Author Archives: ProgressNow Colorado

Denver Runoff Election Candidate Questionnaire

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado June 1, 2023 at 1:23 PM MDT

If you’re one of the majority of Denver voters who hasn’t returned your ballot yet for next Tuesday’s runoff election, or know someone in the same situation, we’re here to help! Just in time to give you the information you need to make an informed decision, here is our in-depth candidate questionnaire for the Denver mayoral race as well as the three contested city council races.

For information about where to return your completed ballot, or even register and vote right up until Election Day, visit the Denver Elections Division. All ballots must be received by the clerk by Tuesday, June 6 at 7:00pm in order to be counted. If you’re voting in person, you just need to be in line to vote by 7:00pm.

Your vote could make the difference! Learn about the candidates and get those ballots returned.

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Colorado Week in Review for May 21, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado May 21, 2023 at 1:37 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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2023 Legislation wrap-up and more ways to fight for progress this week (May 15)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado May 15, 2023 at 4:08 PM MDT

So far, 2023 has been a big year for PNC.

At the beginning of our 20th year fighting for progressive values in Colorado, for the first time ProgressNow Colorado took a front-line approach to the legislative session with a full-time Legislative Director inside the building helping to shape policy. We worked directly to pass legislation that regular people will see and feel in their daily lives. Colorado made historic progress in protecting abortion rights, gun safety, and education funding. We also supported bills on eviction prevention for Colorado’s most vulnerable tenants, expanding alternative sentencing options for pregnant people, and finding a pathway to end the debt cycle of prison phone calls. And we were part of the coalition that will be back to fight next year on the issues where a long-term education effort will be necessary to effect the change we need.

I could go on and on, but take a moment now to watch our wrap-up of the 2023 legislative session.

Not everyone got what they wanted from this year’s legislative session, and we know from history that some of the most important legislative accomplishments take years to pass. Progressives are the “big tent” coalition in Colorado now. It’s up to us to build on this year’s successes and learn from campaigns that weren’t successful–this time.

With your continued help and support, the work will continue until we’ve made good on the promises made to voters on affordable housing, environmental justice, and safe, equitable workplaces for everyone. The task is as great as ever, but so is our resolve.

Thank you again for everything you do, and here are a few more ways to get involved for the week of May 15, 2023:

Bell Policy Center End of Legislative Session Celebration

Join the Bell Policy Center for an evening of celebration as the 2023 legislative session comes to an end. We will have a recap chat with some special guests while we eat, drink and be merry.

When: Monday, May 15 at 4:30pm
Where: Raices Brewing Company, 2060 W Colfax Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Legacies of Colonialism, Possibilities for Democracy: Colorado’s Public Lands

Join state historian Jared Orsi as he gives the State Historian’s Address and explores the legacies of colonialism and possibilities for democracy on Colorado’s public lands. The roots of Colorado’s public lands sink deeply into the territorial seizure and racial exclusion of late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century America, and this legacy has persisted since. However, given land management agencies’ impulses toward many uses and broad access, public lands can also be an engine of inclusion and connection in our divided world.

When: Wednesday, May 17 at 1:00pm
Where: History Colorado, 1200 N. Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum

You are invited to join New Era Colorado, COLOR Latina, One Colorado and Cobalt for a special mayoral forum, inspired by the YouTube phenomenon, Hot Ones! We will be serving Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston wings that increase in heat (thanks to @FotmDenver!), as we ask them spicy questions on the issues that impact our communities most.

When: Monday, May 22 at 6:00pm
Where: Town Hall Collaborative, 525 N Santa Fe St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Community Celebration: Licenses for All

Join the I Drive Coalition to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Drivers Licenses for All! Join us for a community celebration from 5:30-9:30pm. During a short program we will celebrate the community’s struggle for drivers licenses, recognize our legislative champions, and honor the groups and agencies who have been central to the success of the program. Dinner and dancing will follow!

When: Friday, June 2 at 6:00pm
Where: St. Cajetans, Auraria Campus, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

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Colorado Week in Review for May 14, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado May 14, 2023 at 11:58 AM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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PNC Presents: Winners and Losers of the 2023 Colorado legislative session

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado May 9, 2023 at 12:41 PM MDT

THE WINNERS

Abortion Rights and Reproductive Health Care

A year after the hijacked conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court made good on the right’s long-standing threat to overturn Roe v. Wade, Colorado as expected became a haven for abortion care, offering help to thousands of people fleeing abortion ban states. This year, Colorado passed critical protections building on last year’s historic Reproductive Health Equity Act and combatting escalating red state attacks seeking to undermine abortion access and gender-affirming care for trans folks across state lines. Colorado also passed Senate Bill 23-284 to make sure patients can get a twelve-month prescription to contraceptives. All of this took place while the far right continued to push for a national medication abortion ban, reminding voters that reproductive rights we’ve taken for granted for generations are only one election away from being lost forever.

Gun safety supporters

In 2023, Colorado advanced the boldest package of gun safety legislation since the historic 2013 session–and with far less political backlash, showing how far the debate has evolved on this central issue. New laws raising the age requirement for gun purchases to 21, instituting a three-day waiting period on purchases, banning untraceable “ghost guns,” and strengthening Colorado’s landmark “red flag” law will save lives, while the gun lobby’s promised “circus” in opposition never materialized. Sen. Tom Sullivan, the General Assembly’s foremost authority on gun safety, led the drive to pass these bills keeping Colorado at the forefront of the struggle to reduce gun violence.

K-12 public schools

For many years, Colorado has fallen short of voter-approved constitutional requirements to sustain and grow public education funding for the long haul. This year, leaders in both parties came together to draft a budget that fully funds Colorado’s public schools with no “BS factor” by 2025. While that doesn’t make up for the years that schools have already been short-changed, it’s a commitment to honoring both students and voters that’s desperately overdue.

Homeowners

With the passage of a referred measure to provide long-term property tax relief while still meeting funding obligations to public schools, Colorado homeowners who were dreading a massive property tax hike after historic appreciation now have a better option available at the polls this November. A voter-approved change in the property tax formula combined with runaway increases in home values made swift action necessary. Proposition HH is the responsible way to reform Colorado’s broken property tax system in a way that doesn’t leave our kids high and dry.

Families with kids

Sen. Michael Bennet’s groundbreaking federal Child Tax Credit, though sadly not renewed after one year of operation, made huge strides toward reducing child poverty. In Colorado, progressive lawmakers are doing all they can to help families with children by increasing the state’s earned income tax credit and child tax credit by nearly $75 million. This targeted tax relief helps those in society who need it most, and is also some of the most effective economic support dollar for dollar the state can provide.

Patients and People with Allergies

House Bill 23-1215 passed in the final two days of the session to limit highly controversial outpatient hospital fees, as well as House Bill 23-1002, which capped the price of EpiPen injectors. This last measure builds on Colorado’s existing law capping the price of insulin–all part of  part of the broader campaign launched by Gov. Jared Polis in 2019 to save Coloradans money on health care.

