Denver Urban Spectrum - March 2022 - Women's History Month

Volume 35 Number 11 March 2022

Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame...13-15

Celebrating Women’s History Month Stephanie Rance:

Celebrating 20 years of cultural contributions made by African and African American filmmakers............................4

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MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

Can you imagine the world without women?

Volume 35

Number 12

March 2022

PUBLISHER Rosalind J. Harris GENERAL MANAGER Lawrence A. James EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alfonzo Porter COPY EDITOR Tanya Ishikawa COLUMNISTS Kim Farmer Barry Overton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Ho Ruby Jones Alfonzo Porter COLAB Tanya Ishikawa - Story Coordinator ART DIRECTOR Bee Harris ADVERTISING & DIGITAL MARKETING Theresa Ho GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jody Gilbert - Kolor Graphix PHOTOGRAPHERS Lens of Ansar Bernard Grant SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Theresa Ho DISTRIBUTION Ed Lynch Lawrence A. James - Manager

The vital role of women in American history has been celebrated with a national month of observation since 1987. In the same year, Denver Urban Spectrum became the first Black woman-owned publication in the state of Colorado. Looking ahead to the next chapter in our story, there is an exciting opportunity to expand the narrative even more!

Two years after the coronavirus pandemic drastically changed the ways in which we live, work and interact, we are pressing forward in collective pursuit of a new normal. Many events that were postponed indefinitely are finally being rescheduled, and audiences are being invited to participate.

In 2020, Denver Urban Spectrum Publisher Rosalind “Bee” Harris was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in honor of her life’s work of empowering others through advocacy, engagement and publishing. As a result of the COVID-19 shutdowns, the Induction Gala for the Class of 2020 was rescheduled. At long last, the gala will take place this month!

This March, we recognize and celebrate the contributions women have made to United States history during Women’s History Month, by featuring Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.

I had the pleasure of hosting an interview with Stephanie Rance, co-founder of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, whose monumental contributions to the film industry have a direct impact right here in Denver. After reading, find the full conversation on YouTube!

While reflecting on the impact of women in the home, school and workplace, it is hard to imagine life without the academic, economic, medical, scientific, and artistic advancements made by strong and beautiful women through time.

Also this month, we launch a series of articles on the important topic of mental health. Alfonzo Porter writes about the tragedy of increasing African American male suicide rates and Joshua Glenn reports on the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund. In future months, we plan to share more information about obstacles to getting mental health treatment in the Black community and solutions to overcoming those obstacles.

Denver Urban Spectrum is thrilled to announce the recent award of Colorado Media Project’s Community News Network grant, which will support digital innovation, business development and increased involvement in national affiliations. The generous support from The Colorado Trust will initiate a timely expansion of Denver Urban Spectrum into exciting digital spaces!

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to Denver Urban Spectrum on YouTube to receive updates about the April launch of the “Expanding the Narrative” – ETN – podcast network. See and hear interviews with featured public figures, community leaders and entertainers that directly impact communities of color in Denver and beyond.

If you would like to learn more about participating in this project as a podcast host or guest interviewee, please email Editor@UrbanSpectrum.net.

For 35 years, Denver Urban Spectrum has successfully shared vital news and empowering stories. We remain thankful for readers and supporters of the award-winning publication and look forward to building deeper relationships with you as we continue to grow.

Just as the world could not exist without women, we could not exist without you!

Ruby Jones Guest Message Contributor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 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 2022 by Bizzy Bee Enterprise. No portion may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

The Denver Urban Spectrum circulates 25,000 copies throughout Colorado. The Denver Urban Spectrum welcomes all letters, but reserves the right to edit for space, libelous material, grammar, and length. All letters must include name, address, and phone number. We will withhold author’s name on request. Unsolicited articles are accepted without guarantee of publication or payment.

Write to the Denver Urban Spectrum at P.O. Box 31001, Aurora, CO 80041.

For advertising, subscriptions, or other information, call 303-292-6446 or fax 303292-6543 or visit the Web site at www.denverurbanspectrum.com.

separate from Caucasians – they are primarily eastern Europeans – one cannot get more Caucasian than that.

So the argument that the Nazis consider them an inferior race is laughable. Furthermore, Judaism is a religion – not a race. Going even beyond that fact, there are no separate races of human beings. All the homo sapiens - sapiens on earth are descended from the original and only race of humans of earth – Black people. That fact shoots the idea that ‘Jews’ were mistreated because they were

Apology Should Be Reversed Editor: Whoopi Goldberg was suspended for two weeks from the daytime talk show “The View” for stating that the Holocaust was not about race…it was about man’s inhumanity to man.

Excuse me! Whoopi is exactly right. Here’s why: The people who call themselves Jews are not members of a race

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thought to be an inferior race all to hell!

There is at least one reason Jews were persecuted and driven out of Germany other than race; and that reason is locked in a secret agenda that may involve the settling in or founding of the state of Israel. No one can have an intelligent discourse on such matters because Jews wish to control the narrative.

In my view, Whoopi Goldberg is owed an apology as well as financial remuneration.

Antonio Aurora

Run&Shoot Filmworks Martha’s Vineyard African­ American Film Festival celebrates 20 years of Black excellence in film Floyd Rance

Stephanie Rance

By Ruby Jones

Stephanie Rance has

devoted 20 years of her life and career to orchestrating the Run&Shoot Filmworks Martha’s Vineyard AfricanAmerican Film Festival, an annual event celebrating cultural contributions made by African and African American filmmakers. As the Oscar-qualifying festival approaches its 20th anniversary, Rance reflects on the incredible journey from the festival’s inception to its status as one of the most prominent events honoring Black filmmakers. Impassioned by her love for Black arts and culture, Rance is a mentor and digital brand strategist who has created a legacy of empowerment and fellowship, while celebrating excellence in storytelling.

The film festival is a weeklong event that takes place each summer in Oak Bluffs,

Massachusetts. Throughout the year, digital festivals and content-driven “Color of Conversation” discussions support the festival’s mission to showcase African American talent, with opportunities to address important issues within the film industry and the Black community.

Submissions for this year’s festival, which runs from August 5 to 13, are being accepted until the end of April.

Festivalgoers can expect to see between 60 to 80 feature, short and documentary film projects from independent and established filmmakers around the world, in addition to sponsored content from HBO, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Warner Brothers. The festival, already accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as an Oscar-qualifying event in the short film category, is expected to receive accreditation for documentary films in the near future. Guests are invited to participate in beautiful receptions, networking events and live “Color of Conversation” events to hear

from distinguished industry professionals.

Located on the northern tip of Martha’s Vineyard Island, Oak Bluffs is a residential and resort community that originated as a safe haven for people escaping indentured servitude, enslavement and racial persecution throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries. Rising to fame during the Harlem Renaissance, the small community grew in size and stature, gaining popularity among Black vacationers, as a destination described by late poet Maya Angelou as, “A safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” The beachfront town was the setting for the 1994 romantic comedy, “The Inkwell,” starring Larenz Tate and a host of brilliant Black talent.

Oak Bluff’s pristine views and welcoming environment inspired the decision to hold the festival in Martha’s Vineyard, putting it back on the map and allowing filmmakers, Hollywood celebrities and movie lovers to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the

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island. “It’s like a family reunion,” Rance beamed. “It’s the happy place. It’s a great place for Black people to just be themselves and have a really, really great time.”

Rance, who attended the Pratt Institute for Fashion Merchandising, began a career in entertainment in 1990, while working in the A&R department at SBK/EMI Records. She excelled in her field – becoming the associate director of A&R and marketing, then working in artist management and magazine publishing, which ultimately led to an affinity for event planning. The native New Yorker co-founded the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival with her husband and CEO of Run&Shoot Filmworks, Floyd Rance. The young couple had spent time in Martha’s Vineyard, and identified it as the perfect location for the festival after initially considering Barbados as a possible location.

The Birth of a Nation screening with NateParker, Aja Naomi King and Spike Lee at Oak Bluffs Martha's Vineyard.

Rance invited filmmakers to submit projects through a Yahoo! group called “Black Filmmakers.”

“This was before social media. I did a little post and just said, ‘Black film festival in Barbados, submit your film, send your $10 money order and VHS tape’ to a mailbox in Brooklyn Heights,” she recalled.

