denver urban spectrum november 2015

Volume 29 Number 8 November 2015

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Jamie Foxx

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Kenneth Faried

Photos by Bernard Grant

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – November 2015

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OPINIONS...LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”–John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States

Happy November! It’s official. We are entering the holiday season, full of cheerful giving and quality time with loved ones. It won’t be so hard to gowith the flow for those who have already set the tone for giving. Our cover story by contributing writer Angelle Fouther highlights the “Be Beautiful, BeYourself” fashion show, created, in part, by legendary artist Quincy Jones to raise funds and awareness for those with Down syndrome. Annually, theDenver-based event features people with Down syndrome and a number of celebrities who deeply care about the cause, and this year’s event wel-comed Terrence Howard, star of the FOX TV series, “Empire.”

We also highlight the work that veteran TV journalist Soledad O’Brien has done in talking about race relations in America as well as her futureendeavors to keep the conversation going. As the keynote speaker for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado annual luncheon, she encouragedyoung girls to pursue their passion.

This month we welcome Kristopher Colley II to the Denver Urban Spectrum family as a contributing writer. The Morehouse graduate has writtentwo stories; one about the new Dahlia Campus for Health and Wellbeing set to open soon and the other about steps officials are taking to keep WyattAcademy open.

Yes, it’s November. But with so much going on it seems like it’s the beginning of the year. The stories in this month’s issue con-firm the upcoming holiday season is destined to be full of cheer, hope and purpose.

Angelia D. McGowanManaging Editor

Congress Needs to Stop thePolitical Witch Hunt onBenghaziInstead finally focus on gunviolence at homeOp-ed by Wellington E. Webb

Last month, Hillary Clinton spent12 hours being grilled about the 2012attacks in Benghazi,Libya when she wassecretary of statewith no new infor-mation revealed andthe majority ofAmericans polledagreeing the whole“investigation” byRepublicans is politically motivated.

Andwhile this witch hunt is costingtaxpayers millions Congress continuesto ignore the 33,000 gun deaths yearly,including themassive shootings in ourpublic schools, college campuses andtheaters. Where is the committee inves-tigating those deaths?

Nor has Congress formed a com-mittee to seriously deal with the manyAfrican American youth and maleskilled by police under suspicious cir-cumstances. As a country, do we justaccept this as a part of our uglynature?

Is it more important for Congress –and for that matter the media – towring their hands over emails than tocare about gun violence against ourown citizens? The headlines aboutBenghazi blare on front pages whilethe gun deaths from domestic abuse,violent crimes and by the mentally illare often buried inside. What are ourpriorities?

How sad that after all of the politi-cal rhetoric after the Columbine HighSchool and Sandy Hook tragedies andOregon’s Umpqua Community

College shooting that we’re all justwaiting for the next massive killingspree and praying it won’t be in ourbackyard.

As Clinton very elegantly shared,she deeply regrets those lives lost inthe Benghazi attack. She has cooperat-ed for two years since the tragedyhappened to get the details and findout what went wrong.

But while the spotlight has glaredon this attack – and ramped upbecause of the presidential race - as asociety we are allowing the thousandsof American lives lost to gun violenceto become our new “normal.”

Everyone – including Congress –needs to say enough is enough withpolitics and if there is another commit-tee formed, let it address the veryhomegrown terrorism of gun violenceand the racial profiling by some policedepartments.Editor’s note: Wellington Webb served asMayor of Denver from 1991-2003. He alsoserved as president of the U.S. Conferenceof Mayors.Death Penalty in ColoradoOp-ed by Leslie Herod

In the last six months, two Coloradodeath-qualified juries in horrific massmurders concluded that life in prisonwas amore appropriate sentence thandeath. If theseColorado juries decid-ed James Holmes andDexter Lewis do notdeserve the deathpenalty, who does?Both juries were unan-imous on guilty con-viction but neithercouldmuster the una-nimity needed to convict them to death.

It is becoming increasingly clear tome that there is not a compelling

argument to support the death penal-ty. So why is it still an option forColorado jurors? Let’s take the argu-ments one at a time. Many haveasserted that the death penalty detersviolent crime. Study after study dis-putes this assertion. Indeed, 88 per-cent of our country’s top criminolo-gists do not believe the death penaltyacts as a deterrent to homicide.

Nationally, police chiefs rank thedeath penalty as last when asked toname priorities for effective crimereduction. Our nation’s Southaccounts for 80 percent of America’sexecutions and yet homicide rate isthe highest in the nation. States thathave repealed or abolished the deathpenalty see no correlation whatsoeverto their murder crime rate.

Many, including District AttorneyGeorge Brauchler, who prosecutedJames Holmes, say the death penaltyis needed for the “worst of the worst.”But it is difficult to imagine a crimeworse than the Holmes mass murdersor the deliberate lethal stabbing of fivepeople in a robbery gone terriblywrong at Fero’s Bar and Grill inDenver. The death penalty is used sorarely and inconsistently that any exe-cution now seems random, an acci-dent of time, place and race.

Let’s look at race. Nationwide, 34percent of all executions are of AfricanAmericans and 42 percent on deathrow are African American. ButAfrican Americans represent only 13.7percent of the nation’s population. InColorado, the numbers are starker.Our death row consists solely ofAfrican Americans. 100 percent of ourdeath row is African American andAfrican Americans represent only 8percent of the state’s total popula-

Continued on page 5

PUBLISHERRosalind J. Harris

GENERAL MANAGERLawrence A. James

MANAGING EDITORAngelia D. McGowan

CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITORTanya Ishikawa

COLUMNISTSEarl Ofari Hutchinson

KimFarmer

FILM CRITICBlackFlix.Com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSKris Colley IIAngelle FoutherTanya Ishikawa

Angelia D. McGowan

ART DIRECTORBee Harris

GRAPHIC DESIGNERJody Gilbert - Kolor Graphix

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTMelovy Melvin

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSLens of AnsarBernard Grant

ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANTByron T. Robinson

DISTRIBUTIONGlen Barnes

Lawrence A. JamesEd Lynch

Volume 29 Number 8 November 2015

The Denver Urban Spectrum is amonthly publication dedicated tospreading the news about people ofcolor. Contents of the Denver UrbanSpectrum are copyright 2015 by BizzyBee Enterprise. No portion may bereproduced without written permissionof the publisher.The Denver Urban Spectrum circu-

lates 25,000 copies throughoutColorado. The Denver Urban Spectrumwelcomes all letters, but reserves theright to edit for space, libelous material,grammar, and length. All letters mustinclude name, address, and phonenumber. We will withhold author’s nameon request. Unsolicited articles areaccepted without guarantee of publica-tion 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 orfax 303-292-6543 or visit theWeb site atwww.denverurbanspectrum.com.

Deemed the Black “Dynasty,”the FOX TV show “Empire” has risento epic levels of popularity — show-casing both the electrifying raw talentof its ensemble cast, as well as theirdevilishly raw storylines. At the centerof the Empire is Terrence Howard. Aveteran actor, with roles in moviessuch as the Best Man, Winnie, Ray,Crash, Four Brothers, and Hustle andFlow (for which he was nominated anAcademy Award for Best Actor),Howard is best known these days forhis role as Lucious Lyon, theunscrupulous patriarch of the Lyonfamily, and president of the entertain-ment corporation for which the showis named.

Just as the show has sparked con-troversy for its themes of murder,homophobia, hostile takeovers and thecorruption of the recording industry,many believe its star, Howard, mirrorsLucious in many ways due to personaland emotional issues as well asrumors of violent behavior that havefollowed him over the years.

Yet, while the breakthrough televi-sion show has taken the country bystorm, Howard, himself, was a gentlebreeze—the bad boy image set asidefor a day as he came to Denver to sup-port the 2015 Be Beautiful, Be YourselfFashion Show.

“The issue of Down syndrome ispersonal to my friends, so it’s impor-tant to me.” Howard said. “That’s apart of growing. If you stay in yourown area, only looking at things youknow about, you don’t grow. You

have to look at the larger human fami-ly and what troubles exist out there.”

Howard attended the event withTara Pak, the actor’s third wife, whomhe reportedly divorced this past sum-mer. The two appeared to be recon-ciled as Pak walked arm–in-arm withthe actor on the red carpet.

In an ethereal mood, Howardshared privately, “We are not made inGod’s image, but are all pieces of God.When we come together we show allthe best parts of God.” That sense ofbenevolence played out through thenight, as the couple demonstrated agreat deal of generosity in their sup-port of the Global Down SyndromeFoundation, which had a goal of rais-ing $2 million through the event.

Approximately 70 percent of theproceeds of the Be Beautiful event gotoward research through the CrnicInstitute for Down Syndrome and theSie Center for Down Syndrome, bothbased in Colorado.

The opening auction itemwas a glassof water, for which the winning bidcame from none other thanHowardand Pak, for the hefty sum of $5,000.Auctioneer JimNye jokingly stated,“I’m not sure what he [Howard] isgoing to dowith that glass of water; per-haps build an Empire.”

The couple also won the bid($14,000) for two tickets to Super Bowl50, which will be held in San Franciscoon Feb. 7, 2016. The auction packageincluded an official jersey and helmetautographed by Bronco’s QuarterbackPeyton Manning.

Really getting into the swing ofthings, Howard offered an impromptuauction item: two days on the set ofEmpire (airfare included), along withtwo courtside seats to the Nuggetsgame. Bidding occurred while theEmpire song, “You’re So Beautiful,”made popular by the show’s breakoutstars, Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y.Gray, played. That package went for$16,000.

The star-studded event featuredBeverly Johnson, who attended withniece Natalie Russell. Johnson is cred-ited with redefining American param-eters of modeling and beauty with

respect to race and age, making wayfor a new class of “seasoned” modelsand those of all hues. Most recentlyshe joined other women who sharecommon allegations againt actor andcomedian Bill Cosby.

Johnson, by supporting the BeBeautiful event, which strives to des-tigmatize children with Down syn-drome and help them gain confidenceand self-acceptance, has helped rede-fine beauty in this realm as well. “Itake a great deal of pride in seeing theself-confidence that has been built inmy niece,” she shared. “I have acousin who has Down syndrome also.I have been around people with Downsyndrome all of my life. It is incredibleto finally have the opportunity to dosomething about it.”

Jamie Foxx shared a similar senti-ment: “When someone has the moneyto do something and gets to work todoing it, like Michelle (Sie Whittenand her family) it’s a great thing.” TheGrammy and Academy Award win-ning actor, who has been a participantin the Be Beautiful event since itsinception, says of the event’s evolu-tion: “At first there was a serious feel-ing about the cause and the kids. Nowpeople are coming to this event for thefun.” He adds, “We are all taught tothink about it that way until weremember, it’s just regular people. Thekids like to dance and have fun andare just regular. I’ve been dealing withDown syndrome for 30 years, so Iknow.” Foxx was referring to his sis-ter; DeOndra Dixon, an ambassadorfor the Global Down SyndromeFoundation, who has lived with himfor the past 12 years. She walkeddown the aisle with Howard this year.

Each year, Global presents theQuincy Jones Exceptional AdvocacyAward to an individual who has tire-lessly advocated for the rights of thedifferently-abled. This year’s recipientwas American Horror Story actress andDown syndrome self-advocate, JamieBrewer. Jones, who was one of themasterminds behind creating theevent, was not able to attend this year,but taped a message for his friendsJohn and Anna Sie, who received the2015 Exceptional Advocacy Award.The couple, along with daughter andexecutive director of Global DownSyndrome Foundation, Michelle SieWhitten, has worked to find researchand treatment for the condition sincethe birth of Sophie, Michelle’s daugh-ter who was born with Down syn-drome 12 years ago.

Whitten said that since they begantheir efforts medical care hasimproved, there are more guidelines,and scientists are making headway onresearch. She also made an uncannycorrelation as well. Since her motherwas diagnosed, in 2013, with stagefour uterine cancer, research hasuncovered ties between Down syn-drome and cancer (as well asAlzheimer’s and auto immune defi-ciencies).

“Scientists have forged a way for adiagnosis for my mother, and Sophiehas paved the way,” Whitten said.

The highlight of the evening was afashion show, where the kids struttedtheir stuff on the runway. Theyincluded: 2015 Ambassador ClarissaCapuano, Jamie Foxx’s sister, aspiringdancer and former Quincy Jones

Continued on next pageDenver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – November 2015

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You’re So Beautiful…Terrence Howard Joins National andLocal Stars for “Be Beautiful” Fashion Show

By Angelle C. FoutherPhotos by Bernard Grant

DeOndra Dixon and Terrence Howard Jamie Foxx anddaughter escort twoyoung models

OpinionsContinued from page 3percent of the state’s total population.Interestingly, all three men on deathrow are from the same city and theyeven went to the same high school.Additionally, they were all prosecutedout of the same district attorney’soffice.

