A man sits in a prison cell. To his right are white sneakers, propped up against the wall. On the shelf above him sit protein powder, books, a meticulous arrangement of energy drinks, and in the upper left corner, an unmistakable bright green bag — Flamin’ Hot Limón Doritos. This painting is…

The Printers Place Center at the intersection of Airport Road and Circle Drive is home to at least three food pantries. The Chinook Center, Agape Food Pantry and Voces Unidas all conduct some kind of food share operation out of the old strip mall in K-Land. 

As someone who grew up in Virginia, I have fond memories of summertime seafood. Grilled, fresh-caught fish, crab boils and pounds and pounds of shrimp. One of the downsides of living in land-locked Colorado is the lack of fresh seafood. But, there’s a local restaurant, Mariscos Altamar (3105…

Jason Cauley enters his first season as Mitchell High School’s football coach, but this is far from his first rodeo on the gridiron.

When Moni Hernandez was younger, she was told not to speak Spanish outside of the home. “My dad wanted us to speak English ... because he was shamed for being Hispanic,” she said. 

The YouTube channel for TEDx Talks includes a 16-minute discourse by Dr. Erik Huffman on cybersecurity called “Human Hacking: The Psychology Behind Cybersecurity.” For some, cybersecurity may sound dry or daunting, but Huffman’s talk — posted to YouTube in October 2019 — is more of a storyte…

Jesse Perez started at UCCS as a first-generation college student. Now, he’s the director of the UCCS Excel Languages Center.

David Prosper and his wife, Audrey Mabrey Prosper, came to Colorado Springs two years ago from Bradenton, Florida, when she felt a spiritual calling to the city. Prosper said his interest in education always felt akin to pastoring, but not being an ordained minister, he visualized a school a…

Dr. Sandy Ho has a poster of actor Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther, Get On Up, 42), who died in August 2020 from cancer complications, hanging in her UCCS office.

Rodney Gullatte Jr. is a powerhouse, a pillar of the community, a force for diversity and inclusion — and he landed in Colorado right as the infamous Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case was unfolding. 

Jordan McHenry, a Colorado native, has returned to Colorado Springs to open a studio for the newly-renamed Dance Alliance of the Pikes Peak Region, after a storied career working with Cirque du Soleil and the Martha Graham Dance Company. 

Southeast Colorado Springs’ vibrant soul food scene has a new contender: Sabrina’s Soul Food Kitchen. Located in the Mission Trace Shopping Center, Sabrina’s Soul Food Kitchen has all the hallmarks of a great southern-style restaurant: a wide selection of fried meats, delicious side dishes, …

Theatreworks will be performing William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 5:30 p.m. outside the Deerfield Hills Community Center (4290 Deerfield Hills Rd.) on Thursday, June 24. The performance is part of the Theatreworks Free-for-All program, which provides no-cost performances f…

The Southeast Express and KOAA hosted a Coffee Connect panel, discussing Southeast Economic Business Influence & Development on May 28 at the Chinook Center. 

One of the great things about living in Southeast Colorado Springs is the local restaurants, which are criminally under-appreciated. 

I have had the pleasure of what I call “walking in the shadows” of my twin brother. This, for me, has always been an honor. 

Later this year, Elena Salinas plans to open a small neighborhood grocery store that will not only help provide Southeast Colorado Springs residents access to affordable fresh food, but also act as a haven for women. 

As a young woman in Southeast Colorado Springs, Latrina Ollie looked around and saw all the problems many others see when they visit her corner of town: higher rates of crime and poverty than most other parts of the city, a lack of economic development, and too few opportunities for young pe…

When Juaquin Mobley talks to people looking for a second chance after being incarcerated, he speaks from experience.

As a young man, Diego Lujan bounced back and forth between the dusty San Luis Valley and the urban neighborhoods of Colorado Springs. The men in his family laid concrete and built roofs. Meanwhile, Lujan “ran the streets,” as he puts it. He had no desire or expectation of one day working lon…

David Prosper should probably write a book.

