Proven LeadershipÂ
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Bold Vision
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Real Progress
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Proven Leadership 〰️ Bold Vision 〰️ Real Progress 〰️
Born in and Raised in Five Points
Shontel M. Lewis was born and raised in historic Five Points, and has lived in several neighborhoods throughout District 8. She is a proud graduate of Manual High School where she is the proud Mother to two amazing sons. In 2016, she transitioned from an affordable housing rental into home ownership in the East Colfax neighborhood following displacement from Five Points due to rising housing costs.
This experience helped to expand her focus and advocacy for affordable rentals units as well as a path to home ownership as a wealth-building tool. She currently lives in Northeast Denver where she enjoys access to local parks and the farmers markets.
A Collaborative Leader
Carrying the mantra of joy and community collaboration, Councilwoman Lewis took her seat on Denver’s city council in 2023 as the most progressive member of the body. She got immediately to work for her district, identifying an historic number of budget amendments and policy positions created through direct constituent contributions. From campaign hot topics like the future of Park Hill Golf Course to campaign pledges increasing access to the participatory budget process through official and grassroot channels like her district town halls, she ensured every voice could contribute and be heard. Her continued push to establish a formal and funded civic assembly in the City of Denver would allow entrust and empower the responsibility of making a decision to individual Denverites.
Through grassroots initiatives spearheaded by her Council office, Shontel’s community cabinets, the Quebec Corridor Taskforce, and the Budget Book Club, Councilwoman Lewis has ensured community involvement in every step of her city leadership. In direct partnership with Denverites, she generated a historic $191M investment in District 8 for public health, housing and affordability, environmental justice, and transit. Councilwoman Lewis has sponsored and passed collective bargaining for more than 6,000 Denver City Employees, ensuring that federal agents (including ICE) can’t hide behind masks, and requiring landlords to provide relocation assistance if their properties don’t reach state mandated habitability standards. She has secured an investment in East Colfax’s first library, reinvestment in rehabilitating Montbello’s public services including one million dollars for Montbello seniors, and funding for the 303 Artway in Park Hill.
She led reforms to lobbying regulations, predatory home investing, criminal justice sentencing standards, and youth violence intervention. While working for the residents of Denver, she has also labored to be sure our successes could spread. As a co-chair of the state organizing committee for the national organization Local Progress, a network of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. Serving on the steering committee of the Black Caucus, Councilwoman Lewis elevates the impact of Black elected officials nationwide. She was the 2025 Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award for her commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and respect.
A Strategic Leader as A past RTD Board Director
Shontel was elected to serve on the Board of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in 2018, District B representing Denver, Aurora, and Adams county. During her time she served as the inaugural Chair of the Performance Committee helping to facilitate the development of the agency’s strategic priorities and direction in collaboration with the CEO. Shontel was a two-time Chair of the Civil Rights Committee, Vice Chair of the Operations and Safety Committee and led the way for the creation of the Safety and Security Adhoc Committee.
An advocate for safety, transparency, and equity
Shontel is well known for her advocacy for RTD frontline staff, including: ensuring access to PPE, the implementation of rear-door boarding, and advocacy of social distancing for transit providers throughout the state of Colorado. With the inclusion of community as a core tenant of her work, she is responsible for: the adoption of the first ever Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resolution, the piloting of transit ambassadors, expanding resources for our unhoused neighbors, expanding public comment, live-streaming for all RTD Board and committee meetings, and free transit on Election Day.
Amplifier of Community Voices
Most recently she worked as the Vice President for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless where she developed and oversaw programmatic, policy, and operational strategies for justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity. Prior to that Shontel served as the Director of Engagement and Strategy at the Denver Public Schools where she lead a team to plan, design and implement community engagement throughout the district and improve broad stakeholder engagement. Currently, she works as a consultant, where she partners with organizations to establish baseline data and thread equity metrics into their strategic plans through an equitable results framework. Additionally, she serves as a Sonder Coach: a Fellowship designed to grow and cultivate intentional leadership.
