A call for nominations is now open for the 2025 Juanita Gray Community Service Awards!
Submit nominations by Friday, November 22 at 11:59 p.m.
Denver Public Library established the Juanita Gray Community Service Awards in 1988 to celebrate the contributions of men, women, and youth of Black or African descent. Juanita Gray was a former library staff member and community advocate whose legacy, dedication, and advocacy of Denver’s African American community continue to inspire. She also established the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame in 1973 which continues to add biennial inductees based upon their trailblazing accomplishments in the state of Colorado.
Each year community members are invited to nominate individuals who make outstanding contributions to the Denver Metro area and who exemplify the ideals and spirit represented by Mrs. Gray’s commitment to the community. A community-driven committee works with the Library and a member of the Library Commission to nominate and select the award winners and Hall of Fame inductees.
View decades of Juanita Gray Community Service Award recipients and Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame Inductees. Learn more about the most recent awardees and inductees below.
2024 Juanita Gray Community Service Award Recipients
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 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.
Learn more about the other 2024 nominees here.
2024 Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame Inductees
Adrian Miller is a Colorado community leader with a diverse range of accomplishments 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.
Charles Thomas "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 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.