Families separated by incarceration

For years, Colorado families have had to make difficult decisions to afford to stay connected with their incarcerated loved ones via for-profit telecommunications companies. Despite years of pleas for help, Colorado families continue to have to penny pinch just so a child can hear the soothing sound of their parent’s voice for a few minutes. Every year, Colorado families spend over $8.8 million lining the pockets of the state’s private telecom provider to talk to their incarcerated loved ones. That will change with the passage of House Bill 23-1133, which will reduce and eventually eliminate the cost of voice calls between inmates and their families.

The urban-wildland interface

Learning from the experience of the devastating Marshall Fire, this year lawmakers created an “insurer of last resort” to provide coverage where private insurance companies won’t. In addition, a new board is working on a statewide update to building codes to promote wildfire resiliency. Finally, a second Firehawk aerial firefighting helicopter is set to join the state fleet thanks to bipartisan legislation from Senate President Steve Fenberg and GOP Senator Perry Will. This issue didn’t attract the same sort of headlines that other legislative fights did, but this wildfire season, these measures will likely take on much more importance in hindsight.

Farmers

This year, thanks to prime sponsor Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada, Colorado became the first state in the nation to grant owners of agricultural heavy equipment the “right to repair” their own hardware, potentially saving Colorado farmers millions of dollars over the lifetime of their equipment. The bill requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair shops with service information, tools, and parts to enable them to service their own agricultural equipment. Titone herself generated national headlines for her ability to reach out to Republicans and bridge the rural-urban divide. This bill witnessed fierce opposition from tractor manufacturers and was a powerful lesson in who really has the best interests of rural Colorado at heart.

The new “big tent”

Not everyone got what they wanted from this year’s legislative session, which is nothing unusual–particularly given the large diverse Democratic majority voters elected. Democrats truly are the “big tent” party in Colorado now, and many of the gains we’re most proud of in Colorado like oil and gas reform and equal pay laws took years of patient organizing to accomplish. In the meantime, the Democratic supermajority will have another opportunity to make progress on their bold agenda in 2024.

The Ultra-MAGA wing of Colorado Republicans

Defeated Republicans called 2022 an “extinction-level event,” and in 2023 they proved it’s all over but the shouting. Although Colorado Republicans currently hold the smallest minority in state government since FDR was President, the far-right faction of the GOP minority in the legislature more than made up for their lack of numbers by using every trick in the parliamentary book to grind the lawmaking process to a crawl. Far-right ex-Rep. Dave Williams, now chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, appears to have exerted more influence than the House Minority Leader over the Republican caucus. New fringe luminaries like Reps. Scott Bottoms and Ken DeGraaf made sure that there was no “turning over a new leaf” for Republicans this year.

MIXED BAG

Renters

Two important bills providing eviction protections to renters who are already receiving certain forms of public assistance and saving renters money in the rental application process made it through the legislature and on to Gov. Polis’ desk. Other good pieces of legislation to help beleaguered renters in Colorado like a local option for rent stabilization were not successful this year and are expected to return in 2024, the beginning of a long-term campaign to address an issue that isn’t going away.

Shift workers

Early in the legislative session, an ambitious Fair WorkWeek bill to give hourly workers more flexibility and rights in schedule-making was killed, along with legislation to provide pricing transparency to both gig workers and their customers. Both of these issues are expected to be revisited in the future, and passage of legislation modernizing workplace harassment standards and further promoting equal pay will make workplaces fair and more decent places to be.

THE LOSERS

Haters

Colorado is fortunate to have a General Assembly led by Democrats that reflects the true diversity of our state, including our first trans legislator, Rep. Brianna Titone. As we watch the horrific bullying of trans legislators, kids, and families in other states, Colorado instead marked a moment on the floor recognizing Trans Day of Visibility. As lawmakers passed the gender-affirming care shield law, two legislators, Karen McCormick and Jennifer Parenti, spoke openly about the challenges and joys of being the parent of a trans child. Compassion and decency won. Haters lost. And that’s something we in Colorado should be proud of.

Reasonable Republicans

The disastrous “extinction-level event” of the 2022 elections for Colorado Republicans marked yet another opportunity for the party to change course away from the weak extremist loser candidates who have cost them every election since at least 2016. After failing to trick Colorado voters into supporting Joe O’Dea and Heidi Ganahl and further deepening the GOP’s historic political abyss in this state, there’s no question that dramatic change is needed. Unfortunately, the party lurched in exactly the wrong direction in 2023, empowering the worst actors responsible for previous defeats and elevating their most embarrassing lawmakers to star status. For Republicans hoping 2024 might be different, those hopes have arguably already been dashed.

House Minority Leader Mike Lynch

From the opening day of the session, when far-right Rep. Scott Bottoms made a symbolic bid for the House Speakership later won by Julie McCluskie, it’s been obvious that Minority Leader Mike Lynch has no control over the House Republican Minority. This meant that agreements Lynch made with majority Democrats for changes to legislation that would benefit Republican interests were broken when Lynch’s own lawmakers refused to keep their end of the bargain. At the beginning of the year, former party chair Dick Wadhams held out hope that legislative leadership could store some sense of legitimacy. But with Lynch at the mercy of the MAGA wing of his caucus, all he could do was stand by while the extremists dug the party’s hole even deeper.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

A racist meltdown from a lobbyist for the “no compromise” gun rights group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners in the opening weeks of the session shocked the nation and provided the latest example of this organization’s repugnant extremism. Once considered a pariah among “respectable” Republican organizations, RMGO has cemented control over the Colorado Republican Party at the highest levels with the elevation of long-time RMGO supporter Dave Williams to the chairmanship. Despite this, the organization has never been weaker in terms of impacting gun policy, ridiculed after failing to turn out their once-feared supporters to testify against this year’s gun measures–despite promising a “circus.”

“Skin in the game”

A decade ago, former GOP Sen. Greg Brophy outrageously claimed that Medicaid patients blow their money on “cigarettes and air conditioning” and should have “skin in the game” to help pay for their care. This year, GOP Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer sponsored a bill largely eliminating Medicaid copays, driving a stake in the heart of a longtime GOP talking point. In 2011, one of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s first vetoes was of a GOP measure to charge children higher co-pays, which Republicans then called “welfare reform.” This capitulation shows how politics in Colorado have evolved in the long term away from small-minded cruelty and toward real solutions.
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Colorado Week in Review for May 7, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado May 7, 2023 at 12:47 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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What you can do to fight for progress this week (May 1)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado May 1, 2023 at 2:59 PM MDT

It’s the final full week of the 2023 session of the Colorado General Assembly. This probably isn’t the only action alert you’ll get from us this week, so let’s jump right into actions you can take both now and later to make a difference in these hectic final days.

