needs of a changing news industry..

ames Harvey remembers when there were two Air Forces.

“One comprised us, and the other was for the whites,” explained the soon-to-be centenarian from his home in Lakewood, Colorado.

Harvey knows this as fact because he’s one of just a handful of remaining Tuskegee Airmen, a group of Black military pilots and airmen who fought not only against enemy aircraft but against overt rac ism in the same Air Force they pledged to serve.

Born July 13, 1923, in Montclair, New Jersey, James H. Harvey III was the oldest of four children born to James and Cornelia Harvey. He attended high school in Pennsylvania, where he was an outstanding stu dent, the captain of the basketball team, class president, and graduated as valedictorian.

Harvey said he never encountered much racism until he raised his right hand, swore an oath to serve and protect his country — and entered the segregated U.S. Army. Drafted in 1943, he was soon reassigned to the Army Air Corps, the predecessor of today’s modern U.S. Air Force.

Harvey will tell you in great detail that things in the military were different back then. Very different — especially if you were a Black man. “You just go with the flow,” said Harvey of how he coped. “You just go with the flow or something happens — something mysteriously happens. So, I just went with the flow.” When asked why he did, he replied, “Because I wanted to live.”

Harvey settled into military service, classified as an engi-

Tuskegee Top Gun James Harvey Turns 100

By Deborah Grigsby - Colorado Community Media

neer. As the war in the Pacific raged, engineers were needed to build and maintain the many makeshift jungle runways

American forces. But Harvey was more interested in flying planes

“experiment” in 1941 to prove the findings of the War College Report.

Tuskegee was an experiment that was designed to fail — to prove that Black men didn’t have the capacity to fly. Instead, the program produced some of the nation’s most proficient fighter pilots.

“I applied. I was accepted,” said Harvey. “However, I had

and myself,” Harvey said.

Long were the hours and challenging were the tasks for Harvey, a self-described perfectionist.

“If everything is perfect, there’s no challenge after that,” he said. “I never dreamed or thought about washing out in flying school. I knew I was gonna make it because I did everything right.” Because, as a Black man, he had to.

“You only had so many hours or days to learn something and if you didn’t, you were out. It’s that simple,” Harvey said. “You only had a certain amount of time to learn something and if you exceeded that time, you were gone.”

When asked if he’s still a perfectionist, he grinned. “Well, I’m back at it,” he laughed. “I got married, so that was kind of the end of the perfectionism, but my wife passed, so I’m back at it again.”

Perfectionism.

“I’ve always been that way,” Harvey said. “Like Disney, when I was growing up … the Disney characters, I’d sit down and draw them — they were better than what Disney put out!”

His favorite? “Mickey Mouse, of course… I don’t think Minnie was on the scene yet.”

than building places for them to land. So, he applied to the Aviation Cadet Training Program in hopes of being accepted into the Tuskegee Flight Training Program in Alabama, a separate school designated for Black pilots.

In 1925 the U.S. Army War College released a report called “The Use of Negro Manpower in War.” Many say this report “set the overall tone” for how the military viewed Black men. The report stated they “lacked intelligence and were cowardly under combat conditions” and lacked the “ability to operate complex machinery.” To prove this, the U.S. Army set up an

to take an examination first, and there were 10 of us that reported to Bolling Field to take this test — nine whites and myself.”

Both Black and white candidates took the same preliminary tests to get into the Aviation Cadet Program. Black pilots, however, would be trained at a segregated field in Alabama. Testing for this program was known among service members to be notoriously rigorous and particularly unforgiving.

“Well, we took the examination, did everything they wanted us to do, and when the dust cleared, there were only two of us standing — this white guy

So, what should we call you?

Harvey earned his wings at Tuskegee Army Air Field on Oct. 16, 1944, near the end of the war. A graduate of Class 444, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and began his career as a fighter pilot.

While many Tuskegee Airmen were already flying in Europe, protecting heavy bomber aircraft on their way to strategic targets, Harvey did not get that opportunity. “That’s because Hitler knew I was coming and he gave up the following month,” he joked. “I was supposed to ship in April 1945.

Continued on page 24

Photos by John Leyba

Tuskegee James Harvey

Continued from page 23

I had my bags packed, ready to catch the train, and I got a message the war was over and they expected the wind-up of the whole European theater.”

On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, creating the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services and banning segregation in the Armed Forces. Harvey said the order was a step in the right direction, but it also meant his unit would be disbanded and its personnel integrated into other units that would “have” them.

