Loveland's 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17th from 2pm- 6pm @ Backyard Tap
Hosted by Heart & Sol and the MLK Loveland Events Committee
Join us for an educational and celebratory community event
Speakers & Performers:
Event Emcee- Jordan Pryor
Jordan Pryor is a Communications graduate student with Fitchburg State University. Having moved to Loveland a little more than a year ago, Pryor would label himself an “outdoorsy” person, regularly hiking Colorado’s beautiful landscape with his wife, Sarah. His previous work in Texas was centered around police reform for the BIPOC community, often attending and organizing rallies and caravans. Upon moving he looked to put his efforts into his new community, volunteering his time in both Fort Collins and Loveland to address issues surrounding EDI, city government, and police reform. Pryor wishes to continue his efforts while searching for new opportunities to help the growth of the city that has become his new home.
Dr. Ashley Grice
Dr. Ashley R. Grice (she/her/hers) serves as a senior diversity, equity and inclusion consultant at the University of Colorado – Boulder. She provides support, tools and researched best practices to administrative units and executive leaders in operationalizing a systemic approach to the implementation of university-wide diversity, equity and inclusion goals and initiatives. She received her doctorate of education in social and comparative analysis in education from the University of Pittsburgh, centering her professional work around the interrogation of systems of oppression within and beyond educational contexts. Ashley is inspired by a Black Feminist and intersectional praxis, pulling especially from her lived and professional experiences. As a scholar practitioner, facilitator and speaker, her ultimate goal in any endeavor is to inspire and achieve collective liberation.
Dr. Ray Black
Dr. Ray Black is an associate professor of African American Studies in the Ethnic Studies department at Colorado State University. He teaches classes on African American protest, film, and history including Critical Race Theory while being an advocate for increased representation of underrepresented and minoritized students. He is active in efforts to reform law enforcement, and school resource officer programs, and continue the efforts of nineteenth-century abolitionists, twentieth-century protesters for civil rights, and twenty-first-century protesters for equality and humanity.
Evan Lowe
Evan has a Master of Social Work from Colorado State University. His interests include higher education, African-American community development, juvenile justice, youth and family development, and community poverty. He is a gifted speaker and we can't wait to share his talent and message with the community.
Ernest Washington
Mr. Ernest Washington first discovered his love for music as a young child in his hometown, St. Louis, Missouri. Through the years, Mr. Washington has displayed his passions for music with his singing, songwriting and producing. Mr. Washington's voice has been featured at a variety of venues and events. In 2021, he had the honor of performing with the soulful Mr. Jeffrey Osborn. He also had the pleasure of opening for the dynamic group “Xscape" and the opportunity to perform a duet with national recording artist, Ms. Regina Bell. Mr. Washington also performed with the legendary "Temptations” in Las Vegas, Nevada and was a member of the Stellar Award winning "Colorado Mass Choir.” In celebration of Black History month 2022, Mr. Washington took part in the musical, “The History of African American Music from 1920 to 1970” imitating the “Father of Soul” James Brown, Chuck Berry, Sam Cook and other outstanding performers during that era. Mr. Washington has performed at festivals in Colorado that includes the “Black Arts Festival” and the “Five Points Jazz Festival.” He was invited in 2017 to perform the “National Anthem” live at a Nugget vs. Lakers basketball game. He also appeared on the hit television shows “Star Search" and "Amateur Night at the Apollo" in New York City. Mr. Washington recently release two hit singles, "Ride and “My Only” from his new CD "Passions." He continues to perform musical renditions of jazz ranging from 60's into the 90's, Gospel as well as his own unique original music at private and public engagements. Through his aspirations and dedication, Mr. Washington has not only made himself a popular performer throughout Colorado but has proven himself to be a powerful dynamic and charismatic performer across the United States.
Dr. William Anderson
Dr. William Anderson is Director of Teacher Education Program (T.E.P) and Clinical Professor at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. He earned his Ed.D from the University of Colorado at Denver in Education Leadership for Educational Equity. Dr. Anderson was a secondary Social Studies teacher for thirteen years in Denver Public Schools. He also worked in special education at the beginning of his career. Dr. Anderson leads professional development on culturally sustaining practices and emancipatory pedagogies nationally. He is a former member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Teachers Advisory Council from 2014-2016, and National Geographic Teacher Advisory Council 2018-2020, and is currently member of EdLoc’s (Education Leaders of Color) Leadership Committee. Dr. Anderson is the founder and operator of Love 1st Education Consultation, and is a self-professed nerd, who loves to read, write, eat junk food, and laugh. A quote from Malcolm X best sums up Dr. Anderson’s education philosophy, “Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research”.
Uche Ogbuji
Born in Calabar, Nigeria; settled in Boulder, Colorado after much world wandering. Immigrant, language geek, Third Culture Kid. Restless mind in a restless body, I do a million things without getting very much truly done, but most notably in two areas. As a poet and editor, As a computer engineer, entrepreneur, and technology educator Oh yeah, and also as a classicist Africanist cum Hip-hopper, traveler, language lover, snowboarder, martial artist, soccer player, and of course Gooner.