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MESSAGE From The editor
It’s Summertime in the Rockies – and it’s a confusing time to be alive…
On one hand: The world teeters on the edge of crisis with rising tensions in the Middle East; artificial intelligence threatens to upend human creativity and an already fragile economy; streets are filled with protests both for and against immigration; and a barrage of daily policy shifts from the Trump administration keep the masses on the edge of their seats.
On the other: Innovation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace with scientific breakthroughs transforming healthcare; communities are mobilizing for justice and mutual aid; young leaders are finding their voices and demanding accountability; and people around the world are finding new ways to connect and care for one another in the midst of chaos.
The cover story this month focuses on an issue that has overwhelmed communities and sparked international conversation about fundamental human rights. “Invisible Borders and the Walls that Divide” is a comprehensive overview of immigration, with a glimpse into the social, political and economic ramifications
of a growing crisis. Community leaders and state legislators are sharing ways that Colorado residents can get involved, encouraging connectivity and bridgebuilding to improve outcomes for people in need.
An organization working to build bridges right here in our backyard is inviting 5,280 people to a free community gathering, with an opportunity to dine at a Mile Long Table on Downtown Denver’s Auraria Campus. This month you’ll learn about it and other summer events and activities, like the Colorado Black Arts Festival, Winter Park Jazz Festival and “Concerts on the Fly” at Denver International Airport.
You’ll also become acquainted with René Marie, a masterful jazz singer who will headline Dazzle Denver’s two-year anniversary at its new home in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Municipal city leader, LaTonya Lacy, recently retired from her role as the City and County of Denver’s Executive Director of Administration, and she shares her insights from over 30 years of city cupport, along with her proudest moments working
CONGRATULATIONS
To French Open Winner, Coco Gauff
On June 7, tennis sensation
Coco Gauff captured her second major win as the victor of the women’s singles championship at Roland-Garros, better known as the French Open. With precision and confidence, the 21-year old earned her place among the elite in the world of tennis.
Born Cori “Coco” Gauff in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Delray Beach Florida, she first made headlines in 2019 at the age of 15 when she defeated her idol, Venus Williams, at Wimbledon.
She has accomplished lofty goals that many never get a chance to achieve, and shows maturity and poise under pressure.
In 2023, she won the U.S. Open title, and now, after her most recent victory, people are beginning to call her “the next great one,” with
under five mayoral administrations.
In June, a legend was lost, and Colorado is reflecting on the musical legacy he left behind. Charles Burrell, a multigenre talent often referred to as “the Jackie Robinson of classical music,” passed away at age 104.
This issue of Denver Urban Spectrum, featuring an updated design and filled with page-turning stories that make us reflect on the times, is dedicated to the memory of Burrell, and to the struggle endured by our global neighbors bludgeoned by the enduring paradox of democracy.
May we all extend grace and compassion in our efforts to uplift mankind.
Ruby Jones
Editor
comparisons to Serena Williams – winner of 23 majors.
Gauff is more than just an elite tennis player. She has used her platform to advocate for social justice, voting rights, youth empowerment and other issues affecting people who look and sound like her. Drawing criticism from people who think she should just “stick to tennis,” she continues to speak about the unfair treatment of others.
She is setting an example to others that excellence and empathy go hand-in-hand. While many lack the courage to stand beside her, she exhibits courage and purpose every time she enters the tennis court.
Gauff understands that “To whom much that is given much is required.” I wish her the best on both avenues she has chosen to pursue.
Congratulations, Coco!
INVISIBLE BORDERS AND THE WALLS THAT DIVIDE
Examining an immigration crisis that has separated families, terrorized communities and revoked access to basic human rights.
by Ruby Jones
Treading the path of uncertainty with faith and fortitude guiding each footstep, people from all walks of life have migrated to the United States with the expectation that her promise of liberty will welcome them with open arms.
Leaving homes, families and familiarity behind, they travel through hell and high water, undeterred by the barbed wire and border patrol guarding these stolen lands.
They bring very few possessions, but arrive with an abundance of hope –hope that the U.S. will offer sanctuary from political persecution, war and starvation; that better opportunities await; and that their children will be safer, stronger and supported in the land of the free.
They remain brave, even when bigoted leaders shout, “This is not your home.”
For all their troubles and painstaking travels, they are either detained and denied basic human rights or thrust into the center of a brutal debate and painted as delinquents, drug lords and undocumented “animals.”
Demonized by domestic “enemy” rhetoric, unauthorized migrants – or immigrants – who have come to this country seeking shelter are facing the threat of deportation and arrest in one of the most shameful chapters in recent history. While this deeply troubling moment in time will be remembered as a stain on our nation’s conscience, people are taking a stand and showing up in solidarity for communities that deserve more than just sympathy.
What Makes Us Human?
Migration has occurred since the beginning of time, starting with the intercontinental movement of early human species from Africa to Europe and Asia. The colonization of the Americas found waves of European settlers traveling across the Atlantic Ocean in search of economic opportunity and religious liberty.
Their arrival led to the genocide of approximately 56 million indigenous people and the enslavement of an estimated 12.5 million abducted Africans, followed by the creation of regulations that have complicated global travel and naturalization.
For many, the price of authorized immigration is too high. Visas, passports and citizenship tests create insurmountable barriers for those escaping atrocities in their homelands.
The U.S. Constitution extends protections like due process and equal protection clauses included in the Fourteenth Amendment, but anti-immigration sentiment is rooted in stripping fundamental rights and dehumanizing even the most vulnerable for their failure to enter “the right way.”
Immigration has become one of the country’s most salient political debates. As lawmakers and voters grapple over the topic and its socio-economic considerations, demands for increased border protection are growing in intensity.
In Colorado and other major cities across the U.S., calls for human rights, dignity and social justice are mobilizing communities against a system that has lost sight of its humanity – all while fanning the flames of resistance in the fight for reform.
The First 100 Days
With immigration at the heart of the 2024 U.S. General Election, President Donald Trump immediately enacted several executive orders on the day of his inauguration, including one focused on “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”
One of the most controversial developments in the first 100 days of his second term was the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law passed in 1798 allowing executive authority to detain or deport those who were citizens of countries at war with the U.S. without a legal hearing.
Following the rescission of Proclamation 9844 in 2019, he issued an executive order “Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States” on his first day in office, reenacting elevated measures.
“America’s sovereignty is under attack. Our southern border is overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries, and illicit narcotics that harm Americans, including America,” he penned.
Fire and ICE
Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with the authority to arrest unauthorized immigrants without judicial warrants.
President Trump expanded the department’s authority and revived the Task Force Model (TFM), deputizing state and local law enforcement officers to enforce immigration laws during routine police duties. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also rescinded earlier mandates regarding the protection of “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals and churches.
Rapid deportation and traumatization bled into months of quiet stirrings and grassroots efforts until protests erupted in Los Angeles on June 6.
The Trump administration deployed Marines to California, federalizing National Guard Troops to “protect federal personnel and property.” The action incurred a lawsuit by Los Angeles Governor Gavin Newsom, and six months after the president took an oath to protect the American people, a U.S. appeals court ruled that President Trump is within his rights, despite the unconscionable risk to civilians.
Covering the Chaos
Protests against the mass deportation campaign have spread throughout the country, including in Colorado. Local newsrooms have played a crucial role in documenting the crisis and elevating unheard voices in light of this growing crisis, but there are growing concerns about censorship, funding and safety amid the chaos.
In response, Colorado News Collaborative (COLab), an initiative created by the Colorado Press Association and The Colorado Independent, is leading efforts to familiarize journalists with First Amendment rights, including freedom of the press.
To amplify the impact of immigration reporting, award-winning journalist Stephanie Rivera is steering a data-collection project to track how sheriff departments around the state
cooperate with ICE during non-citizen detainments.As COLab’s Collaborative Reporting Project Manager, she hosts listening circles to deepen newsroomcommunity ties and better inform audiences.
Rivera encourages journalists covering immigration to heighten understanding by first identifying a target audience; then, by listening.
“It’s active listening, and consistent listening. It’s not just holding one forum and then forgetting about them,” she explains. “That plays into mistrust, when people feel like you’re just extracting information and forgetting about them.”
Continued on Page 6
Strangers Among Us
For Papa Dia, Founder and President of the African Leadership Group (ALG), listening is the first step in understanding.
“Currently, there is a propaganda that’s intentionally doing whatever it takes to divide us,” says the community mentor and leader, who emigrated from Senegal to America in 1998. He warns against overlooking immigrants’ humanity without taking the time to get to know them, and encourages people to see what’s happening in the migrant community through a lens of empathy and understanding.
ALG has provided services to thousands of people who emigrate to Colorado from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and other African nations since 2006. When increased ICE activity began in January, many of its beneficiaries were detained, prompting Dia to temporarily suspend language classes and programs offering food, clothing and legal assistance.
“It’s clear that my responsibility is to protect and provide for my community as much as I can,” he says about his decision to reopen.
“It’s not an easy task. At times you are exhausted, and at times you are worried.”
Close to Home
According to the American Immigration Council, approximately
10% of Colorado’s population are immigrants. Since late 2022, the city of Denver added over 40,000 migrants to that figure, offering sanctuary and services to new arrivals who were deployed here involuntarily. However, humanitarian outreach has come at a cost – and the stakes keep getting higher.
During his electoral campaign, President Joe Biden promised to increase pathways to legal immigration and raise the annual refugee cap to 125,000, with a large portion of those slots reserved for African refugees. His reforms drew the ire of Republican lawmakers, although he only raised the cap to 62,000 and failed to clear a backlog of 7.8 million applications. Eventually, his administration announced that it would reinstate Trump-era “Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).
For Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the overwhelming influx of migrants and asylum seekers from places like Haiti, Nicaragua, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Venezuela sparked a politically-charged response. He loaded buses with detainees from the Texas border, and shipped them to
Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver.
