Dr. Paul Hamilton is a well-known Denver educator and community activist. For the past 45 years. Dr. Hamilton has been a principal, University professor, a Colorado State Representative 1969-1973 (Five Points area), community organizer and elder, author, restaurant owner, and African art and book collector. Dr. Hamilton has more than 800 pieces of African art, items ranging in utilitarian, historic and geographic importance. He is author of African Peoples’ Contributions to World Civilizations: Shattering the Myths Volume 1. He is also president of Hamilton Education Consultants, LCC and Thinking Skills Institute, LCC providing consulting services, personal coaching, seminars and lectures on African-American History, and workshops for educators to raise the ability of students to do academic work and improve test scores.

Dr. Charleszine “Terry” Nelson is the Special Collection and Community Resource Manager for the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. With 30 years of library experience, she has been a bookmobile librarian, manager of the library film center, a reference and humanities librarian, and was the manager of Volunteer Services for the Denver Public Library. She is also the co-author (with Bonnie F. McCune) of Recruiting and Managing Volunteers in Libraries. Born and raised in Denver, Nelson attended Manual High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a master’s degree in Information Technology and Library Science from Emporia State College.

A native of Northeast Denver, Jeff S. Fard, better known as “brother jeff”, is a multimedia journalist, historian and community organizer. He lectures nationally to youth, students, social organizations, and professionals about subjects including cultural identity and history, diversity, self-empowerment, community building, economic development, health disparities, and the uniting power of art. In 1994 he founded brother jeff’s Cultural Center, located in the historic Five Points District in Northeast Denver. brother jeff’s Cultural Center is committed to fostering growth, strength, and voice in the community. He is also the publisher and editor of the award-winning monthly publication, “5 Star News,” formerly “5 Points News.”

Rosalind “Bee” Harris is a publisher and the Art Director of the “Denver Urban Spectrum” newspaper. Since 1987, she and her contributors have been “spreading the news about people of color." As an active member in the community, Harris is politically connected and has volunteered on campaigns locally and nationally. This year Harris was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.

Ryan Cobbins is a Five Points business owner. He founded Coffee at The Point over nine years ago, which is a community inspired and community driven coffee and wine lounge. He also currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Five Points Business District.

Cleo Parker Robinson is a founder, artistic director and choreographer of the 40 year-old Denver-based artistic institution, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. She leads a professional dance ensemble, youth ensemble, a school of dance, an international summer dance institute, a 300 seat theater that bears her name, and a myriad of community outreach programs. Parker Robinson continues to be the recipient of honors and awards from civic, community, and artistic organizations around the world, and is called on by many different communities to bring her ensemble for performances, and to conduct workshops, master classes, and motivational seminars. Her philosophy of “One Spirit, Many Voices” is reflected in all she does, and is the vision she brings to everyone she meets, everywhere she goes.

Charles "Charlie" Sampson was the 1982 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Champion bull rider. He was the first African American cowboy to win a World Title in professional rodeo. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1996.

Stephanie Hancock is a Denver jazz musician and co-founder and president of 5280 Artist Co-Op. The Co-Op is centered around bringing artists together from all disciplines to produce art that touches the heart of our community.

Purnell Steen began playing classical piano at the young age of four years old. He came from a family of musicians, and his relatives include bassist Charlie Burrell, Dianne Reeves, George Duke, and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. He has been an important character in Denver's jazz scene for decades.

Charles "Charlie" Burrell was a classical and jazz bass player most prominently known for being the first African-American to be a member of a major American symphony (the Denver Symphony Orchestra, now known as the Colorado Symphony). For this accomplishment he is often referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of Classical Music."

Hanifah Chiku has been a longtime community advocate for connecting people, places and things. Chiku works towards building networks to empower the African American community. Growing up in New Jersey, she moved to Denver in the late 1980's to give her son the opportunity for a better quality of life. Hanifah is a graduate of AALI (African American Leadership Institute) and  of FLTI (Family Leadership Training Institute), she has been recognized by Denver Urban Spectrum as an African American Who Makes a Difference and by Denver Black Pages with it’s Unsung Hero Award. She has one biological son, Kamau (aka DJ Ktone) and is 'mom' to multiple sons/daughters-from-other mothers. Hanifah's greatest inspiration are her four grandchildren: Kiahn, Kyron, Kourtney and Kamau. Motto: If every person over the age of 12 committed 2 hours a week volunteering for whatever issue/concern is important to them, how much STRONGER and CONNECTED we would be.