“We got all these films, and we got these $10 money orders. I thought to myself, ‘Wow! I think we have something here!’

There was definitely a need for representation on the big and small screen.”

In the festival’s early years, Rance’s fortitude was tested, but her resilience and the support of her loving husband

helped her persevere through adversity.

“I picked the wrong month,” Rance admitted, remembering the devastation she felt in July 2002, when only 10 people sat in the 850-seat theater. The small audience brought Rance to tears, but her husband’s tough love and a well-intentioned ultimatum strengthened

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her willingness to move forward.

“He was like, ‘You have 10 minutes to cry. You have 10 minutes to get it out of your system, because we’re not going to sit here and have you mope.’ We were going to be there for a week, and he’s like, ‘You need to figure this out. Either you’re going to persevere and do this and also work in corporate, or you’re going to just stay in corporate America and let this go.’ I thought he was so mean,” she remembered. “When I look back on it now, I’m like ‘Yeah!’ Here we are 20 years later, and we did it!”

Today, every seat in that same 850-seat theater is filled, and the event space is alive with warmth and positive, creative energy. The new mother of two toddlers triumphed through the festival’s infancy, and two decades later, film submissions have soared into the thousands.

Continued on page 6

MVAAFF Continued from page 5 “It’s a huge endeavor; it really is. But when you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work. And I have Floyd. I have a great team. We’re super happy with the team that works with us over the summer to bring our vision to life.”

The festival, nicknamed, “The Summer’s Finest Film Festival,” has gained national attention, stunning audiences with special guest appearances from Questlove of The Roots band, acclaimed actress and director Regina King and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee. Reflecting on the festival’s growth throughout the years, Rance explained that a love for “The Culture” kept her motivated. “I do it for the love of supporting people who look like me from a visual perspective. While continuing to increase the representation of Black life and culture in media

Stephanie and Floyd Rance with Reggie Hudlin (director of House Party, Marshall and producer of the Oscars).

through storytelling, Rance has noticed interesting trends in diversity through the submission process.

“It’s morphing into a multicultural activation,” she said.

“We’re getting even more [diversity] – even more female directors and more LGBTQ+ representation.” She noted an increase in project submissions

from Asian Latino and white filmmakers with strong Black casts and Black people working “above the line” as cinematographers and producers.

“At its core, it will always be a film festival for African and African American filmmakers from around the world. But I’m loving this new elevation of what we’re doing.

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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Rance, her husband and their two children are Colorado residents who actively participate in community events where she continues to inspire greatness and celebrate Black excellence. In addition to screening wonderful feature films in Denver, the Color of Conversation Film Festival is a local event that invites residents from metropolitan Denver communities to engage in conversations about film as an art and its contributions to Black culture.

“If you have the vision, even if it’s not in film or the arts – like whatever you want to do as an entrepreneur – stick with it!”

Rance urged. “Stick with it, stay focused on your vision, stay focused on your dream, and enjoy the journey that the universe is going to take you on.”.

Editor’s Note: For submission and registration details, visit www.MVAAFF.com.

Therapy Relief Fund Assists Black Journalists

By Joshua Glenn

In the midst of a seemingly

never-ending pandemic, racial injustice and environmental stressors, the news industry has been working around the clock.

As systems continue to expose racial handicaps, Black journalists around the world have been put on the front lines to write stories from a first-hand perspective.

Working in the journalism industry can require a high level of mental fortitude.

Interviews and stories can be difficult for both sources and writers. The Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund (BJTRF) was founded by Sonia Weiser in May 2020, to supply mental health resources for Black journalists around the globe.

Her initial inspiration for the program stems from the reaction to a tweet: “Hey, is there any way to sponsor therapy for Back journalists right now?”

Weiser is the owner of the veri-

fied Twitter account @weischoice, which has nearly 20,000 followers from around the world. With that many followers, the lack of response to her tweet was concerning and she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The BJTRF gained traction immediately after starting.

Funding the program herself, she realized her initial business plan had flaws and began searching for answers. In September 2020, she was contacted by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) about supporting her mission to supply mental health resources to those seeking the truth and reporting it to the community. The IWMF aims to unleash the potential of women journalists as champions of press freedom in the global news media.

Since partnering with the foundation, the fund’s outreach has expanded far beyond the United States. Although most of those supported have been within the U.S., the fund has supported more than 90 Black journalists from five countries including Canada, South Africa and Turkey.

To date, the BJTRF has raised over $175,000 to provide resources such as counseling and other mental health services to members of the African American community. Largely in part to its relationship with the IWMF, 81% of those who have received support have been female journalists. Another 8%

have been non-binary and 11% have been male.

BJTRF will consider supporting Black journalists globally who: are employed full time, part-time, freelance, or as an intern; were laid off/furloughed due to COVID-19 or who quit due to harmful workplace practices; or are former journalists suffering from lasting emotional or physical trauma from your time in the field.

Although Weiser’s involvement with the fund has dwindled since the foundation took over, “We just can’t keep making these individual campaigns,” she said. She hopes large corporations will see the importance initiatives like hers have on the community and will take action to provide these resources internally for their own reporters. The fund also accepts donations from individuals and businesses.

By realizing the stress of reporting during multiple

global crises, support for reporters has become as essential to the industry as the writers themselves. The Black Journalist Therapy Relief Fund continues to operate under the IWMF to provide peace of mind for Black journalists across the globe..

Editor’s note: To learn more, donate or apply to the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund, go to https://www.iwmf.org/bjtrf/.

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he suicide rate for African American males in Colorado has doubled since 2013 and this alarming trend shows no signs of getting better.

While many might be compelled to blame the isolation, loneliness and gloom brought on by having to shelter for most of the past two years, this phenomenon is not new.

A recent Denver Post article reported that Black male suicides in the Centennial state stood at 10.2 per 100,000 in 2013. Today, that number stands at 20.2 per 100,000.

The anxieties, lurking just beneath the surface of what appears to be stability, manifests as self-harm, violence, trauma, substance abuse and a nihilistic mindset – those feelings of helplessness, and hopelessness. Black men are not impervious to these emotions even though they are often told to “man up” by those around them.

Add to this, the relentless mass media portrayals of Black men as violent thugs, criminals, drug dealing gangsters, coun-

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termands and obscures their role as an integral part of the Black family and societal dynamic. This, according to experts, tends to heighten the sense of abandonment and chronic stress.

According to Dr. Anthony Young, president of the Denver-Rocky Mountain Association of Black Psychologists, Black males have been traditionally and historically brutalized both physically and mentally.

“As we have seen in cases like Ahmaud Arbery, Black men have essentially been hunted not unlike big game out on a safari. There is an ever-present target on their backs and what is now observable are the results of being victimized by government sponsored terrorism since we were captured and enslaved,” he insisted. “The symptoms we see today, in many of our young Black men, has been a consequence of the ruthless treatment of the Black male.”

Young, also former chair of the Colorado State Board of Parole says the pressures felt by Black men, hit Black boys and teens quite differently.

“An adult male has options to fellowship with friends and acquaintances,” he said. “For example, the pick-up basketball game, the drinks at the sports bar watching the fight, ability to be mobile, the pool hall, the night club etc. serve as destressors for adults. For boys and teens, they are basically hostages to their circumstances often with few if any choices.”

One solution, according to Young, is that churches step into the role of community recreation or youth centers.

“The one thing the Black community has plenty of is churches. Many of them are empty four to five days a week.

Many of the larger ones are equipped right now to host youth events and programs.

This is our fight, our problem, and our work. We should stop waiting on permission to act on behalf of our community,” Young says. “We should be availing every resource at our disposal to engage our young people – and we do have resources to pull from.”

The National Suicide Prevention Resource Center, a network of crisis centers around the country, reports that suicides among African Americans rise through adolescence but tends to decline significantly moving into adulthood.

Services for young Black males, the center suggested, have skyrocketed in the past few years.

Given the pandemic has forced students to be home in perhaps a non-supportive, abusive environment, a general lack of trust in the mental health system, the danger in calling the police for help in a crisis, and the stigma of being weak, many young Black males begin to feel, “what hope is there?”

substance abuse, trauma, dysfunctional family relationships, isolation, mental distress, access to guns and disinclined to seek mental health treatment.

