Soulfully Stapleton group celebrates diversity

After the shooting death of a 14year-old black boy, racist graffiti and an unsuccessful neighborhood name change, Lori Pace wanted to change the conversation about Stapleton.

Pace is the founder of the neighborhood group Soulfully Stapleton, which held an event to celebrate diversity Sunday and reclaim what Prairie Meadows Park is known for. Instead of remembering it as the park close to where teenager Aiden Lawrence was fatally shot on Aug. 9 or the park where racist graffiti was found on a bridge a few days later, she wants it to be known as a space where Stapleton residents can gather and support one another.

The group dedicated a park bench to diversity and inclusiveness. They hope to plant a tree in the park in the spring “so people remember this park and what Soulfully Stapleton stands for,” Pace said.

“We’re going to continue to grow and continue to get stronger despite a lot of negative noise,” she said.

Pace first started Soulfully Stapleton three years ago because she wanted her kids to meet other black kids with whom they could relate to. Stapleton is 82.4% white, 7.7% black and almost 3% Asian, according to AreaVibes data.

On Sunday, Pace held back tears as she looked over at the group of more than 75 gathered, many of whom she didn’t know. The group has expanded since it started to include not only black people but other underrepresented communities as well as white families who want to connect.

Their slogan, “Here grows the neighborhood,” is based on the phrase “there goes the neighborhood” that some would use when people of color moved into an area.

The shooting and racist graffiti last month preceded a failed vote to change the neighborhood’s name because of its connection to former Denver Mayor Benjamin Stapleton, who was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Despite Stapleton’s namesake, Pace decided not to change the group’s name unless the neighborhood’s name officially changes. But she said she hopes the former mayor was rolling over in his grave, knowing what his name was being associated with on Sunday — a picnic and dedication ceremony celebrating diversity and inclusiveness, particularly for people of color.

That’s where the “Soulfully” in “Soulfully Stapleton” comes from, too — the private group wants to represent joy and happiness among its members.

“This is a destination,” said Pace, a local real estate agent. “This is how people found each other.”

Pace’s daughter, 12-yearold Jada, agreed with her mom’s assessment about the name.

“I thought it’s important to keep the name Soulfully Stapleton because it shows the change in the community and relationships we’ve created throughout Stapleton,” she said.

Some attendees on Sunday came from other neighborhoods to show their support, including Cole resident Kevin Benard. He heard about the work Pace was doing and thought it was a good idea. Stapleton’s racial issues are representative of those facing the rest of the state and the country, Benard said, and it was nice to get a break and be around like-minded people.

“I came to hang out with the community and visit with neighbors,” Benard said.

For Stapleton resident Julienne Antony, events such as Sunday’s are important for fellowship and community, and, like Pace, she is looking out for her 2-yearold and 6-year-old children.

“It’s important for my kids to see kids that look like them … even if they don’t look exactly like them,” Antony said. “Unfortunately, there are not a lot of events like this.”

Plus, the recent incidents hit “too close to home,” and Antony said she wants white people to recognize that “we do live here.”