Tamara Banks is a Five Points neighborhood icon: Kenny Be's Hip Tip

Limited space to fit Washington Street, Welton Street, 27th Street and 26th Avenue on horse-drawn streetcar signage culminated in calling this neighborhood transit stop Five Points. From streetcar suburb of the aristocracy to historic jazz-age "Harlem of the West," the people of Five Points have always been the heart of...

By Kenny Be

February 15, 2011

Audio By Carbonatix

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Limited space to fit Washington Street, Welton Street, 27th Street and 26th Avenue on horse-drawn streetcar signage culminated in calling this neighborhood transit stop Five Points. From streetcar suburb of the aristocracy to historic jazz-age "Harlem of the West," the people of Five Points have always been the heart of Denver. Meet Tamara Banks... Born in Mexico City and raised in Louisiana, Tamara Banks came to Denver after obtaining a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Northern Colorado. She paid her dues as a reporter for numerous radio and television stations across the state, and rose to stardom as the popular news anchor at Denver's Channel 2.

After fourteen years in the business, Tamara took a brief hiatus from broadcasting to work as Mayor John Hickenlooper's neighborhood and community advisor. She is now back on the air hosting Studio 12 with Steffan Tubbs on KBDI. By combining her skills in broadcasting with her interest in the community, Tamara has transformed from a news reader into a journalist who actually wants to enlighten people.

In her effort to evoke positive social change through media and technology, Tamara has traveled from Denver to Africa produce documentary films. By telling the stories of people who serve the needy, Tamara uses the free press to provide information on health, government and education needed to strengthen democracies and make the world a better place. These films help give voice to the voiceless and tell others what they can do to make a difference.

But saving the world is not a full-time job. To counter the oppression she sees as a journalist, Tamara likes to spend her free time playing polo. An avid horseback rider since the age of four, polo allows Tamara to express her competitive spirit by scoring against men. Glamorous and full of heart, Tamara Banks is the embodiment of the neighborhood where she lives.

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