About Dennis:

Dennis Bacon is a nonprofit executive, community advocate, and cultural connector whose leadership is deeply shaped by where he comes from and who he serves. Raised on the east side of Indianapolis, Dennis carries his community with him in every space he enters, grounding his work in lived experience, resilience, and a deep sense of responsibility to give back.

A graduate of Arsenal Technical High School, Dennis went on to earn his degree from Butler University, where he studied Digital Media Production with concentrations in Psychology and Criminology. This interdisciplinary background informs his ability to tell compelling stories while understanding the systems, behaviors, and social dynamics that impact marginalized communities. It’s a blend that allows him to approach advocacy with both creativity and critical insight.

Dennis currently serves as President of Indiana Pride of Color, where he leads with a focus on equity, access, and joy for Black LGBTQ+ communities across the state. In a conservative environment, he has helped cultivate spaces that are affirming, celebratory, and grounded in grassroots advocacy, community care, and collective action through festivals, sponsorships, volunteer engagement, and year-round programming. His leadership emphasizes visibility with purpose and care that extends beyond symbolism.

Alongside his nonprofit work, Dennis is a coffee shop Store Manager in downtown Indianapolis, where he leads teams with the same values he brings to community organizing: empathy, accountability, and connection. His role reflects his belief that leadership is practiced daily, in how people are supported, developed, and empowered, not just in titles or positions.

At the heart of Dennis’s work is a commitment to chosen family, meaningful relationships, and the belief that joy is not a luxury but a necessity. As a proud gay Black man, he leads with authenticity, balancing bold vision with tenderness and care. Whether building community infrastructure or creating a sense of home in everyday spaces, Dennis is driven by a simple but powerful goal: to leave people better than he found them.