We’re close to success on legislation to keep families connected when they need it most. Every year, Colorado families spend over $8.8 million lining the pockets of the state’s private telecom provider to talk to their incarcerated loved ones. Many are trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty, and the financial impact is felt most acutely by Black, brown, and low-income communities, which are disproportionately impacted by racist over-policing, harsh sentencing guidelines, and mass criminalization. In fact, over 50 percent of families with an incarcerated loved one struggle to meet basic housing and food needs. One in three families goes into debt just to stay in touch with a loved one behind bars, and women — largely Black and Brown women — carry 87 percent of the burden.

That’s why we urge the Colorado legislature to pass House Bill 23-1133, Cost Of Phone Calls For Persons In Custody, to stop charging families for prison communication. This important legislation has passed the Colorado House and is before the Colorado Senate this week. Click here to contact your state senator and urge them to vote YES on House Bill 23-1133.

Next, there’s still a chance to help protect Colorado’s most vulnerable renters from eviction. Colorado House Bill 23-1120 offers targeted eviction relief to tenants who are already receiving specific forms of federal disability and temporary assistance (SSDI, SSI, and TANF). We have a moral obligation to help tenants with disabilities obtain more negotiating power in the eviction process. Click here to contact your Colorado Senator and urge them to vote YES on House Bill 23-1120.

For the latest on the bills we’re working on this legislative session, check the PNC Bill Tracker.

Every legislative session has its ups and downs, and despite some disappointments along the way, we’ll have much to celebrate when lawmakers adjourn next week. This year, Colorado made historic progress on protecting reproductive rights and reducing the harm from gun violence. On other important issues like affordable housing and fairer, more transparent workplaces, we’re at the beginning of a multi-year campaign of education and advocacy that will lead to long-term change. Your help and support as we fight for our shared progressive values is as crucial now as it was almost 20 years ago when PNC set out to help remake the politics of this state. It sounds corny at times, but we truly can’t thank you enough. And working together, we’ll get it all done eventually.

Here are some more great ways to make a difference for the week of May 1, 2023:

All In Denver and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Mayoral Palooza

Community advocacy groups All In Denver, Warm Cookies of the Revolution, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and Youth on Record are hosting the 2023 Mayor Palooza event on Monday evening, May 1, at the Sie Film Center. Building from the ground-breaking 2019 Mayor Palooza, the 2023 edition will be structured as both a governance carnival and a job interview for Denver’s two Mayoral finalists.

When: Monday, May 1 at 6:00pm
Where: 2510 E. Colfax, Denver.

Click here to RSVP.

Expunge Colorado: Eligibility Overview – Record Sealing Drug Convictions in Colorado

Do you have a drug conviction record in Colorado? Do you want to know if that drug conviction is eligible for record sealing? Join Expunge Colorado’s educational webinar on eligibility for record sealing drug convictions. Expunge Colorado presents an educational webinar about the War on Drugs and restorative justice through record sealing. This presentation will cover the origins of the drug war, provide an overview of drug charges that are eligible to be sealed in Colorado and breakdown how long one must wait to petition to seal an eligible charge.

When: Tuesday, May 2 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: Phone Bank for Citizenship

Join us for a phone bank to get our Colorado Congressional Delegation signed onto HR1511 that would create a pathway to citizenship for millions! This phone bank will be in person at the CIRC and CIRC AF office (2525 West Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80219) and virtual via zoom.

When: Wednesday, May 3 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Denver Tenant Rights Workshop

Join us for a tenant rights workshop on May 4th at 6pm. The event will be both in person and virtual. At this workshop you can learn about what your rights are as a renter and talk to eviction defense attorneys!

When: Thursday, May 4 at 6:00pm
Where: 2680 W Mexico Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Charity’s House Grand Opening and Fundraiser

You are invited to tour and support Denver’s newest housing for people facing housing insecurity in Denver, Charity’s House Apartments! The Charity’s House Apartments came from the vision of Mrs. Eddie and Pastor Bob Woolfolk, long-time community advocates in Five Points. They have helped many people, especially African American, unhoused, and formerly incarcerated neighbors providing services at, Agape Church, and Community Outreach Service Center, which they created to provide much needed support to the Five Points community. The Community Outreach Service Center will be providing supportive social work case work services to the 36 individuals living in the apartments.

When: Saturday, May 6 at 4:00pm
Where: Posner Center for International Development, 1031 33rd St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Denver Alliance for Street Health Response

Join DASHR as we support our unhoused community, distribute food and water, and reach out to businesses about alternatives to policing. Each week we will rotate through consistent meeting spots.

When: Sunday, May 7 at 11:00am
Where: Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum

You are invited to join New Era Colorado, COLOR Latina, One Colorado and Cobalt for a special mayoral forum, inspired by the YouTube phenomenon, Hot Ones! We will be serving Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston wings that increase in heat (thanks to @FotmDenver!), as we ask them spicy questions on the issues that impact our communities most.

When: Monday, May 22 at 6:00pm
Where: Town Hall Collaborative, 525 N Santa Fe St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next week with more ways to help! Thanks again.

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Colorado Week in Review for April 30, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 30, 2023 at 12:39 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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Gig worker transparency and more ways to fight for progress this week (April 24)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 24, 2023 at 4:48 PM MDT

We’re in the closing days of the 2023 session of the Colorado General Assembly, and it’s crunch time to make sure some of the most important priorities of the year don’t get lost in the shuffle.

Action item #1 this week: It’s time for consumers and the gig workers we all rely on to work together for transparency and fairness. Big gig companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash are opposed to transparency to their workers and customers about pricing and the cut taken by app providers. There’s no good reason why gig employers shouldn’t be honest with their customers and workforce about where the money goes. That’s what Senate Bill 23-098, Gig Work Transparency, is all about.

Gig Work Transparency is up for debate tomorrow afternoon in the Colorado Senate Finance Committee. We need you to contact your lawmakers right now and urge a YES vote on Senate Bill 23-098.

The bottom line: consumers have as much of an interest in financial transparency as gig workers, and a fair process to protect drivers and consumers is a win-win for everyone. Gig work has proven an economic lifeline for thousands of Coloradans as well as made consumers’ lives easier, and this legislation is about keeping the system working fairly for everyone.

Next up: the fight to modernize Colorado’s antiquated workplace harassment laws continues as the POWR Act moves to the Colorado House. It is years past time to update Colorado’s out-of-date workplace harassment and discrimination policies. The POWR Act will update the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to replace the outdated “severe or pervasive” requirement with clear standards and provide clear guidance to employers on preventing harassment. With your help, this important bill has passed the Colorado Senate and is on to the House! Click here to urge your state representative to support this common-sense modernization of Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws.

For the current status on all the legislation PNC is supporting this session, check the PNC Bill Tracker.