A recent University of Denver studyfound that between 1999 and 2010, only1 percent of cases that were death-eligi-ble – meaning theymet the factors setforth in statute – actually sought death.This is not a penalty that is saved for theworst of the worst, but rather isimposedmore inconsistently. As Gov.JohnHickenlooper stated when granti-ng Nathan Dunlap a temporaryreprieve, “if the State of Colorado isgoing to undertake the responsibility ofexecuting a human being, the systemmust operate flawlessly. Colorado’s sys-tem for capital punishment is not flaw-less.”

The death penalty is not a deter-rent, is not reserved uniformly for theworst of the worst, and does not rep-resent fairness or justice. The argu-ments favoring the death penalty areflawed and there are many reasons tooppose it. It is costly for the state - farmore expensive than a non-death case.Death penalty prosecutions cost everyagency involved more. Every day incourt requires high level attorneys,high level clerks, judges and investiga-tive personnel. There are morelawyers per side, more courtroomsecurity, more jurors, more expertsand simply more days in court. Thesecosts do not include the many years ofappeals after conviction or the costinvolved in housing prisoners ondeath row as opposed to in the gener-al population for a life sentence. Manywould say the system should bestreamlined and this would make it

less costly. But when someone’s life ison the line, justice compels us to get itright and a streamlined approach isnot justice guaranteed. There havebeen 155 death row exonerations inthe U.S. The system is not flawless.

Public opinion favoring the deathpenalty is waning. A recent surveyreleased by Colorado’s Better PrioritiesInitiative shows that 62 percent ofColoradans now prefer a sentence of lifein prison over the death penalty.

Few people have a more personalconnection to the death penalty thanRep. Rhonda Fields – a personal friendand a champion for the rights of vic-

tims. Two of three men on death roware there for murdering her son beforehe could testify against one of them.Although Rep. Fields continues tobelieve in the death penalty, sherecently conceded that she’s not sureher son’s killers will ever be executed.She honors her son’s memory throughthe Fields Wolfe Memorial Fund, anon-profit committed to empoweringyouth.

But while time, cost, the deterrencedebate, public opinion and a lack of astreamlined process are all critical fac-tors in the death penalty argument,we cannot ignore the bigger moral

question our society faces. Shouldindividuals within our legal system bein the business of determining whichmitigating factors are compellingenough to warrant ending a life? Wemust address this difficult question tofully understand the debate. But whileour country debates this question thatcontinues to plague our justice system,our state cannot continue to employthe death penalty as an option forColorado juries.

Colorado’s death penalty law is intatters. Let’s legislate its repeal.�Editor’s note: Leslie Herod is candidate forColorado House District 8


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Be BeautifulContinued from previous pageExceptional Advocacy recipientDeOndra Dixon, aspiringmodel andinternet sensation Gigi Cunningham,and 18-year-old Devon Adelmanwhoattended First LadyMichelle Obama’s“Beating the Odds” summit at theWhite House earlier this year, amongseveral others. Other celebrities whomodeled with the youth included BeauBridges, Minka Kelly, Amanda Booth,Denver Broncos BrandonMcManus,and Britton Colquitt and DenverNugget Kenneth Faried, among others.

“I love the joy and energy the kidshave,” said Faried, whomarked hisfifth year supporting the event. “Theadvice they gavemewhen I startedwas ‘just smile and the kids will takecare of everything else.’ That’s beentrue.”�

SoledadO’Brien onMaking aDifferenceBy Angelia D. McGowan

Twelve-year-old Imani Andohhas learned how important it is to“uplift young women to reach theirhighest potential.” Sophie Carpenter,also 12, has learned that “there aregirls all over the world and no matterhow useless you may think you are,you can always help someone.”Andoh and Carpenter are part of theGirl’s Leadership Council, a programof the Women’s Foundation ofColorado, which held its annualluncheon on Oct. 12 at the ColoradoConvention Center.

As one of the state’s largest annualgatherings focusing on women andgirls, with traditionally more than1,900 in attendance, the luncheon car-ries a long-standing tradition of host-ing well-known keynote speakers whobring messages of empowerment, col-laboration and inspiration to supportits mission to build resources and lead

change soevery womanand girl inColoradoachieves herfull potential.The GLCinspires girls tobe leaders andphilanthropists.

GLC mem-bers had theopportunity tohear words of wisdom from SoledadO’Brien, award-winning journalist,documentarian and originator of theCNN series, “Black in America” and“Latino in America.” The storytellertold the crowd that her value in jour-nalism was a “lack of fear in tellingstories.” And while she said that, “wecannot sugar coat the issues facing thecountry,” journalists need to be carefulin how the stories are told.

The world of journalism provides aripe environment to demonstrate howwords can affect people, according toO’Brien. She said when the media cov-ers minorities and the impoverished,they can choose to lead with negativeinformation and labels or find a morehuman way to tell the story. “We needto think carefully about the words weuse. They like to make a shorthandswipe of who they are. It dehumanizes

people…Weare not thesum of ourdysfunc-tions.”

When talk-ing about herdocumen-taries on Dr.Martin LutherKing, Jr., shesaid that hewas a regular

man, determined to do extraordinarythings.

“Once you figure out what you’redoing, what you are going to put yourpassion into, go do it,” said O’Brien,who continued following her passionafter CNN when she started the NewYork-based Starfish Media Group in2013. SMG is a leading production anddistribution company focused on realstories, authentic characters, and richstorytelling told across a broad rangeof content formats and media plat-forms as well as around the world.SMG and Soledad O’Brien report andproduce series, documentaries, digitalseries, documentaries, digital content,live events and filmed entertainment.

SMG explores critical social issues,including the divisive issues of race,class, wealth, opportunity, and pover-ty and the personal stories of people

who face these obstacles and attemptto overcome them. In the telling of sto-ries that may appear to be an uphillbattle against insurmountable odds,she asks, “What lessons do you learnfrom people who try anyway?”

The answer is to “make a differ-ence,” said O’Brien, a founder of theSoledad O’Brien and Brad RaymondStarfish Foundation which provideshardworking young women of colorfrom low-income families with theresources necessary to succeed, partic-ularly to get them through college. “Bethat difference.”

O’Brien’s work can be seen atCNN, Al Jazeera and HBO. She alsohosts the National Geographic Beeand “Live From Space” on NationalGeographic.

The GLC, along with some of thebiggest supporters of women andgirls, also heard words from LaurenCasteel, named president and CEO ofthe WFC at the beginning of the year.She reminded the crowd that “togeth-er, we are powerful.”

Casteel was inducted into theColorado Women’s Hall of Fame in2014 and is recognized as the first per-son to lead three foundations inColorado. She previously directed theTemple Hoyne Buell Foundation andthe Hunt Alternatives Fund.�


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To close or not to close? This isthe question many in the DenverPublic School District are ponderingregarding Wyatt Academy. As a Dec.3 charter renewal deadline quicklyapproaches, Wyatt and the DPS Boardare tussling with the fate of the school.

Since 1998, the K-8 charter schoolhas been a mainstay educational insti-tution for youth in Denver’s Coleneighborhood. Community influencehas remained a key stimulus since theschool’s opening and it is one thatwhen operating at absolute volumemakes Wyatt remarkably special.

The original golden era for WyattAcademy occurred in the school’s firstfive years, when it was recognized forits academic achievement at both thestate and district levels. Scholars wereconsistently moving up in grade levelreading and proficiency, and thisgrowth was continuous throughouttheir time at Wyatt Academy. When adeficiency in resource managementand allocation, by their original char-ter partner Edison Learning, becameapparent, those achievements startedto dwindle and separation withEdison soon transpired.

“Early on,Wyatt which was thenWyatt-Edison, was a very successfulcharter. Edison Learning changed focusand they failed to provide a neededlevel of support. It was because theirbusiness model changed and theydecided tomove in a different directionother than operating urban charters,”saidWyatt Academy Executive DirectorJoe Taylor, with the academy since 2003.“And so, a lot of supports were with-drawn and a once very successfulschool started to decline.”

He has seen firsthand, the hills andvalleys that the school has journeyedand was named to head the academyin 2014.

From 2005 to 2012, Wyatt wentthrough seven different principals. Asa result, the school and the scholars

were in flux. That was Wyatt andEdison’s relationship until 2012 whenthe Wyatt board made a firm decisionto move away from Edison for good.

“Not until 2012, when our boardtook a stand andmade a commitmentto change did we start to see improve-ment again. In 2013-2014, we felt thatwe started to take steps towards revital-izing and reinventing a culture uniqueto our school that met the needs of ourcommunity,” Joe Taylor said.

Since the 2013-2014 school year,Wyatt has been an independent char-ter. A three-year contract agreementwas worked out with the DPS Boardallowing them to become an inde-pendent charter associated with DPS.That contract is set to expire inDecember.

The expectation of the Wyattadministration is now that the schoolis returning to academic promise thedistrict will renew their charter statusor keep them as an active school with-in the district. Accepting their renewalwill allowWyatt to continue to affectthe community.

Hitting close to rock bottom allowsfor a miraculous resurrection. 2014was the first year in the transition thatWyatt saw an increase on its SPF andis continuously meeting their interimachievement goals. Along with SPF,PARCC scores are critical for judgingperformance at baseline. ThePartnership for Assessment forReadiness for College and Careers is aPearson-published assessment of com-mon core standards. Several states,including Colorado, accept this assess-ment as an indicator of a school’s aca-demic growth.

“All we need is two years of PARCCdata for us to really tell our story, for usto really be able to show that we aremaking success on the common core,”Joe Taylor said. In 2015, 58 percent ofkindergarten and first-grade scholarswill go onto the next grade level at orabove grade level reading, compared tojust 28 percent in 2012.

“Wyatt’s future really is going todepend on the strength of the student’sassessments andwhether or not thatschool is going in the right direction. Soif Wyatt is able to show growth, thenWyatt is moving in the right direction. Itmakes the decision for DPS and theboard easier. When a school, likeWyattor any other school, is right on the bor-derline then it makes our decision a littlebit more difficult as we look at specificindicators that gives us a clear picture ofthe direction that the school is headingin,” DPS Boardmember Landri Taylorsaid.

Melody Means, a Wyatt teacherand parent, said, “For a student to besuccessful it takes three people: me asa teacher, and it takes the student, andit also takes family effort. For us, weare lucky to have tons of parentinvolvement. In my class alone, I havethree parents that come in and volun-teer on a regular basis and make surethat my students are succeeding.”

Michelle McKinsey, a teacher at theacademy, said, “I love our community.I have never felt more a part of a fami-ly at a school.”

Early in the 2014-2015 school year,the academy provided a strategicaction plan to DPS’s Office of SchoolReform and Innovation. They alsohave worked with PortfolioManagement to maturate strategic

benchmarks that will indicate whereexactly the academy is closing theachievement gap. This achievementgap has narrowed since the com-mencement of Wyatt’s three-year turn-around goal.

“Wyatt’s turnaround is moving inthe right direction. They have a strongboard now that isn’t under the dictatesof the Edison charter and they cannow move in a more constructivedirection for the kids in the school.They were handcuffed under theEdison charter and now they are nolonger handcuffed and they will bene-fit because of that,” DPS Board mem-ber Taylor said.

Weekly peer forum meetings arehosted at Wyatt on Wednesdayevenings. At these meetings adminis-trators provide information about thecharter renewal process.

“We have an event on November19, where we have public commentwith the DPS Board and we areencouraging not just our families, butalso the entire Wyatt community andthe extended Wyatt Academy commu-nity and all of our partners to be a partof that public comment hearing beforethe DPS Board.”

He added that Wyatt Academy “isgoing to be an example of a very suc-cess turnaround, if we are given theopportunity.”�


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The Race to Save Wyatt Academy...By Kris Colley II

The new Dahlia Campus forHealth and Wellbeing, scheduled toopen in late December, is set tobecome a mainstay and hallmark of aNortheast Park Hill neighborhoodsearching to be revitalized.

Throughout the1950s, the DahliaSquare ShoppingCenter was a flour-ishing economichub in the heart ofNortheast ParkHill. Composed ofa handful of locallyowned shops and apopular KingSoopers grocery

store, the shopping centeremployed hundreds of the neigh-borhood’s residents. During thisprominent time, it was the largestAfrican American-owned shoppingcenter in the United States.

A half century later, the shoppingcenter and neighborhoodwentthrough years of turmoil, mirroringthe low economic situations manypredominantly African Americancommunities experienced during thesame time span. Dahlia Square was nolonger the lifeblood of the neighborhoodand its iconic, big blue sign, which stoodproudly for many years, came down inthemid-2000s. The former vibrant shop-ping center was left vacant.

