The Educating Children of Color Summit provides a unique opportunity for educators, juvenile justice, and child welfare professionals to enhance their ability to retain and inspire the students they serve. It is also an opportunity for high school students to learn about themselves while they explore higher education.
Over the last 17 years, ECOC has awarded more than $628,000 in scholarships and educational gifts as well as 320 laptops to students attending the Educating Children of Color Summit. During the 2025 Summit, $86,000 in scholarships and $10,000 in educational gifts will be awarded to students in attendance. In addition, five $500 awards will be provided to educators for classroom enhancement or continuing education.
Assistant Professor in General Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, and an investigator in the Colorado Program for Patient Center Decisions and the Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS).
LSYWC Vice President/Admissions and Outreach Committee/Litigation Associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck/Construction defect and real estate teams.
The motivated and ambitious warrior Don Badgett brings a new style to the genre with his southern-infused style and cognitively impactful lyrics, shedding light on a new rap and hip hop narrative.
Charmas lee, Human Performance Specialist, Transformational Speaker, Author, Elite Coach and Trainer of Champions.
Chef Andre left the corporate world after 20 years to pursue a culinary career. He attended culinary school at PPCC, and is currently the head chef at Sarap!
Lisa is the founder/CEO of Kingdom Builder's and currently sits on the Crime Victim Services Advisory Board. She received a bachelor's degree in social work at Limestone College in 2006. She also completed her master’s degree in Adult Education in 2011.
Erika Gilchrist is regarded as one of the most energizing, engaging, and captivating speakers in the industry.
Michelle Shannon is a Pre-College Resource Specialist for PCC Gateway to College program. She teaches a class that helps students build their emotional intelligence, learn personal responsibility, and employ critical thinking skills.
Uyen Le is the founder of Beauty Bar Inc, a one-of-a-kind salon, bar, and boutique experience. She expanded her presence with a second salon in April 2017 on the city's northeast side, and has recently added a third location, MedSpa by Beauty Bar.
Jason McBride has worked in the East Denver community since 2010! Born and raised in the Park Hill neighborhood, he stepped away from the gang lifestyle to give back to the community he loves.
Certified Nutrition Coach, Group Fitness Instructor, Xtreme Hip Hop Instructor, Personal Trainer and co-owner of I Love Me Journey in Colorado Springs
Chaundra Williams is a certified mental health life coach and the owner of Beacon of Hope, LLC
Phyllis Dickerson is a USAF veteran who earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and an Associate degree in Bookkeeping, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Grand Master Sterling Chase, Sr.
GM Sterling Chase, a retired USAF Officer and 7th Degree Black Belt, developed self-defense programs for medical professionals and massage therapists. He is certified in Rape Awareness and Prevention and is an NRA "Refuse To Be a Victim" instructor.
As a former chair of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, he played a key role in defeating Amendment 2. As principal of Wasson High School, he implemented Block Scheduling and led diversity initiatives as chair of Deluxe Corporation's Diversity Council.
Dr. Dimitri Klebe holds a Bachelor’s in Physics from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota. He leads the Mobile Earth and Space Observatory project and develops the All Sky Infrared Visible Analyzer for research.
Veronica has over 10 years in materials science research and 20 in teaching. She mentors student teams on space missions, including high-altitude balloon payloads. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Materials Science.
Sterling Chase graduated from Liberty HS in 2000 and Universal Technical Institute in 2004. After working at Firestone and several dealerships, he founded Sterling Autowerks in 2016 and expanded to Eurovan service in 2020, with plans for further growth.
Derek Anthony Ingraham holds an MA in Telecommunications and a Bachelor's in IT from FIU. He has worked for the City of Miami, U.S. Department of Defense, and Google. He currently serves as a Software Development Manager at Progressive Insurance.
Meg is dedicated to improving lives through mindfulness and positivity, with a B.A. from the University of Dallas and a Master's in Teaching (emphasis in Positive Psych.) from Colorado College. She holds a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Certificate.
Born in Saginaw, MI, and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, Temiya is a wife and mother of 4. She has a Master's in Social Work and is a retired Master Sergeant after 20 years of service. Her interests include photography, tennis, psychology, and design.
Tanisha Jones is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 26 years in education, specializing in special education. She advocates for trauma-informed practices in the classroom to help students thrive emotionally and academically.
Dr. Jones Simmons is an educator with 30+ years with a BA & MS in English, MS in Educational Administration, and EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership. A retired public school administrator, she empowers young people to build confidence.
Todd Bredbenner is an Associate Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCCS, specializing in solid mechanics and machine learning to guide clinicians in individualized bone health maintenance and fracture prevention strategies.
Dr. Cindy Yee instructs Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at UCCS, with a Bachelor's from MIT and a Ph.D. from Caltech, and researches machine learning and dynamical systems. She co-advises the Society of Women Engineers' club to inspire girls in STEM
Pamela is the Chief Operation Officer at the Sachs Foundation. She earned her BA in Sociology from UNLV and an MSW from the University of Denver.
