Rally Emcees
Pre-march rally emcee
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POST-march RALLY EMCEE
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Speakers & Artists
Adri Norris
center for Colorado Women's HistoryAdri Norris is a Denver-based artist whose family hails from Barbados. With a less than typical background- immigrant, international boarding school student, military veteran, queer artist - Norris brings the entirety of her being to her work. Her paintings of women in history are an educational tool to get students, old and young, to think more deeply about the past and about the power of diversity. Norris has spoken at K-12 schools around Denver, including GALS and Swigert International School, at universities like UNC Greeley and Denver Metro University, and in community spaces, including the GLBT Center and the Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Library. She has taught her series as a curriculum at Girls Inc. of Denver, combining history, art and research to give students a deeper understanding of women from the past.The Center for Colorado Women’s History at Byers-Evans House focuses on scholarship, research, lectures, tours and exhibits that expand the understanding and collective memory of the history of women in Colorado. Most importantly, the Center is connecting local stories to the broader stories of women’s history worldwide. The Center and the 2019 Womxn’s March Denver hosted a poster contest to celebrate the historic and modern contributions of women. Pieces submitted reflect the power and urgency of voting, celebrations of women’s suffrage and activism, and the values of adventurous dialogue about the intersections of gender, race, and class that are explored at the Center for Colorado Women’s History. Congratulations to Adri Norris, of AfroTriangleDesigns.com, our winning entrant. BELLA DIVA WORLD DANCE
Bella Diva continues to march because they know powerful change can happen when women of all different colors, shapes, orientations, religions, and socioeconomic statuses can come together to fight for social change and justice. They know dance and movement has the power to heal and transform from the inside out. They march so their young daughters, nieces, and grandchildren never have to raise their hands in a sea of shaking hands when asked if they have ever been raped, molested, assaulted, or touched in a way that did not make them feel good. CATE WILEY
Playwright with
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Ana Temu
ACLU of Colorado, Immigration Campaigns CoordinatorAna Temu is a community activist, political strategist, and coffee maniac. Ana was raised knowing the hardships immigrants face in this country, which is why she started becoming politically engaged through immigrant rights activism, helping pass countless pro-immigrant bills and policy in the state and nationally. Ana knows that the best way to change policy is to have someone in office that will champion the issues of marginalized folks, so shifted her unapologetic activism to campaigning-- running successful campaigns at all levels including gubernatorial and presidential. Ana takes to the streets because Ana and her family still live in fear of being separated by the anti-immigrant environment of today, so she works hard to ensure immigrants have a community to thrive in through policy and coalition work. CAELEIGH SEBRING
Caeleigh Sebring, is a 17 year old High School student who is likely doing more than would be normally humanly possible with 10 clubs, 3 honors societies, and a passion for many art forms (Animals too!). She marches for those whose perceptions of the world are not accepted. She has a passion for the betterment of everything for there is always some way to make the world a better place. Typically, you can find her rigorously drawing, listening to music, or doing various school activities in the comfort of her bed, and constantly texting with friends. DENVER WOMEN'S CHORUS
The Denver Women's Chorus is a community chorus with equal interests in the excellence of their music and in the communities in which they live. DWC believes that music should challenge and inspire us toward individual growth and dynamic engagement in enriching the entire community; the chorus, their audiences, and beyond. They are proud to be a multi-generational chorus of LGBTQ+ singers and many wonderful allies. We march for justice and equity for all women. We march to make LGBTQ+ voices heard. We march because trans lives won’t be erased. We march to fulfill our mission: building community through music. JIMENA BECERRA
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Ashley Panelli
9to5 Colorado9to5 Colorado is a statewide, membership-based organization dedicated to putting issues that impact working women on the public agenda. They are committed to working alongside community to bring about transformative change and social and economic liberation. They march to bring awareness to the needs of women of color that are too often left out of the public conversation, to hold policy makers accountable to the communities they serve, and to demand a radical shift in the power structures that continue to oppress our communities. Find out more at 9to5.org. CARA CRUICKSHANK
AND CAFE DE LA CULTURECara Cruickshank is a Brazilian/American living in France. Her artistic career began at age 10 as an actor on Broadway and singing at The United Nations General Assembly. For over 15 years she has directed and produced original performances and events focused on diversity and women's empowerment across the U.S. and abroad. She recently launched her new theater play, The Alchemy of Imperfection, now touring nationally and internationally with the panel discussion: “Courageous Vulnerability: How Can Men Support Women to Speak Up and Be Seen?” in honor of #MeToo. Cara marches in celebration of diversity, for women's voices, and in the firm vision of equal rights for all. cafedelaculture.com EYNI ALI
COLORADO REFUGEE SPEAKERS BUREAUEyni and her family fled Somalia to Kenya in 2006 and were resettled to the U.S. in 2013. Currently, Eyni is a freshman at the University of Colorado Denver majoring in psychology and hopes to become a medical practitioner. In her spare time, Eyni is a henna artist and poet. She was inspired to write poetry because of her experiences being bullied in middle school and has overcome her low self-esteem by sharing her experiences through poetry. Eyni shares her poetry to encourage her peers to overcome their struggles and be a voice for their community. I march because women of color and especially refugee women are underrepresented and I want to inspire other young women like me to stand up for what they believe in. |
Jimena BecerraJimena Becerra (from Gateway High School) marches now and will continue to march because she believes in change. We cannot ignore the inadequate situations around us and our communities. We have to be the voice for those who can’t speak up for themselves, be the call for political change and keep our democracy alive. She refuses to let anyone tell her who she can’t and can love. What she can and can’t do with her body. And where she can and can’t go. And today with everyone, she wants to exercise our right to protest and have us be heard.
