As a Black Coloradan, navigating leadership in work environments that were never built with us in mind rarely comes with a playbook. It’s often said that it’s lonely at the top, but for Black professionals who have climbed the ranks and found themselves the only one in the room, and sometimes in the entire building, that loneliness carries a different weight. We are often tokenized, scrutinized and burdened with the pressure of not only being excellent, but being first.
That’s why organizations like the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado (ULFC) are monumental and leave a lasting legacy that benefit generations to come.
From the state legislature to the classroom, and from the boardroom to the newsroom, it would be difficult to find a space untouched by this organization’s legacy. For nearly two decades, ULFC has equipped, invested in and developed leaders who are committed to creating change within themselves, their families and the greater community. Some of Colorado’s most influential leaders are among the more than 500 alumni who have come through the ULFC Connect Leadership Program.
Inspired by an experience that former State Senator Angela Williams and businessman Richard Lewis had in another Denver-based executive leadership program, the pair noticed a need for something similar that was authentic to and centered around the Black experience. In 2007, they brought that idea to former Mayor Wellington Webb, and the rest is history.
The very next year, ULFC’s current president and CEO, Dr. Ryan Ross, joined to get a feel for what was then called Chamber Connect. At the time, the few Black executives who lived in Colorado would often find success and eventually get recruited to cities with larger Black populations like Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia, leaving local organizations with little to no Black leadership representation. It quickly became clear that instead of focusing solely on Black executives, the organization needed to intentionally cultivate aspiring and emerging leaders at various career stages and life points in order to remain sustainable and create a lasting pipeline of talent.
Ross went on to work with a small group of other visionaries to reimagine the program, ultimately transforming it into what it is today, a 10-month intensive fellowship focused on leadership development, civic engagement, workforce readiness and community impact.
Spoiler alert – I have personally benefited from this program as a member of the 2017 cohort.
At the time I applied, I was navigating a major career transition after quitting my full-time job as a public television producer with absolutely no plan B. I was burnt out from workplace politics, and felt called to forge a new path while being pretty uncertain about what was next for me. Professionally, I felt completely unprepared for the future. My network no longer felt aligned with where I hoped my life was headed, and while I believed I had potential, I wasn’t always confident in how to fully step into it.
Being selected for ULFC was a breath of fresh air and gave me a confidence boost I didn’t realize I needed.
Empower One Person, Benefit the Whole Community
Starting with a weekend retreat, fellows are thrust into a new environment with complete strangers and challenged to engage in icebreakers, brain games and conversations that push you to examine not only leadership, but yourself. By the end of the retreat, our cohort felt deeply connected. We became a family.
Upon returning home, we met monthly for immersive experiences that offered a glimpse into leadership in action. Not only did we learn from one another, but we were exposed to speakers from different industries, ethnicities and career levels who challenged us to think bigger.
We visited the state capitol and met with leaders including State Senator James Coleman, a ULFC alumnus himself. We toured Five Points with one of Colorado’s premier historians and learned about the rich history of Denver’s historic Black community. We even learned to play golf, not simply as a recreational activity, but to better understand how relationships are built and how decisions are often made in professional spaces. We perfected our personal branding elevator pitches and learned how to confidently introduce ourselves and stand firmly in our identities no matter what room we entered.
One of the most impactful, yet challenging elements of the fellowship was designing and executing a community service project together. On the surface, it may sound straightforward, but the process taught me invaluable lessons about fundraising, collaboration, conflict management, strategic planning and leveraging community resources for good. It showed me what is possible when passionate people come together with a shared goal of creating impact.
These are just a few of the many experiences fellows are exposed to through the program.
Honestly, it wasn’t until I sat down to write this article that I fully realized how much ULFC impacted my own personal and professional journey. After completing the fellowship, I landed one of the best opportunities of my career as the first-ever director of digital media in the Denver mayor’s office. But beyond professional advancement, I finally had the confidence in my identity as a professional, a deeper connection to my community and relationships with other leaders that continue to shape my life today.
Some of my fellow 2017 cohort members have gone on to become elected officials, launch thriving nonprofits, build successful businesses and create opportunities for others throughout Colorado. That is the domino effect of intentional investment in Black leadership. When one person is empowered, entire communities benefit, and generational curses begin to shatter.
Ross notes that since 2007, ULFC fellows have executed 55 public-facing community projects, some of which have evolved into or supported organizations, initiatives and businesses that continue serving the community today. That includes groups like Denver African American Philanthropists (DAAP) and Sisterhood of Philanthropists Impacting Needs (SPIN), as well as movements like Rise5280, the HBCU Tour that exposes high school students to college life and educational opportunities through the lens of the Black experience.
A Place where Black Leadership Comes Alive
These days, the organization’s work extends far beyond developing emerging professionals. ULFC recently launched a one-year program for high school students focused on professional development, mentorship, internships and leadership training, intentionally investing in the next generation long before they enter the workforce.
Further multiplying its impact, the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado’s reach is expanding globally. With a mission to deepen cultural understanding, strengthen connections between Black and African communities and explore international educational and economic opportunities, local leaders are now traveling to countries throughout Africa through ULFC-led experiences. The initiative encourages participants to reconnect with culture, explore entrepreneurship and engage in healing conversations that transcend borders.
All of the past and current work has been possible without the organization having a permanent home – but that’s about to change.
Dr. Ross is hopeful that the buildout of ULFC’s future headquarters will be completed by July 2026. After raising $300,000, the organization is working to secure the remaining $200,000 needed to bring the vision fully to life. Beyond office space, the building is designed to become a hub for leadership development, collaboration, creativity and community connection.
The future home of ULFC will provide space for fellowship classes, community programming and events. Black-led nonprofits and organizations will have access to meeting and gathering spaces, while aspiring media professionals and creatives will be able to utilize basic production resources, all at no cost. In many ways, the building itself will stand as a physical representation of what ULFC has spent nearly two decades creating – a safe place where Black legacy and leadership can come alive.
When asked what he hopes his legacy will ultimately be, Ross answered simply, “That the people that come after me are proud of me.”
For nearly 20 years, ULFC has created pathways, open doors and built foundations for hundreds of Black Coloradans, myself included. Through mentorship, leadership development, civic engagement and intentional community-building, the organization has helped cultivate leaders who are now creating impact across Colorado and beyond.
As ULFC prepares for its next chapter and the completion of its future home, the community has an opportunity to invest in its legacy. Whether through donating toward the completion of the building, supporting its programming or applying for a future cohort, investing in ULFC is ultimately an investment in the future of Black leadership in Colorado.
To learn more about the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado, visit ulfcolorado.org.