Lewis advises that family and friends look for key signs of trouble.

“It’s difficult because each case is unique. People can be highly functioning and appear healthy both physically and psychologically; and still commit suicide of have suicide ideation,” she says. “You can look for sudden changes in attitude and behaviors.”

For mental health professional, Dr. Marjorie Lewis, there appears to be a breakdown in the ability to be resilient.

“Only recently have the doors been even opened for young Black men to address their sense of vulnerability” she said. “Yet too many continue to diminish it or even deny that it exists. African American men have been brutalized since the inception of this nation and have been required to function in a perpetual state of chronic anxiety. Coincidentally, many may not even know the difference between depression and a normal state of being.”

Therefore, the need for mental health and wellness programs could not be more urgent.

“The Black community has and continues to deal with issues white supremacy, microaggressions, macro-aggressions and the underlying fear that whatever they do, it will make little difference,” Lewis said.

Lewis, who serves as senior consultant for the Academy for Behavioral health holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis along with a doctorate in Ministry, suggests that teaching better coping techniques will go a long way in solving the crisis.

“As odd as it may sound, most African Americans really have issues trusting a peaceful state of mind as a result of our trauma filled past,” she said.

“As such anxiety, stress and depression are a regular part of our existence. Possessing a skill set that helps to acknowledge feelings, something that men don’t do as well as women, is a must. For instance, feeling a great deal of anger and not knowing how to express it appropriately.

Health officials further insist that every case is as different as the person and include indicators such as self-medication,

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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Particular attention needs to be focused on the current rising generation, however – those born between 1995-2010, the socalled Gen Z has been touted as the most depressed generation.

Only about 45%, in an American Psychological Association study, revealed that their mental health was very good or excellent. This is compared to 56% of Millennials; 51% percent of Gen X’ers; and 70% of Boomers (born between 1946-1963).

Continued on page 10

Young Black Men Continued from page 9 While members of Gen Z report a lower rate of depression, they are far more likely to seek mental health services; perhaps a good sign for young Black males moving forward.

Nearly 40% of this group will seek help when struggling emotionally, more than any other generational group.

Gen Z, the group to which many of our young Black males belong face a reality of potential school or university shootings, high student debt, uncertainty about long term stability advancing technologies that promise to replace humans with Artificial Intelligence.

The internet and social media, the lifeblood of this generation, only serves to intensify the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Add to this the fear of missing out (FOMO), a constant stream of nothing but negative news and low performance on social

Lewis advises that family and friends look for key signs of trouble.

media. For instance, only a few people like your new photo or fail to respond positively can send a young person on an emotional downturn for days.

Our young men encounter in stability, insecurity, lack of food and other resources.

For Generation Z, the pandemic has completely changed

their educational and social experiences. It shifted learning online, destabilized economies, robbed young people of a parent or loved one. And prompted some older siblings to juggle new roles as teachers and caregivers for their families.

Schools serve as a safety net for many young people and

families. They offer virtually everything from engaging learning environments, consistent meals, medical screenings and support services. In some areas, schools are the only source of mental health services for young people.

When the pandemic hit, millions of teachers and students across the country shifted to remote learning. This drastic change altered and – in some cases – erased the broader benefits that schools supply. It also separated students from their familiar social structures and networks.

To show weakness is to lose “street credit,” it’s either live with the pain or invite someone else’s.

“That’s a thing in the Black community, especially being a man. I can’t be perceived as being soft or sensitive because, if I do, people are going to take advantage of me,” Young said..

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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Hamilton A Once-in-aLifetime Experience

By Theresa Ho

I

t has been seven years since Hamilton’s world premiere in New York rocked the musical theater world with a revolutionary score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway and a diverse cast that reflects America’s complex racial history and identity. I’ll cut to the chase: Lin ManuelMiranda really is a musical genius, and Hamilton is completely worth the hype.

Every cast member had strong performances in their own right, but some of the most notable performances include Donald Webber Jr. as Aaron Burr and Julius Thomas III as Alexander Hamilton. The two skillfully circle each other on the stage as they vie for more power and attention in the room. Charlotte Mary Wen’s sensitive and eloquent Eliza, who is both amazed and fatigued by her husband’s intelligence and ambition, is a sight to behold. Rick Negron entertains the audience with his

sassy yet clearly homicidal presence as King George.

Hamilton’s choreography is a delight in and of itself.

Ensemble members almost constantly dance throughout the musical, shifting and transforming alongside America’s developing political climate. At times, dancers slink their way across the stage. At other times, the dancers wildly twirl and move with props in the air as they follow the bass of the songs. Every movement is controlled, tightly coiled, always ready to spring into action.

As a child of Vietnamese immigrants, it was a pleasure to see Black, Latino and Asian leads on the stage that present America as it is: a nation of immigrants. This musical has not only opened doors for nontheater watchers to become interested in Broadway but has also challenged young people to think about U.S. politics and education differently. Hamilton is truly a once-in-a-lifetime multicultural experience unlike anything I have ever seen before. .

Editor’s note: Hamilton will be running at the Denver Center for Performing Arts from February 16 to March 27. For tickets, visit https://www.denvercenter.org/ticke ts-events/hamilton/

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Calling All Creatives Denver Urban Spectrum Seeks Participation for New Podcast Network

By Ruby Jones

Denver Urban Spectrum has

Directed by Jada Suzanne Dixon

Stick Fly is a play about a wealthy family on Martha’s Vineyard and what should be a relaxing summer weekend.

But everything goes south when the LeVay brothers bring new girlfriends home to meet their wealthy and imposing parents. Secrets are uncovered and dynamics of race, class, and cultural expectations come into play.

remained dedicated to spreading the news about people of color throughout front-range communities, playing a vital role in local reporting and event advertisement for 35 years.

Looking ahead to the future of digital communication and community engagement, the Black-owned company is excited to announce the launch of an innovative new podcast endeavor that will revolutionize its media offerings and add to an award-winning legacy.

The ETN Network Podcast is “Expanding the Narrative” while helping Denver’s residents and visitors form deeper connections to local events. In addition to showcasing a full calendar of attractions and activities with advertising partners, the new podcast will feature interviews with public figures, business leaders, and entertainers whose work directly impacts Colorado’s communities of color.

After embarking on a journey of immersive technical training and mentorship with the Social Proof Podcast’s

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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famed podcasting expert and entrepreneur, David Shands, the newsroom is poised to expand its audience and impact to new horizons.

In preparation for this digital transformation, Denver Urban Spectrum is extending an opportunity for collaboration and participation to entertainers, entrepreneurs, and individuals with a message to share. If you are: =A business owner with unique services and offerings to showcase =A naturally inquisitive person with great stage presence and interview skills =An up-and-coming artist or performer =An inspiring person with a story to tell …we want to connect with you!

Denver Urban Spectrum is thankful for your continued support and invites you to subscribe to the Denver Urban Spectrum channel on YouTube, where the ETN Network Podcast will feature fresh, culturally relevant coverage of current events, entertainment news, and programming dedicated to wellness, the arts, business and finance.

This podcast endeavor is an exciting opportunity for advertising and affiliate partnerships in a rapidly growing digital market..

Editor’s note: For more information, direct all podcast participation inquiries and interview requests to publisher@urbanspectrum.net or call 303-292-6446.

2020 Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees Honored in 2022 Delayed Induction Ceremony due to Covid-19 will be Celebrated in 2022

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Secretary of the Interior and Colorado State Attorney General, a journalist and publisher, a frontier physician, a suffragist, journalists, educators, head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, lawyers/civil rights activists, a community builder and restaurant owner comprise the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 2020.

These ten inductees will become the next group of extraordinary contemporary and historical Colorado women, who have made enduring and exemplary contributions to their fields, inspired and elevated the status of women and helped open new frontiers for women and society.

They will be honored on March 30 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Seawwell Ballroom.

“Inspiration is the operative word,” said the chair of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. “These women are trailblazers, pioneers of opportunities for women, and all have left a positive mark on our state, nation and the world. They deserve to have their stories told and to be honored as shining examples of the potential of all women.”