Tay Anderson is an amazing example of what empowered young people can accomplish. As a student of Denver Public Schools, Anderson felt frustrated and under represented by the School Board and decided to work towards becoming a bigger and better voice. Four years after graduating from DPS, he is an educator and community organizer. Anderson has stated that he wants "...to ensure that all students have a thriving neighborhood school, all educators are paid a living wage, and to give the School Board back to the people of Denver."

Duane Taylor was born and raised in Philadelphia, he has been a resident of Aurora, Colorado since 1998. While many know D.T. as the "Party Guy," Mr. Taylor actually has over 25 years of corporate recruiting experience. DUANE TAYLOR ENTERTAINMENT is (widely known) as the premier brand for quality nightlife in the Denver Metro Area. 

Christina Montoya is a Colorado native, she began her career in law enforcement nearly 20 years ago. She attributes her creative mindset and sense of compassion to the interactions she has had with people from various walks of life. Through a world view and a life of public servanthood, Montoya feels inspired to lend her voice as a writer to further impact people's lives in a positive way.

Gerald Bargaineer II is the Director of the Colorado office for Alpha USA and the former Aurora Campus Assistant Pastor, and Youth and Young Adults Pastor at the Colorado Christian Fellowship. He also volunteers as Police Chaplain with the Aurora Police Department. Where he provides spiritual guidance and counseling to all members of the Aurora Police Department, both sworn and civilian, as well as to their families in times of need.

Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler is the Chief Catalyst and Founder of The Equity Project, LLC – an organization designed to support organizations and communities in building diversity, equity and inclusion strategies. She is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado – the first African American woman to hold that position in the organization’s 100+ year history. She is also the former Executive Director of the Office of Human Resources for the City and County of Denver – the first African American woman to hold that position in the 63+ year history of the agency. Dr. Mosby Tyler, a consultant accredited by the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence, is nationally recognized for her equity work with non-profit, community, government and for-profit organizations.

Johnnie Williams is a community leader in Denver. Johnnie is currently working with youth in the community by supplying constructive alternatives to gangs and other destructive activities.  His primary focus is on educating teenagers on gaining and preserving self-respect, finding a positive purpose in life, learning to be more responsible, and learning to make good choices as well leaving the gang lifestyle.  He joined  Gang Rescue and Support Project(GRASP) in July, 2008 as their Executive Director.

Ifayale Adeoni Senakhu Donald has been an active part of the Denver Cultural community since 1983. She has initiated and been involved in the creative healing arts, weaving together nature, wellness, ritual, movement, spirituality, black history, and self exploration. Currently, she is the founder and executive director for IWADDE (Intergenerational Women's African Drum and Dance Ensemble), a NADA/DETOX practitioner with Cultural Based Care Initiative, a member of the SATYA Yoga Cooperative, co-founder of Ibeji Healing Arts, and the Presiding Priestess for a Denver Ifa community. Professionally, she has been a senior technical writer for over 30 years and is a graduate of Stanford University. She is an honored member of the Kwanzaa Circle of Wisdom and continues to explore the beauty in life.

Civic leader Landri C. Taylor is the chief executive officer of The Stapleton Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities. The Stapleton Foundation advocates for, and works to sustain and realize, the principles of the 1995 Stapleton Development Plan, which was created by the citizens of Denver, Aurora and Commerce City to transform the former airport into a new urban community that has earned national and international acclaim.

Stephan “SeKu” Evans (Chairman Seku) was born in Five Points, his mother was a clerk and union steward, his father was a barber and his adoptive father was a railroad worker. SeKu is a social change agent and has been engaged in politics by being a member of the Black Panthers while studying at the University of Denver, being an avid city council participant, and by running for mayor in the past.

