African American Commission

DAAC meetings are open to the general public. (Find dates and access details in the next section.) We welcome all community members to attend and contribute. Meetings are a way to learn about available public volunteer opportunities for DAAC projects and events.

Some benefits of Commission participation include:

• Providing an avenue for individuals to voice their concerns, ideas, and perspectives on local issues. Citizens can contribute to the decision-making process and influence policies impacting their daily lives.
• Fostering a sense of community ownership and empowerment as citizens take an active role in shaping their neighborhoods. Participation allows for exchange of knowledge and experience among diverse stakeholders, leading to innovative and inclusive solutions.
• Enhancing citizens’ personal growth and skill development, providing them with valuable experience in areas such as leadership, negotiation, event planning and consensus-building.

Use the link in the right sidebar to submit your application. Once your application has been submitted, please email Staff Liaison Yvonne Yu at yvonne.yu@denvergov.org to confirm your submission.

We encourage individuals to attend at least one DAAC meeting before applying to be a Commissioner.

Individuals can still actively participate in local governance and contribute to their communities by:

• Joining public hearings and community forums to express their opinions on relevant issues and provide feedback to elected officials.
• Engaging with community-based organizations, non-profits, and advocacy groups aligned with their interests.
• Volunteering for community projects and initiatives that contribute to the well-being of the local area.

Fatuma Emmad is the Co-Founder, Executive Director and Head Farmer of FrontLine Farming. She is President of Mile High Farmers, a Co-Convener for Project Protect Food Systems Workers, a lecturer in the Master of Environmental Studies program at CU Boulder, an appointed member of both the Sustainable Food Council and the Colorado Water Equity Commission, and a two-time Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Fellow.

Fatuma was born in Denver and raised in Denver and Ethiopia. She has worked farming organic and heirloom vegetables, setting up farms for restaurants, and managing multi-acre community farms in Milwaukee and Denver. Before becoming a farmer, Fatuma was a political scientist engaging in issues affecting farming communities. She was the inaugural recipient of the Kathy Underhill Scholarship recognizing her use of advocacy, policy and community engagement to change hearts and minds in the hunger space through a health equity lens. She continues to seek to reframe ideas of food security.

In 2021, Fatuma was recognized by the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund as one of 50 leaders across the nation on the front lines of the movement to build a fair, equitable, and anti-racist America. She is a multiple-time recipient of the Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award for women of color building a better world. 

Justin Toomer is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Administrator for the City Attorney’s Office. He is driven by the power and possibility of equitable systems change. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, he is a first-generation college graduate from Williams College. Based upon the transformational impact his experience afforded him, Justin entered the field of education as a teacher, school leader and consultant with the intention to increase the opportunities for all students to access a quality and equitable school experience. Justin brings his expertise in learning science, understanding of equitable systems and relationship-driven mindset to the teams and agencies he is in partnership with in the City and County of Denver.

Dr. Angelic Cole is a community leader with 20 years' experience working with non-profit organizations. Also, Dr. Cole is a passionate higher education educator with 18 years' experience as a faculty member and administrator for Business Administration and Entrepreneurial programs. She is a results-oriented manager with superb leadership and communication skills.

Dr. Cole is committed to fostering positive learning environments with forward thinking mentality.

Dr. Cole is a servant leader with a servant's heart. Her purpose in leading is to fulfill her desire to serve all stakeholders including our society as a whole, especially those who are the least privileged. As a leader, Dr. Cole wants to be a source of encouragement to all she encounters so that they reach their fullest potential. She believes true leadership is servanthood, which puts the interests of others at the center of her decisions. And in doing so with clear vision, transform individuals, neighborhoods, and the community with the good works that the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce will achieve under her leadership through strategic partnerships and financial development.

Dr. Cole believes that access to quality, affordable education is critical to the economic survival and development of communities. As such, she has devoted her career to working with the community and believe fervently in the potential of all people, particularly persons of color.

Collaborating with internal and external partners to reach shared strategic goals is critical to community success. Dr. Cole believes her professional experiences are aligned with the vision and values of the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce. She is honored to partner with Black­ owned businesses to serve the needs of the Denver business community.

Dr. Cole is a first-generation community college student that graduated with an A.A. degree in Engineering Science. She continued her education and graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.S.B.A. in Marketing and an MBA in Finance. In addition, she earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University.

Dr. Cole's mission is to serve humanity by applying her practical skills toward achieving her personal and professional goals. By dedicating her time and energy to what 'has meaning for her', she inspires others to act, in integrity, with their values. Trust that when she keeps taking small, concrete steps toward her goals, she will get there in just the perfect time.

Dr. Cole looks forward to making a significant contribution to the Denver community as a new Commissioner for the Denver African American Commission.

Codie is a nonprofit professional focusing on educational equity, mental health, and advocacy. She is the Executive Director of Greater Denver CARES Mentoring, part of a national network recognized as a leader in the recruitment, training, and engagement of Black mentors. Codie leads the strategic growth of Greater Denver CARES, cultivating and developing holistic approaches to mentoring and mental wellness through local and national partnerships. She helped develop social solutions such as the Rising Program, a pioneering community-mobilization movement aiming to propel Black children from impoverishment to independence.

Codie holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She previously worked for the City and County of Denver as a Child Care Licensing Specialist and a Child Protective Services Case Worker, and for Denver Public Schools as a teacher, LLIFE program implementer, and 1:1 instructor for non-English speaking students.

