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Meet the Leadership Team
Shenika Carter
Interim President & CEO - Urban League of Metro Denver
Shenika Carter, founder of Caravan for Racial Justice and Co-Owner of Carter Truck Driving Academy is a Community Activist, Human & Civil Rights Philanthropist, and Black Media Truth Teller that relocated to Denver, CO in 2017 and begin servicing community immeciately in Civic Engagement and Outreach. Shenika Carter was compelled to do more for community after her son Lincoln was born around the time Trayvon Martin was murdered, Shenika began a journey to call out police brutality and to raise awareness of the killings of unarmed black men, women, and children across the Country. In 2016, she began connecting with progressive candidates of common interest who were willing to stand and fight for legislation that impacted marginalized communities.
Board of Directors
Summer Nettles
Interim Chair - Urban League of Metro Denver
Emmy-award-winning videographer certified conflict resolution facilitator, and adjunct professor of communications Summer Nettles decided to leave television news after defeating Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2014. Since then Ms. Nettles has worked with local and state government agencies on everything from documentary films highlighting the disparities present in Denver's communities of color to develop strategic communications plans for social media outreach. Today Nettles serves as the CEO of her own company, Greater Purpose Media, LLC, and the Communications Director of Progress Now Colorado and is honored to serve as Interim Chair of the Urban League Colorado.
Dr. Alice Langley
Interim Vice Chair - Urban League of Metro Denver
Vacancy
Interim Secretary - Urban League of Metro Denver
Terry E. Mann
Interim Treasurer - Urban League of Metro Denver
Terry E. Manns, Chief Master Sergeant, United States Air Force, Retired, MA, Human Resources Development and Management. Upon Terry’s retirement from the United States Air Force, he was the assistant to the chief of manpower and personnel for Social Actions at the United States Air Force Space Command Headquarters responsible for and directed the commands’ equal opportunity, affirmative action, human relations, complaint,s and investigations, and compliance programs.
From 1987 to 1997 Terry was the regional manager for the Colorado Civil Rights Division, Colorado Springs Regional Office, responsible for addressing and investigating citizens’ complaints pertaining to allegations of discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. From 1997 to 2008 Terry was a human resources manager with Colorado Springs Utilities responsible for the organizations’ recruitment and staffing, equal employment opportunity, diverse workplace equity, and inclusion, employee relations, and organizational development programs.
During a talent management program assignment, Terry served as the Colorado Springs Utilities Sourcing and Contracts Manager in the Financial Services Department, Planning and Finance Division. In this capacity, he was responsible for the efficient and most cost-effective acquisition of goods and services for Colorado Springs Utilities encompassed construction, IT support, facilities maintenance, and consultant services.
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Following retirement from Colorado Springs Utilities and relocating to the Denver Metropolitan area in 2009 Terry became a member of the Urban League Guild of Metropolitan Denver in 2012. From 2015 to 2019 Terry was the Guild’s President and as such became a member of the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver Board of Directors. Mr. Manns’ other community involvement has included being President, of the Colorado Workplace Equity Coalition, and a member of the Colorado Springs Black leadership Forum serving on the education subcommittee.
Ashlee Wedgeworth
President - Urban League Young Professionals
Ashlee Wedgeworth is a native of Denver, CO. She received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2007 and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver in 2010. She has worked in the behavioral health field since 2008 in the areas of mental health and substance use. She currently works for Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca in the Denver District 9 office. Her role is the Community Power Building Co-Lead focusing on stakeholder participation and community organizing within the D9 neighborhoods.
Ashlee has been a member of Urban League Young Professionals since 2018 and currently serves as the President. The Urban League believes in community, service, economic empowerment, and uplifting the next generation.
Ashlee serves on several boards and committees including Secretary of Project VOYCE, Treasurer of Make a Chess Move, Director of the SCD Enrichment Program Scholarship Fund, and the Secretary of the African Diaspora Initiative of Colorado Democrats. She also serves as a team mom for the Spillionairs Youth Organization. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Ashlee is a graduate of Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado 2018, Impact Denver 2019, Chinook Fund 2019, and Emerge Colorado 2021. She is the recipient of the African Americans Who Make a Difference and Juneteenth Dream Big awards in 2021.
Ashlee has 4 children and is committed to shaping and inspiring them to be leaders in their community. Her proudest moments are giving back to the very community that she grew up in, alongside her children.
Heidi Casteel Ellis
President - Urban League Metropolitan Denver Guild
Heidi Casteel Ellis is the President of the Guild. She leads the organization to enhance and improve relations with the community and public by promoting volunteer participation while promoting the general welfare of the community through educational, cultural, and social activities about the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver.
Mrs. Casteel Ellis has over thirty-five years of experience with federal, state, and local government and the private sectors, a certified contracting officer managing government spending. She is the President/CEO of Innovative Services and an active community leader. She currently services Blacks in Government (BIG) as a Regional Affirmative Employment/Equal Employment Opportunity (AE/EEO) Chair to assist members and non-members in exercising their rights in addressing workplace conflicts. She has served in her local chapter at all levels, working in her community with other partnering organizations who shared her same goals. She also serves as a Supreme Officer on the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc., Fourth Degree Ladies of Grace National Supreme General Chapter. Additionally, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated serves as the Recording Secretary for Denver Alumnae Chapter.
Masters in Organization and Leadership Development from Morgan State University Master Certificate in Theology from the Archdiocese of Denver Bachelor of Science from National University, graduated Cum Laude, was on the Dean’s List for four years and presented in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. In addition, she has received honors and awards from local organizations community partners and receives numerous awards for her commitment to servant leadership.