On Dec. 14, 2022, former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock addressed his constituents, saying, ““Let me be frank: This influx of migrants, the unanticipated nature of their arrival and our current space and staffing challenges have put an immense strain on city resources to the level where they’re on the verge of reaching a breaking point at this time.”
The city spent over $800,000 on emergency operations, including shelter activations and the allocation of financial assistance.
Inherited Hardship
In April 2023, Mayor Mike Johnston was elected as Denver’s new mayor. When he took office in July, he inherited a costly crisis. Implementing a Denver Asylum Seeker Program (DASP), he managed to reduce expenditures from an expected $180 million to $79 million.
Still, Common Sense Institute Colorado reports that schools in the Metro Denver area spent an estimated $228 million on approximately 15,000 migrant students during the 2024-2025 school year, and the city’s safety net hospital system reported expenditures of $10 million in 2023.
Initially receiving only $4.85 million in shelter reimbursement funds from the Federal Management Agency (FEMA), Mayor Johnston announced a citywide 10% departmental budget cut and hiring freeze.
When called to testify before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he addressed the immigration crisis with compassion and an explanation for why the city responded with open arms.
“Denverites believe that our problems are solvable, and we are the ones to solve them,” he stated. “As the Mayor of Denver, I could not be prouder of how the members of our community – groups of moms, our local law enforcement, nonprofits and faith organizations and so many more – rose to the challenge presented by the influx of immigrants.”
In May 2025, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Denver, Colorado’s governor and attorney general, the state legislature, and Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins, alleging the obstruction of federal immigration enforcement in response to “sanctuary laws.”
“There is no law that Denver has broken,” Mayor Johnston states, confirming that the city avoids immigration status checks to protect civil liberties while still cooperating with federal agencies.
The Trump administration attempted to withhold funding for Denver’s transportation programs, and placed a freeze on federal funding that supports city law enforcement and healthcare when a judge issued a preliminary injunction on its earlier actions. The City and County of Denver responded to the funding freeze with a lawsuit of its own.
Joined by Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle, the lawsuit alleges a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers, the Administrative Procedures Act and has acted beyond its scope of powers.
In the midst of the political turmoil and heightened tensions, the fate of millions of unauthorized immigrants rests in the balance.
From Outrage to Action
In 2022, social and economic conditions were slowly returning to normal after the coronavirus pandemic turned the world upside.
“Our mayor tried so hard to keep his promise of getting 1,000 homeless people off the street by Christmas 2023,” says local activist and community advocate H. Malcolm Newton. “People don’t realize what he was up against.”
As legal battles continue to brew, different perspectives among Colorado communities became increasingly vocal.
According to the Denver Post, the number of people who identified
Photos by Kevin Beaty
immigration as a “very serious problem” in Colorado rose from 34% to 54% between 2023 and 2024; but, with countless helpers showing up for the migrant community, a significant portion of the state’s population opposes current immigration policies.
“I was just 13 when I arrived in Colorado, having left Liberia after my family was targeted by political violence,” wrote Colorado State Representative Naquetta Ricks, the first African immigrant to serve in the state’s General Assembly, with an acknowledgement of World Refugee Day. “I’m honoring the strength and courage of every family who’s had to rebuild their lives in the face of similar adversity.”
“We really need people who are going to talk about the contributions of immigrants and that their voices need to be heard. They are underrepresented, they are underserved when it comes to politics,” she told Colorado Newsline in 2021. As a State Representative, she led the fight on groundbreaking legislation that created the Immigration Legal Defense Fund, and she continues to advance initiatives that support equity for all.
“I think what we’re seeing is a rollback of human rights and the rule of law in the United States,” says Colorado State Representative urging residents to stand in the gap for immigrant communities.
Rep. Joseph helped advance Senate Bill 276 (SB276), which codifies an expansion of Colorado’s immigrant protection policies and limits cooperation with federal agents over civil issues.
In May, Governor Jared Polis signed SB276 into law, but now faces a whistleblower lawsuit for reportedly directing the state labor department to comply
with a federal ICE subpoena seeking data on sponsors of unaccompanied migrant children.
Polis has delayed releasing the data pending a court ruling, prompting protests and sharp criticism from advocates and community leaders.
Finding Common Ground
“This president is going to be in office for the next three and a half years,” Rep. Joseph remarks. “We will be vocal. We will advocate against what he does – the negative things that he does and the way he’s eroding people’s rights – and we need our constituency out there to help out as well.”
“We just have to make sure that we don’t give in to the fear mongering as members of the community and neighbors.”
For Dia and ALG, recent events shine light on the motivation behind the organization’s Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges initiative. He appeals to the community to embrace its collective humanity, saying, “Please get to know people; sit down and ask about their stories, because we all have stories….It doesn’t matter what people look like or where they come
LATONYA LACY on Leaving Her Mark
City administrator realizes retirement dreams after 34 years of municipal leadership
By Ruby Jones
“I always knew that I would retire this year,” says LaTonya Lacy, a wellrespected municipal administrator who supported the City and County of Denver for over three decades.
After starting her career as an executive assistant under Wellington Webb’s administration in 1991, she advanced through the ranks, holding senior clerical positions and special project coordination roles before being appointed as deputy chief of staff and finally, executive director of administration.
With a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Computer Information Systems, she was prepared for the constant change and operational oversight required at every level of city government, but it was her poise and proficiency that made her stand out as a high-performing staff member under five mayoral administrations.
Crediting her professional longevity to core principles of integrity, accountability, humility and respect, she says, “I’m very proud of the relationships that I’ve established. I’ll say, over the years, with not only the community, but with numerous city employees across departments and administrations, that is something I treasure. Many of those relationships are lasting relationships that will live even beyond my career here in the City and County of Denver.”
“I really believe that whenever people trust your character, not just your
skills, it’s that trust that’s lasting,” she adds, explaining that her faith in God remained central to her capacity to lead with excellence, consistency and flexibility.
Mile High Memories
Lacy experienced momentous population changes with the addition of 1.5 million new residents in the Metro Denver area. She has been at the center of countless historical events, including visits from world leaders, rallies, parades and championships won by stellar sports teams.
“Our city was on fire!” she exclaims, noting the planning, expertise and collective effort it took to host each event.
Her favorite memory of exciting city stewardship was the 2008 Democratic National Convention, “because that resulted in the nomination of Barack Obama as our first Black president,” she says.
“I was very proud to be in the center of it.”
Strength Through the Shifts
When a new mayor is inaugurated, the transition process includes shifts in everything from policy to personnel as the new administration embarks on its own direction. For Lacy, the process offered an opportunity to build new relationships, with a focus on adaptability.
“I made it a point to stay flexible, to stay open minded and stay focused on finding solutions, no matter what the circumstances were. I often had to shift gears quickly and adjust to different communication styles, priorities, goals and different ways of doing things,” she recalls. “I always focused on building trust and listening, and serving as that ‘steady.’”
Being consistent and staying true to herself allowed her to support different leaders while keeping the city moving forward and delivering for the people of Denver. Yet, supporting changing
municipal operations was not always easy. One of the most trying times in Lacy’s career was the global pandemic that shuttered city buildings and businesses in 2020.
“It disrupted every single aspect of city operations. We were put into crisis mode overnight. We had to activate our emergency operations center and respond to the urgent needs of the constituents, making sure there was access to essential services, that there was clear communication and we were supporting our most vulnerable,” she says.
The difficult period required resilience and compassion, forcing her to lean on her faith and reminding her that “we’re better together, always.”
The Heart of the City
Out of the Covid-19 pandemic grew an intensified public consciousness around social justice, and the implementation of initiatives promoting equity and inclusivity. When thinking back to her experiences over five administrations, equity is one of the things that stands out among Denver’s elected leaders.
“I’m proud that each of the mayors that I’ve had the honor of working for have really prioritized equity and inclusion,” she recounts.
“I first observed really meaningful efforts during Mayor Webb’s administration. He came in as the first
Black mayor of our city and he laid the groundwork by creating opportunities for communities of color and ensuring that community voices were not only heard, but they were included.”
“Mayor Hickenlooper absolutely built on that and continued equity efforts in a strong fashion by addressing a lot of the structural disparities through education, funding and homeless initiatives.”
“Mayor Vidal was awesome in keeping that momentum and maintaining progress through the transition to the next administration.”
“Then, when Mayor Hancock came in, he really made a transformative shift – he institutionalized equity. He came into the office with the goal of delivering a world class city where everyone matters.”
One of Lacy’s proudest moments was receiving her first mayoral appointment by Mayor Hancock, who shared with 9News that she was “one of the most trusted advisors, friends, coworkers” that he’d had.
Although he had to work through great changes, Mayor Hancock created Denver’s first Office of Social Equity and Innovation and appointed the city’s first
chief equity officer. “He even embedded equity into the budgeting process for the whole city,” Lacy continues.
Her retirement comes two years into Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s inaugural term, and she is confident that his leadership will continue the focus on equity displayed thus far. She commends him for maintaining the Office of Social Equity and Innovation, admiring his willingness to see its importance.
“He put equity into operational practice, tying it directly to policy goals,” she adds, with praise for his strong position on immigration policy and his recent testimony before the U.S. Congress.
Despite social, political and economic changes in the last 34 years, she is proud to have served under mayors who prioritized equity and “kept Denver moving forward.”
A Bold & Beautiful Era
When she retires, Lacy will focus on her business, Lacy’s Chair Cover Rentals, a longtime passion project and creative outlet she created over 10 years ago. Having planned for a 2025 retirement for years, she plans to close this chapter on her own terms after contributing to work that made a difference in the lives of others.
“I feel like God is leading me into a new season – one where I can rest,” she says, with plans to spend more time with her six grandchildren.