The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) was founded in 1985. Every two years, the organization inducts contemporary and historical women who have significant ties to Colorado and have made a difference for women and girls through their courage and leadership.

Since its founding, the

CWHF has inducted 162 women from many races, backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, career paths, political philosophies, and religious beliefs for their outstanding contributions to society. The lives of these extraordinary women are proof of what can be achieved with passion, commitment, grit and the grace to stand tall in the face of obstacles. They are trailblazers, visionaries, and women of courage, glass-ceiling breakers, innovators, and rule changers from all walks of life.

Their contributions span Colorado’s colorful and storied history, reaching all four corners of our state, and have spread to touch our nation and our world.

While some are well known throughout Colorado and the nation, others were pioneers in their small communities.

The 2020 Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees:

Contemporary...

Katherine Archuleta Growing up in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Katherine Archuleta has had an extraordinary and influential career that has changed the landscape for what is possible for women and, specifically, Latina women.

Her work has allowed her to guide policy at the state and national level on significant issues that impact all Americans. She is an exceptional role model for what it

takes to be successful in the public and private sectors, with an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. Her core values have led her to provide women, especially women of color, with opportunities we might not have imagined for ourselves.

In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed Archuleta to be the first Latina to lead the U.S. Office of Personnel Management with a budget of approximately $250 million. In this role, she had the enormous job of managing human resources for the federal government’s 2 million employees.

Archuleta also served as Chief of Staff for two U.S. Cabinet members, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena.

In one of the most important and influential roles in government, she was responsible for providing direct policy, program, and managerial support and served as the designated liaison between the Secretary, the White House, and other Federal departments and agencies. When Federico Pena became the Secretary of Energy, Katherine transitioned to his senior policy advisor.

Lupe Briseño As the organizer of the Kitayama Carnation Strike, Lupe Briseño demonstrated the strength and power of Latina leadership in Colorado’s Labor Movement and set the stage for the Colorado Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s

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and ‘70s. Her story is an essential chapter in the history of Colorado, the evolution of Latina feminist leadership, and the struggle for Chicano Civil Rights.

The Kitayama Carnation Strike was one of the seminal events in 1969 that laid the foundation for the Chicano Movement in Colorado. The impact of the women-led social movement reverberated throughout the state within the Chicano civil rights movement.

But most importantly, Lupe Briseño and the Kitayama Carnation Strike demanded that women, as well as all laborers, be treated with the respect and dignity that they deserved.

Fundamental human rights were at the heart of their demands – the same rights that are the foundation of many of the social justice movements today: equal-pay-for-equal work, immigration rights, antihuman trafficking, and the “me too” movement.

Lupe Briseño, her companions and their role in the Kitayama Carnation strike empowered Latinas in the civil rights, labor, feminist, education, and social justice movements of the 1960s and 70s. Her actions and leadership are the shoulders upon which current Latina leaders stand.

Rosalind “Bee” Harris

Velveta Howell

Rosalind “Bee” Harris has dedicated her career to elevating communities of color by providing a platform for their voices and their stories with the founding of the Denver Urban Spectrum newspaper in 1987 and the Urban Spectrum Youth Foundation in 2000.

The Denver Urban Spectrum newspaper started as a way of “spreading the news about people of color” through informative, entertaining articles, and grew into a 35 year-old institution that went beyond merely delivering information to showcase voices not heard in the mainstream media.

Harris founded the Urban Spectrum Youth Foundation, a mentoring program that trained youth from ages 11 to 17 in the field of journalism. During a seven-week summer program, participants learn skills and techniques in writing/reporting, photography, layout and design, sales and marketing, and business management.

More than 250 youth attended the award-winning program and produced multi-page publications distributed to DUS readers after each session.

Harris has not only facilitated communication and advocated for people of color, but she has also been a cultural ambassador, historian, and advisor on local, national, and international levels.

Harris has led the publication of stories of African American, Latino, Native American, and Asian women throughout the years. Her passion for and commitment to empowering women to reach new frontiers is seen in every issue of the newspaper and every event she supports. By dedicating her life’s work to the empowerment of others, Harris’ dedication to elevating the status of women is indispensable.

Velveta Howell has made many contributions as a life-long champion for social justice and advocacy. She is known as an exceptional role model for other African American women and girls. She was the eighth African American female graduate of the University of Colorado Law School and the first woman of color appointed as Colorado’s Deputy District Attorney. From her humble beginnings, she has worked tirelessly at the local, state, regional, and federal levels to advance the causes closest to her, succeeding in the fiercely competitive and often brutal world of criminal justice.

Through creative, solid, and sustainable policies, practices, and procedures, Howell designed roadmaps to enhance others’ lives, especially society’s most vulnerable. Her ability to visualize and eliminate impediments to social justice equipped her to tear down barriers and increase access to social, civil, and criminal justice, quality and equal healthcare, clean water, affordable housing, food, and other critical services for people of all backgrounds. Howell attributes her success to integrity, compassion or all people, and an unrelenting commitment to justice. This determination has resulted in a succession of women, especially women of color, following her into this still male-dominated arena. Today, many African American prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys in Colorado are inspired and/or personally mentored by her.

Howell has worked to improve access to quality healthcare to all Colorado citizens, particularly underserved populations. She is one of twelve appointees to the Robert Wood Johnson-funded

Colorado Healthcare Reform Executive Steering Committee and Turning Point Initiative.

She is also the driver behind the committee’s focus on racial and ethnic healthcare disparities.

This focus has resulted in the establishment and legislative enactment of the Colorado Office of Health Disparities, only the nation’s second.

Marianne Neifert, MD, MTS Colorado’s earliest physician breastfeeding champion, Marianne Egeland Neifert, MD, MTS, has devoted more than 40 years to improving maternalchild health. She provided education to diverse health professionals, implemented model lactation services, helped reestablish breastfeeding as a community norm, and advanced the nascent discipline of breastfeeding medicine.

Beginning in the late 1970s, Neifert was the first US physician to promote the routine use of modern lactation technologies in the management of breastfeeding difficulties.

Neifert helped pioneer societywide institutional support for breastfeeding mothers and helped establish and advance the new field of breastfeeding medicine. In 1984, she cofounded and served as the first Medical Director for the Denver Mothers’ Milk Bank (MMB).

Today MMB is the largest nonprofit human milk bank in North America, serving medically fragile newborns and infants. They have collected more than 5.5 million ounces of milk from more than 12,500 donors and dispensed screenedprocessed donor human milk to more than 120 hospitals in 35 states.

In 1990 Neifert co-founded the Colorado Breastfeeding Task Force, which later became the Colorado Breastfeeding

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Coalition. Their mission is to educate, advocate, and collaborate to reduce barriers and support all families to achieve their breastfeeding goals. In 1994, she co-founded the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, an international physician organization dedicated to the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and the establishment of the field of breastfeeding medicine.

During her long career, Dr. Neifert has contributed to elevating breastfeeding from an individual mother’s “personal choice” to a public health priority warranting society-wide support. Her unwavering efforts to this end have made a significant impact on professional and lay breastfeeding education in Colorado and nationwide.

Gale Norton Gale Norton was the first woman Colorado Attorney General (199199) and the first woman to be appointed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (2001-06). On behalf of Colorado and 45 other states as Colorado Attorney General, Norton helped negotiate the most extensive legal settlement in history: a $206 billion national tobacco settlement, the benefits of which continue to accrue. Gale is an exceptional role model for all women but in particular those interested in pursuing careers in the law and public policy advocacy.

Norton pursued and won the suit against the Canadian mines speculator responsible for the environmental disaster at Summitville, caused by leakage of mining by-products into local waterways. She also won a significant court victory against the federal government, requiring the government to clean up hazardous waste at Rocky Flats

and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. During her time as Secretary of the Interior, the US faced an energy crisis, and Norton introduced and diversified new domestic energy supplies.

Among other initiatives, she worked closely with Congress to enact the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which set a 10-year goal for 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy from public sources. Norton also resolved a 70-year water dispute between Colorado and California, launched her water initiative to address western-water challenges and championed the creation of two crucial Colorado conservation areas: The Great Sand Dunes National Park and the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. In 2011, she established the Norton Regulatory Strategies, where she provides policy advice to companies and organizations.

