Histories of Christianity in our City

The Histories of the Black Church in Our City before 1880

Friday, February 2
Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library

Welcome to Histories of Christianity in our City.

Histories of Christianity in our City is a 10-year project for leaders in our city who are grounded in their Christian faith to remember rightly our past, cultivate transformative relationships, and pass on a legacy of common memory to the next generation of leaders in our city to learn from our past and shape our future.

Together we can create a historical and relational transformational community.

The Histories of The Black Church in our City before 1880

9:30am - 10:00am | Coffee & Pastries
Flipside Coffee & Pastries served outside the archives room

10:00am | Welcome to Histories of Christianity in our City & Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
MiDian Holmes, Co-Director of Histories of Christianity in our City
Founder, The Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership

10:20am | The Histories of the Black Church in Our City before 1880
Teri Gentry, History Colorado Museum

11:00am | Questions & Responses

11:20am | Invitation to Participation
Jared Mackey, Co-Director of Histories of Christianity in our City
Executive Director, The Sacred Grace

11:30am | Closing Blessing

Speakers

  • Terri Gentry is a 3rd generation native of Denver. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in African / African American Studies from Metro State University of Denver, and a Master’s Degree in Humanities, focus in Public History and Museum Studies, from the University of Colorado Denver. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Aurora, CO chapter. She attended Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, in Interior Design. She is a business owner of A Terrific Design.

    Terri works at History Colorado, as Engagement Manager for Black Communities. She is a Volunteer Docent and on the Board of Directors at the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center. She conducts museum tours, the Five Points Walking Tour, and facilitates presentations about Black Americans in the West, and other topics to schools, community and government agencies, and businesses throughout the Denver Metro area, and Front Range communities.

    Terri is married to Dwight Gentry, with 4 children and 9 grandchildren.

  • MiDian Holmes grew up in Denver, Colorado, and has a rich history in our city. She is the product of a multi-generational presence of Black family and Black community.

    MiDian is the founder of the Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership and the owner of 8PM Consulting for Humanity. She is sought out by the community at large and is committed to holding the hands and hearts of others to join her on the journey of decentering ourselves and seeking God to restore a place of belonging for our community, our city, and our society. MiDian’s commitment to this work has earned her the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, a feature in the PBS-aired documentary Standing in the Gap, and recognition in many publications.

    MiDian is the mother of 3 adult-aged children, Calvin, Jon’il, and Devionne, the mother-in-law of Julynne (married to Calvin), and Ma’Belle to Luna Maria Fugett.

  • Jared is a Kingdom concierge. His deep joy is making introductions that connect individuals, organizations, and ideas. He has served as clergy in the city of Denver for over 30 years.

    Jared is the Executive Director The Sacred Grace, a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating love of neighbor and neighborhood. He has served on various faith, civic, and nonprofit advisory boards in the city of Denver.

    Jared, and his daughter Kenna, live in the Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood - walking distance from The Bull & Bush - the best pub in Denver.

Places to meet for a conversation before or after…

MiDian Recommends

COFFEE BEFORE

TeaLee’s Tea House & Bookstore

Ms. Rise has curated a space and a business that embodies the history of the Five Points.

LUNCH AFTER

Duke’s

The walk-up window for delicious sandwiches is located on through the walkway from Welton Street next to Scratch Bakery and Market.

Jared Recommends

COFFEE BEFORE

Jubilee Roasting Co.

A beautiful space with great coffee and always incredibly kind service.

LUNCH AFTER

Curtis Park Deli

A neighborhood delicatessen that prides itself on serving Denver’s freshest sandwiches.

FAQs

What is the format of the 12 Month Program?

There is an Annual Event hosted the last Friday in August each year to begin the 12 Month Program. Each year the 12 Month Program focuses on a specific period in time in the Histories of Christianity in our City.

The Continuing Conversations are 90-minute in-depth discussions hosted on four Fridays from 10:00am - 11:30am at various locations over the next 12 months.

The Annual Event presentations reflect on the past from diverse perspectives to form a deeper understanding of the Histories of Christianity in our City. The Continuing Conversations provide in-depth insight and context of historical moments, individuals, and events from a specific time period in the past.

Who is curating the content of the 12 Month Program?

There is a council of diverse leaders who follow the Way of Jesus who are serving as advisory voices on the content, topics, and speakers for each year’s program. If you are interested in collaborating with other leaders in curating the content please contact jared@thesacredgrace.com.

What is the purpose of LEADER MATCH?

An important aspect of this project is connecting leaders in our city. We believe transformation occurs at the speed of trust. Trust is cultivated through interaction more than information or inspiration.

The LEADER MATCH tool allows us introduce diverse leaders to each other. We will connect you with 2 leaders with different experiences of faith and perspectives of the past. You are invited to engage with those 2 other leaders over the next year at the Continuing Conversations and the following years of the Annual Event.

Why is this project important?

We see leaders who follow the way of Jesus in our city sharing a common faith, but lacking a shared narrative of the past and compassionate action in the present.

What is the hope for this project?

We see this project as a gift of legacy for future leaders who follow the way of Jesus to increase in clarity and collaboration from the work of listening and learning to the histories of Christianity in our city.

Why a 10-Year project?

A 10-year project is long enough to foster meaningful transformation in the lives of the leaders who participate and short enough to believe in the influence it could have in our city.

Who is leading this project?

This project is being co-led by MiDian Holmes, Founder of The Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership, and Jared Mackey, Executive Director of The Sacred Grace. The project is being guided by a growing list of advisory and contributing Voices from a diverse group of leaders grounded in their Christian faith.