Civic Solstice
Shining a light on Colorado’s Civic Heroes
On the eve of the summer solstice, we gather to recognize those who rarely ask for recognition—leaders, advocates, producers, musicians, and public servants who make Colorado stronger from behind the scenes.
The Civic Solstice is a celebration of service and impact, featuring acclaimed local DJ’s, live performances, food and drink and a few well-earned tributes-including an “all the Weiser” kickoff with Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser.
Expect conversations that matter, music that moves, and a celebration worthy of Colorado’s mile high sun.
Join us.
If the ticket price is an issue, please reach out to The Curator at 303-718-7776 for a special link for a reduced price or free ticket.
SCHEDULE
7-8pm: Cocktails and Activations (free drinks until 8pm!)
8-9pm: Roundtable with Phil and Friends
9pm-1am: Party Time
PHIL WEISER – FEATURED HONOREE
Phil has fearlessly stood at the front lines of justice since his election as Attorney General in 2018. He’s not only worked to serve all of the people of Colorado, but he has led nationally in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms, address the opioid epidemic, protect consumers, and revitalize antitrust enforcement (particularly against mega-mergers and Big Tech monopolists). As Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil has defended the Affordable Care Act, stood up for LBGTQ+ equal rights, and fought for the DREAMers And as our next Governor, he’ll continue to build on the progress that makes Colorado such a great place to live. That means….
- Making Colorado more affordable and bringing down the cost of living—from housing costs and childcare to grocery bills and prescription drugs;
- Standing up for our rights and reproductive freedoms;
- Creating safer communities and protecting our land, air, and water for our kids; and
- Empowering Coloradans by expanding access to education and career-training, addressing our youth mental health crisis, and establishing a voluntary service program for young people.
As the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors, Phil has dedicated his career to ensuring that all people—no matter their gender, ethnicity, faith, or who they love—are free from discrimination, hatred, and oppression. Phil’s family immigrated to the United States as refugees looking for a new life that offered opportunity, freedom, and equality for all. As a first-generation American, Phil knows firsthand the promise of America and is committed to upholding its ideals of liberty and justice for all.
Colorado Attorney General Website
DAN RITCHIE – IN MEMORY
Dan Ritchie has been one of Colorado’s quiet giants—a man who never chased the spotlight but made a lasting mark on nearly every corner of the state. As Chancellor of the University of Denver, he led its turnaround and turned it into a nationally respected institution. He helped bring the arts to life as Chairman of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and played a key role in shaping Colorado’s civic and philanthropic spirit. Whether it was education, culture, or community, Dan showed up with heart, vision, and a deep belief in building something better for the next generation.
Dan Ritchie Legacy
DANGER FOLEY – HOST, DJ SET, AND NEW MUSIC RELEASE
Denver-based DJ and producer Danger Foley emerges as a dynamic voice in electronic music with her anticipated debut single, “Season of the Sun,” featuring legendary vocalist Roland Clark, set for release June 20 2025 on her own imprint, Danger Den Records. Foley’s immersive sound blends progressive house, nu-disco, and soulful grooves, and has recently earned her stages alongside acts like LP Giobbi, SIDEPIECE, Mike Posner, Halsey, Tate McRae, and OneRepublic, at prestigious venues including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Austin City Limits, and the Hollywood Bowl. She is also the founder of The Danger Den, an invitation-only creative sanctuary offering high-impact artists space to ground, recalibrate, and create with clarity.
DANY YUNO – MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
A Colorado-based Hapa singer songwriter, Dany has always found himself between two worlds. By blood, culture, religion and science – this duality has shaped the very core of his music. From humor to loss, folk to electronica, or spirituality to agnosticism – his song writing explores the conflict of living in dual realities. Whether it’s a happy melody with heartbreaking lyrics or a sonic house beat with thoughtful prose, Dany flexes irony to catalyze provocative storytelling.
THE DUCHESS – DJ SET
The Duchess is a sonic alchemist, fusing underground electronic music with the raw power of frequency and resonance to activate body, mind, and spirit. Her sets are more than just music—they’re transmissions, designed to shift energy, awaken deep states of embodiment, and transport you beyond the ordinary.
Her sound is deep, melodic, hypnotic, and immersive—melding melodic house, progressive, afro, organic, desert, world house, downtempo, lo-fi tech, and melodic tech-house—crafted for those who crave movement, expansion, and transcendence.