She remains active representing the public interests in environmental policy and the protection of our natural resources, having chaired the National Park Foundation and the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission.

Historical Mary Lou Anderson A passionate advocate for cultural arts and arts education, Mary Lou Anderson was an influential leader in Colorado Springs, and across the state and the nation through her work in the development of programs that engage students, educators, and business leaders in the cultural arts. Anderson founded the National Parent Teacher Association Reflections Program and the Arts Business Education Consortium. For the

last 50 years, the program has advanced the support and recognition of nearly 15 million students and educators for their artistic talents and achievements. More than 55% of the students recognized were girls.

Anderson had a “big idea,” and she strategically created a framework that ensured the extension and legacy of that idea far beyond her initial efforts. Anderson believed that recognition at an early age could help to combat gender discrimination by raising young girls’ awareness of and confidence in their artistic and leadership capabilities. These same experiences benefited all students, including boys and special needs students.

Dr. Alida Cornelia Avery A graduate of the New England Female Medical College of Boston in 1862, Dr. Alida Cornelia Avery was a professor of Human Physiology and Hygiene, as well as a Resident Physician at the newly founded Vassar College from 1866-1874. In 1874 she moved to Denver, Colorado, and is credited with being Colorado’s first woman to practice medicine while also serving as the Superintendent of Hygiene for the State.

In 1876 she was elected the first president of the newly founded Colorado Woman

Suffrage Association and was a dedicated and inspirational leader in the efforts to achieve the right to vote for Colorado women. Upon her death, her accomplishments in the Suffrage movement were still being recognized as a significant part of her legacy for the women in Colorado.

Elizabeth Piper Ensley Elizabeth Piper Ensley was an African American educator, political activist, and suffragist. Her leadership was instrumental in Colorado’s victorious campaign for full voting rights in 1893. Ensley dedicated her career to organizing for women’s rights, especially for African American women. She led critical local, state, and national women’s organizations where she worked to bridge the racial lines in women’s organizations.

Ensley founded the Colorado Association of Colored Women’s Clubs in 1904 and served as an officer on the state Board of Directors of the Colorado State Federation of Women’s Clubs – the influential state organization primarily led by white women. Ensley was one of only a handful of African American women leaders nationwide who worked for suffrage rights within a racially integrated campaign organization, the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association.

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Carolina Gonzalez Carolina Acuña Díaz González was a Colorado Renaissance Pioneer, renowned for her welcoming home, her active support for the arts and culture, and her uniquely authentic restaurant, Casa Mayan, a “Mutalista” or refuge for 40 years for immigrants in Colorado. Carolina was an essential element in building and supporting the Denver community and ensuring that everyone felt a part of that community. She opened her doors to people of all nationalities and walks of life.

González provided accommodations and a safe haven during the Depression for countless youths, “riding the rails” to Colorado. In the 1950s, she opened “Carolina’s Casa” to anyone of any race fleeing persecution during the McCarthy era. She never turned anyone away, demonstrating the importance of community for all citizens, and the significant aspects of Mexican hospitality and generosity: “Mi Casa es Su Casa.” Her former residence is now part of the National Register of Historic Places and a Denver landmark.

The Colorado Hall of Fame Induction is proudly sponsored this year by Denver Channel 7, La Voz, and Denver Urban Spectrum. .

Editor’s note: For more information about the inductees, visit: ww.cogreatwomen.org/inductees/womenin-the-hall/. Stay in touch via F a c e b o o k : www.facebook.com/cogreatwomen.

The LinkedIn group: Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Follow CWHF on Twitter @ColoradoWHF

MAYOR’S CORNER

Mayor Hancock Aims to Bring Health and Healing to the Black Community

By Gabrielle Bryant and Ashley Stockham Photos courtesy of the Mayor’s Office

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock is using his platform to illuminate critical health issues in the Black community this Black History Month. On February 10th, the Mayor hosted the first installment of Black Health and Healing: The Author Series, featuring a discussion with author, mother, philanthropist and NBA wife, Shirley Smith.

with her second child, Smith started experiencing pain at just 21 weeks. That pain led to the most challenging physical, mental and emotional experience of her life – fighting for her survival, as well as her daughter’s survival, who would be born against all odds.

any of Smith’s doctors anticipated. She is a testament to her mother’s unrelenting will to fight for her daughter’s life.

In her own words Smith writes, “Living with childbirth as a health risk seems unthinkable in the age of modern medicine in America.” But it’s a

cal challenges of their own childbirth journeys through her nonprofit Kota Bear, named for her daughter.

Smith shared her raw, heartwarming and revealing story during the Mayor’s Black Health and Healing conversation, moderated by new mom and 9NEWS anchor Alexandra Lewis. In partnership with The Center for African American Health, The Colorado Foundation and Tattered Cover Book Store, the largest independent Black-owned bookstore in the country, Shirley shared insights from her book, “Mama Bear,” giving a firsthand account of her struggle through childbirth complications, postpartum depression and of course, healing.

9NEWS anchor Alexandra Lewis

Author Shirley Smith

Left to right: 9NEWS anchor Alexandra Lewis, author Shirley Smith and Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock

Smith’s book, “Mama Bear: One Black Mother’s Fight for Her Child’s Life and Her Own” reveals the inherent struggle Black women have in their childbirth journeys through her own personal story. Pregnant

Doctors prepared Smith for an emergency delivery, necessary to save her life. Her daughter Dakota was just one pound when she was born. Instead of celebrating the birth of her second daughter, she was told to begin making funeral arrangements. That’s when her ‘fight’ kicked in. She didn’t let expectations become her reality.

Today, Dakota is five years old and accomplishing more than

health risk so many mothers and their families face.

Smith credits her NBA family with ensuring her strength. They offered support in every way possible, even breaking hospital rules to provide donated breast milk Smith believes was vital to her daughter’s survival. And now, she is creating a community for other women and families struggling through the mental and physi-

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Mayor Hancock will host a second author discussion with former Denver Bronco Ray Crocket about his mental health journey following his retirement from the NFL. In his book, “Bump and Run: It Made Me. It Saved Me,” Ray describes his mental health struggle as he transitioned from back-to-back Super Bowl championships to stay-at-home-dad life.

Mayor Hancock hopes these conversations help remove the stigma surrounding Black mental health to put the African American community on a path towards better health outcomes and improve the health of our entire city..

During the ’60s, there was great hope in the movement for equality in this country, focused on achieving civil rights, ending racially segregated school systems, and ensuring that all children beyond economic status and race had an equal start in education development. This hope was for the future and progressive changes that would positively impact the generations of children to come. The education platform was the foundation to build dreams, inspire growth, and open the doors to opportunities.

When the doors opened for the Hope Center in northeast Denver in 1962, the idea of providing quality education and support wasn’t just for some but for everyone regardless of their ability. This was a time where differences weren’t widely accepted or embraced.

So, the acts of discrimination weren’t just based on color but also perceived intellectual ability and capacity – those deemed less capable were often institutionalized. However, the Hope Center became a place where the unique educational needs of children are addressed, where culture is embraced and reflected, and where dreams can have an early start to becoming fulfilled.

“In the early years, the staff was small but aligned to a vision to make a big impact in the lives of neighborhood children and adults right outside our doors,” explained Gerie Grimes, Hope Center president and CEO. “We believed that everyone could learn and should be afforded a quality education.”

The Hope Center began serving individuals with disabilities, and in the ’80s, the program expanded to include early childhood education and extended care, along with the

Legacy of Hope: Celebrating Hope Center’s 60 Years of Impact in Community

By Gerri Gomez Howard Hope Academy for gifted preschool- and kindergarten-age children. At that time, research showed that children of color were often identified on the opposite end of the special education system and not on the gifted and talented.

Today, the Hope Center is one of the oldest and largest Blackled nonprofit organizations serving and impacting children of color in Denver. Through its special needs, early childhood education and vocational programs, the Hope Center lays the

“Children of color in Denver and everywhere weren’t being recognized for their gifts but often discounted and counted out in a system meant to help them reach their full potential,” explained Grimes. “But we knew differently and were at the forefront through our advanced programs to ensure those gifts were not only recognized early on but built upon and celebrated.”

