Rocky Mountain Roundup: Diversity In CRE

Haroun Cowans is a prominent social, financial, and philanthropic leader with over two decades of experience leading development and investment in the Five Points District of Denver, Colorado. Haroun is responsible for Goshen Development’s operations, client relations, partnerships, business development, and strategic leadership. He has held many leadership positions in real estate and finance but considers his greatest passion his work as an associate pastor at Church in the City – Beth Abraham. Outside of ministry, Haroun is the Founder and Managing Principal of Goshen Development. Haroun has built strong relationships to the Five Points and greater Denver community through his extensive work and board appointments. Throughout his career, Haroun has held many different positions in real-estate and finance including managing retail financial branches, raising capital for startups, financial advising, financial services at Merrill Lynch, Chief Real Estate Officer and commercial real estate broker. Haroun has been appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Denver Board of Human Services and the Advisory Committee for Housing People Experiencing Homelessness. He is a board member of the following organizations: Colorado Enterprise Fund, Five Points Business Improvement District, Historic Denver, Denver Health Foundation, Denver African American Philanthropists (co-chair), and Black Resilience in Colorado. He has previously served on the boards of Denver East YMCA, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and Youth Biz (chair). Notably, Haroun has been featured in the Denver Post, Denver Channel 7 News, Denver Channel 9 News, 303 Magazine, Westword, Business Den and has been cover stories for Denver Business Journal, Denver Rite and Vice Magazine.

At the core of Albus Brooks’ identity is community development and servant leadership. Albus moved to Colorado in 1997 to study and play football for the University of Colorado. Sports Illustrated named him one of the Top 10 Hardest Hitters, and the NFL took interest in him before injuries ultimately ended his football career. Albus Brooks pursued his calling for community development by working with young people in Denver’s poor communities. He served as the Director of the Issachar Center for Urban Leadership, an organization that invests in Denver’s emerging leaders. In 2010 Albus worked to elect then- Mayor John Hickenlooper as Governor of Colorado, acting as the statewide Outreach and Political Director. This exposure to political leadership led him to seek public office, and in 2011 Albus defeated 38 opponents to become the youngest African American ever elected to Denver City Council. Serving two terms on Denver City Council, including two terms as Council President, Albus accomplished an ambitious range of progressive legislative victories with the goal of building a truly inclusive city. To address the affordability crisis, he co-created Denver’s first - and Colorado’s largest - affordable housing fund. To make Denver a more equitable place to grow up he funded and expanded the Denver Preschool Program, providing universal access to preschool for all 4-year-olds. He also decriminalized marijuana possession for those 18-21 years old, preventing thousands of young people from entering the criminal justice system. Albus Brooks received his M.B.A. from the University of Denver. He is now the Vice President of Business Development and Public Affairs for Milender White, a Development and Construction firm operating in Southern California and Colorado. Albus sits on multiple boards and commissions and has been a part of the following national and international fellowship programs: The Marshall Memorial Fellowship, the NewDEAL Leaders, and the Aspen Institute - Rodel Fellowship. Although a rising global leader, it is in the heart of Denver where Albus feels most at home. He lives in Five Points/RiNo with his three young children, Makai, Kenya and Kaya.