Denise Butler
Denise Butler is the Associate Director and Director of Economic & Community Development at African Career, Education and Resource, Inc. (ACER). With more than 10 years of experience in the private and nonprofit sectors, she leads and oversees projects to meet the economic and community development needs for people of African heritage and BIPOC communities in the northwest suburbs of the Twin Cities.
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In her role, Denise works with African immigrant and BIPOC-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to access resources from current government programs and financial systems and also build new cooperative economic models based on our communities’ cultural capital and visions for sustainable, collective prosperity. She creates bridges between community members, nonprofit partners and elected officials and staff at the local, regional, state and federal levels to increase resources, opportunities and initiatives that lead to lasting community wealth for members of the African diaspora and BIPOC communities. Through her work for racial equity and environmental justice, she has been a part of many campaigns and served as the co-chair for the Blue Line Coalition for six years, a coalition of community-based and neighborhood organizations along the Blue Line Extension Corridor.
Denise holds a Master of Science in organizational leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, and joined ACER in 2011 after six years in the private sector as a financial advisor and retail manager. In 2014, Denise ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing DHS Health Care, a consultancy focused on BIPOC women’s enterprises, entertainment, and real estate. She is also the co-owner of a used car business and a staffing agency helping to close the employment gap for people of color in Minnesota. In 2022, she received the Top Women in Finance award, in recognition of her hard work in business and community.
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Denise shares her expertise with various community organizations and initiatives including serving on the Charter Commission for the City of Brooklyn Park, volunteering as a member of the City’s New Connect program to welcome new residents to the community; and supporting civic participation as an election precinct judge supervisor. She has also managed a successful city council campaign in Brooklyn Park and served as lead organizer for the Northwest Community Collaborative. She helped to form Black Immigrant Collective (BIC) and currently serves as a board member.
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A strong advocate for following one’s personal passions, Denise has been in entertainment since 2013, acting in small screen projects, hosting podcasts and talk shows, and assisting with the “African roots connection” radio show on KMOJ.
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