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Katy Hamilton, the Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE)The Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE.org), addresses the root causes of poverty by providing a path to long-term employment and self-sufficiency for hundreds of Colorado families each year. Denver’s leading workforce development and anti-poverty organization has developed a comprehensive career readiness program and network of support services which provides intensive 1:1 coaching, personal and professional skills training, and career advancement services. Since its founding in 1982, CWEE has helped over 14,500 low-income parents, predominantly single parent mothers, overcome the barriers they face, and leverage their strengths, to become self-supporting. Poverty’s end begins here.
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Kayla Frawley, BELAKayla is a former midwife, and current Family Service Worker. She supports families in the Lincoln Park, Sun Valley area and Westwood neighborhoods. She is also a Maternal and Child Educator, Lactation Consultant and Birth Equity Leader through Health Connect One. She loves promoting school readiness through family engagement, and supporting parents as leaders in their communities. She believes if one parent has the right tools they will change an entire generation. But our country continues to fail families and not provide these tools. She is a single mom hoping to contribute to a Denver we can all be proud of.
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Lisa M. CalderónLisa M. Calderón is a Denver native and longtime community leader in the Denver area, with over 30 years’ experience in service to others as a community organizer, educator, and nonprofit executive. She is co-chair of the Colorado Latino Forum – Denver Chapter, and is the former Director of the Community Re-entry Project in Denver, which worked on behalf of formerly incarcerated persons for their successful transition back into the community. She is currently a full-time faculty member at Regis University in the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Criminal Justice. When asked why she is marching, Lisa responds: “I’m marching because we have to fight to be heard—because we’re not just fighting for ourselves. We’re fighting for future generations, the well-being of our communities, and the survival of our planet.”
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Mar LutherMar Pansy Luther proudly marches because of the violence and pain that her trans and non binary siblings face whenever we exist in public. She identifies as a trans femme queer who uses she/her pronouns because it validates her identity, and they/them pronouns because it tears apart the social construction of the gender binary. As a trans person, her whiteness, her thinness, her able-bodiedness all afford her immense privilege, and these are the reasons she must march. For those that don’t have the power, platform, and privilege she was born with. For those whose voices have been and are being silenced.
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Maralee Mclean, Moms Fight BackMaralee McLean, a child advocate, domestic violence expert, national professional speaker, and author of Prosecuted but Silenced: Courtroom Reform for Sexually Abused Children, Maralee has written several articles on the problems of family courts not protecting abused children. Maralee speaks at conferences, law schools and is a spokesperson for protective mothers. Her passion for advocacy developed through living a mother’s worst nightmare. Fighting the system with body and soul, she gained the insight that this was not her nightmare alone. She organized a National Rally of Mothers at the Colorado State Capitol and has been involved in legislative work that spans over two decades. She testified before Congress to promote judicial accountability to better protect sexually abused children’s rights in our courts. Maralee’s story has been covered by many media outlets and internationally on CNN. maraleemclean.com
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Megan Parocha, Mom's Fight backMegan Parocha is a mother to an almost 4-year-old daughter. She is currently a graduate student with Simmons College in an MSW program. She is interning with Mental Health Center of Denver working as a therapist with a spectrum of elderly adults in nursing homes. She also works as the social marketing manager for Canteen Wine Company, a new local Colorado brand! She ran her first marathon last year and enjoys being outside hiking skiing and playing with her daughter. She marches for the safety and equality of all women.