The new Dahlia Center for Healthand Wellbeing, a family site for theMental Health Center of Denver,should reinvigorate and fill thatvacancy. Lydia Prado, PhD, vice presi-dent of Child and Family Services forMHCD, said, “Our hopes are many: toaddress food scarcity through produc-tion of fresh produce and healthy pro-

tein; to address nutrition and nutritionrelated health concerns through cook-ing classes; to address tooth decay byproviding access to pediatric dentistry;to address isolation and loneliness byproviding inviting community spaces;to address unhealthy relationshipsthrough family therapy; and to pro-

mote overall healthand well-beingacross the lifespan.”

The center’s vari-ous amounts of serv-ices also includeearly childhoodmental health and anurban farm, a gym,community rooms,support groups, day

treatment programs, preschools, child-care network supports, prevention pro-grams, deaf and hard of hearing servic-es, play spaces and health navigators.

Maya Wheeler, who has been avocal member in the community formany years while working with theForest Street Compassionate CareCenter, just a block away from thenew Dahlia Campus, said, “There areall types of classes. Like there will becooking classes, exercise classes, andparenting classes – just a wealth ofknowledge and information there. It’snot supposed to be a place where you


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Dahlia Campus for Health andWellbeing Aims to RevitalizeNeighborhood, EncourageHealthy HabitsBy Kris Colley II

think of where people can go get helpfor mental health issues; it’s supposedto be a place to help people prosperand do better in the community.”

Wheeler, a community activist andcandidate for Aurora City Council, wasan instrumental liaison in communityrelations with theMHCDduring pro-gram planning. The organization startedreally engaging the community in late2013 and early 2014 about the newDahlia Campus project, but discussionon the idea of the project started a cou-ple years prior. She said, “Initially theconcern was that they were just going topit people here just to come get pre-scription drugs.” That is not the case.“This facility is just a way for people tohave an outlet so that they can be suc-cessful and have a good quality of life,”she added.

The 45,000 square-foot buildingspace sits on four acres of landbetween Dahlia and Eudora streets on35th Avenue in East Denver. A majorgoal of the Dahlia Campus is to estab-lish an inclination and passion for theoutdoors. One way in which thosestrides are being taken is by creating alarge outdoor community garden.

“The goal (of the community gar-den) is that no kid will have to gowithout a meal over the course of themonth because of this resource,”Wheeler said. This is the Mental

Health Center of Denver’s solution fora community with whom many of itsmembers come from low economicstatus backgrounds. They wish tomaintain that every individual in thecommunity has access to fruits, veg-etables and various types of fish.

Prado said, “The Dahlia Campusfor Health and Wellbeing will providea place for community members toconnect with their neighbors, learnnew skills and find support they needto increase their health and well-being…. Our goal is to offer a welcom-ing place to children, families andadults where everyone can engage inactivities that will help them feel goodand live well.”

The relationship with the commu-nity must be stable and ever cultivat-ing if the campus wants to have a sus-taining future in the neighborhood.Not only in their services to the resi-dents, but also in its lasting value tothe community members and youth.

Wheeler said, “They would like tohave Black social workers and psychi-atrist that could work with the com-munity as well, but there are not highnumbers of African-Americans whoare in those career fields in Colorado.The MHCD would like to work withyouth in this community to get morepeople interested in those career fieldsin Colorado.”

There is hope that this facility canhelp foster and funnel more childrenand young adults into pursuing careersin each of these particular fields.

The Dahlia Campus anticipatesaddressing various health issues thatconcern the community. They are put-ting a strong emphasis on pediatricdentistry. “There will be a dentaloffice for children because 70 percentof children on free and reduced lunchhave cavities and cavities are the num-ber one childhood disease,” Wheelersaid. The dentist will be open to thepublic via appointment when the facil-ity opens later this year.

“This facility is truly one of the firstof its kind,” Wheeler said. “One thingthat Dr. Prado talks about is kids can’tjust be successful through educationalone, they need to know their com-munity is safe, they need to have a sta-ble place to live, and they need tohave food. It takes all of those thingstogether. Also, it will help parents putmore things in their toolkits to helpthem to be a better parent.”

For a neighborhood that has waitedmany years for development to occur,the new Dahlia Campus will become asymbol of revitalization and healthyliving. The future for the historicDahlia neighborhood is promisingonce again for Park Hill residents. �


9

For more than 10 years, passionhas driven Banneker Watches CEODerrick Holmes to deliver classic time-pieces and share the story of pioneer-ing African-American clockmaker andscientist Benjamin Banneker. Over thepast few months, the Denver business-man returned to his musical roots tocreate a new timeless classic – a lovesong for the ages.

Holmes teamed up with multi-Grammy nominated producer andmulti-platinum composer and song-writer Herb Middleton and Motownlegend and Rock and Roll Hall ofFame inductee Otis Williams, the lastoriginal surviving member of TheTemptations to record “It’s Time forLove.” The single, which will bereleased on Jan. 1, 2016, is a gentle ral-lying call for people to come togetherand love each other.

“It was great working with HerbMiddleton. He is a great talent. And itwas fun seeing D-Man (his nicknamefor Holmes) hit those notes and bringhis special sound to this song. And wehave to keep a close eye on my GodNiece Ne’Vaeh Holmes, she could beour future Beyoncé, that kid can sing,”said Williams.

Middleton shared that positiveexperience. “To record this was a leg-endary experience with Mr. Williamsand then having this vocal presencewith Derrick singing this song wasgreat,” he said.

Middleton, who wrote the lyrics to“It’s Time for Love,” has been a musi-cian since childhood and began hissongwriting career under the mentor-ship of Emmy award-winning musicaldirector and composer Loris Holland.The CEO of NuVybe Records inPhiladelphia, Middleton has writtenand produced for such artists asBobby Brown, Sean “Puffy” Combs,Mary J, Al Green, Usher, RaheemDeVaughn, Faith Evans, and the lateTeddy Pendergrass.

The music producer and Holmeswere introduced by phone throughmutual friend Warren Wortham ofWaterloo, Iowa. “Derrick sung to me,and listening to him and hearing himtalk blew me away. His story andBanneker’s story was cool. Plus, he has arange from high alto, maybe even high-er with falsetto, down to a bass thatrumbles,” Middleton explained.

Holmes also pulled Williams, whois the chief ambassador for theBanneker brand and a loyal customer,into the project. Still performing at 74years old, more than 50 years afterfounding The Temptations, Williamsrecorded a spoken introduction overthe song’s entrance.

“We’re in the sound engineer’s boothand we heard this voice talking and I’mlistening to what he’s saying – I was lit-erally fighting back tears. The way hesounded, it went right to the heart. Itwas a historical moment, one of thosemoments that can’t ever be duplicated.It was spontaneous. I love spontaneityas a producer – those moments youdon’t plan for, where the artists sing

from or talk from their soul. It generatesreality,” Middleton said.

Holmes was just as blown away.“We looked at each other and werelike, ‘Did we just experience that?’ Itshows how Otis was really doingmusic before we were born. Hismicrophone cred just kicked in. Forhim it was like nothing; for us it waslike boom. Watching Herb, too, Ithought about how many people he’sworked with and what a musicalgenius he is. So for him to be so visu-ally touched by it said a lot,” Holmesrecalled.

The watch designer has alwaysloved music, and sang in groups inhigh school and college, makingmoney singing at parties and wed-dings. He also wrote and sang com-mercial jingles for his advertising com-pany, but has concentrated on pro-moting Banneker for the past decade.When he had the epiphany to create asong for his watch company, he real-ized he could return to his early loveof singing, and the song could havedeeper meaning.

Williams agreed. ”This song ismore than a song – it is a call, and acry for change. It should be theworld’s new mission,” he said.

Middleton explained, “The song pro-motes Banneker Watches and Derrick’sgift but more than that it has a message,which is something I believe in verystrongly and the world needs to be con-scious of: the need to love.”

“The song deserves attention. Itcould stand the test of time. It’s not asong created on a whim just for today.The message that it represents is time-less,” he added.

Reality inspired his lyric writing, ashe reflected on life in America today.“I want my children and grandchil-dren to grow up in a world wherethey won’t have to fear for their lives.Why do we have to fear for our lives?I understand being angry, but mur-dering people comes so easy thesedays. I can’t make it any simpler –look at what we are doing to oneanother,” he implored.

While the elder statesman,Williams, starts out the song, the end-ing is graced by the sweet voice ofHolmes’ 7-year-old daughter,Ne’Vaeh. “There’s nothing like thelove between a father and daughter. Iwanted to leave listeners with that andsend that message of love out,”Middleton explained.

He concluded, “My hopes for thesong are that people tie into this bril-liant brand of watch wear, that peoplereally see this product and start toread into the history, not just ofBenjamin Banneker but also DerrickHolmes, who to me is a hero with areally special mission. I hope that peo-ple buy into the idea that it is time forlove and we see unity displayedamong people.” �Editor’s note: Look for updates on therelease of the single, “It’s Time for Love,”and its video at herbmiddletonmusic.comand bannekerwatches.com. BannekerWatches are high quality timepieces withunique, one-of-a-kind wood grains in thewatch faces, luxurious jewel adornments,and fine leather, wood and metal bands.


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Ready For LoveWatch Entrepreneur Delivers Song To The World

By Tanya Ishikawa

Otis Williams, Derrick Holmes, Herb Middleton and Ne’Vaeh Holmes.

Holton BuggsHelps ToAnswer Your“WHY?”

Who is Holton Buggs?He is oftencalled the Michael Jordan of networkmarketing. Holton Buggs is the execu-tive vice president of InternationalSales of Organo, one of the mostadmired network marketing compa-nies in the world. He is also the #1income earner in the world of networkmarketing.

His in-depth knowledge of networkmarketing was a driving force behindthe wide variety of complementaryOrgano products. Holton’s expertisehelps enable the distributors to workwith the system to build successfulbusinesses.

“In life you don’t get what youwant – you get what you picture. Onemust be able to conceive and fullybelieve that he or she will be able toachieve their endeavors and desires,”says Buggs.

The history of Holton Buggs is atrue “rags to riches” story. He startedas an engineer, and always had someincredibly frustrating financial situa-tions. Just 45 days away from foreclo-sure, over $250,000 in debt, and hav-ing just experienced the humiliation ofhaving his car repossessed, Buggsmade a decision that would forevershape his future. He knew that thereason WHY he needed to succeedwas the most important factor.

“I launched my Organo Gold busi-ness on Sept. 28, 2008. There werealready about 7,000 distributors in thecompany so I wasn’t the very first toget in. I started as a distributor with aGold Pack, just like everyone else, andworked the business for the first 90days as if I was $250,000 in debt, 45days away from foreclosure and fac-ing repossession again. I hardly slept,

ate, or saw my family – a sacri-fice well worth it because Iknew those 90 days would setus up for a lifetime.”

During his leadership train-ings, Buggs encouragesnetwork marketersand other entrepre-neurs to be con-scious of their“why” or theirmotivation forbuilding theirbusiness in thefirst place. Itwill guide themto stimulate theirenthusiasm totake personal ini-tiative to achievetheir definite chiefaim, even duringtough times.Success is surelyattained once theimportance of theirdream is realized.

Buggs knows what ittakes to have successwith networking market-ing. He is world renown,and people from aroundthe world travel manylands in order to see him.

After 18 years of experi-ence in network marketing,Buggs was able to transferhis knowledge into Organowith the company’s missionof spreading the knowledge ofGanoderma to the four corners ofthe world and partnering with thou-sands of people along the way.Organo coffee, which is the leadingproduct, is not acidic. The secret ingre-dient is Ganoderma, known as theKing of Herbs. There are countlessbenefits to consistently give a flow ofenergy throughout the day and bondsto the body’s system to function atoptimum levels.

Organo Gold started with anextraordinary cup of coffee in 2008 in

Richmond, B.C., Canada, in asmall shop with only threeemployees. In just two shortyears, it became one of thefastest growing network mar-

keting companies in theworld.

In 2009, coffee salesincreased from $2 mil-lion to $9 million. In2010 and under theleadership of Buggs,who was namedexecutive vice presi-dent of sales, coffeesales increased to$47 million – over a500 percentincrease. Afterachieving greatresults because ofthe system, salesincreased to $152million in 2011, over

$300 million in 2012, andthrough steady increases,now over $400 plus millionin 2015.

