Deepali Lindblom

Deepali LIndblom, a BIPOC immigrant, founded Roshni, a non-profit, community-based arts organization in 2017 to serve the historically underserved communities in the East Colfax corridor. The Roshni community embraces the rich diversity of this area, including refugees and immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities and mental health issues, LGBTQ+, and seniors. The organization serves a large number of residents who otherwise would not have access to the arts, including 2,000 youth and 500 adults each year. 

Through its various programs, Roshni helps individuals come together to create artwork that shares their own stories, believing in the power of the arts to heal, create unity, and promote understanding among participants from different backgrounds. 

Deepali has envisioned a world where everyone can benefit from the power of the performing arts to express themselves, where they can work in collaboration with people from their own and different backgrounds, and where they can create community and heal the divisions that separate us. She has nourished a sense of cultural and artistic vibrancy in a marginalized area of Metro Denver and has given a feeling of worth, community, and belonging to the groups who call this diverse area home.

After years of renting a small space in a church basement, Deepali has just signed a contract to purchase a larger space on East Colfax, realizing the dream of creating a sanctuary for these diverse groups, a place outside their homes where they can safely enjoy community, conversation, creation, performances, and even economic empowerment. In this space, the female Afghan participants in Roshni’s Sew & Sing program will now have a place to open a tailoring shop; a theater space will welcome various community theater groups who can’t afford higher rents in the area to produce and share their performances; classroom space will welcome neighborhood children after school for arts programming; and a café will encourage individuals from near and far to sample international cuisine while enjoying a welcoming community space for all. 

Deepali is proud to contribute to the revitalization of this neighborhood, working tirelessly to learn about each new group that enters the area, and welcoming them into the community that continues to expand as the population’s needs evolve.

‍

*Each organization nominated their honoree with an essay. Those essays are posted here, as submitted, to maintain the organization's unique voice and authenticity.

‍