And here are a few more ways to take action for the week of April 24, 2023:

Pikes Peak United Way: Mayoral Runoff Debate

Pikes Peak United Way is pleased to host a Mayoral Runoff Debate on Monday, April 24th at 6:00 p.m. featuring both candidates in the (Colorado Springs) run-off election.

When: Monday, April 24 at 6:00pm
Where: Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado NORML Lobby Day

Come meet legislators, learn about the legislative process, and connect with fellow cannabis advocates. We will be joining SACO and ACTnow to help empower you to be your own advocate!

When: Tuesday, April 25 at 10:00am
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Faith in Action Denver: Mayoral Candidate Forum

Join us for a non-partisan forum between the two Denver mayoral candidates who make it to the June 2023 runoff election. Hear community leaders from across the state ask each candidate about their vision for Denver and their stance on our human dignity agenda. All are welcome! Spanish/English interpretation will be provided.

When: Thursday, April 27 at 6:00pm
Where: Congregation Rodef Shalom, 450 AS Kearney St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Parasol Patrol supports events in Denver, CO

Parasol Patrol is a non-profit organization that shields children and young people from protesters at LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC events. We’ve faced off against Proud Boys, TWP, QAnon, and the Westboro Baptist Church to name a few. We use umbrellas to create a visual barrier while we walk children and their families past the signs and angry faces of those who might do them harm. We even have noise-canceling ear protection for the little ones to muffle the taunts of the protesters sometimes shouted through bullhorns.

When: Wednesday, April 26 at 1:30pm
Where: 574 W 6th Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

When: Friday, April 28 at 4:30pm
Where: The Center on Colfax, 1301 E Colfax, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Denver Tenant Rights Workshop

Join us for a tenant rights workshop on May 4th at 6pm. The event will be both in person and virtual. At this workshop you can learn about what your rights are as a renter and talk to eviction defense attorneys!

When: Thursday, May 4 at 6:00pm
Where: 2680 W Mexico Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum

You are invited to join New Era Colorado, COLOR Latina, One Colorado and Cobalt for a special mayoral forum, inspired by the YouTube phenomenon, Hot Ones! We will be serving Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston wings that increase in heat (thanks to @FotmDenver!), as we ask them spicy questions on the issues that impact our communities most.

When: Monday, May 22 at 6:00pm
Where: Town Hall Collaborative, 525 N Santa Fe St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next week with more ways to make a difference. Thanks as always.

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Colorado Week in Review for April 23, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 23, 2023 at 12:55 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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NEW BOEBERT POLL and more you can do to fight for progress this week (April 17)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 17, 2023 at 4:29 PM MDT

Let’s kick off the week with some big news. Last week, ProgressNow Colorado and our partner Global Strategy Group released our latest Rocky Mountaineer Research poll focused on Colorado’s Third Congressional District.

The results are clear: Rep. Lauren Boebert is paying a price for ignoring the issues most relevant to her constituents, and is locked in a tied 45-45% race against potential opponent Adam Frisch. Considering this district was drawn to favor Boebert’s party by 10 points or more, Boebert’s antics instead of paying attention to the needs of her district have badly damaged her standing with voters ahead of the 2024 elections.

Click here to read the April 2023 issue of The Rocky Mountaineer.

Next up: make sure your voice is heard in the fight for affordable housing in Colorado. Debate (and some scare tactics) continue rage over Senate Bill 23-213, Gov. Jared Polis’ land use bill to free up zoning in the state’s bigger cities for denser housing development. While negotiations continue over amendments to this legislation, make sure your lawmakers keep in mind the need: Colorado isn’t keeping up with the demand for new housing, and the housing shortage is hurting Colorado families.

If you haven’t already, contact your lawmakers now and urge them to support Senate Bill 23-213 for more affordable housing. The bill is set to be heard by the Colorado Senate Local Government and Housing Committee at 2:00PM tomorrow, so please don’t wait.

For more information on the legislation we’re working on this session, check out the PNC 2023 Bill Tracker.

And thanks again for your help and support! Here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of April 17, 2023:

Cobalt: Fund-A-Thon Sex Trivia

Get a team together or come join an existing team for some sex trivia! This event is frfee but we strongly encourage each team to crowd fundraise to support the Cobalt Abortion Fund.

When: Monday, April 17 at 5:30pm
Where: Highland Tap and Burger, 2219 W 32nd Ave., Denver

Click here for more information.

The Steady Networking Event

The Steady is doing a networking event and discussion next week about moving forward after your campaign ends, whether that’s jumping onto a runoff race, taking a break, shifting gears, or finding another campaign!

When: Tuesday, April 18 at 5:30pm
Where: Tarra, 935 Albion Street, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

CU Boulder’s Ed Talks

Inspired by TED Talks, spring 2023 Ed Talks will focus on the personal legacies of changemakers and the ongoing fight for civil rights — from uncovering the long-standing but lesser-known history of Mexican Americans’ battle against school segregation here in Colorado to race relations in a rural community and advocating for bilingual learners. Free and open to the public.

When: Tuesday, April 18 at 7:00pm
Where: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

ADL 2023 Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program

ADL’s Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program is one of the largest in the United States and allows Coloradans of all faiths to come together to honor Holocaust survivors, remember those who perished, educate the community about this horrible crime against humanity and translate those lessons into contemporary action.

When: Wednesday, April 19 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

History Colorado: Bold Women. Change History. The Summit

Bold Women. Change History. The Summit is a one-day gathering that highlights the power of women to create our future, lead our present, and shape our history. This interactive day features bold women who take risks and innovate in ways worth replicating and who demonstrate a powerful spectrum of leadership. In short and energizing talks, women leaders from many fields will share how they show up, create, disrupt, and transform our communities.

When: Saturday, April 22 at 10:00am
Where: 1200 N Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Earth Day Community Cleanup + Party

Mother Earth is always in need of some more love. Join us in cleaning up a trail in downtown Denver in honor of Earth Day! At this cleanup, we will meet outside the REI Starbucks where our trail cleanup adventure begins. Put on your silent disco headphones to dance to sublime beats while we walk together down the South Platte River trail. At 19th street we will cross over to Commons Park to beautify the open space by picking up litter.

When: Saturday, April 22 at 10:00am
Where: 1416 Platte St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Faith in Action Denver: Mayoral Candidate Forum

Join us for a non-partisan forum between the two Denver mayoral candidates who make it to the June 2023 runoff election. Hear community leaders from across the state ask each candidate about their vision for Denver and their stance on our human dignity agenda. All are welcome! Spanish/English interpretation will be provided.

When: Thursday, April 27 at 6:00pm
Where: Congregation Rodef Shalom, 450 AS Kearney St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to fight for progress. Thanks again!