Harvey explained how that became complicated for Black pilots. Prior to his departure, he and another Tuskegee Airman, Eddie Drummond, were to be transferred from Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio to a base in Japan. However, before they arrived, their personnel files — which included their official photos — were forwarded to the gaining military unit.

“So, you see, the wing commander had our picture,” Harvey said. “So, Eddie and I report to Misawa, Japan, and before we got there, he had all the pilots report to the base theater and he told them, ‘We have these two Negro pilots coming in and they will be assigned to one of the squadrons.’ The pilots said, ‘No way are we going to fly with them. No way.’”

Harvey said he and Drummond were told about the meeting by the pilots themselves. Regardless of the sentiment, Harvey and Drummond were there to stay and were assigned to a unit flying the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star. As they wrapped up their initial meeting, Harvey said the man who would be their new wing commander casually asked, “So, what do you want us to call you?” An uncomfortable moment of silence ensued.

“I said, ‘Well, I’m a first lieutenant and Eddie Drummond is a second lieutenant … how about lieutenants Harvey and Drummond?’”

First ‘Top Gun’

In January 1949, the newlyrecognized Air Force, thanks to the National Security Act of 1947, issued a directive to all fighter squadrons about an intramural weapons competition. Each unit was to select its top three pilots to represent their fighter group at the firstever aerial gunnery meet to be held at Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nevada.

It was officially called the United States Continental Gunnery Meet, which would later evolve into the USAF William Tell Competition. Other derivatives would include Gunsmoke and Red Flag.

Harvey’s unit, the 332nd Fighter Group, selected 1st Lt. Harvey III, 1st Lt. Harry Stewart Jr., and Capt. Alva Temple. They were all Black pilots, including the alternate pilot, 1st Lt. Halbert Alexander.

“We met with Col. Davis (Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.), prior to leaving for the competition,” Harvey said. “We chitchatted, and his final remark was, ‘If you don’t win, don’t come back.’ And with those words of encouragement, off we went.”

It was May 1949. The competition for “Top Gun” would prove formidable in the conventional piston category, flying the North American P-51 Mustang and the North American F-82 Twin Mustang. These were some of the best pilots and aircraft maintenance teams in the country flying some of the most advanced aircraft in inventory. “And we’re flying the obsolete P-47 Thunderbolt,” Harvey said “It was big, clumsy, and heavy.”

The lineup consisted of two missions of aerial gunnery at 12,000 feet, two missions of aerial gunnery at 20,000 feet, two

dive-bombing missions, three skip-bombing missions, and a panel-strafing mission.

“Well, we won the meet,” said Harvey. “Our closest competitor was the P-51 outfit; they were only 515,000 points behind us.”

They were the winners, but …

Each year, the Air Force Association publishes an almanac citing overall force strength, statistics and such – including all winners of the weapons meet from 1949 through the present day. “But, each year when that almanac came out, the winner of the 1949 weapons meet was mysteriously listed as ‘unknown,’” Harvey points out. “[The Tuskegee Airmen] didn’t find out about this magazine until 1995.”

It was only by chance Harvey’s group commander stumbled across an almanac and noticed the winner of the 1949 U.S. Air Force Weapons Meet was “unknown.” The almanac was corrected in April 1995 to show the 332nd Fighter Group as the official winners of the 1949 weapons meet.

Though the records were fixed, one more mystery would remain.

‘That trophy will never be on display’

As the winners of the first Air Force “Top Gun” competition in the piston-engine division, Harvey and his team were brought into a hotel ballroom where the almost 3-foot-tall stainless steel victory cup sat on a table. They had a photo made with the trophy and it was the last day any of them would see it until more than half a century later.

In 1999, Zellie Rainey-Orr got involved with the Tuskegee Airmen as the result of a Tuskegee Airman pilot from her Mississippi hometown who died in combat — 1st Lt. Quitman Walker.

Rainey-Orr confessed that until that day, she never knew

much about the Tuskegee Airmen. She was about to get a firsthand lesson from the men who were there.

“I thought I was just gonna go and put a flower on the grave of Quitman Walker,” she said. “I assumed he was buried here in Indianola, Mississippi and that’s when I would learn that no one knew where he was buried.”

Rainey-Orr reached out to the Walker family in an attempt to help locate the airman’s remains. Through her quest to help, she would eventually meet Alva Temple, the captain of the 1949 ‘Top Gun’ team at a 2004 event to award Walker’s medals posthumously at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. It was there that she learned of the missing trophy. “I just felt a connection,” she said.

