The Denver Public Library is excited to announce this year’s Juanita Gray Community Service Awards winners! We are also proud to introduce three inductees into the biannual Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame for their groundbreaking accomplishments in the state of Colorado. Below are short bios on each winner and this year’s Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame inductees.
2024 Juanita Gray Community Service Award Winners
Jawana Norris
Donna 'Jawana' Norris is a creative spirit who uses her talents of dance, song, and art to share the accomplishments of the Black diaspora with everyone she meets. Her determination to share the stories of Black people with children and her ability to educate and instill pride in heritage is powerful. Jawana has celebrated Black culture with the library and community for the last two decades, impacting Denver’s youth for many generations. Not only does she foster their talents, but reminds them that they are creating history right now.
Chandra Thomas Whitfield
Chandra Thomas Whitfield is an award-winning multimedia journalist who has dedicated her life to uplifting, acknowledging, and celebrating diverse voices in Colorado and beyond. Her work has been featured in local and national mediums and she co-hosts and produces Colorado Matters, a public affairs show on Colorado Public Radio. She’s covered many significant stories including the historic number of Black women judges appointed by Governor Polis for Essence magazine. Chandra has been a valuable member of the Denver Community.
This year’s nominees included Sandra Douglas, Joshalynn Green-Tuner, Granville Lee, Dr. Ronald D. Reeves, Stephanie Tavares-Rance and Anita West-Berry. Learn more about the nominees here.
2024 Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame Induction Inductees
Adrian Miller
Adrian Miller is a Colorado community leader with a diverse range of accomplishments. He has worked in politics, including serving at the Clinton White House and on Gov. Bill Ritter Jr.'s legislative and policy teams. In the faith community, he has led the Colorado Council of Churches for a decade and is a longtime leader at Campbell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. He recently curated an exhibit at the Museum of Boulder celebrating African American contributions to Colorado. Adrian is also a critically acclaimed food writer and serves on numerous community nonprofit boards of directors. Photo by Ryan Fila
Retired Division Chief Charles Thomas Smith
Charles "C.T." Smith served in the Denver Police Department for 36 years. Just the fourth Black division chief in the department's history, Charles played a key role in creating metro Denver's Crime Stoppers program. He also established the Store Front Program, a community-based space to engage community members with the police. Academically, he earned his Bachelor's in Physical Education and his Master's in Sociology from the University of Colorado Denver. Charles set a model example through his work to engage the community with the Police Department and has been a pillar in the community
William H. Whitsell (posthumous award)
William H. Whitsell was the first African-American male born in Colorado, in the historic mining town of Central City in 1866. His parents came west to help build the railroad and moved to Denver around 1870. Whitsell passed away at the age of 77. As an adult, he worked as a brick mason, was dedicated to community service, and was an active member of the church. His strong work ethic, commitment to civic duty, and spiritual beliefs have been passed on to generations that have followed.
About the Awards
The Juanita Gray Award honors African American men, women, and youth who make outstanding contributions to the Denver Metro area and who exemplify the ideals and spirit represented by Gray’s commitment to the community. A community-driven committee works with the Library to nominate and select the winners of the award and the Hall of Fame inductees.
Previous recipients of the Juanita Ross Gray Community Service Award
