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Derek Okubo
Director

Derek Okubo is a Colorado native and was raised in Littleton, Colorado, graduating from Arapahoe High School and the University of Northern Colorado. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with double minors in communication and sociology.

Derek has worked for Big Brothers of Metropolitan Denver as the services coordinator for Denver County; the State of Colorado as a community liaison for Governor Roy Romer; and the National Civic League as the Senior Vice President. During his time with the National Civic League, Derek helped design and facilitate over 70+ planning efforts across the United States. He also published numerous articles on topics such as race and governance, sustainability, community engagement, and Civic Infrastructure (a term coined by NCL in the late 1980’s).

In July 2011, Derek was appointed Executive Director of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships (HRCP) by Mayor Michael B. Hancock. HRCP was founded within Denver city government in 1947 to address race and equity conditions of that time. In his role as Executive Director, Derek oversaw eight city offices and 10 advisory commissions. Due to term limits and as an appointee of Mayor Hancock, Derek completed his service with the City and County of Denver in July 2023 and is currently working on contracts through his LLC.

Derek serves on the boards of the Japan America Society of Colorado (President), Sakura Foundation (Treasurer), the Amache Alliance, and the Sand Creek Foundation Advisory Board.

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Mayor G.T. BynumChairMayor of Tulsa, OK Diana Romero CampbellVice ChairCouncil Member, Denver District 4 Adam CarlisleTreasurerVice President of Labor Relations, Southwest Airlines Anthony SantiagoSecretaryPrincipal, Outside N Strategies Mayor Malik D. EvansPast ChairMayor of Rochester, NY Ray BarayBoard MemberChief of Staff, ICMA Hon. Mary Ann BorgesonBoard MemberNACo Immediate Past President; Commissioner, Douglas County, NE T.C. BroadnaxBoard MemberCity Manager, City of Austin Maia ComeauBoard MemberPresident Comeau & Company Todd ConnorBoard MemberCEO, Veterans for All Voters Mayor John DaileyBoard MemberMayor John Dailey, City of Tallahassee, FL Johnny DuPreeBoard MemberFormer Mayor, Hattiesburg, MS Ayeola FortuneBoard MemberVice President, Impact Programs, United Way Worldwide Dr. Joshua FranzelBoard MemberSenior Executive and Director of Research & Data Analysis at National League of Cities Mayor Patti GarrettBoard Member (Former Chair)Mayor of Decatur, Georgia Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr.Board MemberMayor, City of Edinburg Heather A. JohnstonBoard MemberChief Operating Officer, Winthrop & Weinstine Rita McNeil Danish, Esq.Board MemberCEO, Signal Ohio Angela MontezBoard MemberSenior Vice President, Chief Legal, Corporate & Government Affairs Officer, MissionSquare Retirement Tony PeytonBoard MemberExecutive Vice President & Chief of Staff, National Center for Families Learning Monte RoulierBoard MemberPresident & Co-Founder Community Initiatives Inc. Mayor Vince WilliamsBoard MemberMayor of Union City, GA Wendy WillisBoard MemberExecutive Director, Deliberative Democracy Consortium

Who We Are

  • Main Phone:
    303-571-4343

  • General Email:
    [email protected]

  • Main Address:
    190 E. 9th Ave. Suite 440
    Denver, CO 80203

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