Performance
Cleo Parker Robinson
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is guided by a vision of dance as the universal language of movement that celebrates performance, individual expression, healing and peace which transforms the world into a sanctuary that transcends boundaries of culture, class and age. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is committed to honoring diversity and inclusiveness throughout the global community.
Speakers
Emily Howell Warner
1st Woman Commercial Pilot Hired by a US Air Carrier
Denver native Emily Howell Warner took her first airplane flight as a teenager and came away from that experience with a passion to fly and become an airplane pilot. In 1973, 67 years after the "Wright Flyer" made aviation history and 15 years after her first plane flight, Warner also made aviation history by becoming the first woman hired as a pilot by a major U.S. airline, Frontier. Three years later she earned her captain's wings, the first woman to do so.
Today, with more than 21,000 flight hours, Warner was a Federal Aviation Administration Aircrew Program Manager, assigned to United Airlines' Boeing 737 Fleet. She was also the FAA representative for United's Flight Safety Action Program.
She opened the door for thousands of women pilots and has been a personal mentor and role model to many. Along the way she won almost every aviation award given, including the Amelia Earhart Award as the Outstanding Woman in U. S. Aviation. She was the featured speaker for the United Nations Kickoff Dinner for International Women's Year. In 1983 she was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame and is a 2001 inductee into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. Her uniform now hangs in the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum.
Cynthia James
Inspirational Leader, Transformational Speaker, Multi-Media Performer and Award Winning Author
Cynthia James is one of today’s brightest and best loved inspirational leaders, transformational speakers, multi-media performers and award winning authors who is admired and respected around the world for her passion to empower and transform people’s lives. Cynthia’s life changing work has also helped bring people together of all faiths and walks of life in order to create equality, tolerance, and understanding, which has created progress to communities on a global scale. Cynthia’s has taken the message of her book, “What Will Set You Free” as a workshop to women in prisons, has created the Cynthia James (online) Support Network and she deeply touches people with her amazing inspirational music. Ms. James’ leading edge corporate work has centered on positive human/organizational development and strategic planning transformation where clients explore vision, mission and purpose in expanded ways that best benefit the individual and the organization to get results on every level like never before. Her work with corporate clients includes: The Children’s Hospital, Colorado Federal Executive Board, Initiative Media, PIC-TV, The American Youth Soccer Organization, Girl’s Incorporated, and Inner Light Ministries to name a few. Ms James’ latest and greatest endeavor is co-hosting an exciting internet radio talk show entitled “Connections Radio” with Dr. Jordan Paul and Humanity’s Team which is featured on Spirit Media Network.
www.whatwillsetyoufree.com
Lieutenant Colonel Jody Nelson, US Army
Special Troops Battalion
Afghanistan
In Nangarhar, one of Afghanistan’s more modern cities on the eastern border with Pakistan, fighting a quiet but lethal insurgency, is Lieutenant Colonel Jody Nelson. She is the commanding officer of an 853 soldier Special Troops Battalion securing the region through education and workforce development.
Although the presence of women in prior wars seemed unnecessary and detrimental by some critics; attitudes have shifted as people gain a better understanding of the enemy we are fighting. Because segmented areas of Afghanistan live under the thumb of the Taliban, people in these areas still lack many of their freedoms and their human rights continue to be squandered. Most women in these regions have not experienced any effects of the regime change and are still not allowed out of their homes, to hold jobs, or to attend schools. Having women on the front lines to perform woman-on-woman searches, in the home and in segregated mosques through targeted raids and patrols have proven vital and extremely strategic for allied forces. Nelson has found that, “The women here are so awed by what we do and feel we Army women have done so much for them. They challenge me to do the best I can and live up to the perception that the world has of American soldiers - high moral standards and courage.”
Excerpts from ICOSA Magazine April - June 2010 Volume 2 Issue 2
Musicians
Jennifer Burnett
There is a voice echoing in the Rockies that touches lives and changes hearts. That voice is Jennifer Burnett. Her voice has the power to orchestrate your emotions and she moves you to know what is important in life.
She began performing at the age of 4…by age 8 she had auditioned for Liberace and by age 10 held numerous titles for talent and beauty pageants. When she was 13, she began choreographing for shows around New Mexico and recorded her first single in Nashville, TN. At the age of 14 she released her first album, self-titled Jennifer Burnett. Since the age of 14, she has showcased in Las Vegas, NV, toured upstate New York, and was voted Female Vocalist of the year for the Colorado Country Music Foundation. Jennifer has directed, co-produced and starred as the hostess of a television talk show, titled “Entertainment Spotlight” in her hometown of Carlsbad, NM. And she performed in Hollywood, CA, for a talent showcase. Jennifer secured a role in the National Tour of Beehive: The 60’s Musical and continued in that role at Stagewest. She was also cast in Nunsense as Sister Mary Leo at Stagewest in Denver. Jennifer has traveled worldwide performing with bands in Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Spain. In January 2001, she and her band traveled to Washington, DC, to play for President Bush’s Inaugural ball. Throughout the years she has opened for many artists, including Kenny Loggins, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Steppenwolf and more.
She has done radio commercials for Nissan, for the Japan market (with Dr. John), Red Robin, Colorado Lottery, Fantastic Sam’s, Executive Tans, McDonald’s, and more…
In 2003, Jennifer released an inspirational CD of positive music, The Colors of Love and her first original New Thought CD, One Small Miracle was released on February 14, 2010.
Jennifer was delighted to be the Music Co-Director for the UCSL/ICSL Leadership Gathering conference in Denver in February 2010 and is equally thrilled to be the Music Co-Director for the Historical Integration Conference in San Diego in 2011.
In her present position as Soloist and Production Director at Mile Hi Church, she continues to touch thousands of lives with the grace of her production skills and the power of her voice.
Robin Miller
Robin A. Miller is an inspiring vocalist and musical director who has spent over 20 years in teaching, training and coaching others into their full potential. Robin is trained in vocal performance, spiritual direction, and public speaking. She uses her music and her life experience to connect people to the real meaning and messaging in their lives. In recent years, Robin’s performance background has led her to co-found the company ARTiculate: Real — Clear that coaches professional people in presentation skills and public speaking.
She is delighted to represent the inclusive voices of women throughout time by singing for the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Day — Denver.