Angell Pérez is the executive director of Colorado Circles for Change, owner and principal consultant of Angell Pérez Consulting LLC, adjunct professor for Gender, Women and Sexuaitiesl Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver and the mother of four. She has over 20 years experience working within communities of color to provide a space of empowerment for youth to dismantle various forms of oppression and reach their full potential. She is an expert on intersectionality and providing gender specific programming for girls of color. Under her leadership, she has been responsible for leading transformational initiatives at organizations which have included facilitating conversations around race, gender, power, privilege and forms of oppression to dismantle societal barriers for communities of color.
Angell feels strongly that her personal lived experience is what informs her work and is only complemented by her formal education and training. She received an independent bachelor degree in Multiculturalism and Social Justice from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a certificate in Non-Profit Management and a Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies from Colorado State University with a certificate in Women’s Studies. Angell is an alumni of the Community Resource Center’s Colorado Non-Profit Leadership and Management Program, the Denver Foundation’s Executive Directors of Color Institute, the national Spirit in Action Transformative Leadership Program, member of the National Wisdom Keepers Initiative, Denver Healing Generations Network and associated with the National Comadres Network. Angell is a healer, writer, hip hop lover, and finds strength and power through her spiritual mexica, taino, and african traditions which she attributes to her ability to champion community work.
What are you looking forward to as a fellow of TLC?
“Having the opportunity to be in an intentional community of executive directors of color will allow for learning, sharing, growth, and support which we cannot find in any other leadership development space. I believe this is an opportunity to build power, create strong support systems, and networks that will enable us to have a bigger impact in the work we do. For me personally, participation in this fellowship will support my personal journey which needs a network of supporters that can identify with my agency as an executive director of color. Without this particular support to address my unique needs I will not reach my potential as a leader, I hope this opportunity will contribute to that journey.“