Unable to resist, she began a quest to locate it. Not knowing what the trophy looked like, and with Temple in failing health, she reached out to the family in hopes of finding more details. Someone in Temple’s family mentioned that there was a newspaper story covering the event, dated May 12, 1949, on a bedroom dresser. That clipping provided RaineyOrr with enough information to start contacting military bases and museums. Within a week, she received a response from the National Museum of the United States Air Force, in Dayton, Ohio. “They said they had the trophy and attached a photo,” she said.

Rainey-Orr called Temple’s family on Sunday, Aug. 29 to share the good news, but was told Temple had passed the day before. “It was almost like his spirit guided me,” she said. “I didn’t know the story or the impact. I was just looking for a trophy.”

Oddly, while it took RaineyOrr less than a week to locate a trophy that had been missing for more than 50 years, it would take her much longer to get the

U.S. Air Force to agree to bring it out of mothballs. “I was talking to the historian at the Air Force Museum, the one who sent the photo, and I said I’d love to come see it,” she recalled. “And he (the historian) said, ‘It’s not on display — and it will never be on display.’”

Rainey-Orr was confused. She thought that this was an important piece of Air Force history; it was the first nationwide gunnery competition since the end of the war and it was the first time that Black pilots had participated. Why wouldn’t they want the trophy displayed?

After a lot of back-and-forth negotiations, the Air Force agreed to let the trophy be shown.

In December of the same year, Air Force Museum representatives took the trophy out of storage and delivered it to Detroit, Michigan, the home of another Tuskegee Top Gun, Harry Stewart, for its first unveiling at the National

Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen’s annual banquet.

After the banquet, the trophy was returned to the museum where it went on permanent display in early 2006.

Harvey was unable to attend the 2004 banquet in Detroit, but Rainey-Orr, who is now an author and Tuskegee Airman historian, prompted him to make the journey to Ohio in 2006.

When asked how he felt upon seeing the trophy on display, Harvey smiled and said, “Feels good. Feels very good — very, very good. Mission accomplished.”

About that 100th birthday

Harvey celebrated his 100th birthday with true fighter pilot flair.

Close to 270 friends, family and guests from around the country, many of them “military brass,” joined him for a private gala celebration in Centennial, Colorado. There

were three birthday cakes, one fashioned into the shape of a Corvair F-102 Delta Dagger — “made of gluten-free marble and cappuccino,” of course.

What does one hope for after blowing out all of those candles? “Continued good health,” he said. “Continued excellent health.”

And what does 100 years feel like? “It doesn’t feel any different than the first year,” Harvey joked. “Actually, I don’t remember the first year, but I do remember the second — that’s when I got measles.”

His secret to longevity?

“I try to be a nice person to everybody — until they prove otherwise,” he said. “Just be nice to people. My motto has always been, ‘Do unto others as you have them do unto you.’ I live by that one and it works.”

Rainey-Orr agreed, and described Harvey, whom she first met in 2005 as caring and compassionate. “I just like to

say he is a real example of what we sow, we get to reap,” she said. “He is a first in many areas, including becoming the first Black pilot to fly jets in Korea — and often unless he told the stories, they were forgotten.”

While saddened that she missed Harvey’s birthday bash, Rainey-Orr is happy for her friend. “I’m just so happy he got to live long enough to see the day, and to understand that people really do appreciate his sacrifices in the service of our country,” she said, “because he had comrades who did not. They survived the war, but didn’t get to see the respect.”

But the big question is, what does the first “Top Gun” think of the new “Top Gun: Maverick” movie?

“I liked the first one better,” Harvey said.. Editor’s note: This article is powered by COLab, the Colorado News Collaborative.

Cutting Violence by Cutting Hair

How One School’s Barbershop Talks Help Kids

By Patrick O’Donnell

trusted relationship between haircutters in the Black community and their male and female clients.

Frank discussions that can be spontaneous as clients sit in the barber’s chair have grown increasingly formalized as haircutters also connect clients to health services, are on the lookout for signs of domestic violence, and train to be mental health counselors.

Patton and Mcatee have been at the school weekly since October at the request of

and did something not so good or I could have went to a workout. I went to a workout and one of my friends ended up being shot.”