Organo is now doingbusiness in 47 countrieswith earnings in excess of$1 billion and growing.Holton Buggs will be in

Denver for two days to sharehis knowledge and four prin-ciples of network marketingto anyone who is looking foran answer to their “why?” OnFriday, Nov. 20, the public isinvited to hear a free businesspresentation on network mar-

keting. On Saturday, ticket hold-ers will be trained and led by HoltonBuggs, who says, “let me tell you hownetwork marketing changed mylife.”�Editor’s note: Holton Buggs will be inDenver at Sports Authority Field at MileHigh on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 P.M. andSaturday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.For tickets, to register or for more informa-tion, call 720-849-4197 or 303-292-6446.

efirstbank.comMember FDIC

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Give Where You LiveJoin us on December 8 for the 6th annual Colorado GivesDay. An annual statewide movement to celebrate andincrease philanthropy in Colorado through online giving.

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Home WorkoutGuide: FootballSeason EditionBy Kim Farmer

We juststarted the newNFL season,and for someit’s the best timeof the year. Thejerseys come outof the closet, thefantasy rostersfire up on thelaptop, the grill is sizzling on high,and the coldest beers are unearthedfrom the bottom of the cooler.

Yes, football is a staple of fall, butit’s not exactly kind to our waistline.Carbs and calories from booze anddelicious barbecue can make our gutsexpand faster than Eddie Murphyfrom The Nutty Professor, especially ifyou are not aware of the easily dis-tracted fork-to-mouth action.

A 2013 study found that fans of badteams are more likely to eat more junkfood and gain more weight, and thereare plenty of teams to cause fansacross the country many headaches.But it doesn’t have to be that way.Turn Sundays from binge to buff withthese easy tips to keep in shape duringthe season and keep the spirit of thegame alive.

Make It a GameChances are, you’ve already done

this with alcohol or heard about it.“The X Drinking Game” is a collegeclassic, but instead of taking a swigevery time the camera catches BillBelichick with a scowl on his face,busts out a quick workout. An NFLexercise game could look somethinglike this:

•Tony Romo lifeless on the ground= 5 pushups

•Pete Carroll looking smug on thesideline = 10 air squats

•Marshawn Lynch snubs a reporter= 15 jumping jacks

•Tim Tebow plays in a game andthrows a touchdown pass = run theNew York Marathon

The possibilities are endless, butyou’ll have more fun if the game ismore creative than “10 pushups forevery first down...” Snooze.

The Ultimate Halftime WorkoutWhen was the last time you

watched an NFL halftime (except theSuper Bowl of course) – Beyoncé’sreunion with Destiny’s Child –

maybe? Halftime is a throwaway andinstead of reaching for the next beer orchicken wing while Pam Oliver asksthe coaches the worst and weirdestquestions imaginable, design the per-fect halftime workout.

An NFL halftime is exactly 12 min-utes, which is the perfect amount oftime for a high-intensity, high-intervalworkout. Some of the workoutsrequire a barbell or other equipment,but there are some that you can doright in the living room. A fast-paced12-minute workout will be just thething to kick your metabolism in gearand keep it revved for the second halfof the game.

Pre-Game Warmup; Post-Game Cool Down

What’s the second most useless partof an NFL game next to halftime? Pre-game and post-game, hands down. Theonly thing worse than sticking aroundfor an NFL post-game is watching arecap of “Real Housewives ofWherever.” It doesn’t matter if you’replaying a workout game during play orbusting out a grinder during halftime,use the pre-game to stretch out and thepost-game to cool down to make yourworkout complete.Don’t Be a Tool about It

Listen, not all your friends aregoing to be down to do this and that’s

OK. Just roll with the punches and doyour own thing. They’ll be off to theside, snacking on wings and turningup beers... and that’s OK, too. You’redoing this to keep your waist smallerthan a tractor tire, not create a bond-ing experience with the guys.

So next time you watch the gamepush the wings and chips to theside and make room for your work-out. �Editor’s note: Kim Farmer of Mile HighFitness offers in-home personal trainingand corporate fitness solutions. For moreinformation, visit www.milehighfit-ness.com/personaltraining or [email protected].


13

M I L E H I G H C R E A T I V I T Y

D E N V E R

Novemb�6 TH – 14 TH

NOVEMBER 7FREE Night at the Museums

Enjoy 20 museums free of charge, including the Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum and the

Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

NOVEMBER 6First Friday Art Walks

Explore Denver’s art districts, meet artists in studios and galleries and purchase art starting at $52.80*.

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Rep. Rhonda C. Fields andYoung Activists, Blanca Trejoand Jesse Ramirez, ReceiveHunt Awards; KatherineArchuleta Receives ParrWidener Civic Leader Award

For the past two decades, TheDenver Foundation has presented theSwanee Hunt Leadership Awards tocommunity members who makemajor contributions to improving lifefor people in metro Denver. Hunt, forwhom the award is named, is a world-renowned philanthropist, author, andthe former U.S. Ambassador toAustria. She now lives inMassachusetts, but offers these awardsas one of the ways she keeps ties withthe Denver community where her phi-lanthropy began with The HuntAlternatives Fund. On Monday,October 19, Anna Jo Haynes, a leaderin early childhood education and for-mer trustee of The DenverFoundation, presented the awards atThe Denver Foundation’s AnnualCommunity Leadership Awards.

The 2015 Hunt Emerging LeadersAward was given to Blanca Trejo andJesse Ramirez.

Trejo is a graduate of West HighSchool and the Center forInternational Studies Program. As aBoettcher and Gates Scholar, shetriple-majored, earning degrees inSpanish, political science, and interna-tional business from the University ofDenver in 2010. She has been an advo-cate for immigrant rights and forColorado ASSET, the program whichallows eligible students without docu-mentation to pay in-state tuition, sinceshe was 15.

Ramirez is Trejo’s husband and co-founder of INSPiRE. Jesse is a first-generation Mexican-American and afirst-generation college graduate hav-ing earned a B.A. in political scienceand minors in Chicano Studies andLatin-American Studies fromColorado State University. He hasworked to promote college access forlow-income and immigrant youth for

seven years. In 2014, Ramirez andTrejo co-founded a nonprofit calledINSPiRE designed to empower youngpeople to be change agents in theirschools, families and communities.

State Rep. Rhonda C. Fields wasthe recipient of the Swanee HuntIndividual Leadership Award.Running on a platform of protectingthe most vulnerable, promoting eco-nomic growth and education reformsin Colorado’s legislature, Rep. Fieldswas elected to the Colorado House ofRepresentatives in 2010. She is the firstAfrican American woman elected inHouse District 42 in Aurora. In 2014,she became the first African Americanwoman appointed Speaker Pro Tempfor the House of Representatives.

Rep. Fields is also the founder ofthe Fields Wolfe Memorial Fund, anonprofit started in memory of herson Javad Marshall-Fields and hisfiancée, Vivian Wolfe, who were mur-dered in 2005. In 2007, Gov. Bill Ritterappointed Rep. Fields to the ColoradoCommission on Criminal JuvenileJustice, where she fought to improvepublic safety and our criminal justicesystem. In 2014 and 2011, 5280 rankedRep. Fields 37th on its list of the 50“most powerful” people in the Denvermetro area. Rep. Fields was inductedinto the Aurora Women’s Hall in 2013and has been recognized by the

Denver Women’s Chamber. She hasreceived numerous awards, includingthe 2011 Leadership for HealthyCommunities Award from the RobertWood Johnson Foundation, the 2010Martin Luther King Jr. HumanitarianAward, and the Colorado BlackChamber of Commerce President’sCourage Award.

The Denver Foundation presentedthe eighth annual John Parr andSandy Widener Civic LeadershipAward to Katherine Archuleta. Theaward was presented by David Miller,president and CEO, who had strongties to both John Parr and SandyWidener for whom the award isnamed. The couple died tragically in acar crash in December 2007, whiletraveling on vacation with daughtersChase and Katy. Only Katy survived.

Most recently, Archuleta served asdirector of the Office of PersonnelManagement for the Obama adminis-tration, the highest ranking Latina inthe federal government. She alsoworked as national political directorfor President Barack Obama’s reelec-tion campaign and spent two years aschief of staff at the Department ofLabor under the leadership of formerSecretary Hilda Solis. Archuleta was asenior advisor to Denver Mayor JohnHickenlooper on policy andinitiatives.�


14

From left: David Miller, Rep. Rhonda C. Fields, KatherineArchuleta, Jessie Ramirez, Blanca Trejo, Anna Jo Haynes

More than 400 members, sup-porters, and community leaders cameout to support the Urban League ofMetropolitan Denver’s (ULMD)Whitney M. Young, Jr. Annual Galaheld on Saturday, Sept. 26 at theDenver Marriott City Center in down-town Denver.

Highlights of the event includedvocal performances by Brhandi Rayand Natalie Tatum, the presentation ofthe McKinley Harris DistinguishedWarrior Awards and the Chairman’sAward, and a powerful keynoteaddress by Lauren Casteel—thedaughter of iconic Urban Leagueleader Whitney M. Young, Jr. and thecurrent presidentand CEO of theWomen’sFoundation ofColorado. TheVoice of theDenver Nuggets,Kyle Spellers servedas the master ofceremony.

Awards were presented to the fol-lowing individuals and company.

McKinley Harris DistinguishedWarrior Award:Comcast Corporation (accepted by

Rich Jennings) - Comcast is a nationalcompany dedicated to bringingtogether the best in media and tech-nology, and drives innovation to cre-ate the world’s best entertainment andonline experiences. They have a richand long partnership with the UrbanLeague of Metropolitan Denver wherethey have provided financial supportas well as board leadership, alongwith program support through intern-ships and job training.David Cole, Principal - David Cole &

Associates - David Cole is one of thearea’s biggest names in governmentand community relations, and he hasbeen a longtime friend to the UrbanLeague of Metropolitan Denver, pro-viding political advice and leadershipsupport for policy and political issuesthat impact The League and the com-munities it serves. He has over fortyyears of combined experience special-izing in corporate lobbying; member-based associations; political cam-paigns; and community involvement.David’s commitment to the greaterDenver Metropolitan area has literallychanged the landscape of Denver andmade for a better quality of life for all.Grant Jones, Founder/Executive

Director; Center for African AmericanHealth - Grant Jones is the founderand Executive Director of the Centerfor African-American Health (CAAH).Under his leadership, CAAH hasplayed a critical role in reversing thehealth disparities that have persistedin the African American community.Grant’s professional journey can easilybe framed as one with a life-long com-mitment to community improvementand the overall health of the AfricanAmerican community.Syl Morgan-Smith, Retired Media

Pioneer - Syl Morgan-Smith is a pio-neering communicator and communi-ty leader. She was one of the firstAfrican American television newsanchorwomen in Colorado and fur-ther broke the journalism color barrieras a sportscaster, a television talkshow host, and as a newspaper editor.She is equally known for her dedica-tion to honoring outstanding commu-nity leaders with the creation of theColorado Gospel Music Academy &Hall of Fame where she has honoredmore than 450 individuals over a peri-od of 31 years.

Chairman’s Award:Dawn Bookhardt, Founder;

Bookhardt O’Toole Law - DawnBookhardt is an award winning attor-ney and founding partner with thelaw firm of Bookhardt & O’Toole, asmall, boutique law firm that ranksconsistently as one of the country’stop law firms in the area of projectdevelopment and public finance.Dawn has become a life-long friend tothe Urban League, providing financialand strategic planning support andhas established herself as a championfor education here in Denver.

Sponsors for the event includedMiller Coors, Noble Energy, DavidCole & Associates, and Vista EquityPartners, and many others. In addi-tion, co-chairs for the event were hon-orary co-chairs Moses and GwenBrewer, along with the University of

Denver’s Robert Willis and LoopCapital’s Rita Kahn. �About The Urban League

The Urban League of MetropolitanDenver was established in 1946. Sincethat time it has worked tirelessly toassist African Americans and others ofall ethnic and cultural backgrounds inneed who reside in the greater Denvermetropolitan area with securing a firstclass education, achieving economicopportunity, and obtaining equalrespect of civil rights by providingexceptional programs and services in ahighly diversified city. Sean Bradley isthe current president and CEO.

The National Urban League is a his-toric civil rights organization dedicatedto economic empowerment in order toelevate the standard of living in histori-cally underserved urban communities.Founded in 1910 and headquartered inNew York City, the National UrbanLeague spearheads the efforts of its localaffiliates through the development ofprograms, public policy research andadvocacy. Today, there are more than100 local affiliates in 36 states and theDistrict of Columbia, providing directservices that impact and improve thelives of more than 2 million peoplenationwide.


15

Urban League of Metropolitan Denver Presents the2015 WHITNEY M. YOUNG JR. ANNUAL GALA AWARDS

Grant Jones, Rich Jennings, Lily Cole (accepting for David Cole), Gaylene Harris, and Sean Bradley Sean Bradley, Lauren Casteel, and Robert Willis

First-Ever Endof SummerTailgate aSuccess

be well initiative challenges com-munity members to Get in the Zone!