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Colorado Week in Review for April 16, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 16, 2023 at 1:39 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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New Mountaineer Survey: Boebert Remains Weak, Unpopular, Dead Heat vs. Adam Frisch 45-45%

12
  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 11, 2023 at 10:17 AM MDT

(America’s most vulnerable? — Promoted by Colorado Pols)

The results of new Mountaineer Research polling released by ProgressNow Colorado and Global Strategy Group focused on Colorado’s Third Congressional District show that embattled Rep. Lauren Boebert is paying a price for ignoring the issues most relevant to her constituents, and is locked in a tied race against Democrat Adam Frisch despite the district’s substantial Republican advantage.

“After coming very close (546 votes) to defeat last November, Lauren Boebert had a chance to change course and begin to address the issues that matter most in Southern and Western Colorado,” said ProgressNow Colorado Executive Direct Sara Loflin. “Instead, Boebert continued to fixate on politics and conspiracy theories instead of the needs of her district. As a result, Boebert’s standing worsened substantially since we polled in 2021. In a district that shouldn’t be at risk for Republicans, Boebert is once again setting her party up for a desperate fight to keep this seat.”

“Boebert’s standing has weakened since we last polled the district in 2021,” said Andrew Baumann of Global Strategy Group. “Voters overwhelmingly believe that she is focused on promoting herself and defending Donald Trump – not on the issues that matter to them. Boebert has a very defined negative brand: voters see her as a far-right extremist who is out of touch and focused on the wrong things. As a result, even though the district tilts toward Republicans on the generic ballot by 11 points, according to our poll, Boebert is tied with Adam Frisch 45%-45%.”

“Perhaps more concerning for the incumbent, Boebert trails Frisch by 19 points among the 61 percent of the electorate that can ID both candidates,” Baumann said. “This indicates Frisch has significant room to pull ahead of Boebert if he can build his name ID further. On the other hand, the MAGA brand is very unpopular, even in a right-leaning district, with unaffiliated voters disliking both MAGA Republicans and MAGA extremists.”

Read the April 2023 issue of the Mountaineer here.
For the complete poll memo, click here.
Survey toplines availble here.

Research presented in the Mountaineer is the result of a survey conducted between March 29 and April 2, 2023, among 500 likely voters and an additional 100 unaffiliated likely voters in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. The margin of error at the 95% confidence level for CO-03 voters is +/- 4.4%. The margin of error on sub-samples is greater.

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What you can do to fight for progress this week (April 10)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 10, 2023 at 4:34 PM MDT

As you’ve probably read in the news by now, there’s an important bill making its way through the Colorado legislature to increase the supply of affordable housing across the state.

The reality is that Colorado isn’t keeping up with the demand for new housing. The shortage of housing is hurting everyone, and if we don’t address the problem it could seriously hurt Colorado’s economy. Experts say Colorado needs to build over 36,000 more housing units per year to meet demand than we are today–almost double the current rate.

The solution? Freeing up land use to allow for denser housing, multiplexes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the state’s larger cities. By removing restrictions on innovative housing development, we can change the equation that too often locks young families and first-time buyers out of the market while providing new options for cash-strapped renters.

Action item #1 this week: contact your Colorado lawmakers and urge them to SUPPORT Senate Bill 23-213 to reform residential land use and promote affordable housing.

Next, take action to provide renters with basic rights in the eviction process. House Bill 23-1171, Just Cause For Evictions, requires landlords to have reasonable grounds for eviction of tenants with specific rights and limitations, and helps encourage fair resolutions between tenants and landlords via “no-fault” evictions. This bill has already passed the Colorado House and is awaiting action in the Colorado Senate.

Contact your Colorado Senator today and urge them to VOTE YES on House Bill 23-1171, Just Cause For Evictions.

Thanks for your help as we work to close out the 2023 legislative session strong! Here are a few more ways to fight for progress for the week of April 10, 2023:

Great Education Colorado Advocates Network Meeting

Join Great Education Colorado (GEC) and other passionate advocates like yourself for our monthly Advocates Network meetings on Zoom! GEC will meet every second Tuesday of the month at 4:30pm to hear from you and share opportunities where you can take action as an advocate for adequate and equitable funding for Colorado’s K12 public schools! In each meeting, we will listen to different perspectives, learn about current issues in school funding, and activate our leadership by taking action together.

When: Tuesday, April 11 at 4:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

CoPIRG: Rally for Ratepayer Relief

Tired of opening up your energy bill and getting hit with skyrocketing costs again? The spike is driven by gas prices – but utilities are continuing to invest in expensive new gas infrastructure all the while knowing it’s causing our families’ bills to be a mile high! Join us at the Capitol for a rally to tell state lawmakers to take action and end the outrageous bills! No Coloradan should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table, it’s time for utilities to invest in cleaner, cheaper energy and lower ratepayers’ bills. Fortunately a special committee has been meeting to find solutions, now we need to show up and make our voices heard to ensure they act.

When: Wednesday, April 12 at 12:00pm
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

History Colorado: Can Multicultural Democracies Survive?

Democratic government has been an ideal for many nations – at least in theory. But the opening decades of the twentieth century have witnessed some of the fundamental principles of democratic values being tested as significant social change is met by strong opposition. In many increasingly polarized advanced democracies, debates about the responsibilities of government to its citizens, the limits of individual freedom and rights, and the role of history in national identity narratives abound. Nations that were regarded as successful examples of liberal democracies with strong social safety nets have become more factionalized as their populations become more diverse. Can multicultural democracies overcome these challenges to be just, viable and sustainable?

When: Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00pm
Where: Chautauqua Community House, Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

Saved By The Bell: A Progressive Social Hour Hosted by The Bell Policy Center

Come by the Health Capitol collaboration rooms Thursday April 13 at 4:30 p.m. and grab a beverage and a snack, and play some trivia before you call it a day. This isn’t a fundraiser or a wonky slide show — it’s a social hour with a little nerdy trivia thrown in because, well, we can’t help it.

When: Thursday, April 13 at 4:30pm
Where: Colorado’s Health Capitol, 303 E 17th Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Building a Culture of Inclusion: Virtual Workshop

The Racial Justice Task Force and the Social Justice Council are excited to announce a virtual workshop that will greatly help our congregation as we implement our 8th Principle. Our presenter is Paula Cole Jones who, along with Bruce Pollack Johnson, conceived of and wrote the 8th Principle. In addition, Paula Cole Jones is the founder of ADORE (A Dialogue on Race & Ethnicity), a former president of DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) and an independent consultant specializing in multicultural competencies and institutional change.

When: April 14-15

Click here to RSVP.

Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender Event

Bring your UNWANTED, unloaded firearms to be dismantled on Saturday, April 15th from 10am-noon. As a thank you for your choice to dismantle your firearm(s), you will receive a grocery store gift card, while supplies last.