Monica Guzman is a leadership speaker, performance coach, and author of "Fearless by Choice." She empowers diverse audiences in resilience and personal branding and shares valuable insights on LinkedIn.
Dr. Carrillo-Stresow is a business management professor with 15 years of experience in human resources. As Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at CSU Pueblo, she drives transformational change and fosters positive organizational culture.
Dr. Janice Fortman is a relationship coach and award-winning author with over 20 years of experience in effective communication dynamics. She empowers individuals to build healthier connections and is a sought-after speaker on relationship strategies.
Susan Dallam has been with Odyssey ECCO since 2013, teaching AVID, math, and Spanish. She teaches dual enrollment for CSU and manages the MTSS. A doctoral candidate, she advocates for diverse learning and access to higher education.
Serina is a Youth Services and Transition Manager for Colorado's DVR, focusing on pre-employment transition services and employment first. With 10 years as a counselor for youth with disabilities, she promotes inclusive employment.
Dr. Loren is the host of Bathrobe Moments on e360TV and serves as an Executive Producer. A Mentor, Purpose Discovery Coach, and Author, he has appeared on Larry King Live and NPR, and has been featured in major media outlets and several magazine covers.
Izzy Nunez is the Director of Education & Advocacy at Food to Power, focused on improving Colorado Springs' local food system. They enjoy making zines and playing music with friends outside of work.
This is a collaborative presentation with representation from Diversus Health, the Suicide Prevention Partnership, and NAMI Colorado Springs.
Learn Your Rights in the Community (LYRIC) is a nonprofit founded in 2009 by public defenders Hannah Seigel Proff and Michael Juba to educate youth about their constitutional rights that aims to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
René DeAnda is a Professional Academic Advisor with 20 years of experience, dedicated to empowering students. He shares knowledge and resources to help them save money, complete degrees faster, and achieve their academic goals.
Ambrose Feess-Armstrong is the Community Education Manager at Food to Power, where they combine their love for community building and food. In their free time, they enjoy creating art and traveling.
Cheryl is a Youth Services and Transition Manager at Colorado's DVR, with 24 years of experience. She focuses on school-to-work collaboratives and advocates for improved post-secondary outcomes for youth with disabilities through community collaboration
Dr. La Tasha Bruner-Hill holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and multiple degrees, including a Master of Science in Administration. She is a Certified Mood Depression Professional and a Family Nurse Practitioner, dedicated to enhancing mental health care.
Jeff has taught at CMHS for 21 years, currently teaching Economics and a Mindfulness course. He holds an MA in Teaching from Concordia University and a Graduate Certificate in Secondary Economic Education. Jeffs is also a skills facilitator at the USAFA.
LaKeisha is in her 23rd year of education, having served as a Teacher, Coach, Counselor, and Administrator. She currently works as the Program Coordinator for SpEd Behavior and Discipline Supports in Aldine ISD.
Dr. Md Rubayat-E Tanjil earned his B.Sc. from BUET and M.Sc. and Ph.D. from USF. He specializes in nanomanufacturing of 2D metals and is dedicated to teaching independent problem-solving. In his free time, he volunteers at a cat shelter and enjoys sports.
Dr. Sheila V. Eggeston-Bullock, Ed D
An Expert Witness in Special Education Law, with 30+ years of experience, Dr. Sheila Eggleston-Bullock seeks to ensure student success, reflecting her motto: "Success is the ability to go from challenge to challenge without losing enthusiasm."
Jen Bilger, an accomplished Author, Speaker, Certified Behavioral Consultant, Business/Leadership Coach, and thought leader, brings a wealth of experience to her engagements.
Izzy Nu�ez is the Director of Education & Advocacy at Food to Power. They grew up in Colorado Springs and believe that a better world is possible, and it can start here in our local food system.
Dr. Md Rubayat-E Tanjil is from Bangladesh and earned his B.Sc. from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He later completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF).
Dr. Sheila V. Eggleston-Bullock is a seasoned professional with a career spanning over 30 years in education and various administrative roles.
Sunai West has participated in FFA's gardening and recycling programs at Odyssey. She was a member of the link crew where she used her skills to help incoming freshmen and plan school events to create a strong school community.
Dr. Hernandez is the first-generation, Mexican-American bilingual daughter of immigrants with over sixteen years of experience in the education and nonprofit sectors. She is currently the Director of the Pre-Collegiate Support and Success Center at UCCS.
Dr Kimberly Dickman is an assistant professor at the US Air Force Academy where she teaches healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, and resiliency. Her academic specialty is in human sex and sexuality and Positive Psychology.
Abbie Kohlman currently serves as the Program Support Specialist for the Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA). Her position with the PPBEA is to assist K-12 students throughout their career exploration process.
Mark Dickerson retired from the USAF after nearly 25 years of service. He is Trustee of a local non-profit funding youth scholarships.
Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, Director, Inspirer, Entrepreneur & Founder of the Hip Hop ConnXion Family. Find on Facebook: Suave Connxion www.hiphopconnxion.com
Dr. Lynnane George is a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She teaches classes on electronics, space systems, and robots.
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