Leading up to the first-ever End ofSummer Tailgate sponsored by theStapleton Foundation’s be wellHealthand Wellness Initiative, the publicitycollateral posed an important question– “Why be well?” The answer,“Because healthy communities startwith us.”

The residents of the six be wellZone neighborhoods: Greater ParkHill, Northeast Park Hill, Montbello,East Montclair, Stapleton andNorthwest Aurora certainly took thequestion to heart and responded inresounding agreement with a greatturnout at the Initiative’s inauguralevent held at Skyland Park onSaturday, Sept. 19. More than 500 localresidents of multiple generations offi-cially registered for the “Get in theZone” tailgate initiative, with manyothers unofficially jumping in on thefun. And why not, as former DenverBronco Rod Smith and D.J. K-Tone set

the stage for the upbeat programwhile serving as emcees for the fami-ly-friendly fitness concert.

“Everyone has a role in creatingcommunities where we can all achievethe good health we desire, and we areso proud of the way the communityembraced this event,” said AlishaBrown, be well vice president.“Programs such as the be well/beEPIC End of Summer Tailgate provideour team an opportunity to interactwith a large number of communitymembers and introduce more citizensto ongoing physical fitness activitiesavailable right here in our community.This event also helps us tout theimportance of community involve-ment in addressing the need for essen-tial services and programs thataddress the health disparities foundbetween African Americans and othergroups.”

Event activities including a sportscombine for the youth, various fitnessdemonstrations, food tastings featur-ing local chefs, juicing and food prepdemonstrations helped participants“Get in the Zone” and realize thegoals of this be EPIC campaign. Prizesprovided by event sponsors such asReebok, Northeast TransportationConnection and many others as wellas plenty of fresh fruits, vegetablesand other healthy snacks helped tomake the event exciting for all whoattended. The partner turnout wasimpressive, with more than 21 be wellpartner organizations sharing in the

festivities with booths and program-ming.

Organizations and communitypartners were invited to share mes-sages regarding the importance ofhealth and wellness with their sup-porters by taking part in a friendlycompetition to see which organizationcould grow the largest team of partici-pants for the event. In the Zone withover 100 men, women, and children inattendance, the Disciples FootballClub took home a $1,000 bonus prizeas the winner of the be well/be Epic2015 Tailgate Party Challenge.

City officials were also on hand forthe tailgate, including executive direc-tor of Denver Parks and RecreationHappy Haynes who took the opportu-nity to welcome all of the local resi-dents to Skyland Park, while encour-aging those gathered to continue toimpact their zone by exercising andutilizing the city’s parks to stay physi-cally active and engaged in their ownhealth and wellness.

Knowing the challenges manyAfrican Americans face when it comesto physical activity, the be well/beEPIC End of Summer Tailgate pro-gram is a welcome addition to thegrowing list of events supportingcommunity health. Be on the lookoutfor other free programs presented bythe be wellHealth and WellnessInitiative and it’s be EPIC platform.Nominations are now being acceptedfor the upcoming be well Awardswww.bewellconect.net. �


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CBWPALuncheonHonors BlackWomenBy Angelia D. McGowan

Awho’s who of people thatmake up Colorado’s political land-scape attended the CBWPA’s(Colorado Black Women for PoliticalAction) 36th Annual “Tribute to BlackWomen” luncheon on October 10 atthe Renaissance Hotel Denver.Veteran and award winning journalistTamara Banks served as mistress ofceremonies.

Throughout the luncheon, atten-dees heard inspirational words from ahost of leaders from Denver MayorMichael B. Hancock and SenatorMichael Bennet to CBWPA leaders,including its current president, MayaWheeler. African-American candidatesfor elected offices were also recog-nized.

The keynote speaker was educatorand activist Dominique Christina. Theaward-winning author lit up the roomwith powerful words and memoriesas she read a few poems, includingone inspired by her grandmother andanother inspired by the16th StreetBaptist Church in Birmingham,Alabama–a church with a predomi-nantly Black congregation that servedas a meeting place for civil rights lead-ers. Four young girls were killed andmany others injured on Sept. 15, 1963.

The 2015 CBWPA 36th Annual“Tribute to Black Women” honoreesincluded a host of women fromdiverse backgrounds. Jeweldine Blair,a woman of courage, faith, family andcommunity, was recognized as the2015 Trailblazer honoree. Dawn RileyDuval, a minister, mother, journalistand a co-founder and co-leader ofBlack Lives Matter 5280, was recog-nized as the 2015 Politics honoree. Dr.Claudette Evette Francoise Sweet,gifted vocalist, pianist and communityactivities, was honored as the 2015Cultural Affairs honoree. Claudia E.Abernethy-Feliciana, a practicingattorney who has fought for morethan 20 years for the tenant rights ofsingle mothers, senior citizens, veter-ans, the physically and mentally dis-abled, to name a few, was recognizedas the 2015 Business honoree. BarbaraWalker-Allen, a teacher for 42 years inDenver and a recognized leader ininnovative history education in

Colorado and the nation, was honoredas the 2015 Education honoree. Jandel

Allen-Davis, MD, vice president ofgovernment, external relations andresearch at Kaiser PermanenteColorado, was recognized as the 2015Community Service honoree. DarynAlexandria Fouther, a freshman atColorado State University, who ledcity-wide efforts to highlight policebrutality by organizing a peacefulrally and march at her high school,received the 2015 Youth award.

Rosalind “Bee” Harris, owner andpublisher of the Denver UrbanSpectrum, received the 2015 LifetimeAchievement and Excellence award.The CBWPA President’s Award recog-nized Lady Jane-Frances Echeozo,

RN, MS, for her work to advancegreater collaboration and integrationof all ethnic groups, including immi-grant and refugees in our community.

During the event, Historic Denver,Inc. presented its newly createdCultural Impact Award to theCBWPA for engaging African-American women in the civic process.This year, the organization is recogniz-ing five local non-profits with theaward to honor each organization’sfour decades of service in Denver andfor contributing to the city’s rich cul-tural tapestry. �


17

Cosby, Not EbonyMagazine, FannedStereotypes of theBlack FamilyBy Earl Ofari Hutchinson

EbonyMagazine stirred amini-firestorm ofrage when itdredged up an oldphoto shot of theTV Cosby showfamily, plopped iton its November cover, and then frac-tured the picture. The obvious pointbeing that embattled comedian BillCosby not only disgraced his legacybut disgraced the hitherto near sacro-sanct image and legacy of the celebrat-ed Cosby TV show family, theHuxtables.

The premise of the show was thatthere is fully intact, respectable, highachieving, prim and proper Blackmiddle class families. The Huxtables

was an in your face, counter to theancient damaging, hurtful and falsestereotype of the Black family and byextension Blacks, as crime, drug rid-den, dysfunctional, eternal wallowingin ignorance and poverty single parentBlack families.

The show’s wild success and popu-larity was evidence that it gave manyBlacks a positive, upbeat look at them-selves, and the strengths of manyBlack families. It also gave many non-Blacks a glimpse of an upwardlymobile Black family that seemed to beno different than any other such fami-ly. The Ebony cover is under firebecause it seemed to tear down thelast remaining shred of what was

good and decent about Cosby and theBlack family.

The criticism badly misfires andignores too much. Namely, that it wasCosby who in lectures, speeches, pressappearances, and a best-selling bookwent on a one man crusade to tell theworld how supposedly lousy theBlack family was.

Along the way, he cobbled together amish mash of his trademark anecdotes,homilies, and personal tales of woe andsuccess, juggled and massaged facts tobolster his self-designated black moralscrusade. He made the stock claim thatBlacks can’t read, write or speak coher-ent English, and are social and educa-tional cripples and failures because of

their own ineptitude, sloth, and indo-lence. Cosby was lionized by conserva-tives as the ultimate truth speaker forhammering Blacks.

While Cosby was entitled to pub-licly air Black America’s alleged dirtylaundry, there was more myth thandirt in that laundry. Some knuckle-heads in Black neighborhoods do kill,mug, peddle dope, are joblessuntouchables, and educationalwastrels. They, and only they, shouldbe the target of wrath. But Cosbymade a Grand Canyon size leap fromthem to paint a half-truth, skewed,picture of the plight of poor Blacksand the reasons and prescriptions fortheir plight.

At the time, Cosby publicly bristledat criticism that he had taken the worstof the worst behavior of some Blacksand publicly hurled that out as thewarped standard of black America.Cosby insisted that he did not mean toslander all, or even most Blacks, asderelict, laggards and slackers. Yet that’sprecisely the impression he gave andthe criticism of him for it was more thanjustified. Even the title of his book,Come on People: On the Path fromVictims to Victors (a hint they’re all los-ers) conveyed that smear.

http://www.amazon.com/Come-People-Path-Victims-Victors/dp/B001B2HIV0


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Ferguson,America, andMovingForwardToward TruthBy David Ragland and Mark Lance

Recent grassroots mobilizationagainst police killings of AfricanAmericans has thrust a long-standingpattern of racial violence into the con-sciousness of the world. There is noth-ing new about state violence againstAfrican Americans: from slave patrols,fugitive slave laws, and the Klan/stateviolence of Jim Crow, right up totoday’s racial profiling, stop and frisk,mass incarceration, and shoot-firstpractices, the segregation and racialoppression of the US has always beenmaintained by violence.

Establishment response to thismovement typically fall into one oftwo camps: either, the condescendinghostility of “all lives matter,” “bluelives matter,” “black on black vio-lence,, and other Fox News talkingpoints, or city, state, and national com-missions, designed to implement top-down reforms around issues like fine-based revenue generation, racial pro-filing, police training, or the use ofbody cameras. The former amounts toa refusal to confront, if not outrightdenial of, our racist history; while thelatter have been mild, reformist, and

not translated into meaningful change.So far in 2015, according to a count

by The Guardian, 862 people havebeen killed by police in the U.S., withBlacks killed at a rate more than dou-ble that of whites. But even apart fromineffectuality, there is a basic orienta-tion that top-down reform shares withblame-the-victim backlash: bothignore and disempower communitieson the front lines of these assaults.Experts on both sides attempt to man-age the situation while people livingwith the day-to-day realities of policeviolence have no voice in the process.

In the face of a systematic problemlike racism – a complex mix of eco-nomic disparity and disempower-ment, mass imprisonment, consciousand unconscious bias, daily policeharassment, and outright violentattacks against unarmed citizens – anunderlying power disparity is central.Communities of color need to be treat-ed better, but also to be recognized ashaving a voice, agency, and as deserv-ing the same level of participation inall aspects of social and political life asdominant groups.

The first step in any effort to chal-lenge the prevailing power dynamic,then, must be to allow the voices ofthose most directly affected to beheard. Without direct testimony fromthose affected by police violence, wecannot appreciate the scope andnature of the problem as it is experi-enced by those affected.

With this goal, organizers in StLouis/Ferguson, with the support ofpeople all over the country, createdThe Truth Telling Project. TTP, onbehalf of the citizens of Ferguson, willlaunch The Truth Telling Initiative forFerguson and Beyond, November 13and 14, to allow national and interna-tional audiences to listen to first-handaccounts of persons impacted bypolice violence in the city of Fergusonand beyond. This initiative will con-vene hearings in front of a panel com-posed primarily of citizens ofFerguson.

The Truth Telling Project is anessential step, but it is only a first step.By helping facilitate community-basedtruth telling, the TTP will contribute tobroader understanding of the livedreality of African American communi-ties, join efforts at city, state, andnational levels to build pressure forstructural change, and ultimately sup-port healing and reconciliation. Theultimate goal of the TTP, in conjunc-tion with many other initiatives in theU.S., is the eradication of racism in allof its structural, institutional, andsocial forms.

Following its initial witnessing oftestimony in Ferguson in November,the TTP will broadcast the testimoniespresented to national and internation-al audiences. It will then invite nation-wide, community-based participationin truth seeking, truth telling, transfor-mational, and healing processesthrough the encouragement of“Watch, Exchange, Formulate andImplement” gatherings where citizengroups host Watch parties, Exchangeideas, Formulate a plan of action, andultimately Implement that plan.

There can be no genuine healingwithout honestly, courageously andcollectively involving the citizens ofFerguson, MO in exposing and con-fronting truths surrounding policeviolence and fully acknowledging thedirect and indirect suffering associatedwith those experiences. Giving recog-nition to individual experiences andtruths is the beginning of justice, andthe beginning of healing and resolu-tion; each is a necessary step if we areto move our society through, and thenpast, the pain associated with the lega-cies of racism in the U.S. �Editor’s note: For more information on theTTP, visit thetruthtellingproject.org/. Dr.David Ragland is from North St. Louis,MO, writes for Peace Voice and isAssistant Professor of Peace and ConflictStudies at Juniata College/Co-Director ofthe Truth Telling Project. Mark Lance is aprofessor of Philosophy at GeorgetownUniversity.