A native of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Elizabeth Young provided years of organizational stability and effective leadership for the Denver chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). Established in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune, the NCNW addresses issues of human welfare and rights through education, community service and advocacy. Young is a veteran and seasoned professional in project management and business analysis working in the defense industry. She earned her M.A. in Business Administration & Computer Resource Information Management from Webster University and a B.A. in Business Administration from Columbia College. Young is a self-starter, self-employed, and also serves as a community counselor with intercultural,child care, and au pair programs in southern Colorado.

Dr. Vern L. Howard is a husband, father, grandfather, and community steward. He is the chairman of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission and the organizer of the People's March, The Merade.

Wendy Talley’s work focuses on  populations experiencing mental health issues, homelessness and at-risk youth. Her expertise lies in building community improvement programs and strategies. She is currently a Program Manager at the Latino Coalition for Community Management in Denver.

Whitney Traylor, Esq., is the Managing Principal of the Traylor Law Group, which he founded in 2003. His experience extends across a wide spectrum of civil litigation, with a particular expertise in civil rights and employment matters. Whitney is now using his extensive courtroom experience as a mediator handling employment, civil rights and other civil disputes. Whitney is an Associate Professor of Management at MSU Denver, where he teaches Legal Environment of Business and Employment Law. He has also taught numerous courses at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law including Race and the Law, Employment Discrimination and Higher Education and the law. Whitney is also the 9NEWS Legal Analyst. Whitney is featured every Friday at 8:30 a.m. to provide legal commentary on various matters in Colorado and throughout the nation. In addition to the morning show, Whitney is called on regularly to provide legal commentary on pressing issues as they arise to provide viewers immediate information and analysis on relevant legal matters.

Amail-Alam Fard is a community and global galactic being sent here to love, teach, and learn freedom, justice, equality, and be the divine example of what God men look like. 

Dr. Abbas Khajeaian was born in Bandar Būshehr, Iran and moved to the United States over 50 years ago. Dr. Khajeaian began his art career about 20 years ago having come to abstract painting through philosophy and poetry. More precisely, Persian poetry and east/west philosophy. His artwork has its roots in Persian miniatures and the colors of Iranian life. Dr. Khajeaian holds a Ph.D in Philosophy and Sociology of Education and taught for many years

Adri Norris cites her love of creating art and her passion for learning as the cause of her personal project: telling the stories of women in history through art. After years of drawing and painting, she discovered the stories of several impressive women (who she had never heard of previously) and "watched those women show up" in her paintings. 

R. Alan Brooks is a local writer, rapper, teacher, and artist who enjoys asking tough questions. His most recent graphic novel, Anguish Garden, revolves around morality and whether or not a villain can make the choice to be good. He advocates for the creation of art in times of evil. Brooks also is a podcast host and cartoonist who writes the strip “What’d I Miss?” for The Colorado Sun.  

Bernard Grant was a musician in Chicago before moving to Boulder to attend school. Bernard moved to Denver in the 1980's and became a fashion photographer for department stores.  Grant went into politics in the 1990’s when he became the photographer for the honorable Wellington Webb.

Bob Ragland has made it his mission to debunk the term “starving artist” and to that end, he teaches his techniques as a career coach and often speaks to art classes, for a fee (‘cause nothing in this world is free). He has dedicated his whole life to art and is a disciplined and creative businessman. A long-time Denverite, Ragland has artwork in the permanent collection of the Kirkland Museum of Art. 

Ed Dwight is a former Air Force Test Pilot and America’s First African American Astronaut Candidate. He can be described as a true renaissance man through his time as a  IBM Computer Systems Engineer, Aviation Consultant, Restaurateur, Real Estate Developer and Construction Entrepreneur. Ed Dwight has succeeded in all these varied careers. However, for the last 40 years, Ed has focused his direction on the Fine Arts. After attaining his MFA in Sculpture from the University of Denver, Dwight has become one of the most prolific and insightful sculptors in America.

Helen Littlejohn is a Western-States Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Department of Education.  Littlejohn is all about people, 24/7, working vigilantly to bring educational opportunities to under-served kids. But she also boasts a creative side, both in her practice as an artist and jewelry-maker and as a gallery curator for Denver’s Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. There she brings together work by often-unrecognized fine artists from around the region.

Edward Clay Wright Jr. is a professional artist specializing in illustration and commercial art. More recently he had directed his energy to portraiture. Although best known in his native city of Denver, Colorado, Clay has created numerous paintings for publishers across the country, including Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and California. 

