Author: Joanne Davidson Special to Colorado Politics

COLORADO OPEN LANDS  Lakewood  News: Wendell Fleming perhaps said it best in her explanation of the “why” behind the Lakewood-based nonprofit, Colorado Open Lands: “It’s not enough to just love this state … we have to preserve it. We have to preserve it not just for us, but for the people we’ll never meet.”  Fleming, a Colorado Open Lands board member, is also executive director of the LARRK Foundation and serves on…

CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE  Denver  News: Thirteen civic leaders, including Kourtny Garrett, president and chief executive officer of the Downtown Denver Partnership; Nick Lopez, CEO of the Latin American Education Foundation; and CBS Colorado anchor/reporter Kelly Werthmann, have agreed to take part in the 2026 edition of Dancing with the Denver Stars.  A fundraiser for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Dancing…

COLORADO SYMPHONY  Denver  News: The Colorado Symphony has enjoyed several defining moments over the past several months, most notably its New York tour, featuring critically acclaimed concerts at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall.  The orchestra added further notoriety on May 9 when Jon Batiste headlined the 2026 Symphony in the City Gala, a dinner and concert expected to raise…

WOMEN’S VOICES FUND  Denver  News: A mere 24 hours after the Denver Art Museum’s fashion-forward Luncheon by Design, where some 400 guests got all dolled up to celebrate the legacy of designer-to-the-stars Bob Mackie, 650 supporters of the Women’s Voices Fund put on their fanciest chapeaux and headed over to Seawell Ballroom for the 19th Hattitude Luncheon.  Jennifer Dechtman, a past president of the former Denver Center Alliance…

COLORADO BUSINESS COMMITTEE FOR THE ARTS  Denver  News: Call it preaching to the choir, if you will, but Mahes Prasad was spot on when he described what an important role the arts play in elevating Colorado’s quality of life. In particular, the 12 individuals and businesses that were celebrated at the April 21 Business for the Arts Awards Luncheon.  Prasad, U.S. Bank’s senior vice president and private wealth management market leader for…

COLORADO BALLET  Denver  News: In the 20 years that Gil Boggs has been the artistic director of Colorado Ballet, the company has been on an upward trajectory; its stature rising from mixed local reviews to the national acclaim it now enjoys.  Boggs’ tenure was celebrated at the company’s April 16 fundraiser, The One Gala, a black-tie fete where the 655 guests raised a record $1 million.  Chairwoman Jill Anschutz and mistress of ceremonies Lauren Whitney were just…