This piece is part of Yellow Scene Magazine’s Opinion section. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent a reported news position. At Yellow Scene, opinion pieces speak freely, challenge assumptions, and say the quiet parts out loud.

By Jacob Stevens

As a resident of Thornton, I have grown increasingly concerned with the decisions made by my Congressman, Gabe Evans, which seem misaligned with the needs of his constituents. My concern deepened when, despite protests and public opposition, it appeared Evans would vote to approve a House budget that would eliminate Medicaid benefits for millions of Americans—including 125,900 in his district—many of whom are disabled, elderly, or children.

This vote marked a turning point for me. Until then, I had been a passive participant, only voting during elections. I now find myself deeply concerned for the future of our community. I called Evans’ office to express my concerns, but my call was never returned. He then voted to approve the budget. In response, I joined the ongoing protests outside his office.

At my first protest, another resident invited me to join a District 8 chat, where we discussed the possibility of organizing a town hall for Mr. Evans—an event he had failed to hold. In conjunction with the town hall, we also organized a mutual aid resource fair and food drive to support those most affected by the policies Evans supports, such as cuts to health care and food assistance programs.

It was only after our first in-person meeting that we realized we should reach out to established organizations like Progress Now Colorado and Indivisible to see if they were already planning an event during the recess, as we could volunteer with them rather than have our inexperienced group plan the event. To our surprise, they offered their support in making our town hall vision a reality.

Let there be no question, Mr. Evans: though we received material support from other dedicated and concerned groups, this town hall began just three weeks ago when a business analyst, a public service worker, a non-profit event organizer, a human resources officer, and an art teacher—who had never met before—agreed that you were not representing them.

On March 12th, we personally delivered an invitation to Evans’ office for a town hall at the church next door on March 22nd. The day before the town hall, a representative from Evans’ office claimed no one had informed them of the event and that he could not attend with less than 24 hours notice. However, we received a handwritten receipt acknowledging the invitation from his staff at the time of delivery on March 12th at 2:50 PM.

Despite less notice than Mr. Evans, 350 community members attended the town hall. Our representative was not one of them. He may never fully understand the opportunity he missed. He could have heard the powerful stories of the people he is supposed to serve—stories filled with fear, frustration, and hope for a better future. These are the voices of the people you represent in Congress, Mr. Evans. You cannot represent them if you refuse to listen to them. They deserve to be heard.

We will not accept anything less than a genuine, in-person town hall open to the public, with no restrictions on who can speak. A virtual town hall (which has been promised but not delivered) with pre-screened participants does not meet the needs of the people.

Jacob Stevens
Community Advocate and Resident of Thornton, Colorado

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The post Where Was Gabe? A Town Hall Without a Congressman: Op-Ed appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community,

For over 40 years, House District 8 has been a symbol of Black leadership in the Colorado State Legislature.

However, the 2024 elections present a critical juncture where we risk losing this historically Black seat due to a highly contested primary featuring multiple Black candidates.

Such scenarios have historically led to the division of votes, often resulting in the loss of Black representation. To avoid repeating this pattern and to prioritize the preservation of Black political power in the state capitol, I have decided to suspend my campaign for the Democratic nomination for Colorado House District 8. This decision transcends my personal aspirations and reflects my commitment to the community and maintaining Black representation in our legislature. I want to thank those who donated to our campaign, endorsed both locally and nationally, and every neighbor that we met on the doors.

In 2019, I was honored to become the youngest Black elected official in Colorado’s history, serving on the Denver School Board. This experience deepened my understanding of the need for greater Black representation in educational and community leadership.

Subsequently, I founded the Colorado Black Caucus of School Board Directors, serving as its
inaugural President, and continued my commitment to the community by launching the
Black Santa Project, which has distributed over 30,000 toys to children during the holidays.

Building on my experience as serving as an elected official and community organizer, I am
thrilled to announce the launch of The Center for Advancing Black Excellence in Education.

We are an education nonprofit deeply dedicated to uplifting Black communities through the
power of education. Our mission is grounded in the conviction that access to high-quality
education is not just a right, but the foundation of thriving and resilient communities. We
commit ourselves to disrupting the systems that cause educational disparities faced by Black
students. Through this work, we will reimagine our K-12 education system and dismantle
deeply rooted systems of oppression.

Our approach is multifaceted: we implement innovative programs that provide vital resources, steadfast support, and strong advocacy, all meticulously designed to cultivate and honor the innate potential within each student. Our work is built upon three core pillars – educating future leaders, advocating for systemic changes in education, and celebrating our communities through philanthropic giving.

As passionate co-conspirators in the pursuit of educational equity, we are dedicated to fostering environments where Black students are not merely recognized but are also empowered to achieve excellence.

Our founding Board is made up of passionate educators, advocates, and community leaders who are dedicated to advancing Black excellence in education. Our fiscal sponsor and Board
Chair will be MiDian Holmes, the CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership.
The other members are Michelle Quattlebaum, President of the Colorado Black Caucus of
School Board Directors; and Colorado Representative Dr. Regina English.

We are honored to receive support from a wide array of distinguished individuals nationwide.
Our mission is backed by State Legislators, Non-Profit Leaders, City Council Members, School
Board Members, and Executives from School Board Associations. Such as Colorado Senate
President Pro Tempore, James Coleman, Executive Director of the Arizona School Board
Association Devin Del Palacio, Executive Director of Ednium the Alumni Collective TeRay
Esquibel, and Colorado State Representative & Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon.
Discover more about our initiatives, including Ready to Run, The Black Excellence Project,
and The Black Santa Project at https://www.advancingblackexcellence.net

We are kicking off our fundraising with an ambitious initial goal of $30,000 to support our
transformational work. Contributions of any amount are invaluable to our mission. The only
way we can accomplish this critical and timely work is with your support. Donate Here: https://donorbox.org/the-center-for-advancing-black-excellence-in-education-1

Join us for our inaugural fundraiser on January 23rd at 6:00 PM at brother jeff’s Cultural Center (2836 Welton St. Denver, CO 80205)

Please use this link to sign up to host a house party so we can share with your networks the
importance of this organization. Your support is crucial in our journey to educate, advocate,
and celebrate Black communities.

In Solidarity,

Auon’tai M. Anderson, CEO

The Center for Black Excellence in Education

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The post Former Denver School Board Vice President Auon’tai Anderson establishes a new education-nonprofit; The Center for Advancing Black Excellence in Education appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.