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The African American Equity Task Force hosts family and community events. To see the latest events and news, click here!

Community Resources

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African American Equity Task Force

The African American Equity Task Force was asked to develop and present a set of prioritized recommendations to help close the Opportunity Gap for our African American students and educators. Since the adoption of the recommendations by the Board of Education in June of 2017, five implementation teams have been created with the task of driving results toward each of the recommendationsRead the recommendations.

The Bailey Report

Responding to concerns from our schools and the community, DPS commissioned Dr. Sharon Bailey to report in detail on the experiences of our African-American educators and to listen to their perspectives and concerns about how our African-American students are being cared for and educated. In response to this report, the DPS Board of Education and Superintendent commissioned the African-American Equity Task Force in the fall of 2016. Read the full report.

Local Community ResourcesNational Community ResourcesBlack Greek Letter OrganizationsResearch and Reports EDUCA Shows
Mayor’s Office of Children’s AffairsNational Black Child Development InstituteBlack Greek Letter OrganizationsThe Bailey ReportVolunteer Appreciation, with Brenda Vasquez, Manager, Volunteer Services (DPS) and Reverend Dr. Eugene Downing from New Hope Baptist Church
Colorado Black Round TableChildren’s Defense FundAlpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.The Status of Denver’s Children 2018: A Community ResourceStudent Voice and Leadership, with Solicia Lopez, Director of Student Voice & Leadership and students Kevante H. and Avery W.
NAACP Denver BranchNational Black Parents AssociationEpsilon Nu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa AlphaBuilding Better Narratives in Black Education (NAACP)New Graduation Requirements, with Antonio Esquibel, Executive Director of the Office of College and Career Readiness and Kimberly Grayson, Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College.
Colorado Black Chamber of CommerceNational Society of Black EngineersKappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.Making the Grade: A Toolkit on the Every Student Succeeds Act (NAACP)College Planning and Preparation, with Dr. Jeff Ederer, Founding Principal of College Route Map; Frank Lee (Morehouse College) and Ashley Clark (Hampton University) alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Mr. Obinna Onyeali, Denver Scholarship Foundation
Future Center College Advisor.
Jack and Jill of America Denver ChapterThe Center for African American HealthOmega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.Promoting Culturally Affirming Parenting in African American ParentsCollege Planning and Preparation, with Regional Executive Director of College Track, Vanecia Kerr and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Denver Alumnae Chapter Officer, Deon Estes
New Hope Baptist ChurchMental Health Issues Facing the Black CommunityThe Omega Leadership Academy of DenverResilience in African American Children and Adolescents: A Vision for Optimal Development (APA Task Force on Resilience and Strength in Black Children and Adolescents) CareerConnect Apprenticeship Program, with Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Emily Takimoto, DPS student Seven Breaux, and Senior Field Engineer with the University of Colorado Denver Campus, Scott Altman
Families Forward Resource CenterDelta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Resilience Executive SummaryWhole Child Supports, with members of the Student Equity & Opportunity team, Jay Grimm and Charmaine Keeton.
Colfax Community NetworkDelta Sigma Theta Denver Youth Programs An Activity Book for African American Families: Helping Children Cope with CrisisSuicide Prevention, with Dr. Jane Lineman-Coffman, Student Safety Coordinator (DPS) and Dr. Tara Jae, Founder & Executive Director of Youth Seen
Colfax Community NetworkDelta Sigma Theta ScholarshipsThe Path Forward: Improving Opportunities for African American Students (US Chamber of Commerce Foundation) Bond Improvements in the Near and Far Northeast, with Michael O’Keeffe, Deputy Chief of Operations, Trena Deane, Executive Director of Facility Management and Instructional Superintendent, Tony Smith.
Center for African American HealthZeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.The State of Education of African for American Students (The Education Trust)
Zeta Phi Beta ScholarshipsSupporting the School Readiness and Success of African American Boys Project: Reflections on a Culturally Responsive Strength-Based Approach (US Dept. of Human Services)
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.Being Black is Not a Risk Factor: A Strength-Based Look at the State of the Black Child (Nation Black Child Development Institute)
Sigma Gamma Rhoer ClubAfrican American Children and Families (National PTA)
Beta Rho Sigma Debutante ProgramComplex Trauma: In Urban African American Children, Youth and Families (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Long-Range Impacts of Same-Race Teachers (John Hopkins University)
African American Experience and Issues of Race and Racism in U.S. Schools (Ithaca College)
The Opportunity Myth (TNTP)