Velveta GoLightly Howell – Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame 2020 Inductee, Life-Long Champion for Social Justice and Advocacy – Episode 137
Today on Extraordinary Women Radio, I'm excited to bring you the very extraordinary Velveta GoLightly Howell , a Colorado Women's Hall of Fame 2020 Inductee and Life-Long Champion for Social Justice and Advocacy.
In this episode:
Listen in on how Velveta’s path was set out to fight against racial discrimination at an early age of 6 years old
Velveta’s encounter with a police officer that sparked her own to crusade for equality
Appreciate how Velveta saw individual differences but also saw the equality in people
What continues to drive Velveta to fight for equality and social justice
The achievement that Velveta is proud of the most
Some leadership tips to help you excel as a leader
What we can do as individuals to help the country and make a difference
Velveta’s message to the world
Velveta Howell has made many contributions as a life-long champion for social justice and advocacy. She is known as an exceptional role model for other African American women and girls. She was the eighth African American female graduate of the University of Colorado Law School and the first woman of color appointed as Colorado’s Deputy District Attorney. From her humble beginnings, she has worked tirelessly at the local, state, regional, and federal levels to advance the causes closest to her, succeeding in the fiercely competitive and often brutal world of criminal justice.
Through creative, solid, and sustainable policies, practices, and procedures, Howell designed roadmaps to enhance others’ lives, especially society’s most vulnerable. Her ability to visualize and eliminate impediments to social justice, equipped her to tear down barriers and increase access to social, civil, and criminal justice, quality and equal healthcare, clean water, affordable housing, food, and other critical services for people of all backgrounds.. Howell attributes her success to integrity, compassionfor all people, and an unrelenting commitment to justice. This determination has resulted in a succession of women, especially women of color, following her into this still male-dominated arena. Today, many African American prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys in Colorado are inspired
and/or personally mentored by her.
Howell has worked to improve access to quality healthcare to all Colorado citizens, particularly under-served populations. She is one of twelve appointees to the Robert Wood Johnson-funded Colorado Healthcare Reform Executive Steering Committee and Turning Point Initiative . She is also the driver behind the committee’s focus on racial and ethnic healthcare disparities. This focus has resulted in the establishment and legislative enactment of the Colorado Office of Health Disparities , only the nation’s second.
“I had a purpose and God has plans that I would live out and that I would be strengthened and supported no matter the barriers.” - Velveta GoLightly Howell
Connect with Velveta Howell on LinkedIn.
Let’s meet Velveta GoLightly Howell!
Velveta GoLightly Howell Show Notes
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The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame mission is to inspire by celebrating and sharing the enduring contributions of Colorado’s distinctive women. To achieve this, the Hall educates the people of Colorado about the stories of the women who shaped our state and the nation’s history with courage, leadership, intelligence, compassion, and creativity. Their talents, skills, struggles, and contributions form a legacy that the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame is dedicated to protecting. I invite you to join us at the March 18, 2020 Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame 2020 Inductee Gala by purchasing your ticket here.
Watch for five additional interviews in the coming months of the 2020 Inductee Hall of Famers: