Markisha Key-Hagan

Grants Specialist, Housing & Human Services | City of Boulder

Pronouns: she/her

Markisha serves as the Grant Specialist for the City of Boulder Human Services Investments team, where she ensures that funding for health equity, human services, substance abuse prevention and human/civil rights programs are provided in an efficient and equitable manner. Markisha's background in public health, grassroots and government work; and her commitment and passion for equity and inclusion make her a valued leader in the city. Markisha is a mother of two girls and is also an active leader in many school and community spaces where she advocates for fairness and equity.

Presentations from Facing Race 2024

Decision-Making for Dignity: Transformation and Trust Through Direct Cash Assistance

Government agencies typically design programs for people in need. But what happens when we design programs with people in need?

For the City of Boulder, a new direct cash assistance program, Elevate Boulder, offered an opportunity to engage community members as collaborative decision-makers. The result so far has been a dignified, trusted program with greater power to transform the lives of program participants, and transform other city processes.

In this session, participants will hear about how the city centered the Elevate Boulder decision making process in the lived experience of community members; and established goals for a dignified, equitable process.

Participants will also engage in small groups to explore how the same elements of success could be applied to other kinds of city policies and processes. We will also explore how we can measure trust and transformative impacts to keep doing what works best for the people we serve.

Speakers: Elizabeth Crowe, Markisha Key-Hagan