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Fellowship

Cultivating Public Education Champions

Denver Families Action created the LEAD Fellowship to support a simple but powerful idea: the people who can solve the biggest challenges in our public schools are already part of our community.

The LEAD Fellowship program partners with leaders who reflect the lived experiences, diversity, and perspectives of the DPS community. It equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to become stronger advocates and changemakers. Throughout the program, Fellows build the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to navigate complex systems, advocate effectively, and drive meaningful change for Denver’s public schools. 
At DFA, we believe that leadership development should be accessible to all. To honor Fellows’ time and support equitable access to the LEAD Fellowship, we provide a $5,000 stipend to each participant who successfully completes the program. The stipend is distributed in installments throughout the duration of the fellowship.

2024-2025 LEAD Fellowship Recap

Over the course of seven months, Fellows participated in a thoughtfully designed program that created space to critically explore the evolving challenges and opportunities within Denver’s education landscape.

The LEAD Fellowship ran from October 2024 through May 2025 and was structured in two parts:

  • Phase One (October–January): Fellows engaged with local and national experts to deepen their understanding of Denver Public Schools, public education policy, and school board governance. This phase included a field visit to Atlanta, where Fellows learned how advocates across the country are reimagining public education.
  • Phase Two (February–May): Fellows explored the fundamentals of political campaigns and consulted with experienced campaign professionals to understand the intersection of education policy and politics. This phase featured a multi-day retreat.

Meet the 2024-2025 LEAD Fellows

Anita Banuelos

Anita Banuelos

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Jamal Bowen

Jamal Bowen

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Vallerie Bustamante

Vallerie Bustamante

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MaDonna (Donna) Chrisjohn

MaDonna (Donna) Chrisjohn

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Gene Fashaw

Gene Fashaw

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Lorelei Jackson

Lorelei Jackson

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Timiya Jackson

Timiya Jackson

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Adriana Lopez

Adriana Lopez

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Alex Magaña

Alex Magaña

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Dr. Aaron Massey

Dr. Aaron Massey

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Tatenda Blessing Muchiriri

Tatenda Blessing Muchiriri

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DJ Torres

Donald (DJ) Torres

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Application Process

The next program will take place in Fall 2026 through Spring 2027. Applications for the next LEAD Fellowship program opens in Spring 2026. If you’d like to be notified once the application opens, please contact Cody Ostenson.

Questions?

Contact Cody Ostenson, Director of External Affairs, at