From Mother at 18 to Education Advocate and Community Activist to CEO and Social Justice Leader: Meet Midian Holmes
In February, GlobalMindED celebrates Black History Month by highlighting influential black voices. MiDian Holmes, CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership and the Owner/Founder of 8 PM Consulting for Humanity was thrust into adulthood at the age of 18 when she became a mother. By the time she was 23, MiDian was blessed to be the mother of three. She built a foundation of love, accountability, and opportunity and demanded that society afford her children the platform to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. In doing so, she found her voice. She realized very quickly that if she wanted her children to be seen, she had to be an advocate for their education.
It was clear that there were strategic and systemic roadblocks waiting to disrupt their education and MiDian used each imposing opportunity to learn, inquire, challenge, implore, speak up, push back, and inspire the people and the systems that stood in the way. In the midst of this journey, she became an advocate not only for her children but for the children and families in the communities that she represented. She led multiple action committees within the school district and the community and was appointed by former Mayor John Hickenlooper to serve on Denver’s Excellence in Education Committee.
What is your personal story?
I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and my family has a rich history in our city. I have always had a passion for people and connection and understood early on in life that it was my purpose. I forged a successful 18-year career in corporate America specializing in communications and business operations. While this work challenged me to develop key leadership skills, I knew that working in the walls of corporate America was a career. it wasn't my calling. So I took a leap of faith and trust in my purpose and became a leading voice on matters of equity, inclusion, and integration.
As the CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership and the Owner/Founder of 8 PM Consulting for Humanity, I have brought my life experience, a relentless pursuit for racial justice, and my expertise as a community leader, corporate executive, and social justice advocate a new mission. My work is centered on three main pillars, each addressing the community and providing opportunities to learn, reflect, grow, and change our society. I teach and live my commitment to this work. I have earned the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, a feature in the PBS-aired documentary Standing in the Gap, and recognition in many publications.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
Growing up in Denver, I recall stories and experiences in my childhood filled with racial tensions. Some events were in the national spotlight and others were casual occurrences in my classroom or neighborhood. Stories centered around Rodney King, Latasha Harlins, Amadou Diallo, and the verdict of O.J. Simpson were just a few triggering reminders during my formative years that the country was divided, despite being taught that America was a place of freedom and acceptance. While I was able to compartmentalize these national headlines, I was no stranger to racism from peers, teachers, and sadly enough, mentors. It was these milestones of pain that were catalytic for me and I decided to embrace the words of Angela Davis empowering me to understand that I did not have to accept the things I couldn't change...I could change the things I couldn't accept.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
The elders in my family, particularly the women, were instrumental in Denver's history. I was blessed to not only sit at their knees and listen to the stories of their experiences being Black in Denver, but I was able to hold their hands during marches, protests, and as they built a village. On my journey, there were many intentional spaces that I was afforded to be a part of and one of the most memorable for me was being a student at Montbello High School. As a proud member of the Montbello High School student community, it was often thrown in my face that we were a community that was being counted out. As I embarked on my journey of adulthood and dealt with the stigmas that came from my zip code, I knew that I had to go from up next to up now. I had to channel those moments at my elders' knees and recall the strength in holding their hands to lean into my time to serve.
Today, I am sought out and leveraged by the community at large and I am committed to holding the hands and hearts of others to join me on the journey to changing the things that we can not accept.
