These 10 remarkable women, all
inductees in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, share their
experiences and offer their advice in videos you can reach by clicking
on their photos below. Biographical information about each woman
is under her photo. These brief videos are edited from longer interviews
which are available from the Hall. For more information about the
project contact the Hall at info@cogreatwomen.org
Lena Archuleta
Lena Archuleta has served the Hispanic
community in Colorado as teacher, school librarian, administrator,
and community volunteer. In 1976 she became the first Hispanic
female principal in the Denver Public Schools. She served as
supervisor of bilingual education programs and community relations
for the school system and was the first woman to serve as president
of the Latin American Education Foundation.
Link to Biography
Hendrika Cantwell
Hendrika Cantwell, MD began her work with abused and neglected children in 1975, when she became the first physician to work with the Denver Department of Social Services. Dr. Cantwell helped establish a child care facility for abused children and started the first court-ordered parenting classes to help abusive and neglectful parents.
Link to Biography
Merle Chambers
Merle Chambers, a philanthropist, businesswoman,
and lawyer, created the Chambers Family Fund to support organizations
that expand opportunities for women and girls, improve early care
and education of children, enhance democratic values, and enrich
the arts. She is the third woman to have reached both the North
and South Poles.
Link to Biography
Marion Downs
Marion Downs fought tirelessly throughout
her career for hearing screening in newborns, and for early intervention
for those found to have hearing problems. Downs directed the
audiology program at the University of Denver from 1951 to 1959
and was a
faculty member of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Link to Biography
Gudrun "Gudy" Gaskill
Gudy Gaskill spearheaded the effort
to build the 500-mile Colorado Trail, one of the top outdoor
attractions in Colorado. She rallied thousands of volunteers
from every state and many countries to help build the trail,
one segment at a time. Today the Colorado Trail, a three-foot-wide
path for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and back-country
skiers, winds through Colorado's mountains, avoiding towns
and cities, from Denver to Durango. Link to Biography
Josie Heath
Josie Heath has made Colorado history
as a community activist, educator, and political contender who
is committed to improving the quality of life of Colorado citizens. As
director of the Women’s Center at Red Rocks Community College,
Heath developed a program enabling underprivileged women to pursue
higher-paying, non-traditional careers. She was also the Democratic
nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1990 and 1992. Link to Biography
Arlene Hirschfeld
Arlene Hirschfeld has made an indelible mark on Colorado as a
life-long community leader, philanthropist, and tireless activist
working on behalf of women, children, education, and the arts.
Hirschfelds unique style of civic engagement serves as a model
of contemporary philanthropic leadership. Link to Biography
Gloria Tanner
Gloria Tanner was the first African American woman to serve as a Colorado state senator and the second African American to be elected to a leadership position in the Colorado House of Representatives, where she was chair of the Minority Caucus. Link to Biography
Mildred Walter
Mildred Pitts Walter is the recipient
of the 1987 Coretta Scott King Award for Literature. Her award-winning
book "Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World" is
just one of over a dozen children's books she has written.An avid
supporter of civil rights, Walter has served as a member of the
Congress of Racial Equality, and worked with the American Civil
Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People to initiate legislation in Los Angeles.
Link to BIography
Wilma Webb
The wife of former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and the mother of four, Wilma Webb forged her own political career in Colorado. She began as a community volunteer who registered people to vote, helped impoverished families, and encouraged equality in education. Webb first entered the political arena as a Democratic committeewoman in 1970 and remains an active leader and volunteer within the Denver community.
Link to Biography