When: Saturday, April 15 at 10:00am
Where: Most Precious Blood Catholic Church Denver, 3959 E Iliff Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Faith in Action Denver: Mayoral Candidate Forum

Join us for a non-partisan forum between the two Denver mayoral candidates who make it to the June 2023 runoff election. Hear community leaders from across the state ask each candidate about their vision for Denver and their stance on our human dignity agenda. All are welcome! Spanish/English interpretation will be provided.

When: Thursday, April 27 at 6:00pm
Where: Congregation Rodef Shalom, 450 AS Kearney St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to make a difference. Thanks again for all you do.

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Colorado Week in Review for April 9, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 9, 2023 at 11:17 AM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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VOTE and fight for progress this week (April 3)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 3, 2023 at 4:56 PM MDT

Tomorrow is Election Day for a number of municipal governments across the state, including some of Colorado’s biggest cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction. Voters in these locations received a mail ballot, and the reports from clerks say turnout is quite low so far.

That’s your opportunity to make an even bigger impact! If you’ve still got a ballot sitting on your desk, you have until tomorrow at 7:00pm to return it to a dropbox or the clerk’s office. If you live in Denver, our friends at New Era Colorado have all the information you need right here.

PNC is not endorsing candidates for the first round of voting in Denver, but information resources you can trust have got you covered. For more information on the candidates running in Denver, our friends at Yellow Scene Magazine have a detailed guide available. In Colorado Springs, check out Sixty35’s 2023 election section. In Grand Junction, bipartisan civic group Restore the Balance fielded candidate questionnaires to help you decide. Make an informed choice and get those ballots returned!

Next, it’s time to modernize Colorado’s workplace discrimination laws. That’s why we’ve joined with a coalition of labor, fiscal policy, and organizations like the Women’s Lobby of Colorado, 9to5, Rocky Mountain NAACP, and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association in support of the 2023 POWR Act: Protecting Opportunities And Workers’ Rights Act. On Wednesday, this important legislation is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Please take a moment right now to call your state senate and urge them to SUPPORT the POWR Act to bring Colorado’s harassment and discrimination laws in line with 21st-century workplace expectations.

Here are a few more great ways to make a difference for the week of April 3, 2023:

Students Demand Action For Gun Sense in America

Following the example of Denver East High School students who have helped shape debate over gun policy in Colorado, on April 5th at noon local time, students across America will walk out of class to demand concrete action to reduce gun violence.

Step 1: Informational call to organize and register

When: Monday, April 3 at 6:30pm

Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Denver Tenants Rights Workshop

We’re back for round two! Learn YOUR rights as a tenant. This workshop is a hybrid event in Denver and via Zoom. Share this poster with friends, family and neighbors!

When: Thursday, April 6 at 6:00pm
Where: 2680 W Mexico Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: History Colorado: Can Multicultural Democracies Survive?

Democratic government has been an ideal for many nations – at least in theory. But the opening decades of the twentieth century have witnessed some of the fundamental principles of democratic values being tested as significant social change is met by strong opposition. In many increasingly polarized advanced democracies, debates about the responsibilities of government to its citizens, the limits of individual freedom and rights, and the role of history in national identity narratives abound. Nations that were regarded as successful examples of liberal democracies with strong social safety nets have become more factionalized as their populations become more diverse. Can multicultural democracies overcome these challenges to be just, viable and sustainable?

When: Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00pm
Where: Chautauqua Community House, Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Saved By The Bell: A Progressive Social Hour Hosted by The Bell Policy Center

Come by the Health Capitol collaboration rooms Thursday April 13 at 4:30 p.m. and grab a beverage and a snack, and play some trivia before you call it a day. This isn’t a fundraiser or a wonky slide show — it’s a social hour with a little nerdy trivia thrown in because, well, we can’t help it.

When: Thursday, April 13 at 4:30pm
Where: Colorado’s Health Capitol, 303 E 17th Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to fight for progress. Thanks again for all you do.

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Colorado Week in Review for April 2, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado April 2, 2023 at 1:21 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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What you can do to fight for progress this week (March 27)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 27, 2023 at 4:03 PM MDT

Americans take strong consumer protection laws for granted while they protect the public from fraud, defective goods, and bad service. Much like the work week before unions fought for the weekend, life without consumer protection laws would be bad for everyone. Except ripoff artists.

Consumer fraud is a huge problem in Colorado. Colorado ranks 12th per capita for consumer fraud complaints according to the Federal Trade Commission, and Colorado’s consumer protection laws are actually well behind most of the country. In Colorado, it’s not enough to prove that you were ripped off–consumers actually have to prove businesses “knowingly and recklessly” violated the law in a way that caused “significant public impact.”

It’s time to update Colorado’s consumer protection laws to empower consumers over fraudsters. Click here to urge your lawmakers to support House Bill 23-1192 to hold bad actors accountable and ensure Colorado consumers enjoy the same protections as most Americans.

Thanks very much to everyone who contacted your lawmakers last week on behalf of gig workers we all depend on. Senate Bill 23-098, Gig Worker Transparency, will give rideshare and other gig workers the basic information they need to plan their work week and provide the best income for their families. This bill also creates a fair process to resolve deactivations of drivers who in many cases today have no recourse to challenge a discriminatory decision.

If you haven’t already, contact your State Senator now and ask them to SUPPORT transparency and fairness for gig economy workers.

For the latest status on all the bills ProgressNow Colorado is working to pass this year, check the PNC Bill Tracker.

Here are a few more ways to fight for progress for the week of March 27, 2023:

United for Immigration Reform Colorado: Meeting with Sen Bennet’s Office

We are meeting with Senator Bennet’s office at 3pm on Tuesday March 28th. We ask that everyone arrive by 2:30pm to prepare for the meeting. We will meet in front of 1244 Speer Blvd (on the west side of the building, between the building and Speer Blvd). We will be lobbying for the US Congress to pass an updated immigration registry date, potentially giving more than 8 million people a path to citizenship. This bill has currently been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 1511.

When: Tuesday, March 28 at 2:30pm
Where: 1244 Speer Blvd, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON EAST HS SHOOTING @ New Hope Baptist Church

JOIN US FOR THIS NEEDED COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON THE EAST HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING, GUNS, YOUTH VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH & THE BLACK COMMUNITY. SPEAKERS INCLUDE: HONORABLE PHIL WEISER, Colorado Attorney General RON THOMAS, Chief of Police, City and County of Denver KAM PERKINS, Dean of Students, East High School

When: Tuesday, March 28 at 6:00pm
Where: New Hope Baptist Church, 3701 Colorado Blvd., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Mountain Studies Institute and Five Rivers Trout Unlimited: Health of our Rivers Conversation

Join CPW, USFS, MSI and TU to hear about the latest health of our local rivers.

When: Tuesday, March 28 at 6:00pm
Where: Hillcrest Golf Club, Durango

Click here to RSVP.

Out Boulder County: Trans Legislation with Representative Brianna Titone

Join us as Representative Brianna Titone discusses trans-related legislation in the coming sessions and she shares her journey as a trans representative. Representative Titone will be available to answer questions folks may have about legislation.

