Hey, Bucket Listers! As we approach Thanksgiving, we are grateful to neighbors like you who support community journalism and inspire our work. We also appreciate the Rose Community Foundation, which awarded us a $1500 grant this week to help cover expenses associated with our live election coverage. As the giving season approaches, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed so that we can continue to do this work and mentor aspiring journalists. As our publisher, Vicky Collins, shares this week, together we’re having a tremendous impact.
Prison Degrees Transforming Lives Behind Bars
After being incarcerated, it may appear that there are no options available to help you once you are released. Adams State University’s Prison Education Program at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility offers inmates the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s degrees. Cassis Tingley’s story for us focuses on how the experience is changing lives, as told by two inmates at the facility and experts who are intimately familiar with the program.
Keeping Tech On Track at Empower Field
On game days at Empower Field, an estimated 42,000 use the stadium’s WiFi simultaneously. Russ Trainor, the Broncos’ senior vice president of information technology, is responsible for ensuring that the facility’s technology systems are always operational and secure. Ryland Scholes visited Empower Field during a recent cybersecurity event to learn how the organization uses cutting-edge technology to maintain the fan experience.
But Where Do I Park?
After the Denver City Council approved KSE’s proposal to renovate Ball Arena’s 70-acre neighborhood, many residents were left wondering where they would park during events. The redevelopment of the stadium’s surrounding area is expected to bring affordable housing, convenient transportation, economic growth and a connection between downtown and lower downtown. Our Daniel Montoya explains how parking fits into the equation.
DFX Revolutionizing Pediatric Therapy in Denver
In 2003, DFX began as a playground program that provided services to families. It has since grown to include multiple communities and schools across the city. The organization’s tagline is “therapy that fits,” and it lives up to that promise by providing comprehensive pediatric therapy to underserved Denver families. PJ Guidry toured DFX’s facility and learned how their work has evolved over time.
Stuff We Noticed
The Denver School Board voted yes to Superintendent Alex Marrero’s plan to close or restructure 10 city schools. Elementary schools Columbian, Schmitt, Palmer and International Academy of Denver at Harrington have each been on the chopping block twice, but this time was the end. The other schools closing are Castro Elementary, West Middle School and DSISD. Kunsmiller, Dora Moore and DCIS Baker are being restructured to include fewer grades. After the announcement protests rang out in the room.
We recently published a story about how the city was considering using Remington School in Sunnyside as an emergency shelter for migrants if another crush occurred across the border. Well, it turns out the city doesn’t need it after all since migration has returned to normal patterns so the city has scrapped the plan. With the shelter off the table, the building can be used for other purposes.
Remember Furby’s, Gangsta Rap and the Macarena? History Colorado opened its exhibit “The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future” last night. The 90s, they say, changed everything and the exhibit is vast—more than 5,000 square feet. The exhibits include a piece of the Berlin Wall, and the installation promises to explore the “technological revolutions, landmark moments, and rapid social, cultural, economic, and political changes that planted the seeds for the 21st century.”
That’s it for this week, Bucket Listers. The next time this newsletter arrives in your inbox, it will be the day after Thanksgiving, so we wish you a wonderful turkey day full of food, friends and family. December 3rd is Giving Tuesday, or as we call it “Giving Newsday,” and we begin our #newsCOneeds fundraising campaign on the Colorado Gives platform. We need your help to unlock $10,000 in matching grants towards our goal of $12,500. Thank you for your generosity, and have a wonderful weekend!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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