The center started out with six students, and now on average serves 200 children in the early childhood program and 35 adults through the vocational program each year.

foundation and paves the way for children to grow and adults to thrive. The center serves as a long-standing education pillar in the community, and this year will celebrate 60 years.

“Sixty years for any nonprofit is no easy feat to achieve, but to withstand the changing times we remained steadfast to our vision but intentional about evolving and tailoring our programs to meet the needs of the children and adults we serve and their entire families,” explained Grimes.

The Hope Center has received national acclaim for its progressive curriculum and

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quality learning experiences, including high ratings from the Colorado Shines Quality Rating and Improvement System. The Center is consistently recognized for its excellent teacher qualifications, family partnerships, leadership, learning environment and child health. It has become the school of choice for many, including generational families where parents or grandparents attended the school and now their children and grandchildren are students.

Their initial choice to be part of the Hope Center family has turned into a tradition and legacy where generations of family and family members continue to be impacted by its programs.

“When I first began to have children, there was no question where my sons would attend school because the Hope Center had established a reputation that was unmatched,” recalled LaDawn Sullivan, Director of Black Resilience in Colorado Fund. “The Hope Center was like a college campus for children where they were exposed to so many learning tools, to other children from various backgrounds and a preparatory program that created a strong educational footprint for them to continue to move forward and build upon.

They gained a strong education foundation, love of learning, selfconfidence and compassion for others that remains with them today as adults.”

“It’s been an honor to be a part of this organization for 40 of the 60 years and to serve generations of family members throughout the years,” said Grimes. “We look forward to continuing the legacy of hope..

Editor’s note: The community is invited to celebrate the Hope Center 60th Anniversary and help continue the legacy on Sept. 17 by attending the “History of Hope - 60 Diamond Years Gala” at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. For more information, visit www.hopecenterinc.org or call 303-388-4801.

March is National Nutrition Month

Eat Well to Stay Well

By Kim Farmer

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proper diet is fundamental to living a high quality, energetic lifestyle. Although there is no shortage of nutrition advice from sources like friends, the Internet, and companies touting unregulated supplements, it is still important to continue to follow basic foundational principals for sound

nutrition. Healthy eating does not need to involve depriving yourself of your favorite foods, rather gaining a greater appreciation for foods that support a high quality of life, give you more energy and support immune function which includes the following nutrients.

Lean protein sources— Proteins are the most important body-building elements which help in muscle building, proper functioning, and strengthening of the various organs in the body. Ensure a good portion of protein sources, i.e., beans, fish, poultry, and nuts, in your family’s meals and make it interesting for kids by making things they enjoy like chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken using grilled boneless, skinless chicken and fries using sweet potatoes.

High fiber foods— Fibrous foods help maintain good metabolism and rapid function-

ing of the body’s digestive system. Making a salad full of high fiber fruits and vegetables like beetroot, cucumber, carrots, etc. will help you feel fuller longer and help your digestive system as well. For kids, be sure to include foods that they love in the colorful salad and use foods like raisins or dried cranberries to make happy faces, etc. to keep it interesting. Teach kids how versatile salads can be and show them the endless possibilities for foods to include.

Whole grain carbs no-carbs— Carbohydrates are an important nutrient and should not be avoided for long periods of time.

They are your body’s main source of energy and help fuel

your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system.

While there are many proponents of a no-carb diet which eliminates almost all carbs and encourages high intakes of fat and protein, it is not necessary to cut all carbs to experience the benefits of weight loss. Whole grain carbs are better sources of fiber and other important nutrients, such as B vitamins, iron, folate, selenium, potassium and magnesium. Be sure to add whole grain sources to your family’s meals.

Calcium sources—Your body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones, and some studies indicate that calcium may have benefits beyond bone health like protecting against cancer, diabetes and high

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blood pressure. Your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly.

Other than milk (which most kids love), there are some other great calcium sources like yogurt, cheese, butter, buttermilk, etc. Incorporate calcium for the family by adding yogurt for breakfast, salads using dark green leafy lettuce, beans, and cereals to your meals.

Internalizing Healthy Diet: A Way Forward Transitioning to a lifestyle that is high in plant based foods, lean proteins and healthy carbohydrates and calcium sources may take time and patience is key. Toss away the ‘all or nothing’ attitude and practice selflove and grace as you work on moving away from old habits to form new ones. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint for everyone in your family. The new habits will eventually become automatic and you will make the healthier choices by default, and then share your methodologies with your family. Take small baby steps and eventually you will begin to experience an increased sense of energy and an improved quality of life. .

Editor’s note: Kim Farmer of Mile High Fitness & Wellness. Mile High Fitness & Wellness offers in-home personal training and corporate wellness solutions. For more information, visit www.milehighfitness. com or email questions to inquiries@milehighfitness.com.

Lost Your Joy?

Find it again at the

United Church of Montbello!

Come as you are and get connected to your best self through great fellowship and the love of Jesus Christ!

Sunday Worship: 8:00am (Traditional) and 10:30am (Gospel) 4VOEBZ 4DIPPM BN r 8FEOFTEBZ #JCMF 4UVEZ QN

Rev. Dr. James E. Fouther, Jr., Pastor 4879 Crown Blvd., Denver, CO 80239 303-373-0070 http://ucm.ctsmemberconnect.net

From Slavery to California Real Estate Mogul How “Biddy” Mason built a real estate empire after being enslaved

By Barry Overton

With it being Women’s History Month, I would be remiss not to tell the story of Bridget “Biddy” Mason. She amassed a fortune of $300,000, that would be approximately $6 million in today’s standards, which made her the wealthiest African American woman west of the Mississippi at that time. But what makes her story even more amazing is that she purchased her first property 37 years after being born into slavery. Her story is one of triumph over struggle, and taking value from lessons learned from her white counterparts, that placed her in position of becoming wealthy and successful.

While some parts of her early life are a mystery, we do know that Biddy Mason was born August 15, 1818 in Hancock County, Georgia.

Once becoming a young adult, she was enslaved in Mississippi as part of Mr. Robert Smith’s farm. During her time at the

Smith household, Biddy gave birth to three daughters.

Mr. Smith was always pursuant of a better life, in richer lands. With that being the case, in 1847, Smith and his slaves set out for Mormon country, the promised land considered Salt Lake City. They reached Salt Lake City in 1949 and stayed for only two years after Smith became restless, at which time they packed up their household to join a group of Mormons in the San Bernardino California area. Once in California, Smith claimed a patch of land and started a booming cattle business.

During her time in California, Biddy Mason friended a handful of other African Americans in Southern California who had also been enslaved. One of those friends was Robert Owens and his wife, Winnie, who ran a successful stable. According to California laws during the time that Biddy Mason was in California, slavery was illegal, but being unaware of her full rights, Mason continued to serve in the Smith household.

While Smith was aware of the prohibition of slavery in California, he continuously attempted to avoid releasing his slaves, even moving them to a lower valley in Santa Monica in an attempt to hide them. A friend of Biddy’s, freed slave, Elizabeth Rowan, who also distrusted Smith, sent word to the county sheriff of Los Angeles, Frank Dewitt, that the slaves were in need of help on the Smith Farm. A writ of Habeas Corpus was served on Robert Smith and he was ordered to appear in court.

In January of 1956, Biddy Mason and 14 other slaves were given their freedom. After securing her freedom, Biddy was able to take a position with Dr. John Griffin, a white native southerner who was impressed with her nursing skills. She became a midwife for Dr. Griffin.

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Owens and Griffin both were involved in real estate and persuaded Mason to also participate in the purchase of real estate because of the great potential of investment returns.

After saving her money over the years, Biddy was able to purchase her first property at 311 Spring Street. This home was not just for her family, but it became known as a refuge for stranded and needy settlers. In 1872, the first Black AfricanAmerican Methodist Episcopal Church was formed. They initially had all of their services at Biddy Mason’s home.

Biddy became a smart and savvy real estate investor. In 1884, she sold the north half of the Spring Street property for $1,500. On the south half, she built a two-story brick building.

The first floor was rented out for commercial space, and she lived in an apartment on the second level. That same year, she sold a property on Olive Street for $2,800. That turned out to be a great investment, seeing that she purchased it for $375 16 years prior.