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Naureen SinghNaureen Singh, is a graduate student at CU Denver studying criminal justice, is a community organizer at the Asian Pacific Development Center and is also the policy director of Colorado Sikhs. Through Colorado Sikhs, she spearheaded some of the largest interfaith events in Colorado and is an active voice for many Sikh issues. She received the 2015 "Outstanding Student Voice" award. To increase awareness about Sikhism in the government, Naureen interned at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, SALDEF, and the EEOC. She also served as a White House E3! Ambassador under Obama's Administration, and organized communities around bullying, mental health, education, and public service issues. She hopes to become a US Congresswoman one day and change the nature of faith in politics.
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Nga Vuong-SandovaL with Colorado Refugee Speakers BureauNga Vuong-Sandoval was born in Việt Nam. She and her family fled their homeland due to the Việt Nam War, became “boat people,” and were displaced as refugees until they arrived on a U.S. refugee camp. Nga works at the Colorado Department of Law. She’s a speaker for the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau, serves on the Little Sài Gòn Business District Redevelopment Group, and is the first and only refugee to ever serve on the Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Board of Directors. She’s proud of her heritage and refugee experience. Nga marches to advocate for refugees and immigrants.
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Nic Aquino-Roithmayr, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for NonviolenceNic Aquino-Roithmayr is a resident of Boulder, CO, where he works as a mental health counselor at SPAN (Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence), a domestic violence shelter. He also volunteers as a sexual assault prevent educator with MESA (Movement to End Sexual Assault). In all of Nic’s work, his motivation is to foster communities that care for one another. He marches because he has much work to do to interrupt the harmful impact that his privileged identities have in the communities he lives.
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Nicole Portee, Denver
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Pasha ripLEy, RLRI
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Lorna Shannon,
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Sarah Snead, Hornbuckle
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Michelle Liberti of The ArgumentMichelle Liberti is a singer/songwriter based in Denver Colorado. She is the voice of the band The Argument and is also a member and lead singer of the band Noisy Neighbor. She owns WestCavan Productions, a music booking agency in Denver and works with some of the most amazing people in the Denver local music scene every day. She has two crazy little boys and is passionate about music. Additionally, Michelle will be receiving her degree in Event Management. She marches for equality for all people and so that her son’s will know to always be respectful and “choose kind”.
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Sethe Tucker, a girl named setheOriginally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Sethe has called Colorado home for the last 15 years. She has been singing since the age of 6 and considers music an aphrodisiac for the soul. Why does Sethe march? She marches for her daughter, Sydni, and other young girls who have yet to find their voices. Sethe feels it's her duty to help give our young people futures to dream and be excited about.
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SuchSuch is a Boston born, New York raised, California educated, Chicago groomed Soul singer. She has toured domestically in some renowned venues and internationally in the U.K., Amsterdam, Paris, Austria and most recently in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2016, she became the only Black American woman to win an All African Music Award (AFRIMA), continental Africa’s equivalent of a Grammy. Her single Sugar Maple spent several weeks at #1 on Amazon’s and the UK’s Soul. Such is also an award-winning actress. She is currently recording her second studio album to be released later this year. I march for peace and unity. I march in solidarity with everyone who experiences social injustice. I march for equal rights and equal pay. I march against sex abuse and violence. I march for black women. I march for my ancestors. iamsuch.com
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Tosha Jorden, Span/golden bridge boulder coloradoTosha Jorden uses they, them, their pronouns and identifies as a queer, Afro-Indigenous person of color. Tosha uses music (Freestyle Rap) and theater to portray their understandings of systemic oppression. Tosha marches to embody social justice and to not fight, but to work towards connection and healing with people who are different. Tosha is currently in their 3rd year receiving a Graduate degree studying Somatic/ Dance Movement Therapy and interning as a Somatic Social Justice Counselor. Tosha's work is to work through the worlds they navigate, and to remember what their ancestors are telling them and have lived through. Tosha's work is to empower themselves and others to be a vessel for embodied social justice and a vessel for healing. Dance and Freestyle Rap has been a healing path for a life time and will continue to drive their soul.
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Ty MAYTy Kranz, know to many as Ty May, was born in Denver, CO. Ty marches to show unity, support, love and equality amongst all communities. To stand up, hold space and to be heard. Womxn, as well as the transgender and non-binary communities have struggled. We’ve been continuously denied the right to live freely. Ty marches to make a change, to give a voice to those who are being held captive. Ty marches to help us join forces, because together, we are more powerful.
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NETA MeltzerNeta Meltzer had to work the day of the first Womxn’s March. She was facilitating a training on sexual violence survivor advocacy, and she still felt, in a small way, that she was a part of this movement. Neta has worked in roles that focus on key human rights and social justice issues, including sexual violence, bodily autonomy, and access to care. She marches every year since then in order to demand a world that reflects the values she fights for every day.