19

Cosby did not qualify or provide acomplete factual context for his blan-ket indictment of poor Blacks. Hemade the negative behavior of someBlacks a racial rather than an endemicsocial problem. In doing so, he didmore than break the alleged tabooagainst publicly airing racial dirtylaundry; he fanned dangerous anddestructive stereotypes.

That was hardly the call to actionthat could inspire and motivateunderachieving blacks to improvetheir lives. Instead, it further demoral-ized those poor Blacks who are doingthe best to keep their children andthemselves out of harm’s way, oftenagainst towering odds, while stillbeing hammered for their alleged fail-ures by the Cosby’s within and with-out their communities.

Worse, Cosby’s blame the victimslam did nothing to encourage gov-ernment officials and business leadersto provide greater resources andopportunities to aid those blacks thatneed help. Come on People, intendedor not, continued to tar the black com-munities and the black poor as dys-functional, chronic whiners, and eter-nally searching for a governmenthand-out.

Cosby’s one sided, stereotypicallaced crusade against alleged Blackdysfunctionality was a zero sum catch22 contradiction. If any of what Cosbysaid about the Black family’s allegedchronic dysfunctionality was true,then that must mean that his beknighted Huxtable family was noth-ing more than a made for TV fraud.And that he and the show gamed mil-lions to believe that such a Black fami-ly really existed, when it didn’t. Therewere more than a few critics eventhen who knocked the Huxtables asjust that, a myth, and lambasted theshow and Cosby for creating the fairytale image of an intact, achievingBlack family. Ebony’s fractured coverof the Huxtables merely messagedwhat Cosby had done long before hisdisgrace and fall; and that’s publiclymalign the Black family. �Editor’s note: Earl Ofari Hutchinson is anauthor and political analyst. He is theauthor of Torpedoing Hillary: The GOPPlan to Stop a Clinton White House(Amazon ebook). He is a frequent MSNBCcontributor. He is an associate editor ofNew America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on RadioOne. He is the host of the weeklyHutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM LosAngeles and the Pacifica Network

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Scholarship Programs StillAvailable for WomenNationwide (BlackNews.com - Billions

of dollars in scholarships have alreadybeen given away this year to studentswho need financial assistance, butthere are still quite a few programsavailable. Google Anita Borg Memorial

Scholarship: a scholarship award of upto $10K and an opportunity to attendthe Google Scholars’ Retreat inMountain View, California. Deadlineis December 1. Apply at www.scholar-shipsonline.org/2013/01/google-anita-borg-memorial-scholarship.html National Student Nurses Association

Scholarships: for female students thatare enrolled or enrolling in a nursingdegree program; also special scholar-ships available for racial or ethnicminority students. Deadline is January29, 2016. Apply at www.scholarships-online.org/2013/07/national-student-nurses-association.html Burger King Scholars Program: awards

scholarships to students ranging from$1K to $50K, for tuition, fees or books;must not exceed educational costs.Deadline is December 15. Apply atwww.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/03/burger-king-scholars-program.html

Microsoft’s Women Scholarship/Fellowship Program: a scholarshipaward of up to $15K plus a stipendtoward conference and travel expens-es for recipients to attend a conference.Deadline is December 31. Apply atwww.scholarshipsonline.org/2014/12/microsoft-research-graduate-wom-ens.html Women’s Independence Scholarship

Program (WISP): primarily for womenwho have critical financial need and adesire to complete their undergradu-ate education. Single mothers withyoung children are encouraged toapply. Deadline is December 31.Apply at www.scholarshipson-line.org/2014/05/womens-independ-ence-scholarship-program.html

For other 2015-2016 scholarships forboth men and women, visitwww.Scholarships- Online.org.Paid, Federal DiversityInternship Opportunities ForSpring And Summer 2016 Washington, DC (BlackNews.com –

Via the Washington Center’s FederalDiversity Internship Initiative, theWashington Center and HBCUConnect are working with selectedgovernment agencies to provide

African American students with fully-funded, paid internship opportunitiesfor Spring and Summer 2016.

The government agencies wherestudents will be placed include theFederal Aviation Administration(FAA), the Department of VeteransAffairs, the Consumer FinancialProtection Bureau, the Department ofHealth and Human Services, theNational Archives and RecordsAdministration, and others.

The Washington Center providesstudents with housing and supple-mental programming activities. Thereare no application or program fees forstudents who are interested in apply-ing, but there are several requirementsthat must be met.

The deadline to apply for thespring internship program isNovember 18 and the summer dead-line is January 15, 2016. To apply, visitwww.hbcuconnect.com//campaigns/1058/twc-content-ad.In New Urbanized Book, PeterPan Vows to Save Two AfricanSlave ChildrenPhiladelphia, PA (BlackNews.com) –

There are numerous versions of thePeter Pan fairytale; however, the Peter

Pan classic hasreceived an injectionof modern day excite-ment with an urbanspin. In Peter Pan andthe Adventures of theLost Slave Children,written by Ki’el EbonIbrahim, Peter Panvows to save the lost slave children andreturn them safely to Africa with theirparents. But this is no easy task forPeter, as he has to battle the evil SeamanHook, who has had many battles withPeter, and is set out to destroy him onceand for all.

Individuals who purchase thisbook will not only be giving their chil-dren the thrill of an inspiring and cap-tivating story, but they will also bemaking a contribution to endinghunger in Africa. The publisher willdonate $1 towards the World FoodProgram, which feeds children inAfrica through Ibrahim’s Food for ArtProgram.

Peter Pan and the Adventures ofthe Lost Slave Children is available ineBook format on Amazon.com and onBarnes and Noble. For further infor-mation about the book, visit:www.facebook.com/UrbanToons.


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Thanksgiving Is More ThanOne DayBy Jonathan McMillan

November is upon us and theunofficial start to the holiday season.The first holiday Thanksgiving, is tra-ditionally a time where people take aday to feast with family and lovedones and take time to reflect on all thethings for which they are grateful.This is great, but is it enough?

Why do we as a society only devoteone day to expressing gratitude? Howdo we recognize and express gratitudeany other day – especially, days whenthings don’t always seem so great?

I’ve learned a very important skillfrom my two-year-old son.

Every morning when I wake himup, I ask him “How are you?”

“I great, Daddy!” he alwaysresponds sleepily but enthusiastically.

It’s with that mindset that he sol-diers through his day excited foreverything and everyone that he willexperience before bedtime even whenthings are out of his control and don’talways go his way.

As a rational adult, I came to therealization that if a two-year-old cando it, despite not having much controlover anything in life except for hismood, I should follow his example.No matter the circumstances or situa-tion. I had every intention on wakingup early this morning and meditatingand doing some reading, writing andwatching some lectures for a couple ofclasses I take. I had planned on gettinghomework for the week completed orat least make significant progress tothat goal. However, as soon as I gotout of bed, a funny thing called lifebegan to happen.

My phone began to malfunction ina major way. I spent a huge amount oftime talking with a technical supportagent. Unfortunately, the solution shesuggested only ended up making theoriginal problem worse. The solutionshe promised to email never arrivedso I had to do the research myself.

After doing everything I could toback up all my info and data, I com-pletely reset my phone to the originalfactory settings and crossed my fin-gers hoping that I wouldn’t lose any-thing irreplaceable.

Just as I set my phone down to con-centrate on another task, Julian, who issuper curious and busy, accidentlyknocked the new blender off the tableand shattered the glass carafe.

I could’ve easily decided then andthere that today was going to be a badday. Up to that point, all evidence waspointing towards that obvious verdict.But one thing made it literally impos-sible for the day to be declared bad –my refusal to let it. Unless I happenedto drop dead at that very moment, Istill had the power to create the daythat I wanted.

I immediately stopped and thoughtof all that I have at that very momentto be grateful for.

At the top of that list was my abilityto change the direction in which the daywas headed and secondly, simplyknowing that I had that ability. Almostinstantly, the tension and stress I wasfeeling practically melted away.

Then I looked at all of the opportu-nities my minor trials had presentedme. 1). I learned something new aboutmy phone. 2). I took the time to back-up my data on my phone which wassomething which was long overdue.

I acknowledged how fortunate Iwas that Julian didn’t hurt himselfwhen he broke the blender. I acknowl-edged how fortunate it was that wehave a working vacuum cleaner topick up all the glass pieces off thefloor. Julian probably learned animportant lesson about being careful

around glass objects. And pleasantly,the entire morning was an opportuni-ty for me to purposefully practicebeing grateful for every experiencethat life will present me and to writeabout and share it in a practical waythat may help others.

Today is great. I refuse to view itany other way and this is why.

Last night I was scared half to death. I was making some hot tea before

bedtime and had just filled a cup withvery hot tap water and set it on thecounter. Julian, my uber-curious two-year-old son came in the kitchen andbefore I had an opportunity to stophim, he had grabbed the cup and acci-dently spilled it all over his face andtorso. Like in a Michael Bay movie, thetwo seconds it took for him to reachfor and tip the cup over and scaldhimself seemed to unfold in slowmotion as I rushed to stop him as soonas I saw him. By the time I was able toreact, he was already releasing a bloodcurdling scream of agony.

I immediately scooped him up andran him to our bedroom. His momand I checked him over very carefullyand after some minor first-aid, somecold washcloths, a lot of TLC andsome warm dry pajamas, The Buddhawas good as new – just a bit shocked.

Half an hour later he was lyingcontently in his bed watching his

favorite movie, fighting sleep like anyother night.

And when I woke him up thismorning and asked him “How areyou?” Without missing a beat, hereplied just as sleepily and enthusiasti-cally as usual, “I great Daddy!”

In order to build and live a betterthan average life we must learn to behabitually, powerfully, purposefullygrateful. That is the habit of beinggrateful for every person, circum-stance and experience we encounter.The more grateful we are for thethings in our lives, the more thingscome into our lives for us to experi-ence more gratitude.

I challenge you to increase the levelof gratitude in your life this month bylisting at least 10 things for which youare grateful for every day. You caneither do this online in your socialmedia accounts or on traditional penand paper like a journal. However youchoose to participate, I’m certain thatyou will almost immediately see thebenefits of being habitually, powerful-ly, and purposefully grateful. You willexperience Thanksgiving every day.Editor’s note: Jonathan McMillan is amotivational speaker who lives in Denver.Follow him: Facebook: https://www. face-book.com/bebetterthanaverag; Twitter:@Be_BTA; Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JonathanMcMillanBeBTA/posts

Mayor Hancock Appoints PatrickFirman as Next Denver Sheriff

MayorMichael B.HancockappointedPatrick Firmanas the nextSheriff for theCity andCounty ofDenver. Firmanwill lead adepartmentundergoing an extensive reformprocess, and will work alongside theImplementation Team led byExecutive Director of Safety StephanieO’Malley to effect the recommenda-tions provided in the comprehensivereport for reform of the Denver SheriffDepartment.

With over 24 years of uniformedand jail management experience,Firman served as deputy chief ofCorrections for the McHenry County,IL Sheriff’s Office from 2009 to 2014,and deputy chief and chief of correc-tions for the Lake County, IL Sheriff’sOffice from 2000 to 2009. In theseroles, he has overseen jail systems ofhundreds of inmates and department

staff as well as managed multi-milliondollar budgets.

Firman carries significant expertisein corrections, penology and criminol-ogy along with a keen eye for processimprovements and organizationalaccountability. He served as vice pres-ident of the Board of Directors for theIllinois Correctional Association, andis a certified American CorrectionalAssociation auditor and executive,and Department of Justice PREA audi-tor. He is also certified in approvedinstructional expertise in humanbehavior by the Illinois LawEnforcement Training and StandardsBoard. Firman shared his expertise asa professor at the Chicago area’sCollege of Lake County and TrinityInternational University.

In the coming weeks, Firman willmeet with members of the DenverSheriff Department, as well as mem-bers of the Denver community, tointroduce himself and gather feedbackon the continued reform efforts.

The national search for Denver’snew Sheriff was conducted by HillardHeintze, one of the independentassessment firms selected to deliver acomprehensive report for reform ofthe Denver Sheriff Department.

Mayor Hancock, CommissionsHonor 10 Community Memberswith Mayor’s Diversity Awards

Mayor Michael B. Hancock, alongwith members of his community com-missions, honored 10 individuals whodemonstrate a commitment to diversity,inclusive excellence, leadership and civicservice with Mayor’s Diversity Awardsat a celebration hosted by the DenverAsian Pacific American Commission.