She passes on the most important lesson 34 years in city government taught her: “While what we do in city government is crucial, how we do it is even more important. The way we lead; how we hold one another accountable; how we listen; how we collaborate; how we show respect and compassion – all of those things really shape, not just the outcomes, but the culture of public service itself.”
She encourages women, especially women of color, to stay grounded by ensuring that work aligns with values.
“Speak your truth with confidence, even whenever it’s uncomfortable,” she heartens. “And remember, if you’re invited to the table, use your voice.” ♦
Editor’s note: Hear more from LaTonya Lacy on “Spectrum Talk with Ruby” on YouTube. To support the recent retiree in her next chapter, visit Lacy’s Chair Covers and Linen Rentals at www.lacyschaircoverrentals.com.
DAZZLE DENVER Celebrates a Special Anniversary
with Jazz Vocalist René Marie
By Ruby Jones
René Marie’s voice is an instrument of soulful healing, blending warmth, depth and emotion with every note. Her rich, expressive sound evokes the timeless elegance of the great jazz vocalists who came before her, offering melodies that soothe the spirit and stir the soul. In August, the Grammy-nominated songstress will take the stage at Dazzle Denver to headline a special performance celebrating the two-year anniversary of its new location in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Marie is the perfect artist for this celebration, with her deep-rooted connection to Colorado and a powerful ability to move audiences through the emotion and authenticity of her music.
Tucked neatly into the hip and vibrant space at the corner of 14th Street and Arapahoe Street in Downtown Denver, Dazzle is the city’s premiere jazz club, offering a full calendar of dynamic shows by local and renowned international artists alike. In 2023, the venue joined one of the largest performing arts venues in the United States, becoming the literal cornerstone of the canopied site.
Designed to include a nod to Denver’s rich jazz history with the El Chapultepec Piano Lounge, Dazzle is a space that, like Marie herself, carries history, depth and a remarkable story to tell. Its walls are adorned with colorful tributes to local elements and musical evocators, such as Erica Brown, Tenia Renee Nelson, Ron Miles and even Marie, herself.
“Dazzle is a beautiful club with beautiful people. René Marie is a perfect example of this idea,” says the club’s owner, Chat Schneider, ahead of the anniversary event. “She will be singing about themes of beauty and happiness for an all-around feeling of contentment and hope. Don’t miss this experience!”
Dazzle at DCPA
During the celebration of Dazzle’s grand re-opening, marketing manager Kelley Dawkins made note of the location’s similarity to its original location in 1997.
“There was the main listening room and then there was the outside bar area; and we have a main listening room here and then we have a bar and piano lounge that are distinctive, but connected,” she told Westword in August 2023.
“The flow is a lot smoother, with three separate spaces that are still very interconnected.”
With three rows of bench seating and a cluster of tables approaching the stage, the new venue space impresses concertgoers with its ability to make direct connections with artists. Its intimate setting and exceptional acoustics offer an immersive listening experience that makes every performance feel personal and profound.
For Marie, the connection with the audience is one of the things that makes Dazzle shine.
“I learned about the original Dazzle when I first moved here in 2005,” she says. “There’s nothing like your first time going into a jazz club.…I have to say that I’m partial to that dark booth in the back, in the corner, and Dazzle had several of those. That’s where I got to know the jazz community here in Denver.”
She credits Donald Rossa for his careful curations and intentionality when bringing this new space to life, saying he did an “amazing job.”
A Universal Language
Music is a universal language; it brings people together with a shared understanding that healing exists within harmony. Marie’s relationship with music is marked by both agonizing pain and edifying power.
Her musical foundation includes the influence of her parents. Her mother, who was raised by an itinerant preacher, grew up traveling and singing along the East Coast with her five younger sisters. Her father, who sang in the choir at Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) filled their family home with music daily.
“His love for music was far and wide. He loved country and Western folk music, blues, classical, Calypso – everything except jazz,” she laughs,
recalling his tendency to play Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero” at least once a day.
Marie and her siblings made up songs to any and everything, centering music as one of the highlights of their day and finding reprieve in it when daily occurrences of domestic violence plagued their home.
In a somber tone, she admits, “Violence was an everyday affair.”
“It was a distraction for us because there was nothing we could do about it. We were just little kids, whining and crying and terrified, pulling on Dad to stop.”
In adulthood, she continued to lean on music when feeling overwhelmed or distressed, until one day, it transformed her entire life.
Despite her hesitation, she performed jazz for the first time with a friend’s quintet after being encouraged by one of her sons.
“I sang about two or three songs, just putting my toe in the water to see how it felt; and of course, when I left and went back home that night, I was a changed person.”
Recalling the intensity of the experience, she says, “I had forgotten how good it feels to make music with someone else.” Enamored by the joy of performing for an audience with live musicians, it was music that helped her step away from a restrictive relationship and into a life all her own.
Throughout her career, Marie has performed songs about everything
from domestic violence (“Blood on the Walls”) to homelessness. Each piece is written with passion and honesty –like the local favorite, “Colorado River Song,” which was inspired by a Rocky Mountain river trip with the man who would eventually become her husband.
For Years to Come
Music has the power to build connections, heal broken hearts, inspire imagination and provide warmth on lonely nights. When a vocalist as talented as Marie belts out stirring songs in a room full of music enthusiasts, magic happens. On Aug. 1 and 2, her voice will once again fill the listening room at Dazzle, reverberating through the hearts of everyone listening.
After welcoming Denver residents and visitors to experience vocal and instrumental journeys for nearly three decades, Dazzle’s anniversary concert series will allow supporters an opportunity to share in four enchanted evenings of music and festive fun. In the same way that rhythm evolves, the venue has evolved into a hub for jam sessions, concerts and cultural arts performances under the roof of Denver’s exceptional downtown landmark, where its legacy lives on. ♦
Editor’s note: Watch Ruby Jones’ exclusive interview with René Marie on “Spectrum Talk with Ruby” to learn more. To purchase tickets for the anniversary event, visit www.dazzledenver.com.
Don’t go it alone.
Take transit to reduce ground-level ozone.
Know when it matters most: text “BETTERAIRCO” to 21000 to sign up for summer ozone alerts.
TAKING A SEAT at the Mile Long Table
HBy Ruby Jones
. Malcolm Newton is an urban theologian who has dedicated his life to leadership and community service. In addition to instructing aspiring pastors at Denver Seminary, Iliff School of Theology and Colorado Christian University, the nephew of the revolutionary Huey P. Newton has worked with state and city leaders to spearhead initiatives in immigration and education. With a heart for community healing and a passion for urban advancement, the humanitarian leader is extending an invitation to an exciting new event that will foster fellowship, collaboration and community-wide connection.
On Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m., the Mile Long Table will host 5,280 humans at a 5,280-foot-long table featuring shared stories and a family-style meal, provided at no cost by Serendipity
Catering and the Hispanic Restaurant Association. Guests will commune with neighbors and new friends from all walks of life on the Auraria Campus in Downtown Denver, and Newton is calling for collaboration and fellowship, with a special request for Colorado’s communities of color.
A Feast at 5,280 Feet
Last July, the Longer Tables organization of Denver invited 528 people to a 528-foot table of connection, hope and belonging in Civic Center Park. Continuing a 10-year tradition of setting tables and creating places of belonging, the event celebrated diversity and bridged differences, revealing “the power of the table” as an equitable and humanizing space.
Longer Tables Executive Director, Timothy Jones, has been planning the larger, Mile Long Table event since 2017. Amid growing social unrest across the country, this expanded opportunity arrives at a crucial moment.
“Jones believed in the common table to share meals, and the explosive potential to rehumanize people, battle loneliness, fight division and empower collaboration,” says Newton, who serves as president of the Urban Tikkun Centre and Pan African Business Council.
“That’s what the table is all about –bringing people together.”
“We’re not going to talk about our jobs. We’re going to talk about each other.”
The Mile Long Table offers a unique chance to make unlikely connections and remove cultural, economic, spiritual and social barriers to communication. It represents the city’s diversity, with the potential to increase a sense of collective identity.
Newton reveals a key component of the table’s purpose, “You can’t sit with someone you know! So if you bring your mother or your friend, you can’t sit together. You’ve got to sit with someone you don’t know; and that’s powerful.”
The Longest Table in America would have broken a Guinness World Record if it had been revealed in 2017, but Longer Tables has presented the event on a smaller scale in cities across the state in an effort to show its efficacy and gain the support of municipal leaders.
On June 20, Governor Jared Polis extended a personal invitation to Colorado residents on Instagram, saying, “In Colorado we’re used to being No. 1; and now we have the exciting opportunity to set a new record for the ‘Longest Table in America,’ bringing Coloradans together over a shared meal, to foster community and fellowship at what will be the longest table in America to date.”
It’s by coming together, across all our backgrounds across our state so we can learn from one another, break bread and build a Colorado for all, where everyone can live and work and thrive, and reach their potential.”
Seated in Solidarity
“Brotherhood, that’s what Dr. King would call it,” says Newton, thinking back to his 1964 encounter with the iconic civil rights leader during a visit to Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.
Presented by Southwest Airlines, Mile Long Table is sponsored by local and national businesses, media outlets and organizations, and hosted by community businesses and organizations “who believe in GOOD,” including the Community Impact Fund, The Purpose Collective, Metropolitan State University of Denver, the Latina Owned Collective and Sprouts Farmers Market.
“Our commitment to expanding our Mile High heart is stronger than ever. We are proud of the work we’re doing in the air and on the ground to foster meaningful connections that lead to a stronger community.”
At the Table or On the Menu
“In 2024, we brought together 528 people; and, I hate to say this, with dismay – a majority were non-people of color,” Newton admits. “I don’t want to see that same thing happen.”
“We need to be there.”
In his efforts to expand local awareness of the meaningful event, the advocate for inclusivity is appealing to Latino, African and Black communities to promote a cross-cultural community table.