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Kalyn Rose HeffernanKalyn Rose Heffernan was born and raised in the Denver metro area where she has been advocating for herself and other marginalized, vulnerable communities most of her little life. Kalyn fronts the internationally acclaimed band Wheelchair Sports Camp and represents the DIY (Do It Yourself) arts scene in the city and across the country. Kalyn is an activist educator who works with underserved youth and is well known for fighting for access, health care, and calling out those in power who protect capital interests over humans. Kalyn Rose is currently leading Denver's first disabled artist / activist campaign for the Denver's mayor seat 2019.
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Womxns March Denver Speaker/Artist/Presenter Selection Process
Womxn’s March Denver would like to offer clarity on how the Leadership Team has handled speaking requests for the 2019 Womxn’s March Pre and Post Rallies. Womxn’s March Denver issued a call for speaker submissions on December 11th, 2018. Everyone was welcomed and encouraged to apply to become a speaker and/or artist.
Our theme for the 2019 March is: LISTEN. UNITE. ACT. and our program was guided by this theme.
The Womxn’s March on Denver Leadership team also wants to honor our current elected officials and acknowledge those running for office, whose values and platforms align with those of the Womxn’s March on Denver, with an invitation to appear on stage together, at a designated time, during the post rally. We will give you a shout out from the stage and you are welcome to have your photographers take photos of that moment. More information forthcoming on the specific timing.
Womxns March Denver Speaker/Artist/Presenter Selection Policy
Womxn’s March Denver was officially designated a 501 (c) (3) “public charity” on November 30, 2018. Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. This means that we cannot endorse any political candidates or politicians. Giving one more more candidate(s) stage time for political speech, while not offering equal time to all, may appear that we are endorsing a candidate. We must be mindful of those optics.
We are also mindful that there are a limited number of spots available at the pre and post rally. It would be difficult to offer one potential candidate a platform to speak at the exclusion of others. Therefore, in adherence to legal requirements around our non-profit status, we did not and will not invite politicians to speak at the 2019 Womxn’s March on Denver.
Finally, we understand that in some cases, candidates are running for office but they also have stories that represent those that are marginalized, they represent nonprofits, or have served on the board of other nonprofits. In these instances, these womxn may have an opportunity to speak about their organizations but will be asked to curb any campaign related speeches. They are free to state they are running for office but speech must be in line with Womxn’s March Denver’s 2019 theme “Listen. Unite. Act.”
Further questions can be addressed to the Womxn’s March Denver Leadership Team at info@womxnsmarchdenver.org.
Womxn’s March Denver would like to offer clarity on how the Leadership Team has handled speaking requests for the 2019 Womxn’s March Pre and Post Rallies. Womxn’s March Denver issued a call for speaker submissions on December 11th, 2018. Everyone was welcomed and encouraged to apply to become a speaker and/or artist.
Our theme for the 2019 March is: LISTEN. UNITE. ACT. and our program was guided by this theme.
- Listen to those who have been silenced.
- Unite under the banner of anti-oppression.
- Act with intention.
The Womxn’s March on Denver Leadership team also wants to honor our current elected officials and acknowledge those running for office, whose values and platforms align with those of the Womxn’s March on Denver, with an invitation to appear on stage together, at a designated time, during the post rally. We will give you a shout out from the stage and you are welcome to have your photographers take photos of that moment. More information forthcoming on the specific timing.
Womxns March Denver Speaker/Artist/Presenter Selection Policy
Womxn’s March Denver was officially designated a 501 (c) (3) “public charity” on November 30, 2018. Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. This means that we cannot endorse any political candidates or politicians. Giving one more more candidate(s) stage time for political speech, while not offering equal time to all, may appear that we are endorsing a candidate. We must be mindful of those optics.
We are also mindful that there are a limited number of spots available at the pre and post rally. It would be difficult to offer one potential candidate a platform to speak at the exclusion of others. Therefore, in adherence to legal requirements around our non-profit status, we did not and will not invite politicians to speak at the 2019 Womxn’s March on Denver.
Finally, we understand that in some cases, candidates are running for office but they also have stories that represent those that are marginalized, they represent nonprofits, or have served on the board of other nonprofits. In these instances, these womxn may have an opportunity to speak about their organizations but will be asked to curb any campaign related speeches. They are free to state they are running for office but speech must be in line with Womxn’s March Denver’s 2019 theme “Listen. Unite. Act.”
Further questions can be addressed to the Womxn’s March Denver Leadership Team at info@womxnsmarchdenver.org.