EVAN PAGE – MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Evan Page is a 17-year-old indie pop musician based in north Idaho. Trained from an early age on piano and guitar, his appetite for music spans a range of genres, from oldies to mainstream pop to americana to indie rock. Growing up in a family of writers, Evan believes that a catchy melody and a strong instrumental track are important, but what really makes a song memorable are the lyrics. He draws on snippets of conversations overheard at the Subway where he works, as well as from his memories and experiences while living in the UK, Spain, and Norway. His first EP, titled In the Front Seat, is out now!
JAMI DUFFY – HONOREE
Jami Duffy is an award-winning nonprofit executive, cultural strategist, and systems change leader working at the intersection of arts, education, economic justice, and public policy. As Executive Director of Youth on Record (YOR), she has led the organization through more than a decade of transformative growth, building one of the nation’s leading creative youth development nonprofits.
She is the Co-Manager of the Underground Music Showcase (UMS), helping to evolve Denver’s largest and longest-running music festival into a mission-driven cultural anchor that invests in emerging Colorado artists. She is also a Co-Founder of All In Denver, a grassroots movement advancing racial equity, housing justice, and civic engagement.
Duffy is a 2020 Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 awardee and a 2023 Livingston Fellow. Her leadership has been featured by NPR, Nonprofit Quarterly, the U.S. Department of Education, and national arts policy forums. Through every role, she is focused on shifting systems, redistributing power, and ensuring that young creatives, especially those from historically excluded communities, have access to opportunity, influence, and long-term success.
KOYA NYANGI – HONOREE
Koya Nyangi is an award-winning entrepreneur, cultural producer, creative director, cutting-edge stylist, and the visionary founder and CEO of Let Me Show You Different (LMSYD). Born and raised in Kenya, Koya brings a globally informed perspective shaped by her lived experiences across Kenya, London, India, and Dubai. Now based in Colorado, her work seamlessly weaves together fashion, culture, and storytelling to amplify African creativity on the global stage.
Koya founded LMSYD to address a major gap: the underrepresentation of African designers in the U.S. retail and fashion landscape. She curates exclusive, ethically made African brands for U.S. retailers, buyers, and boutiques offering a platform that is as much about commerce as it is about cultural education. Under her leadership, LMSYD is not just reimagining African fashion—it is reframing global narratives, opening new economic pathways, and fostering meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.
In 2023, she launched the inaugural African Creators Festival, a multi-day celebration of African creativity through fashion, music, food, and dialogue. What began as a modest showcase with designers from Kenya, Burundi, and South Africa has since grown into an annual cultural highlight, spotlighting Africa’s creative contributions and innovation.
PAUL LAURIE – HOST
Paul Laurie is an experiential producer and community builder with over a two decades of experience creating immersive events that bring people together in unexpected and meaningful ways. As founder of Invisible City, he has crafted everything from surrealist masquerades to field day decathlons—always with an eye toward elegance, connection, and a touch of the absurd. With a background in cultural travel, creative consulting, and social architecture, Paul brings a deep understanding of how to design environments that feel both intimate and electric.
PINES – HONOREE
Torrance “Pastor Pines” Green is a Denver-based creative, community organizer, and founder of the streetwear brand Adult Entertainment (AE). Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Pines relocated to Denver in 1998. His nickname, “Pastor Pines,” was affectionately given by friends who admired his consistent support and guidance; he later formalized this by becoming an ordained minister online. Pines’ passion for streetwear led him to intern at New York’s Mishka in 2015, where he also modeled for their collection. He further honed his skills as a creative director at Denver’s Jiberish and Salt Lake City’s Fice Gallery before launching AE in 2015. The brand serves as a platform to amplify voices of marginalized communities, particularly Black and Brown individuals, including sex workers, emphasizing representation and validation in the fashion industry.
AE’s flagship store opened in Denver’s historically Black Five Points neighborhood in February 2021. Despite challenges, including a non-renewed lease, Pines secured a new location at 3535 Walnut Street, expanding AE’s capacity for community events like concerts and art shows. The store has become a cultural hub, fostering a sense of belonging and celebration for diverse backgrounds. Pines’ commitment to creating inclusive spaces has made AE a symbol of resistance against gentrification and a beacon for Denver’s creative community.
