We get important perspective on the value and meaning of Black History Month from a remarkable young Black man who lives and breathes civic engagement. Chauncy Johnson has worked in the Colorado State Capitol, pitched in on important initiatives, and run for Colorado Springs City Council in 2025. He is currently seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Colorado State Representative in House District 17.

Pikes Peak Bulletin Managing Editor Heila Ershadi also updates us on the Mill Street Community Benefits All Coalition’s efforts to get a community benefit agreement related to construction of a luxury Catbird Hotel south of downtown Colorado Springs.

LINKS:

Chauncy Johnson for HD17: https://chauncyjohnsonforhd17.com/

$10.3 Million Subsidy for Luxury Hotel Must Come With Community Benefits Agreement, Neighborhood Coalition Says: https://pikespeakbulletin.org/news/10-3-million-subsidy-for-luxury-hotel-must-come-with-community-benefits-agreement-neighborhood-coalition-says/

Church’s Pride Banner Removed. Again.: https://pikespeakbulletin.org/news/churchs-pride-banner-removed-again/

Pikes Peak Bulletin Listening Tour: https://www.facebook.com/events/2456923024770015

MENTIONED:

Leah Withrow

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

Conejos Neighborhood

William Jackson Palmer

The Tuskegee Airmen

Donald Trump

Rep. LaMonica McIver

Don Lemon

Elijah McClain

Breonna Taylor

George Floyd

The Olympic Games

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Laila Edwards

Juneteenth

Fiestas Patrias

Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off

OneBodyENT

Citadel Mall

Norris Penrose Event Center

America the Beautiful Park

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum

Norwood Development Group

Mill Street Community Benefits All Coalition

Manitou Art Center

Freedom to Thrive: The American Experience in Colorado Springs

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Longtime Springs booster Carrie Simison co-hosts with local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner. All three love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they’ll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com

40: Feb 17 2026 - Black History is 365 Days – Chauncy Johnson