PRESIDENT

Dena Samuels, PhD, serves as a mindfulness-based diversity, equity, and inclusion author, consultant and leadership coach. As an award-winning tenured professor, Dr. Samuels taught at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs for 20 years while consulting around the U.S. and beyond. She now consults and coaches full-time on mindful, inclusive leadership development, and remains on faculty at the university. She has authored several books and many other publications. Her latest book, “The Mindfulness Effect: an unexpected path to healing, connection, and social justice,” offers 25 mindfulness practices for health/wellness, self-empowerment, culturally inclusive leadership development, social justice and environmental justice. She provides individual and group coaching to leadership teams to support them in living more fulfilling, connected, and meaningful lives; and assists organizations, campuses, and corporations in building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultures. Dr. Samuels’ extensive client list includes over 150 organizations like NASA, PBS, and Big Brothers Big Sisters; Fortune 50 Corporations like Facebook/WhatsApp and Humana; and campuses around the U.S. such as the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Recently, she was featured in the award-winning documentary on racism and bias, “How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?” (T. Keith; 2022). Her community activism focuses on facilitating cross-racial dialogue.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Janna Winkle joined Unity Project and its board in 2020. She grew up in the choral music culture of Minnesota, which informed her lifelong commitment to the choral arts. In addition to Unity Project, Janna continues her pursuit of choral music in Colorado Springs by singing in her church choir and attending local concerts. Janna teaches English, speech, and creative writing at Cheyenne Mountain High School. Her teaching evolves each year as a reflection of her experiences in Unity Project.

TREASURER

L. Lynn Vidler, Ph.D. (they/them) is a graduate of New York University (BA ‘92) and the University of California, Irvine (MA ‘95, PhD ‘02) and has served as Professor of Spanish and Dean of the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences at UCCS since 2020. They previously taught at the United States Military Academy (West Point) and at the University of South Dakota. Their leadership interests lie primarily in organizational change management, DEI and building leadership capacity for the team. Dr. Vidler serves on the Pikes Peak Workforce Development Board, as a trustee for the Bee Vradenburg Foundation and the board of the Unity Project.

SECRETARY

Born in Albuquerque, NM, Sathya McClain grew up in a family filled with artists, educators, and spiritually curious minds. The youngest of four siblings and born the child of a black man and a white woman, diversity innately became a familiar and increasingly important theme in her life. Sathya fell in love with music at a young age and singing was the forefront of her joy for several years. This lead Sathya to many opportunities that developed her in diverse performance experience and skills. In college, a new world opened up to her when she discovered the power and potential of dance. In 2023, Sathya completed her AA in Dance at PPSC. She is now developing her career, teaching voice at Harmonic Garden School of Music, studying as an intern at Ormao Dance Company, doing a work study and dancing with PPSC Dance, and using all of this and her valuable life experience to continue to grow and develop as a member of Unity Project. 

PAST PRESIDENT

I'm Kaylan Coleman, a systems analyst with a strong interest in technology. I've channeled my entrepreneurial spirit into starting a production company, where I get to combine my tech expertise with my love for photography, producing visual stories for a variety of clients.

When I'm not working, I enjoy hobbies like fly fishing and photography, which allow me to connect with nature. While I strive to spend quality time with my family, my professional commitments often keep me busy. I'm always working on finding the right balance between my career, my personal interests, and my family responsibilities.

ASSISTANT TREASURER

Hi, I am Hayle Black, I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Unity Project Colorado Springs. I am looking forward to bringing a deep commitment to community, growth, and connection. As a dedicated parent, I am raising two wonderful children with the goal of guiding them into understanding, compassionate adults.

With a background in real estate and hospitality, I value the importance of creating welcoming spaces—both in homes and within the community. Always striving to be a better person, I am on a journey of self-improvement, embracing new perspectives, and exploring all that Colorado has to offer.

Passionate about fostering inclusivity and meaningful change, I am excited to contribute to the mission of Unity Project, working alongside others to build a stronger, more connected community.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Vennita has been the Program Director for Peak Education since August 2005.  In this position, she is, in effect, our Chief Relationship Officer, maintaining and strengthening our connections with each Peak Education Scholar and family. Her experience as a single mother of three boys, all of whom are college graduates, has given her unique insight into the daily struggles of low-income families served by Peak Education.     

Vennita moved to Colorado Springs in 1986 from California after graduating with a B.A. in Communication with an emphasis in radio and television from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California.

Before coming to Peak Education, Vennita worked with the Girl Scouts Wagon Wheel Council for 13 years as a Membership and Marketing Specialist. In addition to her work with the Girl Scouts, she served on the board of the Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD), and is currently starting her second term as a board member for the African American Youth Leadership Conference (AAYLC).  In addition, she is in her 16th year as a mentor with the Sachs Foundation’s “Elevated” program, which empowers students to achieve excellence in postsecondary education.Description goes here

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Kyle is in his ninth season as the Artistic Director for the Colorado Repertory Singers and has served throughout the Denver-Boulder area for 20 years as a conductor, music educator, and singer. He has led choral ensembles in a wide variety of settings including college, high school, middle school, church and community. Kyle is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of choral music and lifelong singing, and is frequently working behind the scenes to build bridges between institutions, ensembles, and organizations that work to advance the choral arts and music education within our local communities.

Kyle holds degrees in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder (MM and DMA) as well as vocal performance from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN (BA). His teachers include Larry Kaptein, Joan Catoni Conlon, Gary Lewis, and George S.T. Chu.

Kyle is a past-president of the Colorado chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and is in demand as a clinician and guest conductor having made festival, honor choir, and workshop appearances in several states including Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Wyoming, California, Texas and Colorado. Kyle and his wife, Amy, live in Golden (CO) with their two kids Caleb and Addie.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Having been born and raised in Colorado, Betsy naturally went to the University of Colorado in Boulder where she received bachelor’s degrees in Communication Disorders and Speech Science and in Psychology. She then went to Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma where she earned a Master’s of Science degree in Communication Disorders. Betsy established Straka Speech in 1984 and has watched it grow and grow. When not working or tending to the office she enjoys reading, traveling, skiing and spending time with family.