“Wow,” Patton said, asking if the person died. (He survived)

“That’s a smart decision,” added Mcatee, who was shot as a bystander in his teens and wants to help others avoid that kind of danger. “You see the outcome of it, right? That’s just being smart.”

homicides in 2020, then broke it again in 2021 before easing last year.

Derrick Mcatee flips the “on” switch of his electric clippers as a student settles into the barber chair in the basement of George Washington High School in Indianapolis.

The clippers start to buzz as Mcatee looks out at the dozen other students in the room. “What’s the biggest peer pressure you think y’all facing right now?” Mcatee asks.

The students, all Black or Hispanic males, gather each Wednesday morning with Mcatee, local activist Antonio Patton and sometimes other barbers or guest speakers for the school’s new “Barbershop Talks” program — an anti-violence, mentoring and counseling effort building on the

visiting barbers cut hair while the students, two of whom report having been shot previously, talk about challenges they face. Mcatee and Patton offer insights in return about how to handle stresses and to de-escalate tensions before they turn violent.

Mcatee’s question about peer pressure on this day in April draws a flood of answers: Drugs, girls, people picking fights on social media, and one response that highlights the stakes at play clearly:

“I just feel like the biggest peer pressure for me is just like making the right decisions, like doing the right thing,” said Xavieon Wilson, 15. “The other day I had a choice. I could have went with a group of friends

The program at the school grew out of community-wide barbershop talk sessions Patton and his non-profit group Men of Vision Empowering (MOVE) started scheduling in shops across Indianapolis in 2022 in an attempt to reduce violence, domestic abuse and other social problems.

Similar efforts are happening in barbershops in cities such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

As Patton’s efforts drew attention, Principal Law invited Patton to adapt the talks to his school, which is 84 percent Black or Hispanic and where two-thirds of students are considered economically disadvantaged. The school is also in the Haughville neighborhood of Indianapolis, long regarded as one of the most dangerous in a city setting a new record for

“There is a grave need for Black male scholars to engage with older, caring, and relevant Black males who have a story of perseverance and triumph over challenges that the scholars can relate their current experiences that affect their lives,” said Law. “A barbershop motif provided the platform to help our young men make connections with real stories with real experiences with real solutions,” he added.

Guests have included former Indiana Pacers basketball player George Hill, who grew up in Indianapolis, and people from the school’s neighborhood who were in trouble as teens but found successful jobs and lives.

The peer pressure question on this day continued to draw responses. Dae’den Thompson, 16, said he feels pressure when two friends have a conflict and he has to pick a side.

“Do you know how many beefs I’ve managed?” asks Mcatee, who has worked at multiple barber shops in the city. “The best thing to do is stay out of it. You say ‘I got love for you’ and ‘I got love for you.’ The best thing you can do is try to bridge it if you can.”

He tells students that sometimes having friends talk, without others around that they

Antonio Patton talks with students at George Washington High School's weekly "Barbershop Talks."

Barber Derrick Mcatee uses clippers to trim a student's hair at George Washington High School in Indianapolis, while other students in the room discuss challenges in their lives as part of the school's "Barbershop Talks," program.

have to show off for, can defuse a problem. “Once they really get there and talk, man, a lot of that stuff don’t be about nothing,” he said. “They really don’t want to beef.”

“They do it when they get around a friend,” a student said.

“That’s it,” said Mcatee. “That’s the only reason that they do it.”

For the next hour, the conversation bounces from cyberbullying to materialism, absentee fathers, letting slights go, and not seeking conflicts over money or property damage that could lead to violence. At other points they joke about girls, about embarrassing moments or about going to prom as a group.

Thompson and other students say they appreciate the program for a chance to talk with students and adults who understand their lives. “I come here and can speak my mind,” he said.

Law says the talks seem to be having an impact. He did not have data, but said behavior problems with participants have fallen and attendance has improved. That’s in keeping with results from a study in

Philadelphia that showed young adults had fewer fights for a few months after participating in barbershop discussions. Those results didn’t last, however, and the program at George Washington is too new to know the long-term effect.

The biggest impact Patton hopes for, though, won’t be measurable. It’s about preventing tragedy. “I’m tired of meeting moms screaming for their babies that’s never coming home,” Patton tells the students.

“I do not want to see one of you young men on the news other than being highlighted for something amazing.”.

Editor’s note: This article is powered by COLab, the Colorado News Collaborative. It first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering K-12 education. Sign up for free newsletters at www.the74million. org/ to get more like this in your inbox.

Antonio Patton jokes with students as a weekly "barbershop talks" session at George Washington High School in Indianapolis winds down.

