Brother Jeff —Telling the Story

In celebration of Black History Month…

“No limits” might be a fair description of the force of nature known as “Brother Jeff.”  Jeff Fard is a northeast Denver native, and his branches are as significant as his roots. He describes himself as a multimedia journalist, historian, and community organizer. Let’s count a few of the ways.

Take his base of operations since 1994, brother jeff’s Cultural Center and Café (2836 Welton St., Denver, Colo. 80205), with the “Say It Loud” / Tommie Smith-John Carlos sign out front. From there he hosts “Black Dollar Saturdays” from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a mainstay of micro-enterprise and crafty-ness.  It’s a vibrant, local, organic answer to the question, “how can we support a Black business?”

That spot personifies “cultural center” by hosting Capoeira sessions (Sundays), jazz jam sessions (First Fridays), community meetings, old-school “rap” sessions, drum circles, and more.

His weekday afternoon (2:00 p.m.) Facebook Live “Let’s Talk” program often comes from the Cultural Center, smartly positioned in front of the John Brown – Jack Johnson – Harriet Tubman – Fannie Lou Hamer mural.

He coordinates food drives and free meals.

His Health Initiative was launched two decades ago to reduce the disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS in the African American community. Today Fard is working against (again) the disproportionate impact upon Blacks of the Coronavirus.

His publication is the 5 Star News (aka “Five Points News”), where one discovers the ideas and images of the people from the Five Points and northeast Denver neighborhoods in their own words.

Among his other awards, Fard was recognized as a “Disrupter” by 5280 Magazine in the January 2019 issue. Brother Jeff Fard continually lives up to his reputation as a “Conversation Starter.” What’s next up his sleeve?  Stay tuned to find out. Or better yet, go stir up something yourself.  He’ll find you.

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