QUE – HOST AND DJ SET
Que is co-founder of Zodiac Hause, a music event production entity and community focused on organic, tribal, afro, and progressive world sounds. A DJ, producer, and sonic enthusiast invoking strong emotions through musical expression. Every session with Que explores a unique journey through vibration and dance that leaves audiences sinking deeper into rhythmic movement and freedom. Que’s passion for aural experimentation exhibits his profound love and appreciation for this craft.
His influences traverse the House and Techno soundscapes but reside primarily within the Progressive and Melodic, Deep, Tribal, Organic, World, Ethnic, Playatech, and Afro kingdoms. With an expansive range of set types, he gives dancers a memorable and emotional experience in any atmosphere. His foundation of sound is strengthened by a notable list of direct support credentials from HotSince82, Monolink, Bob Moses, Sabo & Goldcap, Eelke Kliejn, Shimza, Black Coffee, and many others.
Que is a member of a prominent Denver-based collective known as “TheHundred” which consists of DJs, producers, curators, industry professionals, and, music enthusiasts. This family of sound has contributed to his club tenure and growth in the industry, undoubtedly inspiring the path that led him to where he is today as an artist.
RYAN HECKMAN – HOST
Ryan Heckman is a lifelong Coloradan, two-time Olympian, and passionate builder of businesses and communities. With over 25 years as an entrepreneur, Ryan is the CEO of Rallyday Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm.
Outside the boardroom, Ryan has spent the past decade elevating civic leadership across Colorado. In 2012, he co-founded CiviCO with Governor John Hickenlooper to cultivate the next generation of leaders. That path—anchored in purpose—continues with Civic Solstice, a celebration of Colorado’s unique civic spirit and support for Attorney General Phil Weiser’s next chapter.
GEORGE BURTON CARPENTER – HONOREE
George Burton Carpenter is a second-generation owner of Burton Snowboards and the son of founders Jake Burton and Donna Carpenter. As a dedicated advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and outdoor culture, George is shaping the future of the brand while honoring its deep roots in snowboarding.
Based in Colorado and deeply connected to mountain communities across the world – George is leading initiatives that expand access to the outdoors, support adaptive athletes, and build more representative spaces in snow sports.
After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2023, George returned to the mountains as a sit-skier and the ocean as an adaptive surfer. His personal experience has only strengthened his passion for protecting the places we play, amplifying underrepresented voices, and ensuring that mountain culture is welcoming to all.
ARI – PERFORMER
The 11 year old, award-winning magician from Denver Ari started magic when he was 8 years old after his dad showed him a trick called The Matrix. From that moment, he was hooked! Since then, he has dedicated himself to mastering close-up magic and cardistry (and some school too!) wowing audiences with mind-blowing tricks and sleight of hand.
For Ari, magic isn’t just about tricks—it’s about creating unforgettable moments. Whether it’s a birthday party, wedding, corporate event, or non-profit fundraiser, he brings high-energy, interactive magic that keeps guests entertained and amazed.
Johnny Klein – Honoree
Fascinated by leadership, myth-making, and operational excellence, specifically when functioning in wild environments that are volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.
Johnny is often found dwelling in borderlands between worlds. He spent 14-years building global, digital-communication systems, specifically navigating non-standard pricing and complex deal negotiation. Next, he launched what amounted to five (5) stand-alone businesses, constructed with flexible frameworks for audiences to explore, understand, and share narratives. Over the last 2-years he has been examining the sensations, relations, and behaviors that make us human, specifically ways to hack the continuum between productivity and happyness. His next venture is committed to rethinking what we value and ways we might reformulate our concept of luxury.
Invisible City
Invisible City is an experimental social club for the curious.
Our Members share a collective passion to explore the unknown, embrace the absurd, and connect with each other. Whether it is a pop up dinner, intimate happy hour, ridiculous workshop, or a raging bacchanal, every experience is unique. Within our collective, there are no spectators, only participants.
Member contributions allow us to collectively pool our resources to create fantastical events and support the artists, musicians, bartenders, chefs, galleries, venues and creatives that make our city special. The larger our community, the more we can create together. Explore with us.
Merkaba
Merkaba is a modern wellness club and social sanctuary located in the heart of Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District. Rooted in the transformative ritual of hot and cold therapy, Merkaba blends timeless traditions with contemporary design to create a space for recovery, connection, and self-discovery. Beyond wellness, Merkaba serves as a vibrant community hub, offering space for events, gatherings, and shared experiences.