Jazz by Yaz

Straight-ahead jazz on alto and tenor sax for events and recordings.

Storytelling Expert Launches Professional Development Program for Black Women to Accelerate Their Careers with Thought Leadership

Nationwide: BlackNews.com –Shereese Floyd, CEO of Witness My Life, has launched Break the Glass: Thought Leadership

Academy, a 12-week professional development curriculum teaching mid-career and seniorlevel Black women to become thought leaders so they can get

paid for their ideas and not their labor. The program starts on August 11.

Floyd, an award-winning speechwriter, storyteller, and consultant, has worked with thousands of women throughout her 20-year career to uncover profitable and marketable skills garnered through their lived experiences.

Encouraging Black women to be impossible to ignore

Black women earn the majority of bachelor’s and master’s degrees (American Association of University Women), yet are passed over for leadership positions and are more likely to have their competence and judgment questioned (Lean In McKinsey, and Company Women in the Workplace Report 2022).

In her work, Floyd notices a pattern where no matter how accomplished Black women are, some believe obtaining one more credential will earn them the respect they seek. There is an internal voice that needs to be silenced.

Floyd’s insights coupled with the data inspired this program built for Black women to stop auditioning for their value and to speak, write, teach, and brag. Break the Glass addresses oppressive narratives and societal norms Black women face when external voices become internal barometers that limit their self-perception.

Since COVID, thought leadership has emerged as a proven path to professional advancement. Fifty-six percent of recruiters said thought leaders can command a premium salary compared to non-thought leaders and 82 percent said thought leadership is more important to employers than before the pandemic. (Thought Leadership

on Your Career)

“As a Black woman, to combat inequities, we have to be our own solution. With Break the Glass, my goal is to bridge the gap between aspiration, ambition, and achievement. In the program, you learn then implement so by the end, you’ll either command your seat at the table or create your own,” says Floyd.

Becoming the greatest story ever told

Break the Glass’ curriculum emphasizes the importance of Black women seeing their expertise and perspective as assets that transcend limitations

and helps them transform their personal stories into profitable brand stories so they can take up space in their industries.

In 12 weeks, participants develop essential skills to be successful thought leaders such as ideation, storytelling, writing, public speaking, pitching, branding, and relationship building. Participants leave the program with a complete thought-leadership talk and action plan ready to execute. This experience is designed for Black women to center themselves and take charge of their brand by building a platform that positions them for higher salaries and/or in-demand professional services.

Break the Glass: Thought Leadership Academy August cohort is open for enrollment.

Additionally, organizations can sponsor their employee’s participation in the program or license it for their own learning and development initiatives.

“Black women are uniquely positioned for thought leadership. Our stories are the one thing we really own. When we don’t know who we are, we live life like a mannequin behind glass with a memo: In case of emergency, break glass. We can break through a glass ceiling and still be in a box. Truly owning ourselves and telling our stories with full audacity breaks the glass. Forget about the glass ceiling, I want black women to shatter the whole damn box,” says Floyd. .

Editor’s note: To learn more about Shereese Floyd and Break the Glass: Thought Leadership Academy, visit https://www.shereesefloyd.com/.

Shereese Floyd is a speaker, author and CEO of Witness My Life, a people and culture firm that partners with corporations and universities to create and implement women’s leadership programs. She is on a mission to equip women with the tools to raise their voices and tell their stories so they are impossible to ignore. Floyd has developed and delivered leadership workshops for companies around the world.

She is an award-winning TEDx speaker and the organizer of TEDxMintStreet and an advocate for social change who believes telling our stories is the one true way to change the world. Her work has been featured in Chief Learning Officer, Essence, Blavity, Entrepreneur Magazine, and CEO World. She was recently named one of 100 Women to KNOW in America.

To contact her, email shereesefloyd@gmail.com.

About Break the Glass: Thought Leadership Academy is a 12-week implementation incubator designed for Black women leaders. Participants receive individual assessments identifying their strengths and credibility markers, engage in group learning, access on-demand training, and develop a customized action plan, thought-leadership strategy, and small talk for graduation.

Damien Escobar Dave Koz, Eric Darius, Candy Dulfer Maxwell Norman Brown Maysa Leak

Photos by Ed Jenkins

CBRT Denver African American Community Reception - The Honorable Mayor Mike Johnston - Photos by Jennifer Harris

Colorado Black Arts Festival

Photos by Lens of Ansar