When: Wednesday, March 29 at 6:00pm
Where: Out Boulder County, 3340 Mitchell Ln., Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

A Rocky Mountain PBS Special for Trans Day of Visibility

Preview a new documentary highlighting members of our LGBTQ+ community in Colorado including our very own Director of Trinidad History Museum—Al Melton! We’re excited to come together to witness their stories and hear their brave voices on the meaning of “visibility.” The screening will be followed by a discussion on trans visibility with some of the folks from the episode, moderated by RMPBS’s own Kate Perdoni. Afterward, tune in to Colorado Voices on Rocky Mountain PBS for more Trans Day of Visibility stories.

When: Thursday, March 30 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Transgender Day of Visibility

Celebrate trans joy with the Transgender Center of the Rockies at Denver Sweet for Transgender Day of Visibility. March 31st from 6-9 PM we will have performances, food, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and time for our community to come together! Performances from local trans, non-binary and gender expansive performers will start at 7 PM.

When: Friday, March 31 at 6:00pm
Where: Denver Sweet, 776 N. Lincoln St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Denver Tenants Rights Workshop

We’re back for round two! Learn YOUR rights as a tenant. This workshop is a hybrid event in Denver and via Zoom. Share this poster with friends, family and neighbors!

When: Thursday, April 6 at 6:00pm
Where: 2680 W Mexico Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to take action. Thanks again!

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Colorado Week in Review for March 26, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 26, 2023 at 12:39 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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What you can do to fight for progress this week (March 20)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 20, 2023 at 4:40 PM MDT

With your help, great things are starting to happen at the Colorado Capitol this year.

I want to start off the week by thanking everyone who contacted your state representative to support House Bill 23-1099, legislation to save Colorado renters money by streamlining the applicant screening process. By allowing renters to provide portable screening reports from approved vendors to prospective landlords, renters can save hundreds and be free to apply at multiple properties without incurring huge application fees every time.

Thanks to your testimony, calls, and emails, this legislation PASSED the Colorado House and is on its way to the Colorado Senate! That means it’s time to engage the upper chamber of the General Assembly with the same determination as the House.

Action item #1 this week: click here to urge your Colorado Senator to vote YES on House Bill 23-1099, Portable Screening Report For Residential Leases.

Once that’s done, remember to make your voice heard on behalf of gig workers throughout the state! We’re proud to be part of the coalition supporting Senate Bill 23-098, Gig Worker Transparency, to give rideshare and other gig workers the basic information they need to plan their work week and provide the best income for their families. This bill also creates a fair process to resolve deactivations of drivers who in many cases today have no recourse to challenge a discriminatory decision.

If you haven’t already, contact your State Senator now and ask them to SUPPORT transparency and fairness for the gig economy workers we all rely on.

And then, here are a few more ways to fight for progress for the week of March 20, 2023:

3 Day Event: Humanity For Homelessness Forum & Gala

Educational Forums on Humanity for Homelessness on the March 21st & 22nd and a Dinner Event Gala on March 23rd with Keynote Speaker Ron Hall, Author of Same Kind of Different As Me. Learn how you can help bring Humanity for Homelessness in SW Colorado and support the cause.

When: March 21-23
Where: Fort Lewis College, Durango

Click here to RSVP.

History Colorado: Bold Women. Change History. The Summit

Bold Women. Change History. The Summit is a one-day gathering that highlights the power of women to create our future, lead our present, and shape our history. This interactive day features bold women who take risks and innovate in ways worth replicating and who demonstrate a powerful spectrum of leadership. In short and energizing talks, women leaders from many fields will share how they show up, create, disrupt, and transform our communities.

When: Wednesday, March 22 at 10:00am
Where: History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado NORML Lobby Day

When: Thursday, March 23 at 9:00am
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Springs Peoples Coalition: Release The Records March: No More Inmate Deaths

Join us as we March to EPCSO demanding the immediate release of medical records to the families of the deceased. Let’s get loud! Come support the grassroots movement and fight for Justice for all families who have lost a loved one in CJC custody.

When: Friday, March 24 at 3:00pm
Where: Acacia Park, Colorado Springs

Click here to RSVP.

Together Colorado: Justice in Health Care for Colorado

Join the Together Colorado Health Care Committee for a virtual event on solutions for equitable health care in Colorado. We’ll hear from keynote speaker Dr. Dayna Matthew, leader in public health and civil rights law, and learn about action opportunities to get involved with statewide legislation that will improve access to health care for all.

When: Saturday, March 25 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

350 Colorado Springs Climate Leadership Workshop

This free workshop is designed to help you develop a foundation in climate movement-building. These conversations help us grow as activists and strengthen the Colorado Springs climate movement!

When: Saturday, March 25 at 11:00am
Where: 685 N Murray Blvd, Colorado Springs

Click here to RSVP.

Out Boulder County: Queer & Aging

Join us for Queer & Aging on Saturday, March 25. LGBTQ+ people have unique and specific needs when it comes to planning for the future. In our free Queer & Aging sessions, we’ll demystify how you and your family (chosen or by birth) can prepare for what’s ahead and ensure your rights and wishes are respected.

When: Saturday, March 25 at 1:00pm
Where: Equality Center of the Rocky Mountains, 3340 Mitchell Ln, Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

Together Colorado: Lobby Day: Faith and Justice at the Capitol

Join Together Colorado for an organization-wide lobby day! We have an ambitious human dignity agenda for this legislative session. Together, we will show up powerfully at the legislature to support affordable housing and renters’ rights, protecting youth who come into contact with the criminal justice system, clean air for all in Colorado, and keeping families together.

When: Monday, March 27 at 8:00am
Where: First Baptist Church, 1373 Grant St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to take action. Thanks again!

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Colorado Week in Review for March 19, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 19, 2023 at 1:08 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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What you can do to fight for progress this week (March 13)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 13, 2023 at 4:38 PM MDT

If you’re like me, you probably know someone who is employed in the “gig economy.”

What you might not know is that many rideshare and delivery drivers we count on every day are getting a raw deal. Drivers tell us that every year they feel squeezed for every last drop of profit for big shareholders while they struggle to provide for their families.

This year, Colorado progressive lawmakers are trying to help gig economy workers with new legislation to provide transparency in the fares charged and the amount withheld by the gig application companies. This crucial disclosure of basic information about their work will empower gig workers to make better decisions about their schedule and app provider, and give customers more information about where their money is going. The bill also provides for an accountable process for drivers subject to deactivation to ensure fairness and safety for everyone.

Action item #1 this week: contact your state senator and urge them to vote YES on Senate Bill 23-098, Gig Worker Transparency.

