Gaining Ground in the Black Community Social Equity Summit

THE COLORADO BLACK ROUND TABLE’S
ANNUAL GAINING GROUND IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
SOCIAL EQUITY SUMMIT
“LOOKING BACK & MOVING FORWARD”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19 – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY EVERYDAY
24/7 – 365 | LEST WE FORGET OUR WAY

THE CBRT GAINING GROUND IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY SOCIAL EQUITY SUMMIT
is posthumously dedicated to the memory of
Tom Robinson, Former Colorado High School Athletic Assoc. Commissioner and Nationally Recognized Sports Official
Rev. Leon Emerson, Faith Leader and Community Advocate
Alfonzo Porter, Writer and Denver Urban Spectrum Editor
Ansar El Muhammad, Community Photographer & Chronicler of Black Life

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SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023, 3:30PM – 9:00PM

SITE:
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE THEATRE, 119 PARK AVE WEST
THEME:
“KUJICHAGULIA(Self-Determination)”
TO DEFINE OURSELVES, NAME OURSELVES, CREATE AND SPEAK FOR OURSELVES
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES COUSINS & M&D’S RESTAURANT

AGENDA INCLUDES:

_{3:30PM: “LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD” GAINING GROUND IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY SUMMIT
KICK-OFF PROGRAM
-SALUTE TO NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DANCER CLEO PARKER ROBINSON AND DENVER PUBLIC SERVANT HONORABLE HAPPY HAYNES
-COMMUNITY MEET & GREET WITH DENVER MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON, CITY STAFF & AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GROUP
SPONSORED BY DOORDASH}

_{4:45PM: DOING BUSINESS WITH DPS, DHA, DEN, XCEL ENERGY, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, STATE OF COLORADO – UPDATES
-MURUGAN PALANI, Director, Office of Business Diversity, Denver Public Schools
-CRESINTA MARTINEZ, Director, Strategic Outreach & Advocacy, Xcel Energy
-BRITTANY EROEN, Director, Contract Compliance Small Business Opportunity, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
-ANTONIO SOTO, Director, Minority Business Office, State of Colorado
-MICA ANDERSON, Senior Director, Commerce Hub, DEN
-NICOLE JILES, Procurement Manager, Denver Housing Authority}

_{5:15PM: ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION WITH BLACK BUSINESS LEADERS FROM BLACK ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL, COLORADO BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AFRICAN AMERICAN TRADE ASSOCIATION, BLACK CONSTRUCTION GROUP & MORE
-IMAM ABDUR RAHIM ALI, Northeast Denver Islamic Center
-TRICIA ALLEN, Chief Program Officer, The Economic Development Association for Black Communities
-STEVE JACKSON, CEO, Empowercom & Chair, African American Trade Association
-JOCELYN ROBINSON, Coordinator & Lead, Black Construction Group
-WAYNE VADEN, Principal, City Park Law Group
-PENNY MAY, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, DEN
-DR. BEN SANDERS, Chief Equity Officer, Mayor’s Office of Social Equity & Innovation, City and County of Denver}

_{5:45PM: COLORADO CORPORATE – BLACK BUSINESS PANEL DISCUSSION ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI)
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER – PHIL WASHINGTON, CEO, Denver International Airport (DEN)
RESPONSE PANEL:
-BELINDA HOOKS, Executive Vice President, Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Diversity Council
-SUZANNE ARKLE, CEO, Zann Inc
-MALCOLM EVANS, Chairman of the Board, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce & Managing Director, Wintrust Commercial Banking
-EDMOND JOHNSON, CEO, Premier Manufacturing
-SELENA DUNHAM, CEO, Classique Inc
-DEBRA JOHNSON, CEO and General Manager, RTD
-DENISE BURGESS, CEO & President, Burgess Services
-ALBUS BROOKS, Vice President, Milender – White Construction
-MICHEAL BENITEZ, Vice President, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Metropolitan State University of Denver}

_{7:15PM: DEI CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT – FIRST BANK
-JOHN IKARD, Member, Board of Directors, First Bank
-JIM REUTER, CEO, First Bank
-SHANNON JONES, Chief People Person, Human Resources, First Bank}

