Chandra Thomas Whitfield | Colorado Public Radio

Chandra Thomas Whitfield

Host/Producer, Colorado Matters

Chandra Thomas Whitfield joined CPR as a host and producer of its daily interview show, Colorado Matters, in 2022.

Professional background:
Whitfield has produced stories for NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, Ebony and a number of other national media outlets. She also hosted and produced the award-winning podcast “In The Gap” from In These Times magazine, which explored how the gender pay gap and pay discrimination affects the lives and livelihoods of Black women who work in America.

A New Orleans native by way of Atlanta and Clark Atlanta University graduate, she is also an alumna of a diverse mix of journalism fellowship programs, including the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at the Ohio University and Ted Scripps Fellowship in Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. Most recently she completed the Medill and The Garage Media Entrepreneur Fellowship with Northwestern University’s esteemed Medill School of Journalism.

Education:
Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Journalism, Clark Atlanta University.

Awards/recognition:
Whitfield is the recipient of numerous awards for her writing, including “Journalist of the Year” awards from the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Atlanta Press Club, as well as honors from the Association for Women in Communications, the Colorado Association of Black Journalists and Mental Health America. An award-winning feature story she penned for Atlanta magazine is widely attributed with helping contribute to a change in Georgia law and a young man’s early release from a 10-year prison sentence.

Colorado Matters
STAR Program works to provide resources to people in crisis without involving police
The STAR Program has been underway in Denver for two years now. STAR stands for "Support Team Assistance Response." The program sends unarmed trained health experts instead of police officers to certain low-risk 911 calls.
By Chandra Thomas Whitfield
Colorado Matters
Teens use kindness to improve lives, sense of self, and sense of community
Students at a charter school in New Orleans are used to being written off. What they’re not so used to... is being heard. Yet five of these students got a global audience recently at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. They're among the teams to win the Aspen Challenge, for developing a program that uses kindness to address mental health.
By Chandra Thomas Whitfield
Colorado Matters
Colorado narrows the opportunity gap but equity still ‘a dream unrealized’
Ideally, the color of your skin doesn't determine your opportunities in areas like education or housing, and a new report suggests that Colorado, more than any other state, is inching closer to that goal. But it also finds that equity remains "a dream unrealized." Host Chandra Thomas Whitfield speaks with reporter Tina Griego of the Colorado News Collaborative.
By Chandra Thomas Whitfield
Colorado Matters
Denver-born filmmaker helps Buzz Lightyear go to infinity and beyond
The new Pixar movie "Lightyear" is a spin-off of the wildly popular Toy Story franchise…with a twist. The characters are not toys this time around. Denver native Will Ross served as the Editorial Coordinator on the film. He spoke with Colorado Matters co-host Chandra Thomas Whitfield.
By Chandra Thomas Whitfield
Colorado Matters
June 27, 2022: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ron Hanks on immigration, voting security
Ron Hanks is currently a state representative from Fremont County. He faces Joe O'Dea in Tuesday's Republican primary. Chandra Thomas Whitfield asks Hanks about a range of topics including inflation, abortion access, gun control, and the January 6th insurrection. Later, the artistry and symbolic meaning behind one of the floats in Denver's Pride parade.
By Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield
Colorado Matters
June 23, 2022: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea on inflation, guns, and abortion access
Colorado businessman Joe O'Dea is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. He's in a primary race with state representative Ron Hanks. The winner will face the incumbent, Democrat Michael Bennet, in the general election. We ask about issues including inflation, abortion access, climate change, and gun control and crime. Then, a new book explores the history of curanderos. And soap box derby's young racers.
By Chandra Thomas Whitfield