b'BODY OF CHRIST NEWS MAGAZINECOVER STORYTRAILBLAZERS IN WOMENS HISTORY:DR. SHARON BAILEY, BARBARA SHANNON-BANISTER, HON. VICTORIA BUCKLEY, HON. EDNA MOSLEY, AND GLORIA TRAVIS TANNERPIONEERING BLACK WOMEN IN COLORADOS HISTORY: HONORING LEGACIES THAT TRANSCEND TIME Dr. Sharon Bailey Dr. Barbara Shannon-Banister Honorable Victoria Buckley Honorable Edna Mosley Honorable Gloria TannerBy Maya Wheeler, MBA, MHA, MA Dr. Barbara Shannon-Banister: Fostering Cultural Harmony, Community Faith, and Cross-Cultural As Womens History Month unfolds, we turn our gaze to theUnderstanding indomitable spirits of Dr. Sharon Bailey, Honorable Victoria Buckley, Honorable Gloria Tanner, Honorable Edna Mosley,Dr.BarbaraShannon-Banister,theonlylivingtrailblazer andDr.BarbaraShannon-Banistertrailblazerswhoseamongthisremarkablegroup,standsasabeaconof journeys have left an indelible mark on Colorado. Theirwisdom and resilience. Her dedication to fostering cross-stories, though marked by the passage of time, continueculturalunderstandinginAurora,markedbyalmost toinspireandshapeourcollectiveunderstandingoffourdecadesofservice,remainsatestamenttothe resilience, leadership, and justice.power of dialogue and community building. Dr. Shannon-Banisterslegacyincludescrucialentitieslikethe Dr. Sharon Bailey: A Guiding Light in Education Advocacy Aurora Key Community Response Team, the International CrossCulturalNetworkofAurora,andhersignificant InreflectingonDr.SharonBaileysjourney,wehonorinvolvement in the Aurora Community of Faith, fostering not only her pioneering efforts but also the enduringcultural harmony and community faith. She continues to legacy she has left behind. As the first Black woman toinspire, and her contributions have solidified her place in serve on the Denver Public School board from 1988 tothe hall of fame of living legends. 1995,Dr.Baileyscommitmenttoequitableeducation laid the foundation for future generations. Her impactAswecelebratethelivesandlegaciesofthese transcends time, reminding us that her spirit lives on inextraordinaryBlackwomen,werecognizethattheir the strides made toward educational equality. Dr. Baileysimpact,whetherintheechoesofhistoryortheliving tireless work included groundbreaking reports that setpresenceamongus,continuestoshapeColorados the stage for the Denver Public Schools African Americannarrative. In honoring their journeys, we find inspiration to Equity Task Force. Her contributions earned her a place inpersevere and strive for positive change, acknowledging the Colorado Association of School Boards Hall of Fame.theenduringstrengthandresilienceofBlackwomen throughout history.3 BOCNEWS.COM'