_{7:30PM: SOCIAL EQUITY RECOGNITION & DEI CORPORATE-COMMUNITY RECEPTION
BUSINESS RECOGNITION FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
SPONSORED BT FIRST BANK
HONOREES
-COLORADO BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
-FIRST BANK
-DEN
-XCEL ENERGY
-DENVER7}

_{COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNITION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
HONOREES
-GREATER METRO DENVER MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE
-COLORADO BLACK WOMEN FOR POLITICAL ACTION
-DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INC – DENVER ALUMNAE CHAPTER
-NAACP STATE CONFERENCE}

_{COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECOGNITION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
HONOREES
-DR. CARROLL WATKINS ALI & IMAM ABDUR RAHIM ALI
-TERRY NELSON
-SYL MORGAN SMITH
-LES TOWNSEND
-JIM “DR. DADDIO” WALKER
-WALTER JONES
-DR. DOROTHY HAYDEN WATKINS
-DR. MAJORIE LEWIS
-SYLVIA SMITH
-SYLVIA BOOKHARDT
-IVAN BURWELL
-MOSES BREWER}

_{ART EXHIBIT BY JAMES DIXON
SPONSORED BY COLORADO BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT}

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2023, 4:00PM – 9:00PM

SITE: HOLIDAY INN STAPLETON 3333 QUEBEC STREET |

THEME:
“DOING THE RIGHT THING”
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN COLORADO
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF HONORABLE GEORGE BROWN & HONORABLE VIKKI BUCKLEY

AGENDA INCLUDES:

_{4:00PM: FIRESIDE CHAT WITH COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL PHIL WEISER}

_{4:15PM: CONTINUING CONVERSATION ON BLACK YOUTH VIOLENCE, YOUTH DIVERSION, YOUTH SERVICES AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
-DANE WASHINGTON SR., Community Site Coordinator, Denver Metro Community Impact
-BRANDON PRYOR, Site Coordinator – Far Northeast Denver, Denver Metro Community Impact
-TROY GRIMES, Co-Chair, Parkhill Strong Community Coalition and FNE Warriors Boys Basketball Coach
-HERMAN WHITE, President, Board of Directors, Pirates Youth Football Program
-JONATHAN MCMILLAN, Director, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, State of Colorado
-DR. BERNARD MCCUNE, Senior Executive Director for Career and College Success for Denver Public Schools
-DR. MARJORIE LEWIS, PhD., D. Min., LMFT, LAC, Behavioral Economist/Public Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health Academy
-DR. PLASHAN MCCUNE, Executive Director, Higher Learning U Inc – African American Young Ladies Summit
-MAYA WHEELER, Executive Director, Wezesha Dada Center
-DR. ANTHONY YOUNG, President, Denver – Rocky Mountain Association of Black Psychologists
-DWAYNE MEEKS, Executive Director, Urban Colors}

_{5:00PM: BLACK COMMUNITY & THE FOUNDATION – BUSINESS, PHILANTHROPY
-KWON ATLAS, Co-Chair, Denver African American Philanthropists
-ANGIE MCPHUAL, Director, Youth Success, & Coordinator, My Sparks, Gary Community Ventures
-VJ BROWN, Community Impact Officer, Rose Foundation
-NAOMI AMAHA, Director of Policy & Governmental Affairs, Denver Foundation}

_{5:30PM: PROGRAMS IMPACTING BLACK COLORADO
JAMES ROY II, Ex. Dir., Denver Metro Community Impact (DMCI)}

_{5:45PM: A CONVERSATION ON DEI WITH BLACK BUSINESS & COMMUNITY LEADERS
-REV. DEL PHILLIPS, Pastor, The House Worship Center & Lead Convener, Colorado Black Leadership Coalition
-KHADIJA HAYNES, CEO & Principal, K-Solutions
-IVAN BURWELL, CEO, Street Source Marketing & Communications
-BIANKA EMERSON, President, Colorado Black Women for Political Action
-REV. PAUL BURLESON, Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church & VP Political/Community Engagement, Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance
-CHARLES GIFFORD III, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Amazon
-BARRY BURCH, Manager of Community Affairs, DEN
-CARLA LADD, Founder, Denver Black Pages
-PORTIA PRESSCOTT, President, NAACP State Conference
-MICHEAL SAPP, Manager, State Public Affairs, Xcel Energy}