She also played a pivotal part in helping her family members, including her grandsons, purchase property around the Los Angeles area. It was important to Biddy that economic wealth through real estate continued in her family for the generations to come.

Upon her passing in 1891, Biddy Mason was one of the wealthiest women in Los Angeles. Biddy’s life serves as a great example of the potential to turn hardship into great lessons that can create success and wealth. We salute you Biddy Mason for your contribution to the history of not only Black Women, but all women..

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 303-668-5433.

Remembering

June 11, 1940 – December 30, 2021 Webb. As a staunch activist against Apartheid, enita she actively encourVinson passed aged local investors away unexto pull out of South pectedly Africa.

She was a major December 30, player in the 2021, in her Colorado home. She was Democratic Party born June 11, locally, nationally 1940, in St. Louis, and internationally.

Mo., the eldest As a major contributor and advisor for elecdaughter of Robert J. tions, she directed the success of Mack and Ruth Mack-Canty. young, upcoming women and At an early age, Venita minority political candidates at moved to Denver with her all levels. She was instrumental family. She graduated from North High School and went on in developing a concessions program for the women and to carve out a career in politics. minority business owners at the Her list of accomplishments was many and more than noble. Denver International Airport.

Additionally, Venita was the She was well known in the matriarch of her family, a loving community including the upper mother, sister, aunt, niece, echelon of Denver elites and cousin, and friend who always always served with dignity and gave of her time, talent and wisgrace. She was the go-to person dom. for guidance in Denver’s politiIn addition to her parents, cal circles. she was predeceased by son During her career, Venita Kevin B. Vinson, sister Rochelle served as the district director for Townsend and brothers, Congresswomen Patricia Ronald Mack and Robert Mack.

Schroeder, Congressional Left to cherish her memory are District 1; a member of her children, David K. Vinson Operation PUSH with Rev. (Annalisa) of Denver, Colo.; Jessie Jackson; an integral part Starla R. Townsend-Knight of of the Colorado Citizen Chico, Calif.; Edward G. Delegation with Mayor Wellington Webb (when Nelson Townsend of Denver, Colo.; Mandela gave his speech before grandchildren, Tabari Townsend, Rochelle Williams, the U.S. Congress); the first Derrick Williams, Eddie Black female Chief of Staff Williams, Trevaughn under Webb’s administration; an active member of the African Townsend, and Alexandria Vinson; 12 great- grandchildren; National Committee; a part of two sisters, Rozetta A. Spears the U.S. Monitoring Team for (James) of Huntersville, N.C., Nelson Mandela’s first election; Jessica M. Collins of Hayward, and the coordinator for local Calif.; one brother, John W. vendors and volunteers for the Canty of San Jose, Calif.; and a Denver Summit of the Eight (also known as the G8 Summit). host of nieces, nephews, and friends. .

Venita was a major particiEditor’s note: A home going celebrapant in the congressional office tion for Venita, Kenneth and Kevin at the Annual Congressional Vinson will be held on June 11.

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Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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MAYOR’S CORNER

Denver’s Nonprofit Engagement Commission Selects New Commissioners Appointees aim to diversify and amplify the voice of Denver’s nonprofits

M

ayor Michael Hancock’s Nonprofit Engagement Commission welcomed several new community members to communicate the urgent and pressing issues affecting Denver’s nonprofit sector. The commission is made up of representatives from the nonprofit, government and for-profit sectors, and commissioners serve up to three two-year terms.

Members must be approved by the mayor for appointment and confirmed by the Denver City Council.

The Nonprofit Engagement Commission is a group of nonprofit advocates and leaders who champion Denver’s nonprofit organizations and the sector. These recently selected advocates raise the voices and concerns of nonprofits directly with the Mayor’s Office, paving the way for more vibrant partnerships.

Ben Weeda, chair of the commission since December 2020, is enthusiastic about the new appointments. Weeda says, “We’re super excited about what we can achieve with these new commissioners. Among them, they bring more than 75 years of nonprofit engagement experience, and they’re going to provide the commission with a broader and deeper reach into the nonprofit sector while adding a more diverse representation, both racially and in size and focus of organizations.”

Weeda says priorities for the commission will be formalized in February 2022, with their top

priorities remaining largely the same: aSupporting nonprofits that serve Denver’s unhoused neighbors aAdvocating for the end of traumatic displacements of the unhoused aSupporting aligned housing policies on the state level aAdvancing the work of the Mayoral Nonprofit Task Force aImproving and streamlining the contracting process for nonprofits within the City of Denver aIncreasing operating funds for all nonprofits aAmplifying the stories of local nonprofits and elevating their diverse voices, achievements and needs of through storytelling New commission member LeRita Cavness is the director of Adolescent Know Your Rights, a nonprofit corporation designed to elevate autonomy, individual accountability and knowledge of the rights of adolescents through personal reflection. “As a Nonprofit Engagement Commissioner, I hope to amplify the realistic needs of the growing grassroots nonprofit base in Colorado, while actively pursuing methods of strengthening nonprofit communities through education and collaborative work,” she says.

New member Christopher Conner is the director of homelessness resolution at the Department of Housing Stability (HOST). The department is the City of Denver’s newest city agency, leading city strategies on a full spectrum of housing investments and homelessness response. Prior to HOST, Conner worked at Denver Human Services as both an administrator and director of the Denver’s Road Home program, supporting many nonprofits serving households experiencing homelessness.

“The Nonprofit Engagement Commission gives me an opportunity to better understand the needs of critical nonprofits while strengthening partnerships necessary to achieve our goals,” he says.

Linda Foster is president and CEO of Jewish Family Services (JFS). The organization serves Denver community members who are in need regardless of religion, race, age, income, sexual orientation, or ability, by providing food security, housing stability, mental health counseling, aging care, employment services, and disability services for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities and their families.

“We advocate for the needs of our clients with nonprofit partners, government stakeholders and diverse donors who invest in JFS to strengthen the community through vital services for individuals and families who are furthest from

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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equal opportunities. My role on the commission will allow me to bring concerns about systemic racism, poverty, lack of economic mobility, the rising costs of living in Denver, impacts of gentrification on the housing market, and more, directly to the Mayor’s Office.”

Madisen Frederick, a project manager at Mental Health Colorado, implements grant projects to recruit, organize and support community advocates who want to work on changing current low-income housing policies for older adults. Her objective is to maximize opportunities with Colorado initiatives on housing policies, particularly American Rescue Plan funds.

“We’re living in a time when the need to promote, protect and advocate for health equity is clearly on display and feels more important than ever, so we engage closely with key Continued on page 22

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It’s Virtual and will stream live at 4:00 pm Sunday, March 20, 2022 https://www.youtube.com/c/NewHopeDenver https://www.facebook.com/CGMAHF The CMAGHF Board and the local McDonald Owners and Operators invite you to join the live stream for a “Holy-Ghost filled time.”

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Continued from page 21 influences as we advocate for multiple policies and programs within the City of Denver to identify ways to improve affordable housing for lowincome older adults,” she says.

“I look forward to serving as an educator and intermediary between the philanthropic community, government agencies, hospitals and health systems, local public health agencies, and nonprofits to better communicate evidence-based strategies to improve the health of individuals in the community.”

Djuana Harvell, Ph.D., serves as the director of the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities where she leads strategic planning, research and implementation of key projects and initiatives, particularly public health programs that have improved the lives of more than 34,000 community members in several East Denver neighborhoods. She also collaborates

4 PM (MST)

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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with project teams, partners, managers, and volunteers to implement health advocacy, promotion and prevention plans and lead a team of 25 community stakeholders and subcommittees, creating goals and governance structure.

Marsena Holsopple is the chief development and community engagement officer at the Maria Droste Counseling Center, and has over 10 years of experience in nonprofit development, leadership and fundraising. Mars manages communications, marketing, donor cultivation and stewardship, events management, and fundraising strategies. She also serves on the board of Community Shares Colorado and was a 2021 recipient of the Denver Business Journal’s C-Suite Award.

“I am passionate about our nonprofits and our city working together for the betterment of our community,” she says. “My hope for my service as a commissioner is that I will be a con-

nector and an advocate to amplify our community’s resources so nonprofits can continue to focus on their mission and work.”

