We checked in with a handful of the most recent grantees of the foundation’s Community Trust, and we’re inspired. Read on for updates from Intercambio Uniting Communities, 350 Colorado, Celebrate the Beat, and the Colorado Pet Pantry.
We checked in with a handful of the most recent grantees of the foundation’s Community Trust, and we’re inspired. Read on for updates from Intercambio Uniting Communities, 350 Colorado, Celebrate the Beat, and the Colorado Pet Pantry:
EDUCATION
Intercambio Uniting Communities
“Thanks to our community stepping up – and support from Community Foundation Boulder County – Intercambio is opening doors of opportunity we never imagined were possible,” says Lee Shainis, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Boulder County nonprofit providing cultural integration and English classes to immigrants. “We currently have 300 adult immigrant students taking online English classes in groups, or with a private teacher. Eight-five percent of students and volunteers rate their online experience as a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1-5 [5 = excellent].
“Surprisingly, about half of students and one-third of volunteers want to continue online, even when in-person is possible. Our future no longer looks the same, and it’s exciting because a different level of access is now possible.”
That said, according to Lee, some 90% of Intercambio’s online students have never taken an online class before, which requires additional staff support to equip them with critical technology skills. Says Lee, “These skills are also critical to parents supporting their children’s home online learning. Volunteers are adapting to online teaching, too.”
Indeed, many students take classes on their smartphone, so continuing to use hard copies of Intercambio’s “Confidence and Connections” curriculum as they video chat is critical.
“I was surprised when we started our online classes, to see our mission running effectively with different tools but the same purpose,” says Norma Fuentes, Intercambio Director of Student Services. “Our students and volunteers are still building community in these uncertain times. Now, I see the great opportunities that we have when we face circumstances that are out of own control. If we are strong in our beliefs, nothing can stop us.”
Adds Lee, “Our immigrant staff members are serving as cultural brokers to immigrants in Boulder County, connecting them to critical resources. We’re fostering more conversations with our students about racism, and we’re creating platforms to connect English learners with volunteer teachers online, nationally.
“Our physical doors remain closed for now, but other doors of opportunity are opening for us to remain connected and learn lifelong skills.”
ENVIRONMENT
350 Colorado
“We are an unstoppable movement of everyday people, working together to build a fossil-free future powered by 100% renewable energy,” says Deborah McNamara, Campaign Director. “With support from the Community Foundation, we’ll do even more to build our movement, engage Boulder County residents in taking action to promote a more sustainable future, and solve the current climate crisis.”
Continues Deborah, “We’re excited to bring on a new Boulder County Local Team Coordinator who will support our local campaigns, and who will help us to meet our goal of having a more robust, skilled, and diverse local climate movement.
“We’ll be actively training more climate leaders through local climate leadership workshops, and will be empowered to do even more to protect Boulder County residents from the threat of oil and gas development, and press our leaders for even bolder climate leadership.”
Indeed, 350 Colorado is a leading organization in a coalition of organizations working to fight fracking, locally. “Our coalition represents more than 130K Boulder County residents and includes The Lookout Alliance, Sierra Club: Indian Peaks, Sustainable Resilient Longmont, and many others,” explains Deborah. “We support the strongest possible rules and regulations on fracking, and advocate for a fracking ban in Boulder County.”
Today, Oct. 7, 350 Colorado is hosting an online event focused on fracking in Boulder County, which is currently threatened by 140 proposed fracking wells. “We’re calling out the threats posed to our climate, air and water quality, and public health – and we’ll hear from a panel of local leaders, experts and current candidates for the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners,” Deborah says.
At the event, Senator Mike Foote, co-sponsor of SB 19-181, will be leading the section about the state implementation of the bill; and Commissioner Matt Jones will speak about the Boulder County situation. Register here, and click here to sign the petition for a ban on fracking in Boulder County.
ARTS & CULTURE
Celebrate the Beat
“A saying we’ve been repeating is ‘we’re truly building the plane as we’re flying it,’” says Mikayla Houser, Executive Director of Celebrate the Beat, providing the highest quality in-school, after-school, and virtual dance programs for all children.
“Thanks to the many districts and schools we serve across Colorado at Celebrate the Beat, we’ve gained insight from key stakeholders to assist our process to produce at least 75 minutes of pre-recorded virtual content each week for more students than ever before.
“Funding from the Community Foundation will help us reach students virtually in Pre-K through 8th grades, and hosting live, in-school virtual classes over Zoom with our traditional CTB energy!
“Virtual programming allows our students to access the content from home, in cohorts, in learning pods, or in the classroom to accommodate the changing schedules of each school.”
Adds Mikayla, “I’d love to share with the Boulder County community the patience, ease, and grace that our staff and everyone we work with in the community has embodied since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. The safety and security of our students and the staff at schools where we work is of utmost important to us, as well as the health and safety of our talented instructors.”
She concludes, “There’s always joy found within every child during Celebrate the Beat’s programming – but we’ve noticed an extra dose of compassion and grace because everyone is dealing with rapid-fire changes in plans, trying to best accommodate everyone involved, and keeping the students that we serve engaged in the community that Celebrate the Beat brings to them virtually each week.”
ANIMAL CARE & WELFARE
Colorado Pet Pantry
The Colorado Pet Pantry is a pet food bank with monthly distributions throughout the Front Range.
“In Boulder County, we distribute pet food at 10 locations to help families to keep their pets through financial challenges,” says Executive Director Eileen Lambert. “About 78% of people in the United States live paycheck to paycheck. During COVID-19, with many people facing furlough or unemployment, the Colorado Pet Pantry and donors like Community Foundation Boulder County are helping people to keep and feed their pets. While COVID-19 is hopefully temporary, pets are not.
“The grant from Community Foundation Boulder County will help feed 1,050 pets for a full month.”
Indeed, many more pet owners are facing financial hardship now due to the health and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even more difficult for many to afford rent, food, medical care, and pet food. In fact, the need for Colorado Pet Pantry’s assistance has more than doubled since the beginning of March.
“Pet food assistance, like that provided by Colorado Pet Pantry, allows Boulder County families to better afford basic needs, so they don’t face the heartbreaking choice between keeping a beloved family member or giving it up at a time that is already incredibly stressful,” adds Eileen. “Colorado Pet Pantry is also working with several groups – including Coal Creek Meals On Wheels and several other organizations – to make home deliveries to pet owners who are housebound, or at high risk of COVID-19.”
