Restorative Practice
Email:
auontai_anderson@dpsk12.net
Department(s):
Support
Auon’tai Anderson is a nationally recognized educator, activist, and community organizer dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for all students.
In 2021, Anderson launched the Black Santa Project, a grassroots initiative that began with a simple request from the community and has since grown into a celebrated annual tradition. Now entering its fifth year, the project provides thousands of children and families with toys, school supplies, shoes, haircuts, and holiday joy for kids throughout the state of Colorado.
A trailblazer in public education, Anderson was elected to the Denver School Board at just 21 years old, becoming the youngest African American elected official in Colorado’s history. He went on to serve as Vice President of the Denver School Board, where he co-authored the district’s Gun Safety Resolution, LGBTQIA + Inclusion Resloution, and several other transformative policies that reshaped the landscape of Denver Public Schools for generations to come.
Beyond public service, Anderson is a dedicated educator, working directly in Denver Public Schools to support students and teachers. He is widely respected for his ability to connect with young people, advocate for families, and challenge systems to do better. His life’s work reflects a simple truth: lasting change happens when communities organize, tell their stories, and refuse to accept anything less than justice.