One Colorado’s 2022 Prism Awards: Meet the Honorees

Formerly known as the Ally Awards, One Colorado’s Prism Awards hope to recognize individuals who have made an impact on the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families at their annual gala. This year’s gala will take place on August 20 at the Denver Art Museum and will celebrate four influential community members.

The 2022 Prism Award recipients are Barb Cardell, Amayas Gonzalez, Goddess Tyescha, and Commissioner Michael Conway.

Barb Cardell is an activist, advocate, and educator from Boulder Colorado who works locally and globally on HIV issues. They are currently serving on the governor-appointed Colorado Alliance for HIV Prevention and Education. Cardell also co-founded PWN USA CO, an advocacy group that is based in Colorado dedicated to all self-identified women with HIV in the state. They are the legislative chair of CORA, Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS, and has been heavily involved in HIV criminalization reform.

Amayas Gonzalez was born and raised in Colorado and is the first youth recipient of the Prism Award. They were a member of One Colorado’s GSA Leadership Council from 2019 to 2020. Gonzalez fought for an all-gender bathroom and to change the dress code to “free dress” at their school. They previously worked with the Transgender Law Center’s Gender Justice Leadership Program and are currently a member of the Roses Youth National Council. They’re also this year’s Pride issue cover star.

Goddess Tyescha has been a devoted community organizer since the age of 16, which led them to become the president of a local college campus, NAACP. Tyescha has used their poetry as a method of expression throughout their time as an advocate. A queer, genderfluid, Black Afro-Latinx product of the crack era and first-generation, Puerto Rican parents, Tyescha has used their experiences and intersectional identity as part of their work. They are graduating with a dual masters from Fordham University in education. Tyescha currently works at Inside Out Youth Services as an amplifier to create safe spaces for LGBTQ youth and eradicate bigotry.

Commissioner Michael Conway was appointed as the Colorado Insurance Commissioner by Governor Polis in 2018. He oversees the regulation of the Insurance Industry in Colorado. The Biden-Harris administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved gender-affirming care as part of Colorado’s Essential Health Benefit benchmark in 2021. Commissioner Conway was a pivotal part of this innovative and life-saving update to Colorado Insurance.

Keep up with OFM for continued coverage of the Prism Awards as they approach!

Photo courtesy of One Colorado’s Prism Awards