“But it’s not going to be cross-cultural if we’re not at the table. We have to be at the table,” he emphasizes, with added witticism. “I don’t want to see 5,000 white people sitting there and 80 Black people. It’ll look like a Red Foxx concert!”
With no politics or preaching allowed at the Mile Long Table, the day’s impact will unfold with a sense of mystery and quiet intrigue.
“What’s the social impact of the Mile Long Table? That’s what we want to see.”
“We want Muslims there. We want Jewish people there. We want homeless people there; the police there, the nurse there, the mechanic there! The Ethiopians, the people from Palestine. We want them there. We want Black people there, Africans, white people, Native Americans, Asians, Christians, gay and lesbian organizations…we want everybody at the table.”
Citing African Leadership Group Founder, Papa Dia, who commonly
says “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” and the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Newton points out “Shirley Chisholm always said, ‘If you’re not invited to the table, bring a folding chair.”
In addition to eliminating polarization through conversation, the table will provide local community leaders like John Akinboyewa, founder of The Hungree App, with an opportunity to partner and promote topics of interest such as ending food waste.
“The Mile Long Table is a movement, not a meal. It represents freedom, peace, unity and anti-discrimination among all of humanity,” Newton adds, with a nod to the late social justice advocate, Bob Marley.
“It is, in reality, a ‘Redemption Song’ for the world in these difficult days ahead. It is a protest for ‘One Love’ and one heart. The Mile Long Table is a ‘Song of Freedom’ and a future of hope for our collective communities saying, ‘Get Up, Stand Up.”
“Let’s eat!” ♦
Editor’s note: To reserve your seat at the table or register to volunteer, visit www. milelongtable.org.
WE ARE: The Art. The Food. The Music. The Poetry.
Black Arts Festival Celebrates Diasporas
Spanning the Globe
By Ruby Jones
The 39th Annual Colorado Black Arts Festival (CBAF) will take place from July 11-13 at Denver’s City Park West, offering a three-day celebration of Black art, culture and community.
The longstanding event, which began in 1986 as the Denver Black Arts Festival, will feature an array of live music, visual art, cultural performances and food representing the diverse traditions of the African diaspora. The festival is free and open to the public.
Festival-goers can explore the festival grounds and support over 80 local artists, makers and Blackowned businesses in the marketplace. The event will offer a variety of entertainment across three stages, including genres such as smooth jazz, R&B, gospel and traditional African drumming.
On Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m., 17-time Billboard #1 jazz guitarist and producer Adam Hawley will headline the festival on its KUUMBA Stage as part of his Unstoppable 2025 Tour.
“I look forward to the Colorado Black Arts Festival every year,” says local resident and long-time attendee Michelle Turner. “It’s a unique opportunity to experience such a wide range of art and culture in one place. I love it, and I always leave feeling
Gumbo Grits and Good Vibes
inspired and proud of the talent we have right here in Colorado. This year, I am so pleased to see Adam Hawley as the headliner!”
In addition to the music and art exhibits, food lovers will find two food courts offering a wide range of soul food and other culinary delights.
The festival’s Boogaloo Celebration Parade will kick off the festivities on Saturday morning, marking the start of the weekend’s events. Families with children can also enjoy the Children’s Pavilion, which will offer interactive, educational experiences hosted by local organizations like the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Downtown Aurora Visual Arts and Art Garage.
Festival activities will be held at the Denver City Park West, with main gates located at 21st and York, near the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument. The festival is made possible through support from community donations, corporate sponsorships and grants from organizations dedicated to preserving Black arts and culture, but this year, the CBAF is asking for additional support.
“For 39 amazing years your support has meant everything to us, but the truth is…we need more. We have always had a dream of involving the total community in helping to establish selfreliance. We believe that pride in one’s culture is the foundation for long-term stability and prosperity. Our vision now includes year-round programming that helps us to achieve this,” says a statement posted on Instagram.
“When you make a donation (however small) you help us to not only bring the Colorado Black Arts Festival to the community, but you help support our growth and other programming.”
CBAF’s mission to amplify and preserve Black arts and culture in Colorado has been cherished by the community for nearly forty years. At this time in living history, the platform the event provides for local artists fosters a sense of Black pride, Black power and even greater appreciation for Black excellence. ♦
Editor’s note: For additional information, including a complete list of events and performers, visit www.colbaf.org.
Flights, music and mid-day escapes at DENver International Airport
By Ruby Jones
Denver International Airport might seem an unlikely summer concert venue, but the thirdbusiest airport in the world is the perfect setting for an unforgettable series set against the skyline of the Rockies.
“Concerts on the Fly” turns Park on the Plaza into a vibrant soundstage each Sunday afternoon from July 27 to August 31. Passengers, airport staff and local music lovers are invited to attend the fabulous, free event featuring DJs, headlining artists and opening acts at the outdoor oasis between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel.
As attendees tune in to the sounds of summer, low-profile lawn seating will encourage a laid-back vibe from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with advance tickets dropping one week before each show, starting July 21.
Sunday July 27
The season will kick off with vocalist Avery Sunshine, whose hybrid mix of gospel, soul and R&B are sure to set an inspiring tone to kick-off the series. Known for her dynamic performances and heartfelt lyrics, her delivery guarantees an awe-inspiring experience.
The C2 Mass Choir will open the show with gospel harmonies
and spiritual warmth, as DJ Al Your Pal gives a feel-good welcome to attendees.
Sunday August 3
Week two will bring a joyful blend of pop and soul to the international airport, with sibling duo Kim and Kayla Waters. Their family chemistry bridges generations, and their modern sound promises positivity and heartfelt connection.
Local band Jakarta will open the afternoon with a signature blend of indie-pop and smooth rhythm. DJ KTone will add flavor and flair, spinning a seamless mix of classic and contemporary tracks that keep the energy high between acts.
Sunday August 10
DOTSERO, a fan-favorite in Colorado’s contemporary jazz scene, will headline the third concert with an exhilarating set of instrumental genius. Their name, borrowed from a Colorado town, is synonymous with energetic rhythm.
The Wash Park Band, known for funk-driven dance sets and lively covers, will bring a perfect summer vibe to the stage as the opener. DJ Kimani will greet the day with a fun mix that keeps the crowd moving from the start.
Sunday August 17
This show will deliver a double dose of excellence, with co-headliners Nelson Rangell and Pieces of a Dream. Rangell, a jazz saxophonist and flutist, brings lyrical finesse, while Pieces of a Dream delivers a blend of jazz fusion and R&B. Together, they create an evening of sophistication and soul, perfect for jazz lovers and newcomers alike as DJ Al Your Pal returns to guide the mood.
Sunday August 24
Saxophonist Eric Darius will headline with a high-energy set that fuses jazz with funk, R&B and a touch of pop. Known for his charisma during engaging live shows, his music is perfect for a mid-summer celebration.
Opening act Soul School will get the party started with infectious funk arrangements, and DJ Fa’Dora will set the tone with a danceable mix of hiphop, soul and house music.
Sunday August 31
The season will come to a close with legendary group, Rose Royce, and a nostalgic celebration of funk, soul and disco that’s guaranteed to get the crowd on its feet.
Before they take the stage, BigPocket’s Soul Tribute will honor the greats with a tribute to soul’s golden era. DJ Bella Scratch will kick off the day with a curated mix of vintage grooves and contemporary classics.
Now Boarding: Summer Fun
DEN’s concert series was created to foster community, connect travelers with local culture and infuse the airport beyond its primary transit purpose. It is a reimagining of public space that is easy for people of all ages to enjoy.
The Plaza, an accessible, presecurity space, is adjacent to the Regional Transportation District’s A-Line depot and convenient parking, making it all the more appealing to Metro Denver residents and travelers passing through. Snacks and non-alcoholic, glass-free drinks are welcome, and concessions will be sold on-site.
“Concerts on the Fly” puts a fresh twist on airport layovers and summer weekends. Whether catching a flight or living locally, this exciting event series provides an opportunity to let summer soundtracks take flight. ♦
Editor’s note: Tickets are released one week prior to each show at www.flydenver. com/concerts.
42nd Annual Winter Park Jazz Festival Returns with Star-Studded Lineup “Calling all jazz music lovers!”
Audiophiles from across the country will once again gather in the Colorado Rocky Mountains this summer for the 42nd Annual Winter Park Jazz Festival (WPJF). Returning to the Rendezvous Event Center on July 19–20, the twoday celebration of jazz, soul and R&B will feature the smooth and soulful sounds of a dynamic lineup of music legends and rising stars.
In 42 years, WPJF has grown from a modest gathering to a premier summer tradition, drawing thousands of attendees each year. The state-of-the-art outdoor venue provides a relaxing setting where guests can lounge on blankets or enjoy VIP seating, all while taking in top-tier performances under the expansive Colorado sky.
“It feels like a family reunion, a retreat and a soul revival – all in one,” says longtime festival-goer Angela Patton. “I’ve been coming for over 10 years and the energy never disappoints.”
The weekend of music, connection and inspiration offers something for everything, and this year’s roster leaves nothing to be desired.
Saturday, July 19:
Listening to Legends
Saturday’s lineup kicks off the festival with timeless harmonies, punchy percussion and smooth saxophone vibes. Headlined by R&B group Boyz II Men, the day also features percussionist extraordinaire Sheila E., jazz crooner Gerald Albright, rising star Ryan La Valette with Selina Albright, and soulful newcomer B. Thompson. It’s
a day for dancing and being immersed in memories.
Boyz II Men
Headlining Saturday’s performances is Boyz II Men, the iconic vocal trio whose signature harmonies helped define 1990s R&B. With hits like “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You” and “On Bended Knee,” the Philadelphia-based group has sold over 60 million records. Their music has been celebrated with four Grammy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an unrivaled influence across genres.
Sheila E.