Flavia Zarcula has served as the director of grant management and evaluation at Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) for more than six years. LFSRM provides adoptive placement for babies and services for birth parents, foster care, older adult services, refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, child abuse prevention services, and parenting support for at-risk or struggling families.

“The agency appreciates a strong partnership with the City of Denver and looks forward to continuing to bring client needs to the city’s attention, including the need for affordable housing, childcare, and mental health supports,” Flavia says.

Melanie Tsuchida serves Colorado’s nonprofit community as the manager of strategic learning for Colorado Nonprofit Association. She leads the evaluation and organizational learning efforts of the association to ensure strategies, goals and programs are grounded in, and informed by, the nonprofit community. She has a passion for nonprofits working to uplift and support those most impacted.

“Colorado Nonprofit Association is dedicated to building an effective, vibrant and innovative nonprofit community that is essential to the quality of life in our state,”

Tsuchida says. “Through the Denver Nonprofit Engagement Commission, the association strives to ensure the Mayor’s Office grounds its decisions in the voices of nonprofits and those they serve, creates systems that help nonprofits achieve their missions, and tackle issues that are impacting our communities.”

As founder and principal at Barefoot PR, Cori Streetman has garnered extensive experience working with local nonprofit organizations and businesses in the areas of communications, brand development, strategic partnership building, public relations, community investment initiatives, and strategic message development.

“I’m thrilled to be appointed to Denver’s Nonprofit Engagement Commission,” she says. “It is my sincere hope my many years of experience working alongside and on behalf of the nonprofits in our community will contribute to the commission’s purpose of serving as a catalyst for leveraging the best of Denver’s public and nonprofit sectors and their commitment to engaging in innovative and collaborative work. I believe wholeheartedly in the value of the nonprofit sector and its important role in contributing to the high quality of life we so value in our city, and I know we can always improve when it comes to the ways in which our city’s leadership partners with and supports this community.”.

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LETTERS, OPINIONS, OPEDS

The Gold Standard: The Search for CU’s Next President Op-ed by James Michael Brodie

The University of Colorado is in the process of identifying its next president.

This comes at a time when the flagship institution in Boulder still grapples with how to rebrand its image as a place that is hostile to students of color, particularly African American students.

Even a century after Lucille Buchanan, the first Black CU graduate, was denied her right to walk with her class at her graduation ceremony, CUBoulder claims progress with a Black student population of 1 percent on a campus of more than 36,000. Meanwhile, the same institution cheers for a football squad that looks like a Historically Black College team composed of more than 70 percent Black players.

Several Black alums have noted that their Alma Mater’s reputation for being hostile to students of color on the Boulder campus is well deserved. And they are not convinced that CU’s latest diversity plan will do any better than previous incarnations. While plans may change, the planners have not.

The leaders have not.

This is the time for a different kind of leadership, with a different kind of president. One who not only knows what must be done, but one who has the expertise and a track record of success; one who has a true understanding of the challenges ahead, and a reputation for following through to produce quality results.

Continuing to implement the tried and true, the familiar, the known, will not change CU’s reputation, will not change its relationship with those it has marginalized over the years.

CU needs a new voice, and such a voice should come from someone like the soon-to-beretired president of a small college in Maryland.

Meet Freeman A. Hrabowski III, Ph.D., who will be stepping down this year after 30 years of transformational service to the University of Maryland Baltimore County, growing it from a minor satellite college in the University of Maryland system to a nationally recognized institution of research and innovation, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

In short, he is the demonstration of how to successfully prepare his young people to thrive in a quickly evolving world. In a recent NPR interview, Dr. Hrabowski summed up his philosophy by declaring that he did not believe in “flunk-out” courses. He said that once a student was on the campus, the job of the university should be to prepare those students for their futures.

In short, he represents what the Gold Standard looks like.

Dr. Hrabowski co-founded the Meyerhoff Scholars program, which promotes nonWhite achievement in STEM disciplines. The result is that UMBC has produced more African American students with

bachelor’s degrees in science and technology than any other “White” university in Maryland, including the flagship campus in College Park, which has three times as many students. UMBC also ranks near the top nationally in this category.

More than 1,400 Meyerhoff Scholars have earned their undergraduate degrees in the STEM fields. More than 800 have continued on to earn advanced degrees, and an additional 300 are currently enrolled in graduate programs.

Under Dr. Hrabowski’s watch, the college’s six-year completion rate for all students doubled, while the gap in completion rates between White and Black students has all but vanished.

From 2009 to 2014, U.S. News and World Report ranked UMBC as the “Up and Coming University” in the U.S. The college has remained on the publication’s annual list of “Most Innovative National Universities.”

This is what real leadership look like.

Consider this: data research group, Collegefactual found that in 2019, the top five feeder schools to the tech industry (University of Washington, University of CaliforniaBerkeley, Stanford University, University of Texas-Austin, and the University of Southern California) had a combined total of only 24 African American graduates who earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science. On the other hand, in the same year, UMBC, alone, awarded 82 computer science degrees to African American students.

The National Science Foundation ranked UMBC as the number one baccalaureate institution for African American undergraduates who go on to earn Ph. D’s in the natural sciences and engineering, and

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – March 2022

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as doctorates in the life sciences, mathematics, and computer science. Similarly, the Association of American Medical Colleges lauded UMBC as the number one baccalaureate institution for African American undergraduates who earn M.D./Ph.D.s.

The nation’s top tech companies often complain that the sparse numbers of African American candidates coming through the pipeline from elite institutions are the reason for their diversity problems. Hrabowski’s charges are filling that void.

This is what real expertise looks like.

As a child, Hrabowski saw racial injustice first-hand. He grew up in Birmingham, a Jim Crow stronghold. He was involved at an early age in the Civil Rights movement and took part in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Children’s Crusade. He was arrested. He personally knew one of the four young girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963. He was 13 years old.

After graduating from high school at the age of 16, Hrabowski attended the Hampton Institute and spent a year studying at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. He earned his B.A. in mathematics in 1970, attended the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, earning an M.A. in 1971, and received his Ph.D. in higher education administration in 1975.

While at Illinois, Dr. Hrabowski observed that he was the only Black student in his math classes. He established a tutoring center for African American high school students as well as college math and science courses to students prepare.

This is what real understanding looks like.

Dr. Hrabowski’s research has focused on science and math

education, with a special emphasis on minority participation and performance. He is the co-author of the books Beating the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Males (1998); Overcoming the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Young Women (2001); Holding Fast to Dreams: Empowering Youth from the Civil Rights Crusade to STEM (2015); and The Empowered University: Shared Leadership, Culture Change, and Academic Success (2019).

He chaired the National Academies committee that produced the report “Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads.”

Dr. Hrabowski is involved in a number of organizations and serves on the boards of the American Association of Colleges & Universities, the Baltimore Community Foundation, and McCormick & Company, to name a few. He has received a Council on Chemical Research Diversity Award and the Outstanding Science Educator Award from Eli Lilly & Company.

He advised President Barack Obama on higher education policy and was appointed by Obama to serve as chair of an advisory council on excellence in African American education.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Harvard

Yes!

University in 2010.

This is what quality looks like.

CU-Boulder is in desperate need of the type of leadership that someone like Freeman Hrabowski demonstrates. His relationship with his students has been unlike anything I have ever seen between an administrator and those in his charge, which includes students of all backgrounds. Simply put, he is a rock star. His students believe in him because he believes in them.

And there are others like Dr. Hrabowski, others who often are overlooked as predominantly White colleges and universities recycle more of the same. Finding new leadership is about more than having fights over whether to ban the histories of people already underrepresented in that university. It is about recruiting and retaining leadership that values Black lives from the moment they step foot on campus, and not just on Saturdays in the Fall..

Editor’s note: James Michael Brodie is a Baltimore-based writer, journalist, and author. His books include Created Equal: The Lives and Ideas of Black American Innovators and Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American Literature. A University of Colorado graduate in English, Brodie is president of The Black and Gold Project Foundation, which includes the podcast collection of personal narratives titled: “The Black and Gold Project: Our Past, Our Present, Our Future.”

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