Karen Roberts Grissom is a speaker, organizer, facilitator, and host of various art and community-based events throughout the state of Colorado. Her social justice work over the past 20 years has consistently given voice to marginalized and disenfranchised communities through her creation, development, and participation in programs and events designed to bring awareness and seek solutions to strategically deconstruct generational and systemic injustice through action-oriented, solution focused efforts.

Karen has a long history of public service, working for various departments within the City and County of Denver. She has also created, developed, coordinated, staffed and hosted The Speakout, a bi-monthly open mic spoken word poetry show featuring national and local artists and activists.

H. Ray Keith currently serves as Associate Director of Teaching and Learning at nonprofit Achieving the Dream. He brings over 25 years of professional experience in higher education, K–12, and nonprofit community-based organizations. At the core of his work is diversity, equity, and inclusion, while improving educational outcomes for students of color through practices that validate and affirm their cultures, identities, and lived experiences.

As Associate Dean of Instructional Intervention and Support of the Community College of Aurora, Ray provided professional development and learning grounded in evidence/research-based and culturally responsive teaching. Ray led development of the college’s Center for Teaching and Learning, and established institutional initiatives and programs designed to eliminate equity gaps for the diverse student body. Prior to joining higher education, he worked in K–12 and co-founded/directed the Boys 2 Men Fatherhood Program.

As an educational consultant, Ray provides comprehensive instructional professional development and learning services to higher education and secondary educational institutions. His expertise includes leading institutional transformation, strategic planning, and advancing student success. Ray has established Equity by Design Teaching Academies, a Community of Practice framework, a Department Chair Equity Academy, and an Equity by Design Leadership Academy at colleges in Colorado, Tennessee, and Minnesota. He serves on the Boards of Bridges of Silence Educational Center and Decades of Love, chaired the University of Denver Black Male Initiative Summit, and received the 2019 MLK Spirit Award.

Stephanie Laing is a dedicated community leader and advocate, currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership at the University of Colorado Boulder, with an expected graduation in May 2025. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Colorado Denver.

As a wife and mother of two amazing children, Stephanie balances her personal and professional commitments with passion. A proud Denver native, she grew up in Park Hill and attended Denver Public Schools, culminating in her graduation from Thomas Jefferson High School—Go Spartans! With a deep commitment to giving back, she has worked tirelessly to earn the respect and confidence of diverse neighborhoods across the city.

In 2023, Stephanie was selected for the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado cohort, an esteemed program founded by the Honorable Wellington E. Webb, recognized for its role in nurturing future leaders in business, politics, and community. In May 2024, she was appointed by Mayor Mike Johnston to serve on the Denver African American Commission, where she continues her mission to uplift and empower the Denver community.

As a Captain with the Denver Sheriff Department (DSD), Stephanie is dedicated to recruiting strong candidates who prioritize humanity in their service. Inspired by a family legacy of successful careers within the DSD, she aims to provide mentorship and support to new recruits, ensuring a brighter future for both the department and the communities it serves.

Elia Martin is a proud Denver, Colorado native who resides in the Park Hill neighborhood where she was raised. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with an emphasis on Rehabilitative Services from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Social Work degree from Western New Mexico University.

Elia is deeply passionate about serving and giving back to her community. She is a single mother to an incredible daughter and the creator and host of Mommyana Podcast, a platform dedicated to exploring all aspects of motherhood.

Professionally, Elia works as a Grant Manager for the State of Colorado’s Division of Housing, where she oversees grants that provide critical funding to local governments and nonprofits to address homelessness. In addition to her professional work, she is honored to serve as a commissioner for the Denver African American Commission, a role that allows her to advocate for and uplift the Black community in Denver.

Elia’s commitment to service, community, and empowerment shines through in all aspects of her personal and professional life.

Dexter Nelson II is the Museum Service Manager of Special Collections & Archives at the Denver Public Library. He is based out of the award winning Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. He has a bachelor's degree in History and a master's degree in Museum Studies. Dexter has been a public servant for over a decade and has worked in a variety of historic organizations such as the Grady County Historical Society, History Colorado, the Oklahoma Historical Society, and the Museum of the Bible. He worked with several groups to accurately present the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre while in Tulsa and he was the first African American Curator at History Colorado. While with History Colorado he created the popular Blaxplanation program series, created the History Colorado app that featured the first ever Black History trail for the state of Colorado, and he curated an exhibit on the Black homestead known as The Dry that continues to travel all across Colorado.

Tymesha Watkins is an accredited software engineer, entrepreneur, and activist dedicated to giving back to her community. She has received the Military Order of World Wars Patrick Henry Patriotism Award and several other awards from American Express. In 2022 she launched two retail stores.

Tymesha is especially passionate about providing Black youth with opportunities to enter the STEM area, advocating for racial equality, and developing platforms which normalize diverse and inclusive environments. She has assisted in forming African American and Women’s employee resource groups and led an ad-hoc diversity and inclusion pipeline committee. In addition to serving as DAAC Secretary and member of the Commission Legislative Committee for multiple years, Tymesha is a Committee Member for both the Denver Sheriff Department Deputy Recruitment Team and the Denver Public Health Community Leadership Team.

Tymesha holds a M.S. in Cyber Technologies from University of Maryland University College, a M.S. in Information Technologies from Regis University, and a B.S. in Aviation Management Technologies from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She participates in the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Professional Engineers, the Organization of Black Aerospace/Aviation Professionals, and the NAACP.