The 2015 community champions ofequality, justice and unity are:Denver Commission for People with

Disabilities – Hal O’Leary, founder of theNational Sports Center for the Disabled(NSCD) – O’Leary created a whole newsystem of recreational and therapeuticoutlets for people with disabilities. Sincethe program began in 1970, more than60,000 people with disabilities havelearned to ski and participate in othersports through the NSCD.Denver Latino Commission – Jim

Garcia, founder of Clínica Tepeyac –Garcia founded a clinic for the work-ing poor and for those who had littleor no health insurance. With limitedfinancial resources, hundreds of vol-unteers came together to transform arun-down house into a thriving, andgrowing, health clinic.Denver Women’s Commission – CEO

Tamra Ryan and the Women’s BeanProject – The Women’s Bean Projectemploys chronically unemployed andimpoverished women in transitionaljobs that help them earn the job readi-ness, interpersonal and life skills nec-essary for moving to entry-levelemployment. As CEO for 12 years,Ryan has increased the number ofwomen served by more than 300 per-cent, grown sales from $300k to $1.7mand boosted the number of storesfrom 100 to over 1,000 in 40 statesincluding Colorado.Denver GLBT Commission –

Rainbow Alley – Since 1998, RainbowAlley has provided a safe, welcomingand supportive social alternative forLGBTQ youth and their allies. Theorganization offers counseling, sup-port groups, health services and adultmentoring, as well as educational andcareer programs and social activities.

Denver Asian Pacific AmericanCommission – Peggy Lore, AssistantVice Chancellor of Student Success atUCD – Lore oversaw six departmentsand still served as a faculty advisor tostudent cultural clubs, mentored stu-dents and staff, and volunteered in thecommunity. She was a consistentadvocate for diversity and personallyhelped students stay on track to grad-uate despite discouragement, financialproblems, alienation or academichardship before retiring in June.

Denver American Indian Commission– Dianne A. Van Voorhees – VanVorhees volunteered her time andresources to moderate the recentrenewal of the American IndianScholars License Plate program, whichfunds scholarships for AmericanIndian students. She has also organ-ized free legal clinics for AmericanIndians for the past three years. Denver Immigrant & Refugee

Commission – Dr. P.J. Parmar, owner ofthe Mango House – Dr. Parmar found-ed the Mango House to offer medical,dental and educational services to inter-national political refugees. No appoint-ments are necessary, clients are servedon a walk-in basis, and no patients areturned away. Since opening in 2012,Mango House has received 15,000 visitsand served 5,000 patients.Denver Commission on Aging –

Patricia Cook – Cook is a retired regis-tered nurse who advocates for olderadults who are at risk of losing theirpublic benefits or need housing. Sheassists those who are navigatingthrough the Social Security, Medicareand Medicaid systems and has doneextensive work in the Latino commu-nity to ensure that eligible adults areenrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.Denver African American Commission

– Center for African American Health– Dedicated to improving the healthand well-being of the AfricanAmerican community, the Center forAfrican American Health providesculturally sensitive disease preventionand disease management programs inmetro Denver.Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships

Commission – Jeff Hirota – Hirota,whohas workedwith many local nonprofitsthat serve a broad spectrum of Denverresidents including the DenverFoundation and the Five Points MediaCenter, is an ordained minister in theMethodist Church who conducted someof the city’s first same-sex weddings.

The ceremony, moderated byJessica Oh of 9News, was held at theHoliday Event Center and includedentertainment from Halau Kalama,Mudra Dance Studio, Denver Taikoand the Hype 303/Academy of Raw.Halau Kalama is made up of authenticPolynesian dancers who have beenfeatured on national television. MudraDance Studio performs classical danceforms of India that trace back to 6,000B.C. Denver Taiko, made up of third-,fourth- and fifth-generation JapaneseAmericans, honors cultural heritagethrough the art of drumming. Hype303, one of the state’s leading urbandance teams, performs hip hop andurban dance as the Academy of Raw.


22

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Denver Hosting World’s FirstComprehensive Symposium onMarijuana Management

Denver is gearing up to host thefirst-ever Marijuana ManagementSymposium, Nov. 5-6 at the ColoradoConvention Center.

After Colorado amended statewidelaws governing cannabis, Denverbecame the first major city to legalizerecreational marijuana on Jan. 1, 2014and the first success story as well as avaluable resource for other citiesattempting to prepare for the adminis-trative, legal, safety and businessimplications of marijuana legalization.

Ashley Kilroy, executive director ofMarijuana Policy for the City andCounty of Denver will presentDenver’s collaborative approachtoward marijuana management,including how the city manages mari-juana-related revenue and expendi-tures, cross-departmental resourceallocation, streamlined inspectionprocesses and the considerable task ofcoordinating the city’s work on mari-juana across multiple agencies andamong various interested parties.

For more information visitDMMS2015.com.Owl Club Founders Day SeeksDebutant Applicants For 2016Scholarship Program

The Owl Club of Denver recentlyheld their Founders Day which cele-brated the organization’s long andrich history. The presentations hon-ored the founders of the organization,which was organized in 1941, and val-

idated the clubs’ continued presencein the community and commitment totheir established programs thatinclude the Debutante Cotillion,Scholarship Foundation and othercivic and social events.

The organization is currently offer-ing young women who are in 2016graduating high school seniors theopportunity to apply to participate inthe 65th Owl Club Debutante Cotillionto be held on June 4, 2016.

Nominations must be received byNov. 17. Applicants can inquire withtheir high school counselors or emailRon Washington at [email protected] for more information.Erica Papillion-PoseyAnnounces Dual Release ofDebut Jazz Album and Book

Erica Papillion-Posey announcedthe dual release of her debut jazzalbum, The Standard Reimagined, whenjazz... and her book, “Musings fromthe Mind of a Mezzo, Poetry & Proseof passion, pain & plight”

Fresh from her debut at Dazzle Jazz,the songstress previewed selectionsfrom her upcoming album soaringthrough classics like Nature Boy andLazy Afternoon. A carefully curated col-lection of jazz favorites, The StandardReimagined, when jazz... is a soundtrackof love and heartbreak featuring Erica

Papillion-Posey, accompanied byDenver bassist, Ken Walker (KenWalker Sextet) and the father and sonLouisiana jazz duo, Chester Daigle II,piano and Jarius Daigle, violin.

In addition to be being a prolificmusician, Papillion-Posey is a writer.Musings from the Mind of a Mezzo,Poetry & Prose of passion, pain &plight is a compilation of workschronicling various personal experi-ences as a child of adoption, a woman,performer, and artist.

The Erica Papillion-Posey Quartetwill be featured in Lake Charles, LA atThe Heist on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

For more information or to pre-order the jazz debut album, visitwww.epapillionposey.com. Denver Foundation Celebrates“Our Future in the Making”

The Denver Foundation,Colorado’s oldest and largest commu-nity foundation, turns 90 on Nov. 30.To celebrate this milestone, the foun-dation invites the public to participatein “Our Future in the Making,” anonline community storytelling contestthat highlights bold and creativevisions for Denver’s future.

“Our Future in the Making” runsthrough Monday, Nov. 30. Each week,the public is invited to submit stories,images, and videos via Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, and a mobile-friendly application on The DenverFoundation’s website. All entries willbe displayed on The DenverFoundation’s website. The contesthashtag is #DenverNext90.

Contest themes vary by week.

Three weekly winners will be chosenand winners will select prizes fromThe Women’s Bean Project onlinestore, www.womensbeanpro-ject.com.

Complete contest rules are avail-able via www.denverfoundation.org/About/ContestsMile High United Way TurkeyTrot Is Just around the Corner

This Thanksgiving morning, MileHigh United Way will host the 42ndAnnual Turkey Trot race in Denver’sWashington Park. The event is expect-ed to host more than 10,000 run-ners/walkers and another 10,000 spec-tators and volunteers in support ofMile High United Way’s work toimprove the lives of children, familiesand individuals in our community.

The Turkey Trot will include a Startand Finish Village featuring a varietyof fun activities including live musicand entertainment, vendor boothswith merchandise and snacks, a beergarden and appearances by DenverBroncos cheerleaders. Runners willreceive a collectible t-shirt and bibwith timing tag.

Also, there is a quarter-mile familyfun run through the park at 11a.m. The Turkey Trot will beThursday, Nov. 26, at 10 a.m. atWashington Park, in Denver.Registration and packet pick-up opensat 8 a.m. Cost is $40 for adults $45; dis-counts for seniors 60+ and youth 12and under.

For more information, call 303-433-8383 or email [email protected].

COMMUNITY NOTES

Bridge of Spies��

By Laurence Washington

Once again two-time Oscar-win-ner Tom Hanks plays an every-mancaught up in extraordinary circum-stances in Bridge of Spies, a cold-warthriller that will have you on the edgeof your seat.

Former Nuremberg-war crimeslawyer James Donovan (Hanks), nowan insurance lawyer, is persuaded byhis law firm and the CIA to defendcaptured Russian spy Rudolf Abel(Mark Rylance) in a preordained pub-lic trial to demonstrate Soviet spies

can get a fair defense in the U.S. Nod,nod. Wink, wink.

However, Donovan’s law firm andthe CIA are shocked at his rigorousdefense using the Constitution as legalstrategy. The public, friends and col-leagues despise Donovan, eventhough he is not a commie sympathiz-er. He’s an ethical lawyer (Surprise!Surprise!) who believes giving hisclient the best defense possible.

Donovan loses of course, but con-vinces the court to spare the mild-mannered Abel from the death penal-ty. During the course of the trial, thepair form a heartfelt relationship prov-ing that enemies can become friends.Donovan argues that one day theRussians might want to trade a cap-tured American spy for Abel.

That was 1957.Fast-forward to 1963 the height of

the cold war. U-2 jet pilot GaryPowers is shot down over the SovietUnion and captured by the Russians.Seeing the errors of their ways, theCIA, is now glad Donovan fought sorigorously to save Abel’s life.

The CIA asks Donovan to negotiateand arrange an exchange: Powers forAble, with the stipulation that the CIAwill disavow any involvement.


26

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Ground RulesMust See............��It’s Worth A Look.....��See At Your Own Risk.��Don’t Bother.....................�

Editor’s note: Samantha Ofole-Prince is anaward-winning writer and contributor tomany national publications and isBlackflix.com’s Senior Critic-at-Large. TiaTerlage is a journalism student atMetropolitan State University of Denver.Laurence Washington is the creator ofBlackFlix.com. Like Blackflix.com OnFacebook, Follow Blackflix.com OnTwitter

Donovan working supposedly alonetells the Russians he wants to includea captured American grad studentwho was caught attempting to get hisEast German girlfriend into WestBerlin. And so the negotiations begin.

Even through the audience knowsthe outcome of this true-life story,director Steven Spielberg keeps thedrama taunt and tantalizing. Insteadof opting for an action-packed spy vs.spy James Bond adventure, the inter-action between the characters drivesthe picture. Bridge of Spies is a terrificmovie.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBBuzHrZBro

The Martian��1/2

By Samantha Ofole-Prince

The film, which is best describedas Castawaymeets Gravity, revolvesaround a mission to save an astronaut(Matt Damon), who has been leftbehind on Mars.

Based on a best-selling novel of thesame name, the story begins in Marsand follows several astronauts on theplanet conducting an experiment.When a storm hits, the crew are forcedback to Earth leaving Damon’s charac-

ter Mark Watney behind who is pre-sumed dead after being struck bydebris.

Fortunately, Watney is still alive andthe rest of the movie circles around hisongoing attempts to survive longenough to be rescued. As well as beingan astronaut, he’s also a botanist, whichcomes in handy when he figures outhow to grow potatoes on Mars usingfecal matter for bacteria.

Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character, Dr.Vincent Kapoor, is the man with amission who is tasked with bringinghim back to Earth in this Ridley Scottdirected film.

Glowering when needed but sym-pathetic to Watney’s plight (we’ve allhad that feeling of being alone in theworld), Ejiofor’s character is dedicatedto bringing Watney back from Marsand will let nothing deter him fromthat mission.

A survival and rescue adven-ture flick which is fairly entertaining,it’s easy to root for Damon’s characterwho is perfectly cast as Watney.Despite facing death, which, he sayscould come through several scenarios,“one of course which includes starva-tion,” he’s upbeat and humorousthroughout as he records his dailyvlogs detailing his ongoing fight forsurvival.

Engaging and entertaining enough,The Martian clocks in at 2 hours and14 minutes long and is filled with somuch scientific jargon you wouldneed to be a layman in physics tounderstand some of the language. Wealso learn a lot about Mars in this film.An unwelcoming planet, its wide tem-peratures range – from -153°C toaround 22°C on a summer day andthe air is 95 percent carbon dioxidewhich makes breathing problematic.The soil lacks bacteria needed to growfood and water exists, but only as ice.Certainly fascinating stuff.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8

He Named Me Malala��


Malala Yousafzai was just 14when she survived an assassinationattempt in 2012 after her calls forequal rights and education for girlsangered militants in Pakistan.