When it comes to philanthropy, Jennifer Smith is like the Energizer Bunny — she just keeps  on going. She has worked as the family outreach coordinator for the Colorado International Language Academy for the last five years, and since 2013 she’s served as president of the nonprofit she found…

Monica Hernandez, owner of VIVA Marketing and Consulting, is a businesswoman who followed her dreams and created a remarkable career.

The recent March storms blanketed Southeast Colorado Springs with snow and frigid temperatures. If you’re looking for some delicious island flavors to melt away that cold, J’s Jamaican Flava (3016 South Academy Blvd.) has got you covered. 

I have faced many challenges in my career as an artist who identifies as a black queer woman. Without question, the largest challenge I have faced and continue to conquer is being rejected from art spaces and opportunities, especially in Colorado Springs. Although many choose to ignore the f…

Don Guillo (2551 Delta Drive) is bringing Puerto Rican cuisine to Southeast Colorado Springs. Located inside the shopping center at the intersection of Hancock Expressway and Delta Drive, Don Guillo provides dine-in and take-out options, serving up generous portions of traditional Puerto Ric…

The eighth annual Multicultural Black History Program took place Feb. 28 at Stargazers Theatre. The event, which traditionally features children performing “I Am” speeches as a specific figure in Black history, debuted a musical Motown segment this year. That came out of a partnership betwee…

Like many Colorado Springs residents, I ended up here courtesy of Uncle Sam. I settled in Southeast Colorado Springs because of its proximity to Fort Carson, and when my time was up I chose to make Colorado my home instead of returning to Virginia. 

Community members — including members of El Paso County Health, Servicios de La Raza, RISE and BeYou from Southeast Colorado Springs — provided the El Paso County Board of Health updates on a recent health survey provided to residents to identify supports needed during the continued COVID-19…

Community advocate Juelz Ramirez has recently launched a documentary series focusing on Southeast Colorado Springs called Daily Dose 719. Each episode tackles a unique aspect of life and health equity, which the World Health Organization defines as “the absence of unfair and avoidable or rem…

The Colorado Springs Business Journal, sister paper of the Express, recognized 15 women this year with the Women of Influence award program. Meet two of those women who are involved in Southeast: Patricia Cameron and Yolanda Avila.

The Colorado Springs Business Journal, sister paper of the Express, recognized 15 women this year with the Women of Influence award program. Meet two of those women who are involved in Southeast: Patricia Cameron and Yolanda Avila.

When she was just a freshman in high school, Kayla Nocon found herself sitting in the pews of her church at Saturday night service, asking God for guidance.

Harrison District 2 families received a special gift from employees from Altia, a Colorado Springs-based software company.

Every year, the start of fall brings colors to the trees, and Arts Month brings a world of colors to the city. October is always Arts Month in Colorado Springs, a time when the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region works to elevate arts and culture throughout El Paso County. 

Stephany Rose Spaulding recalls one of her first in-person interviews 10 years ago for her teaching position at UCCS. The Chicago native was told of all the living things that make the area home, including plenty of deer — and the occasional mountain lion.

A small-town upbringing in a family that valued sharing with others shaped Cory Arcarese’s life.

This stylish Southeast spot with cool murals and poppin’ colors everywhere opened a couple months ago and stands out for its super-non-gringo savory snack and dessert menu; there’s so many items I don’t recognize and would love to return to try. But for this first foray, we nab two paletas (…

A Colorado Springs native, Latrina Ollie wants to inspire fellow entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and promote growth in the Southeast.

The week in March when the novel coronavirus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, Maria, an undocumented Colorado resident for over 15 years, lost the eight customers whose houses she cleaned for a living.

I love fish. OK, maybe “love” is a bit strong, but suffice it to say I have a taste for the toothsome chicken of the sea.

When students return to schools in Harrison School District 2 on Aug. 17, they’ll be entering a vastly different landscape than the one they left last spring.

Every Wednesday morning at 5 a.m., Southeast Colorado Springs resident and entrepreneur Elena Salinas rolls out of bed and prepares for a long day ahead.