CHERRY CREEK FASHION — Leslie Herod Brings Lived Experience and Determination to her Denver Mayoral Campaign

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CAROLINE MILLER AT FOUR SEASONS DENVER

WRITTEN BY ANNIE BLOJ / STYLED BY KOYA NYANGI

MAKEUP & HAIR BY CYDNEY STAPLES

Undoubtedly, you have seen, heard, and maybe even had the opportunity to meet Leslie Herod. As the first LGBTQ African American Woman elected to the Colorado General Assembly, her leadership is felt throughout our state. What you may not know is that she approaches her role with emotional intelligence and personal history that provides a deep understanding of how the systems around us operate. Leslie’s compassion for our state and those who live here is authentic and rooted in making Colorado the best it can be. She recently announced that she is running for Mayor of Denver.

Anne Bloj: Leslie, your ascent to public leadership was born from a childhood that called upon you to lead a household at a young age. Can you share how your experience as a young adult led you to run for student government during your time at the University of Colorado, Boulder?

Leslie Herod: Well, that’s really a question about how my childhood shaped my policy-making, right? Let’s just say, it took a village to raise me. I was raised by a single mom who was an OBGYN for the military and I was also raised by two bonus parents— a father who was in law enforcement and a mom who was an executive with Colorado Springs utilities. I also had a sister who spent 30 years in and out of prison because of substance misuse which we realized later had to do with sexual trauma she experienced as a child and young adult.

All of that taught me that there’s so much nuance when we’re talking about how to help people—and our responsibility to do so, to help each other. No one should be thrown away, no one should be treated less than human; that’s what my upbringing taught me. None of the issues we face in society are easily solved. But if we care enough to look at it from the perspective of the people, we can make changes that have a real impact on people's lives.

My sister is now clean and sober, and I am so proud of what she taught me.

AB: What inspired you to pursue a full-time career in public service and run for election in your post-grad life?

LH: I never intended to go into a life of elected leadership. I ran for student government in college and then everything happened from there. I went to CU Boulder and quickly realized that there weren’t that many students who looked like me. And the students who did look like me were not well represented. So I ran for student government and ended up working with a group of people who were fantastic.

Then I graduated during the recession and I went to the Capitol and offered to work doing whatever was needed. Eventually, I ended up working my way up to working for Governor Ritter as his senior policy advisor. I realized that there is power in representation, policy making and the implementation of that policy at the community level, which ultimately led me to become a state representative in the General Assembly.

AB: As the first LGBTQ African American Woman elected to the General Assembly, your presence marks an incredible achievement in a historically “purple” state. What legacy do you hope to offer other women and marginalized communities in terms of empowerment and leadership?

LH: Nothing can hold us back. I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve realized and that others will realize. The glass ceiling is just that – glass that is ready to be shattered. We’re here and we are more than ready to follow in the footsteps of people like Shirley Chisholm, Gloria Steinem, Dolores Huerta, and Kamala Harris. I hope that my position will encourage more women of color, more LGBT women, to run for office.

AB: So much has changed since you were elected in 2016; from your vantage point, what are the biggest challenges for Denver and Colorado?

LH: There are so many big issues facing Denver right now. Whether it’s affordability, climate, crime, or transit. Since 2020, housing prices in Denver have increased by 38.5%, making homeownership more and more inaccessible, and the disparities between white, Black, and Brown households are only increasing. Homelessness is on the rise, and we aren’t doing enough to support our most vulnerable neighbors.

Our small businesses are struggling, and neighborhood institutions have been forced to close. Local shops, cafes, restaurants, and more are being lost, and that affects the very fabric of our city.

Transportation is also not serving Denver well. It was designed to connect regions, but ours is a city of neighborhoods and needs to be accessible across neighborhoods to better connect us.

Our city employees are unsupported and unhappy. Over 20% of city employees are seriously considering leaving their jobs in the next year. We need to support the people who are working for the city so that they can better support the residents, small business owners, and entrepreneurs in Denver.

While everyone thinks of Denver as a “green city,” we’ve had some of the worst air quality days in the world in recent years. We need to work harder to actually become a truly, equitably green city including building out our parks infrastructure.

So, yes, we are facing many challenges. But I think that Denverites are ready to tackle them together.

AB: Often running for a public office seems like a daunting role to take on, particularly during today’s divided political climate. Do you have any advice to offer someone considering making this career move?

LH: Just do it. We need all different types of leadership and backgrounds to make our city the strongest it can be. Whether you’re a mom, CEO, artist, entrepreneur, or all of the above – we need you. Our differences and uniqueness are what make us strong leaders ready to serve our communities.

Clothing: Jacket: Glenn & Glenn / Dress: Meçlâ

AB: Since this is Cherry Creek Fashion, we’d be remiss not to ask you about your personal style! Women in public roles often face criticism about their professional appearance, in contrast to their male counterparts who fly under the radar aesthetically. How do you balance your affinity for fashion with the day-to-day duties of being in the public eye?

LH: I love fashion! I actually used to work at the MAC counter at Nordstrom (and spent all of my money!). For so long female politicians and CEOS were told you have to look and dress a certain way—suits, conservative. But things are changing. I love to lean into my femininity. Flirty and bold fashion is what I love and that’s what works for me. Style is personal, and everybody should lean into the style that truly reflects their spirit.

Fashion is an inspiration. I’m inspired by the clothes I wear, and I’m always so excited to highlight Denver designers.

AB: Leslie, you are such an inspiration not only to us at CCF but to so many citizens that are proud to call Colorado home. You are a role model to those that feel perhaps powerless and unseen by their elected officials. Your energy is infectious and needed in these often divided times. We can’t wait to see what comes next for you!