DENVER — People who knew Rev. Jesse Jackson and spent much time with the iconic civil rights leader when he came to Colorado reflected on his legacy and passing. 

The news of Jackson’s death spread on Tuesday morning just as people were gathering for the Black World Conference at Metropolitan State University (MSU) in Denver. 

Among them was Cleo Parker Robinson, Colorado’s famous dancer and trailblazer who spent time with Jackson when he came to visit the city over the last several decades. 

“Even though we had a small black community, he knew it was a mighty one, and he tapped into that. And here, I was an artist, and he knew that, but he always knew that art had a place, and I always appreciated that,” Robinson said. 

Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock shared a story with 9NEWS in which he remembered seeing Jackson speak at a school when he was 6 years old. 

“Jesse Jackson came to Denver so often, I saw him during every developing phase of my life,” Hancock said. “Jesse was impactful to a lot of us. He touched so many leaders in this nation today.” 

Dr. Jasmine Harris, chair of the Africana Studies program at MSU, said Jackson inspired many young people in Colorado to enter the political and legal professions. 

His attempts to run for president also carved paths, she said, especially for Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. 

“To have that representation really influenced a whole new generation of not just civil rights activists in this area, but judges and lawyers and all kinds of black folks that are working in the legal profession today,” Harris said.