Geoffrey Crowell is a Denver based freelance visual effects, motion design, and storyboard artist. He has experience working on both commercials and feature films for over 10 years. Crowell produces work for a diverse array of companies worldwide, and  enjoys a collaborative relationship with many brands, agencies, and studios. He is on the host committee of the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado.

Michael Gadlin is an established visual artist as well as the host of the Rocky Mountain PBS' Arts District, an award-winning half-hour arts and culture series, which features local and national artists in pursuit of their artistic passions. He began his art education at the Art Students League of Denver, followed by Metropolitan State University, and New York's prestigious Pratt Institute of Art and Design in Brooklyn. For him "Painting has been a tool to explore what I do not yet know."

Ginny Abblett works in pastel, acrylic and fabric. An artist since childhood, she studied art and education in college, with her art providing balance in her demanding teaching career. Abblett’s artwork has earned her numerous awards. She teaches privately and with groups, she also demonstrates her art for a wide variety of groups including the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Botanic Gardens. She also taught in Aurora Public Schools for 20 years.

Greg Delaney "The Voice" is a legend in the poetry community and a highly respected businessman. Delaney assists in changing the culture of outstanding minority businesses in Colorado. Delaney is the CEO and Founder of Triview Production.

Jack Price hosts a booth at the Colorado Black Arts festival for young artists to help them sell their artwork.  This opportunity lead to many new friendships and helped to launch the career of Glapion. 

Thomas Evans (aka Detour) is a Denver artist renowned for his large scale public art. He is also a creative director and produces interactive visuals, portraiture, and immersive spaces. A born collaborator, Thomas' works draw from experiences that have shaped his landscapes and perspectives. His works go beyond traditional creativity and fine art, mixing traditional mediums with new approaches.

Kenya Fashaw is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of 5280 Artist Co-Op. She is a spoken-word artist, actor and playwright. She wrote and directed Colorism, Breaking The Chains of Complexion, which won a 2018 Henry Award for Outstanding New Play. She also was nominated for a Henry Award for her part in writing 5280’s “1 Night 6 Plays”, which included two of her micro-scripts Hiphop Matrimony: A Hiphop Musical and Cages: No More Bondage. Feshaw always has had a passion for creative writing and theatre. She focuses on writing non-stereotypical narratives and creating leading roles for people of color.

Quidman W. Flemings III, “Q” is a third-generation Quidman, which means "Money Man". Living up to his name sake, Q made mad money and ended up incarcerated. While behind bars, life was full of certain unbearable experiences. Out of the womb of circumstance bore Q the Poet.

With the help of the Almighty and his right hand, pen and pad, Q was able to transform a seemingly bleak existence into words of encouragement. These very words uplifted Q out of the system of everlasting bondage to become a successful stylist and business owner.

Q has performed these very verses in some of the hottest poetry venues throughout the country, including his home town of Denver, Colorado. Q has performed at the Lounge at Kasbah, Café Nuba and Poetry at the Palm Tree, to name a few.

Theo E.J. Wilson (aka Lucifury) is a founding member of the Denver Slam Nuba team, who won the National Poetry Slam in 2011. He began his speaking career in the N.A.A.C.P. at the age of 15, and has always had a passion for social justice. He teaches and lectures on poetry with the Art-From-Ashes nonprofit poetry therapy organization and, and is a proud resident of Denver, Colorado . He has participated as a featured speaker in several TEDx Mile High productions.

Darrell Anderson’s work is rooted in his desire to unite the world through art. He has represented his hometown of Denver in its sister city of Brest, France, as an ambassador of art and cultural exchange, and has created a community mosaic there. He has taught art workshops on a Navajo Reservation in Arizona; Australia; Beijing; Burkina Faso, West Africa; and in small communities throughout Colorado’s rural, eastern plains. He also has completed a wide range of projects aimed at building community and raising money for several nonprofit organizations including; The Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and The Colorado Ballet, where his beautiful paintings are showcased in the company’s downtown studios. “His journey with the Colorado Ballet has been a shining example of what’s possible with engagement and collaboration,” the ballet said of its relationship with him.