A groundbreaking percussionist and global music ambassador, Sheila E. rose to fame in the 1980s with hits like “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre.” A frequent collaborator with Prince and a genre-blending performer of Latin, pop, jazz and funk, she has earned multiple Grammy nominations and received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, with her latest album, “Bailar,” won a Grammy for Best Global Music Performance.
Gerald Albright
A titan of smooth jazz and contemporary R&B, Gerald Albright is known for his soulful saxophone work and expressive stage presence. The Los Angeles native has played with legends like Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Phil Collins, and his solo catalog featuring albums such as “Just Between Us” and “Sax for Stax” has topped jazz charts for decades. A multiGrammy nominee, his music reflects a deep connection to groove, melody and musical storytelling.
Ryan La Valette featuring Selina Albright
New Zealand native Ryan La Valette brings a fresh voice to the contemporary jazz scene, blending R&B, funk and soul. He’ll be joined by vocalist Selina Albright, known for her sonorous vocal tone and uplifting lyrics. The daughter of Gerald Albright, she has established her own career with acclaimed solo projects and collaborations, winning fans with her emotional authenticity.
B. Thompson
A rising star in modern R&B, B. Thompson combines smooth vocals, heartfelt songwriting and classic soul influences. His music blends contemporary flair and timeless sound.
Sunday, July 20: A Jazzy Affair
Sunday delivers a powerful close to the festival, with performances featuring a fusion of soul, gospel, jazz and funk. Neo-soul pioneer Musiq Soulchild leads the day’s acts, joined by saxophonists Kirk Whalum and Mindi Abair. The Dazz Band, Four80East and Hazel Miller & The Collective round out a rhythmic lineup.
Musiq Soulchild
With a sound rooted in soul and shaped by hip-hop and gospel influences, Musiq Soulchild (known as Musiq) is a defining voice in the neo-soul genre. Originally from Philadelphia, his 2000’s breakout “Aijuswanaseing” was followed by chart-topping albums “Juslisen” and “Luvanmusiq.” Known for hits such as “Love,” “Halfcrazy,” and “Teachme,” he has earned platinum certifications, multiple Grammy nominations and a reputation for sincerity that keeps audiences singing along.
Kirk Whalum
A Grammy-winning saxophonist and ordained minister, Kirk Whalum blends gospel, soul and jazz into a holistic musical experience. His instrumental solos have graced hits like Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” and his solo albums showcase technical brilliance. With a career spanning four decades, he continues to educate, inspire and connect with audiences worldwide.
Genre-defying saxophonist and vocalist Mindi Abair brings vibrant energy and star power to the stage. With two Grammy nominations and collaborations with Aerosmith, Duran Duran, and Smokey Robinson, she’s right at home in jazz, blues and rock circles. Her solo albums regularly top Billboard’s jazz charts, and her 2022 release, “Forever” debuted at No. 1.
The Dazz Band
Cleveland funk pioneers The Dazz Band made waves in the 1980s, with high-energy hits like “Let It Whip” and “Joystick.” Known for their horn arrangements that make audiences want to get up and dance, the Grammy-winning ensemble energizes audiences with electrifying live performances.
Four80East
Jazz fusion duo Four80East crafts smooth instrumental music that blends jazz with R&B influences. With multiple charting albums and radio hits, their music has become a favorite in contemporary jazz circles.
Hazel Miller & The Collective
A Colorado treasure, Hazel Miller is known for her powerful vocals and powerful stage presence. Leading “The Collective,” she delivers soul, blues and jazz, with passion and boldness. Her contributions to Colorado’s music scene are widely celebrated.
Festival Experience
WPJF celebrates culture, connection and community. The event offers a family-friendly environment with general admission lawn seating and an enclosed VIP area offering closer views of the stage. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic items to create a personalized, all-day, outdoor concert experience.
The venue is a no-smoking, petfree space, and outside alcohol is prohibited. Food and beverages are available for purchase on-site.
The sound of musical favorites against the breathtaking backdrop of mountain views is a bucketlist destination that frequently sells out, with attendees traveling from all corners of the country. As the festival celebrates over four decades of jazz excellence, it brings people together for a good time, good memories and really good music. ♦
Editor’s note: Tickets are available for purchase at www.playwinterpark.com.
Mindi Abair
FLIPPING theSCRIPT
Why Denver Remains a Prime Market for Fix-and-Flip Investors in 2025
Submitted by Barry Overton
The Denver real estate market has long been known for its resilience, growth and consistent appeal to both homeowners and investors. In 2025, one trend continues to make waves across the Mile High City: fixand-flip investing.
With rising inventory, robust buyer demand and strong profit margins, Denver remains a hotspot for those looking to turn distressed or outdated properties into desirable, market-ready homes.
Fix-and-flip investing is a viable and profitable business model in the current landscape, and the numbers back it up.
Jazz by Y Yaz
Straight-ahead jazz on alto and tenor sax for events and recordings.
www.riverstonejazz.com yasuo@riverstonejazz.com
A Market Primed for Opportunity
According to recent industry data, Denver ranks among the top five U.S. markets for flipping homes. What makes the city stand out is a combination of real estate fundamentals that offer strong returns to savvy investors.
One of the most compelling factors is inventory. The number of active listings in Denver has jumped by 71% year-over-year, bringing the market to its highest inventory levels since 2011. This surplus of available properties gives investors more opportunities to secure undervalued homes.
Despite an increase in supply, buyer demand remains strong. The average time a home spends on the market in Denver is 32 days, showcasing a continued appetite from buyers eager to purchase well-renovated properties in desirable neighborhoods.
Profit Margins That Make Sense
In Colorado, the average gross profit on a flipped property ranges from $70,000 to $77,500. In the Metro Denver area, investors are seeing returns between 28% and 40% – a figure that
places the region well above national averages.
During the third quarter of 2024, national flip returns hovered around 28.7%, making Denver’s 40% margins particularly attractive for those who know how to navigate the market.
Real Stories of Real Success
Aria Khosravi and Alan Blue are two full-time flippers who stick to a streamlined system that favors traditional layouts, neutral finishes and budget-conscious renovations. The duo has completed an impressive 91 flips, and built a thriving seven-figure business.
Their story, recently profiled in Business Insider, emphasizes the power of simplicity in flipping. They avoid overcustomization, focus on marketability and treat the business as a scalable model instead of a passion project.
Whitney Elkins-Hutten is a Coloradobased investor who made a $52,000 profit on her first flip, transforming an aging Fort Collins home built in the 1960s. Her approach is defined by clean updates, functional improvements and a clear understanding of what buyers want.
With the right systems, teams and market awareness, fix-and-flip investing in Denver can be a well-oiled business.
speed with quality. Poorly executed renovations harm an investor’s reputation and impact the surrounding community’s perception of the industry as a whole.
The Denver Advantage
Denver is set apart by its unique combination of its economic stability, population growth and housing demand. Whether investing in established neighborhoods like Wheat Ridge or Arvada, or targeting higher-end flips in areas like Washington Park or Cherry Creek, there’s opportunity across the board.
Additionally, the growth of AI and tech-based tools in the real estate sector are giving Denver investors an edge, allowing them to communicate with potential buyers and sellers through articles like this. From predictive analytics to targeted marketing strategies, flippers are using technology to identify ideal buyer personas, streamline renovation timelines and improve return-oninvestment.
In Closing
Not Without Challenges
Like any real estate venture, flipping isn’t without risk. Community feedback in some neighborhoods highlights concerns about the speed and quality of renovations. Some residents point out a trend of homes being quickly updated and marked up by $100,000 to $400,000, contributing to affordability issues and pricing out first-time buyers.
Flippers must act with integrity, balancing profit with value and
With more homes hitting the market, consistently strong buyer demand and documented investor success stories, Denver is one of the best cities in the country for turning old homes into new opportunities.
Like any business, it requires a clear strategy, attention to detail and a commitment to quality. Investors who treat flipping as a business are finding that Denver still has plenty of upside in 2025. ♦
Editor’s note: Barry Overton is a Denverbased real estate advisor. For more information, contact him directly at 303-668-5433.
THE TESTOSTERONE Effect
How Hormones Shape Male Emotional Responses
Submitted by Dr. Dedrick Sims
Testosterone isn’t just about muscles or libido – it shapes how boys learn, love, react and relate. While vital to male development, the hormone also contributes to an “emotional disadvantage,” or biological reality that makes emotional regulation and expression more difficult for boys and men.
Understanding the Wiring
In previous months, “All Things Boys” columns have discussed how young males are often more emotionally fragile than most assume. They’re more likely to experience psychiatric disorders, academic challenges and stress-related behavior; not because they’re “crazy,” but because their brains are overstimulated and wired differently.
Boys raised in loving environments, especially those with emotionally nurturing mothers, score higher on intelligence tests. Emotional safety allows them to regulate their impulses and value relationships, and a strong relationship with a teacher or parent can help regulate behavior better than discipline charts or reward systems.
But, when those relationships fracture during a breakup or a teacher-student conflict, testosterone takes over. Young males don’t compartmentalize emotion and logic very well. We get stuck in painful
emotional spaces without access to reason.
Take the metaphor of hot yoga as an example: imagine being in a 110-degree room. The heat is overwhelming. Even if someone tells you there’s fresh air outside, you don’t care because you can’t feel it. That’s what it’s like for boys and men experiencing emotional pain. We don’t immediately access logic – we sit in the heat of emotion.
The Impact of Testosterone
Testosterone is the primary hormone that shapes male behavior. It triggers five to seven surges per day in males, each one influencing aggression, desire and the need for quick action. This is not an excuse for bad behavior, it’s biology.
Testosterone drives cravings for quick release, often causing males of all ages to prefer solutions over conversation, action over reflection and physicality over emotional processing. Males want to fix it, move on and feel better fast rather than experience prolonged emotional engagement.
