Representative Naquetta Ricks is proud to represent Colorado’s House District 40 in her third term as a state legislator. As both the first African immigrant elected to the Colorado General Assembly and the first Liberian woman to serve in any U.S. state legislature, she brings a historic and powerful perspective to the State Capitol. After fleeing civil war in Liberia at age 13, her family built a new life in Colorado. Since then, Rep. Ricks has become a respected leader in both business and government, driven by a lifelong commitment to education, opportunity, and equity.

Representative Ricks grew up in Aurora, Colorado, after immigrating to the United States with her mother and sister. She earned her accounting degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver and her MBA from the University of Colorado Denver. Today, she is a successful small business owner and the founder and CEO of the African Chamber of Commerce Colorado, which supports immigrant and minority-owned businesses across the state through advocacy, training, and economic development initiatives.

Since taking office in 2020, Rep. Ricks has passed landmark legislation to expand immigrant rights, protect consumers, reform housing policy, and strengthen economic opportunity. Her legislative wins include the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, the Towing Bill of Rights, HOA foreclosure reforms, and the Colorado Racial Equity Study. In 2023, she was selected to attend the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, further developing her leadership in public service.

She currently chairs the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and serves on the State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee. Her policy priorities include expanding access to affordable housing, protecting tenants, strengthening workforce development, and ensuring an equitable future for all. She also represents Colorado at national and international conferences and works to strengthen connections across the African Diaspora.

Representative Ricks' leadership has been recognized by organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the African Diaspora Network, the Immigrant List, and the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. Whether at the Capitol or in the community, she remains committed to public service that uplifts every Coloradan.

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