“The Time is Right Now” for Black Voices

▪︎ COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 5:30-7:30 P.M. ▪︎

During the past year, Black residents and Black journalists in Colorado have been talking about what Colorado newsrooms can do to better listen to, inform, and work with the state’s Black communities.

The Black Voices working group gathered as part of News Voices: Colorado, a collaboration among the Colorado Media Project, Free Press and COLab.

The working group has raised some creative ideas.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, representatives from the Black Voices working group will discuss five key recommendations that emerged from these conversations — which are also captured in a new publication coming out next week. (We will send you the link to the report ahead of the event.) Please join us.

The virtual event features panelists discussing how and why the Black Voices working group came to its recommendations, and also the steps newsrooms, communities and philanthropy can take to put them into immediate action. So if you’re reading this, the ideas likely involve you.

Participants will have the opportunity to join breakout groups to provide input and explore how Colorado can follow the lead of Black communities to transform the local news landscape.

Moderator:

Tina Griego, journalist/coach, the Colorado News Collaborative (COLab): Griego (she/her/hers) is a native New Mexican and was the first Latina city columnist for a major daily newspaper in Colorado. She is a longtime reporter, columnist and editor whose coverage of urban poverty, housing, immigration and education has won multiple state and national awards.

Panelists:

Ammiee Brown, former AmeriCorps Vista, Open Media Foundation: Brown (she, her, hers) is passionate about helping others reach their full potential. She graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2016 with a major in mass communication: film/TV/video and a minor in psychology. Brown has a passion for community service and has served on various committees and boards. Her hobbies include theater, karaoke, photography and impromptu solo-dance parties in her living room.

Tiya Trent, Project VOYCE program facilitator: Trent (she, her, hers) is a community activist, organizer, mentor and mother to two young men. She has a master’s degree in education and undergraduate degrees from the University of Colorado, Boulder in theater and ethnic studies as well as women and gender studies. In addition to working with young folks in the community, Trent has served on the organizing committee for the March for Black Women since its inception three years ago.

Gloria Neal, director of public affairs for the mayor of Denver: Neal (she, her, hers) is a former TV-news anchor and reporter, a columnist, a radio reporter on NewsRadio 850 KOA, talk-show host, and the host of UC Health’s The EVRE Woman’s Podcast. She has been the director of public affairs for the office of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock since December 2018.

Diamond Hardiman, manager for Free Press’ News Voices: Colorado: Hardiman (she, her, hers) manages the News Voices: Colorado project in collaboration with community members to envision a transformative media. She has worked as a tenants’ rights advocate and bail abolitionist in St. Louis, as well as an advocate for people sentenced to execution by the state in Jackson, Mississippi. Diamond earned a B.A. in African American studies and political science from Saint Louis University.

Please register here to participate September 21st. We’re eager to hear what you have to say.

The Black Voices working group is the first of several Voices working groups focused on communities of color. Watch next for the Latinx Voices recommendations. COLab, in partnership with CMP, will convene groups with members of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Indigenous communities in 2022.