Kenya "Mahogany" Fashaw is a spoken word artist and an award winning playwright. She believes in telling stories that have been untold. Her art was nurtured in the heart of the Five Points community and Welton Street in Denver, Colorado.

Kenya reads her poem “Change Gon’ Come” inspired by Sam Cooke and the Five Points neighborhood. Kenya wrote this poem after George Floyd’s murder and the summer 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

Learn more about Kenya "Mahogany" Fashaw and follow her work at:

• 5280 Artist Coop
• Instagram @Mahoganyfashaw 
• YouTube: Mahogany Fashaw

For a transcript and to learn more about the Building Denver Initiative visit www.HistoryColorado.org/Building-Denver. 

And if you’re interested in how Denver’s ever-changing built environment has shaped the city from 1860 to today, visit our exhibition, Building Denver: Visions of the Capital City. You can experience this exhibition at the History Colorado Center beginning May 29, 2021. Mention this podcast to receive $2 off admission.

In this episode, Kenya "Mahogany" Fashaw performs her poem, “Change Gon’ Come” and shares stories that transport us to Juneteenth celebrations, spoken word performances at brother jeff’s community center, and places lost to gentrification on Welton Street. Kenya gives us a glimpse into the places that have built the Five Points community. 

Kenya is a spoken word artist and an award winning playwright. She believes in telling stories that have been untold. Her art was nurtured in the heart of the Five Points community and Welton Street in Denver, Colorado. 

Follow her work at: 5280artistcoop.com on Instagram @Mahoganyfashaw and YouTube: Mahogany Fashaw 

For a transcript of this episode and to learn more about the Building Denver Initiative visit www.HistoryColorado.org/Building-Denver. 

Mention this podcast to receive $2 off admission to Building Denver: Visions of the Capital City - an upcoming exhibition at the History Colorado Center beginning May 29, 2021.

Josiah Lopez uses the street as inspiration for his work. Whether murals, graffiti, or graphic design, his art touches on the complicated narratives of urban identity. Josiah received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his work has been shown across the United States since 1998. 

Josiah performs his original poem, “West Side Excursions” inspired by his adventures growing up in Denver’s Baker and Lincoln Park Neighborhoods. Josiah wrote this piece after the death of his friend Rocky, who introduced him to the West Side.

See Josiah’s murals and more: https://www.josiahleelopez.com/ 

For a transcript of this episode and to learn more about the Building Denver Initiative visit www.HistoryColorado.org/Building-Denver. 

Mention this podcast to receive $2 off admission to Building Denver: Visions of the Capital City--an upcoming exhibition at the History Colorado Center beginning May 29, 2021.