Why Boys Need Sports
Sports are a resource that help young males process testosterone in healthy ways, satisfying the need for contact, aggression and action, while
and Relationships
teaching empathy, teamwork and emotional regulation. Athletic activities provide a place to expend energy, in addition to fostering environments where participants learn to care about others.
Football, for example, is one of the few environments where a boy can be violent on the field and vulnerable in the locker room. He can cry after a loss, cheer after a win and hug a teammate, all within the same hour.
While some data shows that behavioral issues may be related to injuries experienced during athletic participation, sports can reduce long-term aggression, helping athletes channel emotions in a structured space with access to both competitiveness and compassion.
Testosterone in the Classroom
Teachers – especially female educators – often misinterpret male behavior. Boys who kick, punch or roughhouse in learning environments aren’t always being “bad;” in many cases, they are trying to discharge excess testosterone.
Think of a classroom moment: a girl might hit her knee and cry, prompting adults to rush to console her. This prolongs her emotional processing and offers empathy. A boy might hit his knee and kick the table, cuss, spit or walk away. In this instance, he doesn’t want comfort – he wants to end the experience quickly.
Testosterone prefers resolution, not reflection. It explains why boys often avoid long, emotional talks, and why they act out instead of opening up.
Understanding this doesn’t mean tolerating disrespect or violence, but provides guidance for those who wish to approach male behavior from a problem-solving lens rather than a disciplinary one.
Emotional Disadvantage: Quick Fix vs. Deep Connection
The truth is, testosterone creates an emotional disadvantage. It limits
the capacity for deep, ongoing emotional engagement for those who want to connect, but struggle to stay connected.
For this reason, when partners talk about their day, males often jump in with advice instead of empathy; it’s also why boys ignore red flags from their love interests – they’re stuck in emotional compartmentalization and cannot access reasoning.
Emotional intelligence training is critical for boys and for the adults who care for them.
Moms, Teachers, Mentors: What You Can Do
Mothers should try to understand that their sons are wired for action. When talking to them, provide space for them to physically do something. Teach empathy through stories, sports and service, not just conversation.
Teachers should recognize that movement isn’t always defiance, it’s biology. Build breaks into the day and let boys stand while they work. Use physical activities as teachable moments.
Mentors should guide boys through transitions from the emotional to the rational to help them label feelings. Don’t rush them out of pain, but don’t expect them to process things in the same ways.
A Call to Action
Testosterone is not a curse; it’s a call to action and a signal that creates understanding around the need for structure, movement, empathy and education tailored to how they’re built.
Boys need to be understood and provided with tools for regulation, relationship and response, with mechanisms that make sense to them.
It’s essential to teach, coach and raise boys with that in mind, because when we understand testosterone, we don’t just understand boys better – we love them better, too. ♦
Colorado Beautillion Cotillion, Inc. Celebrates 15 Years of Empowering Youth
The ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center glowed with pride on June 1, as Colorado Beautillion-Cotillion, Inc. (CBCI) celebrated its 15th anniversary with its elegant annual gala. The milestone event honored the organization’s enduring mission to uplift youth from underserved and underrepresented
communities through mentorship, education and cultural activation.
Founded by Cheryl Williams Carter, the nonprofit was created to increase visibility and opportunity for young people she calls “hidden jewels, whose brilliance might otherwise go unnoticed. For 15 years, CBCI has served as a lifeline and a launching pad, helping hundreds of students unlock their potential and embrace their greatness.
At this year’s celebration, nearly 60 outstanding young men and women were formally presented to the community. Recognized for their excellence in academics, athletics,
entrepreneurship, leadership and community service, their completion of CBCI’s year-round programming was an embodiment of its holistic approach to youth development.
“This program sees the whole child,” said Williams Carter. “We honor who they are, invest in who they’re becoming and make sure they are seen and celebrated every step of the way.”
Denver native and Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., served as the evening’s keynote speaker. His heartfelt remarks encouraged students to walk boldly in their purpose and embrace resilience as they pursue their goals. Drawing from his own journey to the NFL, Anchrum spoke about the power of discipline, opportunity and belief, echoing the values at the heart of CBCI’s leadership development programs.
The event was cohosted by Colorado State Representative Dr. Regina English and her daughter, CBCI alumna Tionna Moss, highlighting its intergenerational impact. Formal presentations of the students were led by awardwinning journalist Chandra Thomas Whitfield and her husband, Judge Joseph Whitfield, reinforcing the program’s deep ties to civic leadership and excellence.
Photos by Jeremiah HolmesCatch the Vision Media
Choreographed performances by mother-daughter dance duo MiDian Shofner and Devionne Fugett added elegance and flair to the evening, and the crowd was moved by the sense of hope, pride and unity inspired by the affair.
The ceremonial evening marked a rite of passage for the young participants – many of whom have spent months preparing through skillbuilding workshops, etiquette training, business pitch competitions and cultural education. Upon completion, the organization is confident in the students’ abilities to thrive in today’s competitive world.
“What sets Colorado BeautillionCotillion apart is its radical inclusivity and transformative mentorship,” said Williams Carter. “This is a place where kindness meets excellence, and structure meets heart.”
With each passing year, the seeds planted by CBCI continue to bloom into leaders, innovators and changemakers, creating pathways for those who will influence community advancement throughout their lives. ♦
Editor’s note: For more information about CBCI, visit www.cobeau.org.
Bianca and Patrick, CHFA homeowners
DTo: U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper
RE: The 340B Program Needs Urgent Reform: Prioritizing Patients and Communities
ear Senator Hickenlooper,
We come to you as Colorado patient advocates, community leaders, elected officials, labor and business organizations united in our deep concern about the current state of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and to urge comprehensive reform to realign it with its original mission: helping providers deliver affordable care to low-income and uninsured patients.
As a member of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan working group on 340B, your leadership is vital to addressing longstanding abuses that have diverted the program from its purpose and increased costs for patients, taxpayers and employers. We fully support the program’s original intent, but it must be reformed to ensure it serves the people it was meant to help and is not abused for profit.
Particularly in these uncertain times, when millions of Americans are at risk of losing their government provided healthcare coverage while budget deficits rise. The U.S. Congress can no longer turn a blind eye to the waste, fraud and abuse that is occurring by hospitals in a program intended to help our most vulnerable.
Key Failures of the Current 340B Program
1. Patients Don’t Benefit from Discounts
Hospitals and covered entities routinely purchase drugs at deeply discounted rates but are not required to pass those savings on to patients. Instead, many charge full price, pocketing the difference. Some hospitals have marked up cancer drugs by over 1,200% or charged union health plans up to 25 times the average sales price.
2. Contract Pharmacies Are Exploding—and are the key to the abuse
The number of contract pharmacies has grown by over 2,000% since 2010, now totaling nearly 30,000. Many
operate in high-income areas far from underserved communities. This raises concerns about transparency and eligibility. The unfettered use of contract pharmacies by hospitals is at the heart of the explosion in the program, and hospital profits from it.
3. Oversight Is Inadequate and Definitions Are Vague HRSA audits only a small percentage of participants. Violations are rarely penalized, and there’s no clear, enforceable definition of a ‘340B patient’.
4. Costs Are Being Shifted to Employers and Taxpayers Despite being labeled ‘cost-free’, the program shifts costs to self-insured plans and taxpayers. One study found it raised employer costs by over $5 billion in one year.
5. The Program Encourages Consolidation and Reduces Access 340B has encouraged hospital acquisition of independent practices, reducing local access and increasing care costs without improving outcomes.
Policy Recommendations
1. Require Discounts to Reach Patients
• Mandate that 340B discounts lower out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients.
• Adopt a “follow the patient” standard so that discounts are tied to individuals, not institutions.
2. Improve Transparency and Reporting
• Require covered entities to publicly report 340B revenue usage, including specific benefits to patients.
• Set measurable standards for service to vulnerable populations.
3. Rein in Contract Pharmacy Abuse
• Limit the number of contract pharmacies and require location in underserved areas.
• Investigate PBM and third-party roles for conflicts of interest.
Strengthen Oversight and Integrity
• Increase HRSA’s audit authority and enforcement.
• Define ‘340B patient’ clearly and consistently.
• Establish a national clearinghouse to prevent duplicate discounts.
Thank you for your leadership and your consideration. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that the 340B program delivers on its promise to help those who need it most.
Respectfully submitted,
Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth Fmr. President, Denver City Council
Hon. Rick Garcia Fmr. Denver City Council
Deidre Johnson Center for African American Health
Dr. Terri Richardson Colorado Black Health Collaborative
Dawn Bookhardt Community Leader
Rosalind “Bee” Harris Denver Urban Spectrum
James Roy II
Denver Metro Community Impact
Aly Belknap Colorado Common Cause
Hon. Darrell Watson Denver City Council
Portia Prescott NAACP, CO, MT, WY
Denise Maes Community Leader
Bianka Emerson Colorado Black Women for Political Action
Maya Wheeler Wezesha Dada Center
Roger Cobb Community Leader
Khadija Haynes Community Leader
Will Alston Community Leader
Hon. Debbie Ortega Fmr. Denver City Council
Hon. Polly Baca Fmr. State Senator
Rudy Gonzales Sevicios De La Raza
Tish Maes Community Leader
Nita Gonzales Educator, Community Leader
Susan Powers Community Leader
Kwon Atlas Montbello Organizing Committee
Anna Jo Haynes Community Leader
• Center for African American Health
• Colorado AFL-CIO
• Colorado Alliance for Retired Americans
• Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council
• Colorado Common Cause
• Colorado State Association of Letter Carriers
• CWA 7799 Public Workers
• CWA Local 7777
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LAWSUIT AIMS To Expose Flaws in CRA Investments After Denver Funding Halt
DEMI Fund Founder Danielle Shoots appeals to Edward Blum in fight against taxpayer-funded equity program.
