Dr. Scott Spillman, Senior Researcher, provided an overview of the work that the History Colorado team has completed in research, oral history, and outreach.

The team plans to complete an additional 10-12 investigations in the next year.

Mr. John Valdez, Research Historian and Economist, spoke to data collection from other state agencies for Black Coloradans.

Dr. Melissa Jones, Research Historian, answered a question about trends in Black Coloradan penitentiary records from 1870 to 1980. Dr. Jones and the research team have compiled a database of all known Black prisoners in the state penitentiary during this time. Dr. Jones also spoke about Black Coloradans in the legislature.

Mr. Valdez discussed banking, financial, and housing discrimination against Black Coloradans that the study has uncovered since the last meeting.

Mr. Valdez and Ms. ChaToyya Walker, Research Historian and Oral History Manager, discussed the sources she has used in her study of housing discrimination.

Dr. Jones continued discussion of statewide police and penitentiary records.

Commissioner Shawn Coleman shared his experience and encouraged the researchers to include music history and the arts in their study.

Commissioners requested updates on youth studies and healthy equity.

Ms. Walker provided more insight into the collections she has been using to conduct archival research. Ms. Walker also discussed the next steps in the oral history initiative.

Dr. Spillman and Mr. Valdez spoke about the economics and ability to conduct analysis based on minimal records.

Mr. Valdez spoke about health equity research, specifically Black maternal mortality data.