Meet Your Council Chairs
Get to know your Council and Committee Chairs. Read on to learn more about Albus Brooks, Amy Cara, and Hollie Velasquez-Horvath.
Albus Brooks
At the core of Albus Brooks’ identity is community development and servant leadership. Albus moved to Colorado in 1997 to study and play football for the University of Colorado. SportsIllustrated named him one of the Top 10 Hardest Hitters before injuries ultimately ended his football career.
Albus Brooks pursued his calling for community development by working with young people in Denver’s poor communities. He served as the Director of the Issachar Center for Urban Leadership, an organization that invests in Denver’s emerging leaders. In 2010 Albus worked to elect then-Mayor John Hickenlooper as Governor of Colorado, acting as the statewide Outreach and Political Director.
This exposure to political leadership led him to seek public office, and in 2011 Albus defeated 38 opponents to become the youngest African American ever elected to Denver City Council. Serving two terms on Denver City Council, including two terms as Council President, Albus accomplished an ambitious range of progressive legislative victories with the goal of building a truly inclusive city.
To address the affordability crisis, he co-created Denver’s first – and Colorado’s largest – affordable housing fund. To make Denver a more equitable place to grow up he funded and expanded the Denver Preschool Program, providing universal access to preschool for all 4-year-olds. He also decriminalized marijuana possession for those 18-21 years old, preventing thousands of young people from entering the criminal justice system.
Albus Brooks received his M.B.A. from the University of Denver. He is now the Vice President ofBusiness Development and Public Affairs for Milender White, a Development and Constructionfirm operating in Southern California and Colorado.
Albus sits on multiple boards and commissions and has been a part of the following national and international fellowship programs: The Marshall Memorial Fellowship, the NewDEAL Leaders, and the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship.
Although a rising global leader, it is in the heart of Denver where Albus feels most at home.
Amy Cara
Amy is always looking for ways to connect people with the places they live and work. Amy oversees the team that recently completed the Denver Union Station transit hub redevelopment, The Coloradan and 16 Chestnut. She also oversaw for the revitalization of The Landmark, a distressed mixed-use community that needed new eyes and perspective. More than a collection of buildings, Denver’s Union Station Neighborhood, the Landmark development and Riverfront Park, where she started, represent something important to Amy – creating a sense of place.
Amy is deeply committed to responsible land development. In addition to her involvement with the Partnership, she co-chairs Mayor Hancock’s Economic Recovery and Relief Council Subcommittee for Construction and Development, is involved in the Urban Land Institute locally and nationally, is a member of the University of Colorado Real Estate Center’s International Advisory Board, and is a board member of Community Builders, an organization that helps smaller towns build capacity for conversations around growth and identity.
Hollie Velasquez-Horvath
Hollie currently holds the role of Senior Director of State Affairs and Community Relations at Xcel Energy- Colorado. She leads a team who are responsible for managing the state and local government relations, business and community relationships, and local economic development activities for Colorado. She also manages the philanthropic arm of the company to support Colorado non-profit organizations with foundation grants, employee volunteerism and corporate sponsorships.
Hollie has received several community recognitions and awards for her leadership Recently she was honored as a Downtown Denver Partnership Champion. Other recognitions include Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40, Colorado Women’s Chamber Top 25 Most Powerful Women, and Denver Business Journal Top Women in Energy.
She serves on several community boards that include Latino Community Foundation, Denver Health Authority, Denver Health Foundation, Downtown Denver Partnership, Visit Denver, and Aurora Economic Development Corporation.