By Danielle Shoots & Ruby Jones
Danielle Shoots, founder and former managing director of Domestic Emerging Market Investments (DEMI) Fund, intends to retain conservative legal strategist Edward Blum to pursue a lawsuit challenging the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) – the largest taxpayer-funded affirmative action program in the United States.
A Black woman with a decorated career in C-suite financial leadership and public presence through Ted Talks and media engagements, Shoots asserts that she has unique standing to sue, based on both her experience as a CRA credit program recipient, and her subsequent findings that such programs may harm taxpayers by
structurally disadvantaging funds run by women and people of color.
DEMI Fund – formerly known as the New Community Transformation Fund – was created in 2022 with a dedication to solely investing in companies started and run by women and people of color. The venture (or value) capital firm was tapped to manage $15 million of Denver’s Herman Malone Fund, which dedicates 1% of retail marijuana sales tax revenue to support minority- and women-owned businesses.
In 2024, after months of embattled public disputes, DEMI Fund sued the city of Denver, alleging that the city stopped transferring the allocated funds after Shoots fronted nearly $800,000 to sustain portfolio companies. The abrupt halt in funding led to a breach of contract, unpaid invoices, reputational
damage and financial hardship for her firm and its investors, prompting the lawsuit for recovery and accountability.
With only $6.9 million of the promised funds transferred from the city, the parties came to a settlement. Shoots called for an audit of Denver’s spending on the program, and made a repudiated request for an apology for the months of defamatory and potentially damaging claims by the city that she’d done something wrong.
Now, as she prepares to take on a monstrous systemic failure and remove the veil on the true cost of social equity funding, she addresses Blum with a challenge grounded in her professional focus on racial equity in finance.
Blum is a prominent conservative activist who worked years to overturn affirmative action. His work played a significant role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to effectively ban race-conscious admissions in higher education. In 2024, he sued the Fearless Fund, a venture capital firm that provided grant funds to Black, women-owned businesses. Within hours, he and his legal team responded to Shoots’ request for representation.
Shoots explains the “strategy, irony and absolute arcadian knot this creates for the entire discussion on whether affirmative action was benefiting us, or if every metric of financial and economic health has gone backwards since its implementation.”
“I was picked to be the face of the way these programs pretend to be one thing, and are actually making our outcomes worse,” she writes. “Only, I was the wrong beauty queen to choose that kind of clown car.”
An Open Letter to Edward Blum
Dear Mr. Blum,
I am writing in hopes that you will consider representing me in a lawsuit to dismantle the largest taxpayer-funded affirmative action program in the United States. The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has used over $600 billion dollars since 1977, through banking
systems to fund investments based on race and gender.
This letter is long, but I hope you will read it thoroughly, as I seek your support not based on being angry at this program, but as a person with unique precedence to sue, and who is uniquely qualified as a black woman whose decorated finance career has been entirely focused on racial equality. In fact, it was only as a recipient of a CRA credit-based program that I began to research the legislation to understand how harmful it is in execution for all Americans, like most affirmative action programs have been.
My work has been very public, and you can learn about it and me [in an article previously published in Denver Urban Spectrum], and watching my Ted Talks, speaking engagements and reading up on me in numerous articles. It is this large public presence and following they once used to make me the face of these “equity” programs that I will use to fight against their harm.
In 2022, I started a private venture capital fund dedicated solely to investment in companies that were started and run by women and people of color. My limited partners (LPs) and investors that will be named in this suit included the State of Colorado using both federal and state tax funding to invest; the City and County of Denver using local city taxpayer funds; and Bank of America, who uses CRA credits through a rule called Volker to invest in funds directly run by women or persons of color. In fact, Bank of America has invested more than $500 million CRA credit backed dollars in funds which are run specifically based on race and gender.
On the surface, all of these programs appeared to me to be the exact right thing to do. In fact, I left my significant career and salary in finance to start my own fund in the pursuit of economic racial equity. And when executed accurately, it seemed this work would grow taxpayer dollars and return it to them.
This was so important to me.
In my career, I have found expertise in the customer – and in much of my career, the customer has been the taxpayer. Almost immediately after starting the fund and securing these public dollar investors, I realized that these programs were not only not set up to invest in risky and unregulated investments, but were, in execution, built to ensure these funds would not be successful, would not return money to their other investors and therefore would not return the taxpayers’ dollars, either.
Venture Funds run by white men are treated completely differently by the same investors and in ways that ensure their returns as evidence of this program’s harm. Bank of America calls this an “off balance sheet investment” through CRA and does not put any of these funds on their investment platforms, which would grant them access to private investors (increasing success odds), but would disqualify them for CRA.
As I pushed against these programs’ designs, their administrators and their boards in an effort to clean up the execution of such strategies in the name of the taxpayer, and as the fiduciary to my LPs, several of them came together in committing tortious contract interference and conspiracy to shut down the fund, and to permanently silence me from speaking out against the harm of these programs.
The fund had to sue the City and County of Denver for contract violations, which they settled and paid in my favor, but only after going on the news and publicly accusing me of financial malfeasance and fraud. They never retracted these statements.
Once the city settled and ended their contract, the other LPs who I had been sounding the taxpayer alarm against, had the necessary vote to dissolve the fund entirely, even though I owned a significant portion of it and of its investments.
The law firm in my original suit as the fund was Baker Hostetler, so my documentation of the contract interference led by Bank of America, Xcel Energy and state and city entities is significant.
While the reputational, economic and emotional harm that was done to me and my staff was significant, my goals are bigger than personal. As with all I have done, they are systemic, and they are about doing what’s right. Everything I do is rooted in a deep faith in God, as is true for all in the pursuit of
equality. This work is bigger than me, and even bigger than the unimaginable harm, pain and destruction myself, my children, my partner and my staff have endured.
My faith leads me to fight this at the systemic level. This brings me to your doorstep.
I believed affirmative action was anything but successful. But, as a participant in the programs, my skepticism was elevated and I truly believe and can discuss factually that
affirmative action programs, even if well-intended, do very little to create equality and, in fact, have created greater economic disparities at great financial and social costs to our democracy and the American taxpayer. I believe there is no more harmful program of this nature than the CRA.
CRA credits go out based mostly on enterprise zones, and in some cases directly with the intention of funding people of color and women. These dollars very rarely actually reach
those recipients. Enterprise zones are disproportionately based on the racial demographic of an area, even though they claim to be based on income levels.
For example, the entire city of Miami is an enterprise zone qualifying investments for CRA to banks.
This has created significant development in this and similar cities, while cities in the Midwest and South,
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where income levels of white residents are very similar, receive no similar designations or the economic benefits of their use for developers, businesses and the banks in that area.
This creates worse outcomes for enterprise zone residents while investors in those areas have gained unprecedented wealth. It has also created a dynamic that has chipped away at the American Middle class of all races, especially Black people,
and has increased the wealth gap, rather than – as required by the CRA legislation – close it in these areas. And, because it is all being done in the name of racial equity, its greatest damage has been to reverse years of racial progress while turning Americans against one another as their own hard earned paychecks stretch much shorter each year that passes.
I believe similar redlining for voting districts got you and your wife started in your own decades long quest.
You should know, I was a stark supporter of the Fearless Fund in your lawsuit against them. I thought you chose to pick on the little guy, which of course, was fronted by Black women. I could not understand this, as I knew there were hundreds of millions of dollars flowing through the riskiest investment thesis – venture capital – at the same time. But then, I also thought, “Nobody takes on the hundred million – if not billion-dollar guys, and so likely, you had no idea.
Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the world, and Xcel Energy is a Fortune 500 company. Then, there are deep-rooted government entities, and all the systems that support them and hide their indiscretions against the taxpayer.
It truly is terrifying for me to take on this fight. Especially after all that has been lost in even talking about this in previous years. The last year of recovery of my physical and mental wellbeing has been long, and my financial future is still completely unknown to me. But, there is always God.
Weeks ago, I signed over all my interest in the fund and accompanying companies to my partner, Mark Goodman. He had a slight ownership of one of the companies but now owns them all, entirely. The fund was valued at $473 million weeks before the contract interference started in 2024. Our LPs knew this when they executed the dismantling of the fund’s reputation, along with its portfolio companies and its staff.
I made the decision to sign over my interest in the fund because I can only pursue these legal avenues as an individual with no personal investment in the fund. I chose to separate the risk of the suit from those the fund invested in, and from my partners. So, as you can see, one must risk more than they can afford to lose in the ongoing pursuit of justice.
In addition to the lawsuit against Bank of America, the State of Colorado and City and County of Denver for their race based affirmative action programs, I plan to sue the city for
defamation after their proven-false public statements destroyed my professional reputation and career. I will use private counsel to pursue the latter, which may involve numerous co-conspirators including other LPs who met with the city prior to these statements and their settlement.
I very much look forward to sharing more detail in speaking with you about this matter, and I am very hopeful that you will take this case on, as you have others. In addition, because of the nature and power of those I am fighting, I have copied several media outlets who are familiar with my fund and my story in this letter, in addition to sending it to the Heritage Foundation, which published a report on CRA credits. ♦
GOV POLIS IS RIGHT: Colorado Can’t Run Away from Its Affordable Housing Crisis
An Op-ed by Reverend. Dr. Eric Nelson, National Action Network Denver Chapter President
For too long, Colorado’s Black communities have borne the brunt of the state’s housing affordability crisis. Decades of redlining, displacement and disinvestment have created a racial housing gap that leaves far too many Black families struggling to rent – let alone own – a home in the state they’ve helped build. That’s why I was heartened to see Governor Jared Polis stand up for a smarter approach by vetoing House Bill 25-1004, which would have banned the use of rent pricing algorithms in residential leasing.
Rent algorithms tools are the same tools that platforms like Hotels.com, Zillow and Uber use to adjust prices based on real-time supply and demand. These tools don’t cause high prices –they just report them.
