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Colorado Media Project is hosting this three-day convening with something for everyone - come learn with us, as we reconnect, reimagine and rebuild Colorado’s public square!

Whether you’re a Colorado journalist, a student or faculty member, a librarian or teacher, an advocate or business leader, a funder or community member or civic leader—we invite you to join us for a unique convening designed to inspire your sense of what’s possible for the future our local civic news and engagement in our democracy, hosted by the Colorado Media Project and sponsored by the Colorado Trust.

HOW AND WHAT WILL WE LEARN? CONVENING OVERVIEW
  • Thursday (Sept. 15) sessions will spotlight and build on work supported by 25 new grants CMP announced in January totaling nearly $1 million to support Colorado newsrooms, journalists, and media entrepreneurs to strengthen coverage of and service to Colorado’s diverse communities of color, as well as rural and low-income residents. We’ll end the day with working group meetings, to advance ongoing projects and conversations.
  • Friday (Sept. 16) morning we’ll share new data from the 2022 Colorado News Audience Survey, and offer hands-on workshops for reporting on inequities, and raising awareness of and support for local journalism. At lunch we’ll be treated to a keynote address from Maria Hinojosa, whose 30-year career as an award-winning journalist includes reporting for PBS, CBS, WNBC, CNN, NPR, and Anchor and Executive Producer of her Peabody Award-winning show, Latino USA. We’ll also be joined by Colorado Press Association for a day of joint programming — including a learning track designed especially for media outlets that serve diverse communities.
Directions to the Lowry Campus Conference Center
From I-70, take the Quebec Exit. Go south to Lowry Blvd. Turn left and go through two roundabouts. Turn left at the third roundabout onto Yosemite St. Turn right at Severn Place. Turn left at Akron Way going north. The Conference Center is located at 1061 Akron Way, Denver, CO 80230.

From I-225, take the 6th Avenue Exit going west. Sixth Ave. turns into Lowry Blvd at Dayton St. Go one block west to Alton Way and turn right. Turn left on Severn Place and go 1 block and turn left to continue onto Severn Place. Take a quick left to Akron Way going north. The Conference Center is located at 1061 Akron Way, Denver, CO 80230.

From Downtown Denver: take Colefax Ave. east towards Aurora, and turn right on Yosemite Street. Follow Yosemite for 0.7 miles, crossing E. 11th Ave, and turn left on to Akron Way. The Conference Center will be on your right, at 1061 Akron Way, Denver, CO 80230.

We are thrilled to be sharing a venue and collaborating with the Colorado Press Association for their 2022 Annual Conference (which takes place Sept. 15-17 also at Lowry Conference Center in Aurora). Please note that separate registration for the CPA Conference is required; more information is here: https://coloradopressassociation.com/convention/

Questions? Please contact Sam Moody, CMP Learning and Grants Manager, at sam@coloradomediaproject.com.
Thursday, September 15 • 8:00am - 9:10am
Opening Plenary: Welcome to Aurora

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Aurora is Colorado's most diverse city, with a rich cultural landscape that is home to immigrant communities from around the globe. Local media plays an important part in the social fabric and information ecosystem of Aurora, especially for non-English speakers. What can Aurora's newsroom leaders teach us about covering and connecting with diverse communities? What roles do ethnic media play within their respective communities, especially during times of crisis? How do they build trust and serve their communities? Where do they see opportunities to partner with other journalists and nonprofits - both to uncover and illuminate inequities, and also to uplift and inspire?

Speakers
avatar for Vera Idam

Vera Idam

CEO/ Publisher/ Executive Editor, Afrik Digest
Vera Azuka Osuokwu-Idam is the publisher of Afrik Digest, an ethnic news media based in Colorado. She has a passion for any initiatives that promote peace and encourage unity among communities. As a woman entrepreneur, she enjoys participating in efforts that empower and uplift women... Read More →
avatar for Annie VanDan

Annie VanDan

President, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network
Annie Guo VanDan (she/her) is the Executive Director of Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, where she works to create equitable spaces and opportunities for Asian American Pacific Islanders. She previously worked at Change Matrix and the Colorado Department of Public Health... Read More →
avatar for Dave Perry

Dave Perry

Editor, Aurora Sentinel
Dave Perry (he/him) is editor and publisher of Sentinel Colorado, a digital daily and print weekly newspaper covering the greater Aurora region. He has been with the Sentinel for almost 30 years. In the 35 years he’s been a journalist, Perry has also written or been a staffer for... Read More →
avatar for Diana Higuera

Diana Higuera

Executive Director & Founder, Rocky Mountain Welcome Center
Diana Higuera (she/her) is the Executive Director and founder of the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center, a not-for-profit organization working with immigrants and refugees. Diana was born in Venezuela and emigrated to the United States in 2005. Fluent in Spanish, English, German and Italian... Read More →
avatar for Jesus Sanchez

Jesus Sanchez

Publisher, El Comercio de Colorado
Jesus Sanchez Melean, editor, and co-owner of El Comercio de Colorado newspaper, has been working as a journalist in Colorado for the last 10 years. He has been Professor of History at Regis University. He is political scientist and historian. He did graduate studies at Ohio University... Read More →
avatar for Ricardo Gambetta

Ricardo Gambetta

Manager, Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, City of Aurora
Ricardo (he/him) is a dynamic and results oriented professional with proven leadership and policy experiences in municipal, state and the federal government. As a naturalized citizen himself, immigrant integration and international relations are Ricardo's passions. He has a strong... Read More →


Thursday September 15, 2022 8:00am - 9:10am MDT
LCC 100 A-C Lowry Conference Center 1061 Akron Way Building 697 Denver, CO 80230