_{6:30PM: COLORADO BLACK LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION — BUILDING BLACK POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN COLORADO
-SPECIAL REMARKS: HONORABLE JENA GRISWOLD, Colorado Secretary of State
BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS’ ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS
-HONORABLE JAMES COLEMAN, Member, Colorado State Senate
-HONORABLE RHONDA FIELDS, Member, Colorado State Senate
-HONORABLE TONY EXUM, Member, Colorado State Senate
-HONORABLE LESLIE HEROD, Member, Colorado State House of Representatives
-HONORABLE REGINA ENGLISH, Member, Colorado State House of Representatives
-HONORABLE JUSTIN BROOKS, Mayor, Erie Colorado
-HONORABLE SHONTEL LEWIS, Member, Denver City Council
-HONORABLE DARRELL WATSON, Member, Denver City Council
-HONORABLE MARLO ALSTON, Member, Centennial City Council
-HONORABLE JENNIFER ALLEN THOMAS, Member, Commerce City – City Council
-HONORABLE OBI EZEADI, Member, Westminster City Council
-HONORABLE TAY ANDERSON, Member, DPS School Board
-HONORABLE MICHELLE QUATTLEBAUM, Member, DPS School Board
-HONORABLE MEOSHA BROOKS, Member, St. Vrain Valley School Board
-HONORABLE STEPHANIE MASON, Member, Aurora School Board}

_{7:30PM: COMMITTEE TO RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY RECEPTION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPONSORED BY XCEL ENERGY
GOVERNMENT
-JANEL FORDE, Chief Operating Officer, City and County of Denver
-DR. BEN SANDERS, Chief Equity Officer, City and County of Denver
HEALTH
-DR. SHAKARI LEE, Executive Director, Colorado Black Health Collaborative
BUSINESS
-DR. ANGELIC COLE, President & CEO, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce
FAITH
REV. DR. LEE H. BUTLER JR. President and CEO, Iliff School of Theology
EDUCATION
DR. MORDECAI BROWNLEE, President, Community College of Aurora
MICHAEL GILES, Superintendent, Aurora Public Schools
NIGEL DANIELS, Attorney, Law Clerk & Adviser, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck & Distinguished CSU Graduate of the Last Decade
MEDIA
Colorado News Collaborative (COLab)
SPORT
DENVER NUGGETS, 2022-23 National Basketball Association World Champions
RUDY CAREY, Colorado Winningest Head Boys Basketball Coach, Denver East HS
897 VICTORIES AND 10 COLORADO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS}

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023, 9:00AM – 4:00PM

SITE: ZION SENIOR CENTER, 5152 E. 33rd STREET

THEME: “GAINING GROUND IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY”
EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY – WHAT IS YOURS?
HOT TOPICS PRESENTATIONS, DISCUSSIONS AND UPDATES
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE RACHEL NOEL & HONORABLE OMAR BLAIR

AGENDA INCLUDES:

_{9:00AM: OPENING REMARKS – GAINING GROUND IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY: WHY DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION?
DR. CARROLL WATKINS ALI, Director, Greater Denver Interfaith Alliance
DR. ANTHONY YOUNG, President, Denver – Rocky Mountain Association of Black Psychologists
DR. DOROTHY HAYDEN WATKINS, Former Ex, Dir., Colo Civil Rights Commission
DR. MORDECAI BROWNLEE, President, Community College of Aurora
REV. DR. LEE H. BUTLER JR. President and CEO, Iliff School of Theology}

_{9:30AM: EDUCATION
ALEX MARRERO, Superintendent, Denver Public Schools
MICHEAL GILES, Superintendent, Aurora Public Schools}

_{10:00AM: PUBLIC SAFETY
ELIAS DIGGINS, Denver Sheriff
RON THOMAS, Denver Chief of Police
JOEL FITZGERALD, Chief of Police, Regional Transportation District
ARMANDO SALDATE, Executive Director, Denver Public Safety
BETH MCCANN, Denver District Attorney}

_{10:30AM: HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH
DR. SHAKARI LEE, Executive Director, Colorado Black Health Collaborative
DEIDRE JOHNSON, CEO & Executive Director, The Center for African American Health
HONORABLE KEVIN PATTERSON, President, Connect For Health-Colorado
DR. ROBERT ATWELL, Clinical & Forensics Psychologist
DR. MARJORIE LEWIS, PhD., D. Min., LMFT, LAC, Behavioral Economist/Public Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health Academy}