In his veto message, Governor Polis rightly emphasized that taking this tool off the table could result in “further diminished supply of rental housing based on inadequate data,” and he’s exactly right. People don’t like seeing that prices are high, and understandably so. But, making it illegal to use technology that reports prices doesn’t fix the problem; it obscures it, and that’s dangerous.
Transparency is what galvanizes politicians in the government to act, whether by expanding housing assistance or building more public housing. It also gives private developers the data they need to see where affordable housing is most needed and to build more of it.
When politicians are forced to face reality, they are pressured and incentivized to make things better. When they are allowed to pretend everything’s fine, nothing changes.
For Black Coloradans, Governor Polis’s decision to preserve this technology is a small but meaningful step toward addressing deep inequities that have long locked them out of safe, affordable housing.
This state has known for decades that its racial housing gap is all too real. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2024, Black residents are far more likely to be rentburdened than white residents, with half paying over 30% of their income toward rent.
Homeownership is even further out of reach. Only 41% of Black households in Colorado own their homes, compared to nearly 70% of white households. The wealth gap has consequences that ripple through generations. We need more housing, period.
To their credit, many Colorado Democrats have recognized that building more housing is the only real path to affordability. For example, lawmakers like State Senator Dylan Roberts and House Speaker Julie McCluskie have advanced efforts to boost supply by expanding financing for affordable development, supporting transit-oriented zoning reforms and streamlining local land-use regulations.
Governor Polis’ veto of HB 25-1004 echoes that same mindset: If Colorado wants lower rents, it needs to confront the housing shortage with more
building, not by banning tools that help it understand the problem.
While the governor’s calls for price transparency are important, the state needs bold, focused action to ensure more housing is built where it’s needed most. That means streamlining permitting in high-opportunity areas, expanding down payment assistance for first-generation homebuyers and embedding racial equity into every local and state housing policy.
If Colorado is serious about racial justice, it must confront – not ignore –the economic roots of segregation and displacement.
Governor Polis deserves much applause for getting this conversation started. Now, it’s up to community activists, developers, policymakers and neighbors to carry it forward and push for real solutions that make housing affordable and accessible for every Coloradan, regardless of race or income.
The road ahead is long; but with the right tools and the political will, Colorado can close the housing gap and build a future where all families have a place to call home. ♦
A Community Vision for New Park Hill Park & Sports Complex
Envisioning a youth sports complex and open space
Recently, my neighbor returned to Denver after taking his granddaughter, who is 13, to a basketball tournament where she played five games in two days. He put a lot of miles on his vehicle – not because the tournament was out of state, but because Denver doesn’t have adequate youth facilities to host a tournament.
Listening to my neighbor brought back memories of my youth.
My earliest basketball memories include shooting a balled-up sock into a paper bag hung on a door as I visualized driving to the makeshift basket. That basket evolved into a rim in the alley that was shared with neighborhood children who had been playing since they could walk.
As we grew older, we found outdoor courts at the nearest schools and recreation centers. Pickup
By Wellington Webb
games were played seven days a week, with the winner playing and the loser going home.
I played in high school, and later at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, where the team piled into
• HUD-subsidized housing available for individuals 62+. Additional household members welcome.
• 358 total apartments for rent (373 – 570 sq. ft.)studios & 1-bedrooms (both waitlisted).
While supporting a CASA soccer team, I had to drive to East Colfax and Tower Road in Aurora, where I saw hundreds of children and parents packed into sporting venues. One track coach told me that their team regularly travels to Boulder and Colorado Springs for practices and
Youth football players, lacrosse players and tennis players don’t have facilities close to home; and it’s even worse for young hockey athletes fighting for ice time in Denver because the Big Bear Ice Arena in Lowry is always booked.
Denver has dropped the ball for too long when it comes to our youth.
The Gold Crown Foundation in Lakewood is a nonprofit that serves 150,000 children annually.
The South Suburban Complex in Highlands Ranch was created as the gold standard; and Douglas County is building a sports complex.
This leads me to this question whether Denver’s youth are being discriminated against. Are the sports facilities available to Denver’s young athletes limited because of their competitive level, or is there some nearsighted policy that gives Denver children less opportunity if they have skills?
Denver, we have to take care of our own children. Family members are exhausting resources while attempting to transport young people to practice and games so they can follow their dreams.
The city now has the best opportunity to help this situation.
The 155 acres at the former Park Hill Golf Course is a great location for new youth athletic fields, a youth complex, trails and open space for a neighborhood park.
Denver voters saved that land from a concrete jungle and false promises of “affordable” housing and a grocery store. Before voters defeated the proposed development that would have provided only 50 acres for sports venues, the last mayoral administration received great ideas from neighborhood meetings. Voters questioned the funding source for the governing and maintenance of sports facilities.
Denver now has an opportunity to provide a space for youth athletes to practice and compete within the city. Our youth should not have to waste precious time commuting to Aurora, Thornton, Lakewood, South Suburban, Douglas County and beyond.
A new Denver sports complex needs adequate parking, walking trails and open space to be used as a neighborhood and regional park. This is possible, and it would benefit our families as well as future generations. If carried out correctly as a public-private partnership, much of the project can be funded through sponsorships, without placing a burden on taxpayers.
Not utilizing this new open space for youth sports and a neighborhood park would make as much sense as moving the Denver Broncos to Lone Tree.
• Applications can be obtained and submitted in person, by fax or electronically 24/7: 22 S. Adams St., Denver CO 80209 Info@KavodSeniorLife.org www.KavodSeniorLife.org 303.399.1146 | 800.659.2656 TTY Language assistance is available! Contact us today!
When I was mayor from 1991 to 2003, I funded the Police Athletic League for youth football, including the Falcons, Redskins, Prince Hall, Pirates and many more. In addition, the police boxing club was housed in Globeville and served many Denver youths. We funded youth sports then – why not now?
My vision for the 155-acres former golf course includes an outdoor trail and open space; an ice hockey rink; a track and field area; facilities for soccer, basketball, pickleball, volleyball, lacrosse; and much more. We can have it all.
This vision is for Denver youth and their parents. Let’s be bold and advocate for a Park Hill Park and Sports Complex. ♦
REMEMBERING Bass Virtuoso Charles “Charlie” Burrell
By Ruby Jones
Charles Edward Burrell, a trailblazing musician who captured the hearts of jazz lovers around the world, passed away in the early hours of June 17, leaving behind a legacy of musical brilliance.
From his early presence in Denver’s vibrant jazz circuit to his retirement from the Denver Symphony Orchestra at age 79, he was a defining force in the city’s musical landscape, and he will be sorely missed by music lovers, family and friends.
Bass, Beats and Broken Barriers
Born Oct. 4, 1920, in Toledo, Ohio, Burrell was raised in Depression-era Detroit. He developed a passion for instrumentalism while listening to the San Francisco Symphony, and began his musical training on the string bass and tuba at age 12.
In 1939, he graduated from Detroit’s Cass Technical High School and went on to attend Wayne University. Despite his immense talent, he was blocked from advancing his musical skill by a music department official, who prevented him from joining the department because of his race.
Undeterred, he found other avenues to pursue his dreams. During World War II, he served in an all-Black Navy band at Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago, performing alongside future jazz legends Clark Terry and Al Grey. He also took music courses at Northwestern University and studied with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
In 1949, Burrell joined relatives in Denver, where he worked odd jobs to support himself and pay for his continuing education. He painted seats at the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and performed janitorial work at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora, eventually earning a teaching certificate from the University of Denver.
One day while riding the bus, a chance encounter with principal bassist John VanBuskirk inspired him to audition with the Denver Symphony
Orchestra – a predecessor to the Colorado Symphony. He became the first Black American to hold a full contract with a major U.S. symphony, earning him the moniker “The Jackie Robinson of classical music.”
Rounding the Basses
Burrell’s orchestral journey continued in 1959 when he fulfilled a childhood dream and joined the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Pierre Monteux – the very conductor he had heard on the radio as a child. While living in San Francisco, he taught at the Conservatory of Music. His tenure as the symphony’s first Black player lasted until an earthquake prompted him to return to Denver and rejoin the symphony.
In Denver, the emerging instrumentalist was a central figure in the historic Five Points district, formerly known as “The Harlem of the West” for its buzzing jazz scene and thriving Black community. He played as the house bassist at the Rossonian Hotel – one of the most iconic jazz clubs between St. Louis and Los Angeles – and accompanied musical greats including Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Erroll Garner, Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.
The well-rounded musician also played as a member of Colorado’s first integrated jazz band, the Al Rose Trio.
Beyond the stage, Burrell was a revered mentor and teacher. He guided the careers of fellow bassist Ray Brown and his niece, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves. He also inspired his cousin, keyboardist George Duke, to pursue jazz over classical music.
Even into his 90s, he made appearances on KUVO Jazz radio and served as grand marshal for Denver’s Five Points Jazz Festival. His storied legacy earned numerous accolades, including an induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, the Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture and the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award.
In 2021, he appeared in the documentary “JazzTown,” a film spotlighting Denver’s former jazz heritage and narrowing in on his indelible impact. In the same year, Aurora Public Schools named an artsfocused campus in his honor: The Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus.
The Soundtrack of Life
Despite his national acclaim and the powerful role he played in helping shape American music, friends and fellow musicians recall Burrell’s humility and warmth. Known for his signature cigar, he was a source of encouragement for leagues of musicians who followed in his footsteps.
From the smoky, segregated jazz halls of Detroit to orchestral podiums in international concert halls, his impact will forever be felt by music enthusiasts the world over. His willingness to break barriers is an example of the importance of perseverance in the pursuit of a dream, and his legacy lives on in every note of the soundtrack of life. ♦
Photos by On The Mark - Mark Walton, Ed Jenkins, Pat Duncan