In this complete and compellingportrait, directed by Academy Awardwinning director Davis Guggenheim(An Inconvenient Truth), we learn moreabout this young girl, a Nobel PeacePrize recipient who was determined todefy the odds.

Thorough and involving, musicand animation emphasize most of themessages of this documentary, whichwas filmed over 18 months thatGuggenheim spent with the Yousafzaifamily in the United Kingdom and onthe road in Nigeria, Kenya andJordon. Recounting not only whathappened to Malala, he introducesaudiences to her father Ziauddin,mother Toor Pekai, and brothersKhushal and Atal who she playfullybanters with as he shares her cultureand childhood detailing how theschoolgirl turned into an educationalcampaigner. It’s there we get the real,honest details of her daily life.

In one scene, Malala is asked aboutthe different words she has written onseveral post-it papers in her room.One piece of paper has the word “Catburglar.” Why did you write it down?She is asked. Her answer, humorous,childlike and refreshingly candid gar-ners laughs as she explains that shefound the meaning interesting.

Shot fighting for what she believed,she was named after one of the great-est heroines of the Pashtun people:Malala of Maiwand, a girl often com-pared to the French saint, Joan of Arc,for her selfless acts of inspiration in

Continued on page 28

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Bridge of Spies

He Named Me Malala

The Martian

Continuef from page 27war. As a child, Malala’s her fatherinstilled an understanding that shewas not barred from doing greatthings because she was a woman. Shewas barely 11 years old when shebegan championing girls’ education,speaking out in TV interviews. TheTaliban had overrun her hometownterrorizing residents and threateningto blow up schools and she could notbear the unfairness of it, which fueledher urge to speak out for what shesaw as a basic human right.

The film, which begins in 2013, alsooffers a fascinating look back at thehistory of her troubled nation, wiselyplacing its current political volatility inan easily graspable context.

As it reaches an end and the lightscome up, you leave the theater feelingmoved by her courage, sickened by thecrime and frustrated by the ignoranceand violence that plagues society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cug1-eTOVSk

The Walk��1/2


Taunt, tense but surprisinglyfunny, The Walk stars Joseph Gordon-

Levitt as French aerialist Philippe Petit,who in 1974 walked back and forthacross a cable strung between the twintowers of the World Trade Center

A high-octane drama, it opens withPetit talking directly to the audiencewhile the twin towers stands in thebackground. He’s perched on the torchof the Statue of Liberty and it’s where hestays throughout the entire film as henarrates the story of how he came toclimb what where were previously thetallest two buildings in the world.

The film, which is the subject of2008’s Oscar-winning best documen-tary feature, Man on Wire then doublesback to Petit as a kid showing how he

became mesmerized by wire walkingafter seeing local circus performerswho came to his town in France. Hethen learns the skills of tightropewalking from Papa Rudy, a Czechmentor played by Ben Kingsley, fallsin love with a street musician, Annie,played by Charlotte Le Bon, all whilehashing out a plan to make his visionof walking across the towers a reality.The film then shifts into missionmode, and the set-up for the WorldTrade Center walk begins as he pickshis eclectic accomplices for what hasbecome to be known as the “artisticcrime of the century.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, themaster director of such marvels asForrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to theFuture, and Flight, The Walk is an epic,brilliant, big-screen cinematic specta-cle. Made in 3D, it gives moviegoersthe chance to go where only one manhas been or ever will be – 110 storiesin the air, on a wire, walking betweenthe towers of the World Trade Center.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR1EmTKAWIw

ACTOR MARQUES HOUSTON:Romantic Movies AreMy FavoriteBy Samantha Ofole-Prince

Romantics will feel their spiritssoar in this Marques Houston starrer,which is a genuine and delightful trib-ute to love.

A film that’s impossible to dislike...no matter how cynically we might try,

it follows Houston’s character Jamalwho is given three months to find awife in order to inherit his grandfa-ther’s estate.

“It has a twist and the concept is veryoriginal and creative,” shares Houston,who not only stars in the piece butwrote and produced the film.

Directed by Chris Stokes, Will ToLove circles around Jamal Hawkins(Houston). The CEO of a million dol-lar company, he’s a single andextremely successful businessmanwhose ailing grandfather is willing toleave everything to him if he finds awife and gets married before he dies.With just a few months before hisgrandfather’s impending death, it’s arace against time as Jamal tries,through any means necessary, to findthe perfect wife and receive the inheri-tance. Add a scheming sister, a sexysecretary and an over zealous bestfriend to the mix and the result is aheart-warming rom-com with plentyof laughs.

“Romantic comedies are the bestmovies in the world because theymake you laugh and make you cry atthe same time,” adds Houston whoadmits to being a romantic. “I loverelationships and love being in loveand I love romantic movies. They aremy favorite.”

Also starring Keshia Knight-Pulliam (who is best known for herchildhood role as Rudy Huxtable onthe “The Cosby Show”), DrayaMichele, Shondrella Avery, ValariePettiford and Marlon Yates Jr., thereare some good laughs to be had, aswell as some heartache. With excellentacting from an all-star cast, BlackThomas provides plenty of comicrelief as the over zealous best friendwho sets up a casting call to findJamal a perfect match.

There’s so much heart and genuinesentiment delivered it’s impossible tosuppress a smile for the film’s heart isin the right place.

“Being part of this film was a greatexperience,” adds Houston, a formersinger with the group Immature whohas had a successful solo career in tel-evision and movies. “You alwayswant to walk away from an experi-ence having nothing but positivity. Ilike to be part of sets where I can workwith people that I know. With thismovie, we had lots of positive energyand positive vibes and it plays oncamera and comes off onscreen.”

Only the most hard-hearted andcynical won’t find something endear-ing in Will to Love. �Editor’s note: Will to Love is out on Digitaland DVD. Watch trailer https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=ZG0nkZslSFU


28


Keshia Knight-Pulliam and Marques Houston

The Walk

Monday-Friday, 6-9am

Juanita “Kay” RogersMarch 23, 1963 - September 27, 2015

Juanita Kay Rogers,the widow of the lateHonorable Joseph“Joe” BernardRogers,Colorado’sSecond AfricanAmericanLieutenant,passed away onSunday evening,Sept. 27, surrounded byher loving family after a long battle with cancer.She was the second African American womanwho served with grace as Colorado’s SecondLady from 1998-2002.

She was always at her husband’s side as adevoted wife, mother, partner, advisor and con-fidante. She served with grace, energy, andcommitment as she fulfilled her historic role asa young Colorado’s Second Lady and mothercaring for young children. She is survived byher three children, Trent J. Rogers, Jordan K.Rogers, and Haley N. Rogers, her three sib-lings, Michael O. (Pamela) Hardy, Angela C.(Tony) Hardy-Wilhite and Terri L. Hardy and ahost of many other relatives and friends.

Throughout her life, Rogers was a womanof faith and a lifelong learner. From an earlyage until her time, she kept her love and devo-tion for the Lord and enjoyed the fellowshipthat she shared with her church. She had beeneducated in the Denver Public Schoolsthroughout her young life and moved forwardlater as an adult to the Department of theInterior’s Minerals Management Services andBureau of Land Management and ended hercareer with 30+ years of service with TriCare.

Juanita lived her life caring for others, sup-porting her husband and family, being a dedi-cated worker, and brought laughter and joy tothe ones she left behind. She was 52 yearsold. Ironically, she passed away on Race forthe Cure Sunday, and just days before the sec-ond anniversary of the sudden death of herlate husband on Oct. 7, 2013. Kay fought agood fight and she will always continue to be

the guiding voice to her children. On October 3, at True Light Baptist Church

in Denver followed with a burial in FairmountCemetery in Denver, close family and friendsgathered together in celebration of her lifewhere she will be remembered and trulymissed.

Christopher Michael SwainJanuary 7, 1976 - September 24, 2015

ChristopherMichael Swain wasborn on January7, 1976 inDenverColorado toPauletta Mosleyand TyroneSwain Sr.Christopher hadtwo brothers,Cameron Smith and TyroneSwain Jr.

Chris attended and graduated fromThomas Jefferson high school in Denver. Hethen continued his education at Bethune-Cookman college in Daytona Beach, Florida inlater ITT Technical Institute in Denver,Colorado. He was currently enrolled atEcotech Institute in Aurora, Colorado wherehe was studying to be an engineer. Chrisserved a two-year term in the U.S. Navy. Healso served in the 3-157th Field Artillery in Iraqfor the Army National Guard of the UnitedStates. Chris was honorably discharged.

With guidance from his mother, Chrisobtained a sense of God and family during hischildhood. He and his family attended ZionBaptist Church in Denver where he was bap-tized at the age of eight. Later the familybecame members of New Covenant Churchin Denver.

As a child, Chris was very outgoing. Heloved dancing which was one of his many pas-sions along with singing, doing impersonations,telling and playing practical jokes. Chris had aspecial bond with his brother Cameron, who, atan early age preceded him in death. Betweencollege and the military Chris met and fell inlove with Essence Champagne Renée Smithcreating a unique bond which led to the unionof holy matrimony Feb. 23, 2001. From thisunion, they shared three children – two sonsand one daughter.

Christopher Michael Swain died onThursday, Sept. 24, 2015. He was preceded indeath by his father, Tyrone Swain Sr. and hisbrother, Cameron Smith. Family left to love himinclude his wife Essence Champagne RenéeSwain, his sons Christopher Michael “CJ”Swain Jr., Caulen Joshua Swain; his daughterLondon Caylie Marie; his mother, PaulettaMosley, his brother, Tyrone (Danielle) SwainJr.; his grandmother Anna Marie’s Swain; andhis son, K.C. Swain.

Dr. Peter WarrenSeptember 30, 1938 - October 15, 2015

Dr. Peter Warren,emeritus dean of theUniversity ofDenver and for-mer Dean ofUniversityCollege, passedaway Oct. 15. Hewas diagnosed inFebruary 2015 withMultiple SystemAtrophy (MSA) – a rareand untreatable neurological disorder.

Peter Warren was born in New York Cityand lived in the Los Angeles area for manyyears. He attended Stanford and graduated

from the University of California, Berkeley. Afterextensive travel and study at the Institute HenriPoicare in Paris, he was hired by IBM inStockholm where he worked in the early1960s. He returned to the US and after com-pleting his PhD in Mathematics at theUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison he moved toDenver and became part of the faculty of theUniversity of Denver. He was the primaryarchitect of the development and growth ofUniversity College, the college for professionaland continuing studies, where he served asDean until 2001 when he was named ViceProvost for Global Development.

Dr. Warren was a life-long technophile andmotor head. He built his first motorcycle as ateenager living in California. He once had hispilot’s license and flew glider aircraft over theRocky Mountains. He used artistic expressionto capture genuine beauty in nature and peo-ple through photography and film. In his lateryears, he became a student of ceramics.

Dr. Warren was an animal lover who wasespecially fond of felines – from his own housecats to lions and cheetahs. He traveled exten-sively during his life and spoke several lan-guages. He was an education ambassador tocountries in Asia, Africa, Scandinavia andEastern Europe. In his retirement, he foundedthe International Education Corps, a non-profitthat helped place retired educators as consult-ants with third-world universities across theglobe. Most recently, he and his colleague Dr.Martin Robbins were instrumental in helpingestablish the Namibia University of Scienceand Technology (currently Polytechnic ofNamibia.)

Dr. Warren is survived by his wife,Katharine Smith-Warren, his stepson TylerChafee and daughter-in-law Sally RichardsChafee and three grandchildren, Anna, Noraand Will Chafee. A memorial event will be heldon Friday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at Hamilton Hall,Newman Center University of Denver. Thefamily requests memorial donations go to CurePSP at https://give.psp.org to help find curesfor brain diseases like MSA.


29

Gone but not forgotten - Rest In Peace

Keep the Tradition Alive!2015 Denver Feed a FamilyThanksgiving Distribution

Scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 AM

(as funding permits)Make donations at

epworthfoundation.org or call303-296-6287

Mail checks toThe Epworth Foundation,

1865 Bruce Randolph Ave., Denver, CO 80205

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Happy 90th BirthdayCharlie Burrell

KUVO MemorialTribute toScottie

Honoring Rev. E.Howard Hobbs

Tyler PerryBringsMadea onThe RunTo Denver

Million Man March 20thAnniversary

Justice Or Else

Photos byLens ofAnsar

CBAM Webb ArtsAward Gala

Edna and John W. MosleySchool Dedication

Ceremony

Urban LeagueWhitney M.

Young, Jr. AnnualAwards Gala

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