_{11:00AM: BLACK FAMILY
DR. MARJORIE LEWIS, PhD., D. Min., LMFT, LAC, Behavioral Economist/Public Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health Academy
JACQUELYN STANTON, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Consultant
PASTOR VERNON JONES JR., Faith Bridge
DR. ANTHONY YOUNG, President, Denver – Rocky Mountain Association of Black Psychologists
DWAYNE MEEKS, Founder and Executive Director, Urban Colors}

_{11:30AM: HOUSING
MURIEL WILLIAMS, President, National Association of Real Estate Brokers – Denver
JOSHUA CROWLEY, CEO & General Counsel, Denver Housing Authority
GREG BROWN, Business Development Specialist, CHFA
ALEXANDRA APRIL, Senior Policy Manager, AIRBNB
FLOYD JONES, Administrator, Colorado Affordable Legal Services
KEVIN MARCHMAN, President, National Organization Of African Americans In Housing-NOAAH Prime}

_{12:00PM: CANNABIS
ERICA RODGERS, Policy Director, Excise and License, City and County of Denver
MICHEAL DIAZ RIVERA, Owner, ABCD Delivery
CHRIS POIRIER, Deputy Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs
ERNEST TONEY, CEO, BIPOCAN
SHANNON DONNELLY, Professor of Cannabis, MSUD, School of Hospitality}

_{12:30PM: LUNCH
SPONSORED BY BLACK ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL}

_{1:00PM: HOT TOPIC: DO BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER PANEL DISCUSSION
DR. ANTHONY YOUNG, President, Denver – Rocky Mountain Association of Black
Psychologists
KAREEM AHMENATU, Facilitator and Coordinator, Emotional Emancipation Circles
DR. MARJORIE LEWIS, PhD., D. Min., LMFT, LAC, Behavioral Economist/Public Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health Academy}

_{1:30PM: INTERGENERATIONAL DISCUSSION – PREPARING & SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BLACK LEADERS – WHO IS UP NEXT?
KHADIJA HAYNES, CEO & Principal, K-Solutions
DR. CARROLL WATKINS-ALI, Director, Greater Denver Interfaith Alliance
IMAM ABDUR RAHIM ALI, Northeast Denver Islamic Center
KARA POWELL, State Press Secretary, Office of Congressman Jason Crow
KWON ATLAS, Publisher, 5 Points Atlas & Candidate, State Rep. HD8
TAY ANDERSON, Vice President, Denver School Board, Candidate, State Rep. HD8
ALTON DILLARD II, Principal, The Dillard Group, LLC
MAYA WHEELER, Executive Director, Wezesha Dada Center
MICHEAL SAPP, Manager, State Public Affairs, Xcel Energy
ROGER COBB, Community Development Representative, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity/NEST | City and County of Denver}

_{2:15PM: NOVEMBER ELECTION CANDIDATES’ FORUM
DENVER SCHOOL BOARD
John Youngquist
Kwame Spearman
AURORA CITY COUNCIL}

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All Catering Provided by Two Sistah’s Eats

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TITLE SPONSORS
XCEL ENERGY
FIRST BANK
DOOR DASH
DENVER7
EVENT SPONSORS
CONCESSIONS INTERNATIONAL
AMAZON
ZANN INC
DEN
METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY- DENVER
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF AURORA
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ROOTED
WINTRUST
ILIFF SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
CONNECT FOR HEALTH COLORADO
H. J. RUSSELL COMPANY
TOBACCO FREE KIDS
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT
AIRBNB
COLORADO BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT
COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY
MEDIA SPONSORS
DENVER7
DENVER URBAN SPECTRUM
BODY OF CHRIST NEWSPAPER
AURORA SENTINEL NEWSPAPER
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
CLASSIQUE
K-SOLUTIONS
CITY PARK LAW GROUP
COLORADO BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
COLORADO BLACK WOMEN FOR POLITICAL ACTION
HIGHER LEARNING U INC-AAYLS
GREATER METRO DENVER MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE
MONTBELLO ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
NORTHEAST PARK HILL COALITION
CITY PARK LAW GROUP