All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1960 • Volume 60, Issue No. 11 • November 2021
Surrounded By Angels
Inside This Issue PAGE 2
For the GPHN
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For 18 years Terita Walker has been a teacher, a school counselor, assistant principal, athletic director and athletic coach. At East High School, she has chaired the counseling department. As assistant principal, Greater Park Hill News: she has led the science, visual What are you most excited and performing arts, physiabout as principal? cal education and English Young people Terita Walker: Continudepartments. are brilliant ing to learn all there is to In April, Walker was and have so know about our school named principal of the largand its rich hismuch to say. community est and oldest high school in tory and then adding to it. It the Denver Public Schools seems that every day, I meet system. Walker takes over someone new that attended the position overseeing the East, a fun fact about the school, an education of nearly 2,700 students achievement a student or staff memfrom John Youngquist. ber is making or has made. Every day “As the principal of East High I learn more and more why East is such East High Principal Terita Walker. The school, just south of School, I look to build on our successes an amazing and magical place. City Park at Colfax and York Street, is the destination of and strengthen our areas of growth by fostering effective relationships with continued on page 6 many Park Hill students. Photo by Reid Neureiter
Blazing Trails: Troop 62 Marks 100 Years Of Scouting
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our students, parents, staff and community, being responsive to the needs of students and valuing our school’s diversity,” Walker says. In a Greater Park Hill News exclusive, Walker discusses the challenges and possibilities, and her enthusiasm about being the new head Angel.
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By Reid Neureiter
Time To Talk Turkey: GPHC Readies For A Big Thanksgiving
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East High’s New Principal Terita Walker: ‘Every Day I Learn More And More Why [This School] Is Such An Amazing And Magical Place.’
The Readers Speak: Do Not Be A Parking Scofflaw
This Bird Has A Special Place In Her Heart, And Her Gut Wonderbound Dance Troupe Pirouettes Into Park Hill
Upcoming GPHC Meetings Community meetings are conducted virtually on the first Thursday of each month. The next meeting is Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. There is no meeting in December. Link to attend at greaterparkhill.org/ join-us/community-meetings/
Park Hill Character
Going The Distance
J. Carlton Babbs Winner Pastor Nathan Adams: “It Was As Simple As, ‘We Are A Church, We Have A Parking Lot, And This Is What We Need.’ Story and photos by Cara DeGette Editor, GPHN
to other services. “Pastor Nathan has demonstrated the true essence of what the award is intended for,” says Heather Shockey, the treasurer of GPHC, herself a past Babbs recipient.
Pastor Nathan Adams runs marathons. He is a classically trained trombonist. He collects nativity scenes, which he Standing straight, facing the storm displays in his office, along with hand-drawn cards of love from several young members of his congregation. A footThe award was presented during the Oct. 6 annual Regball (and basketball and baseball, whatever-the-season) fan, istered Neighborhood Organization meeting, via Zoom. he gets a kick out of the sports column “Kickin’ it with Kiz,” LeAnn Anderson, a former chair of GPHC and last year’s in the Denver Post. recipient of the award, highlighted the history of the The mission of the church he leads, church, leading up to Adams’s leaderPark Hill United Methodist Church, is ship this year. this: “Because Christ calls us to love all We inherited this great PHUMC started in 1911 as a tent tabpeople, we live our faith through dis- history and this great legacy, ernacle at the corner of 23rd and Glencipleship, diversity, acceptance, social coe. The church, as it currently stands, and part of our story has got opened its doors 100 years ago, in 1921. justice and mission.” In October, Pastor Nathan, 37, was Dr. J. Carlton Babbs was pastor of the to be asking the question, named this year’s recipient of the J. Carlchurch from 1955 until his death in ‘so what is the chapter ton Babbs award. The honor is presented 1978. yearly by Greater Park Hill Community, Babbs was also a founding member of we’re writing? How are we Inc. (GPHC) to someone who has made a the Park Hill Action Committee, and a contributing to our legacy?’ ” leader significant contribution to the neighborin the battle against blockbusting hood. In many ways the award has come in Park Hill — a practice in which real home. Pastor Nathan — as he is called — is the first leader estate agents try to scare homeowners to sell their houses at from the church to receive the award, which is named for low prices by convincing them that racial minorities would the minister who preceded him decades ago. move in and lower their property values. In the Civil Rights Earlier this year, under Pastor Nathan’s leadership, the era Greater Park Hill was considered a national model in church opened its heart, and its parking lot, to a group of neighborhood integration. (The Action Committee later 40 unhoused people. The plan immediately became a target became Greater Park Hill Community Inc.) for controversy (and lawsuits). Eight months later, the Safe One Sunday in May, 1956, all of the ministers in the comOutdoor Space, which is run by the organization Colorado munity preached sermons on the need to eliminate all the Village Collaborative, is up and running, with two months barriers to church membership and housing on the basis remaining until its lease expires. Though one lawsuit reof race, sex, or national origin. mains active, much of the neighborhood ultimately rallied When Babbs’ died, clergymen and women representing around the program that provides people trying to get on many places of worship in the neighborhood decided that a their feet with sturdy tents in a safe space with electricity, community service award in his memory would be a fitting meals, bathroom and garbage facilities, showers and access tribute to one of Park Hill’s outstanding leaders. Since then,
Pastor Nathan Adams in front of the Park Hill United Methodist Church, at Montview Boulevard and Glencoe Street.
the Babbs Award has been awarded to people who continue to work for the betterment of all. In her remarks, Anderson said Pastor Nathan’s work “exemplifies the spirit of Dr. Babbs and our neighborhood’s long history of fighting for social justice.” “[Pastor Nathan] led on a controversial issue and stood with his back straight and in truth and conviction,” she said. “He faced the storm unwavered and continued to carry on their message without hesitation to simply be part of a solution and offer a hand up.” Anderson held up the Safe Outdoor Space initiative — continued on page 9