Next up: Help protect local governments from unnecessary costs associated with federal immigration enforcement. While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency has expanded their immigration jail infrastructure, surveillance programs, and enforcement agent body in part through the use of Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) with local government agencies and by spending valuable taxpayer dollars. Under House Bill 23-1100, Dignity not Detention, Colorado taxpayers can be assured that resources are invested in their own communities, rather than carrying out the Federal Government’s civil immigration detention activities.

Contact your lawmakers today and urge them to vote YES on House Bill 23-1100, Dignity not Detention.

Thanks for your help moving this important legislation forward! Here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of March 13, 2023:

History Colorado: The Once and Future Hope of Dearfield: Colorado’s African American Colony in the Early 20th Century

This talk examines the past, present, and future of Dearfield and its historical relationship with other Black homesteader communities from 1877 through the early 20th Century. Black homesteaders were able to realize their dream of owning land and building their own community when Boulder businessman O.T. Jackson founded the African American farm colony of Dearfield in 1910. The colony grew and thrived through World War I, but hard times for farming in the late 1920s caused it to fade away. Dearfield’s story is now emerging from the shadows of history through the decade-long Dearfield Dream Project, an integrated research and historic site preservation initiative.

When: Wednesday, March 15 at 1:00pm
Where: History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Political Psychedelic Activism in Colorado

Our psychedelic rights are at risk! What’s the current legislative situation with the implementation of Proposition 122 in Colorado? Why is it critical for Colorado psychedelic community members to tell their stories? How can we defend our rights as citizen advocates? Join us for a mini-workshop on psychedelic activism. We will review the impact of civic participation on local political institutions and public policy, describe best practices for citizen advocacy, identify online tools for psychedelic activism, explain how to be a volunteer lobbyist, and provide an overview of the testifying process. Participants will also practice telling their psychedelic stories to advocate for support.

When: Wednesday, March 15 at 7:00pm
Where: Mercury Cafe Denver, 2199 California St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Where Water is Working: Global Lessons for Managing Colorado’s Water

On March 16, 2023, the Denver Council on Foreign Affairs’ Young Professionals Committee (YPC) will be hosting Where Water is Working: Global Lessons for Managing Colorado’s Water, a panel discussion and networking event. This event is part of our Global Insights Local Results speaker series, taking lessons learned from the international community and trying to increase dialogue in Colorado about potential solutions to some of the state’s biggest issues. We will explore issues including the overuse of water, the tension between commercial use and agricultural use, inequality in access to clean water, the loss of the Colorado Water Basin, and the Colorado River Compact. Speakers will include Sarah Nelson, the founder of Protect Our Rivers, Tim Steele, President of TDS Consulting, and Tom Romero of DU’s Sturm College of Law.

When: Thursday, March 16 at 5:30pm
Where: Posner Center for International Development, 1031 33rd St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Pint’s Peak: Reproductive Rights Fundraiser

Support reproductive rights! Join women-owned small businesses for a one-night-only fundraiser supporting National Abortion Funds! Registration at link is encouraged but not required. 100% of vendor and raffle proceeds will be donated to National Abortion Funds. The National Network of Abortion Funds builds power with members to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.

When: Saturday, March 18 at 6:00pm
Where: Town Hall Collaborative, 525 N Sante Fe Dr., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Together Colorado: Lobby Day: Faith and Justice at the Capitol

Join Together Colorado for an organization-wide lobby day! We have an ambitious human dignity agenda for this legislative session. Together, we will show up powerfully at the legislature to support affordable housing and renters’ rights, protecting youth who come into contact with the criminal justice system, clean air for all in Colorado, and keeping families together.

When: Monday, March 27 at 8:00am
Where: First Baptist Church, 1373 Grant St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to take action. Thanks again!

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Colorado Week in Review for March 12, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 12, 2023 at 12:26 PM MDT

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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What you can do to fight for progress this week (March 6)

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 6, 2023 at 3:42 PM MST

As we near the halfway point in the 2023 session of the Colorado General Assembly, I just want to take a moment again to thank everyone who has made a phone call, sent an email, and/or showed up at the Capitol so far this year to fight for our shared values expressed in legislation. With your help, important bills we’ve been working on like protections for vulnerable renters and keeping families connected with family members in custody are moving forward.

The work we do wouldn’t be possible without an active, aware majority of ordinary Coloradans who agree on the need to protect freedom, fairness, and truly equal opportunity for everyone. The voters of Colorado who elected the powerful progressive majority we enjoy this year mandated bold solutions to problems that have vexed our state for generations–and while we won’t win every legislative battle in one year, with your help progressives are delivering.

Action item #1 this week: it’s time to modernize Colorado’s strong workplace anti-discrimination laws. The 2023 POWR Act updates the definition of “harassment” to align with modern expectations, reforms the practice of using nondisclosure agreements to conceal misconduct, and updates discrimination law to better protect people with disabilities.

Call your State Senator today and urge them to support the 2023 POWR Act.

Once that’s done, here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of March 6, 2023:

The People’s Forum by Denverite

Join Denverite and a group of community organizations, including Servicios de la Raza, Denver Justice Project and Colorado Black Women for Political Action, to hear candidates make their pitch to city residents. This forum aims to reflect what Denverites believe are the most important issues facing marginalized communities.

When: Tuesday, March 7 at 5:00pm
Where: Carla Madison Recreation Center, 2401 W Colfax, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: Phone Bank for HB-1115

Join us at the Chinook Center or by Zoom! If you attend this phone bank we ask that you bring your own laptop and headphones for this event! This is CRUCIAL moment for HB23-1115. We’re asking you to help us push our legislators to support this key housing bill in Colorado. Please reach out to our south regional organizer nayda@coloradoimmigrant.org as we organize this phone bank! And a big ‘thank you!’ to our partners Colorado Springs Housing 4 All Coalition.

When: Tuesday, March 7 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

The State of Our Streets: 2023 Denver Mayoral Forum

The State of Our Streets 2023 Denver Mayoral Forum will be held in the gym at the brand new DSST: Elevate NE HS and our distinguished panel will be pressing the candidates to speak directly in explaining the actions they would take if elected Mayor of Denver. We welcome you to add your voice, as a member of the community. Please let us know of your interest. Register now!

When: Thursday, March 9 at 5:00pm
Where: 10825 E 47th Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: Students Stand Up For Immigration Reform!

Join us at the Colorado Capitol to sign a letter to the U.S. Congress-members who represent you and ask them to approve the bill “Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929” that can provide a pathway to citizenship.

When: Saturday, March 11 at 1:00pm
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Faith Into Action: Community Engagement Forum

This year marks a historic event as each elected leader of the City of Denver’s districts is up for election/re-election. Plan to join others from across the region on March 11th for a non-partisan forum hosted with our resource partner, Together Colorado. Hear from City Council candidates running in District 10, where Trinity is located (as well as candidates in Districts 8 and 9 for those interested). Watch for information on an upcoming Mayoral Candidate Forum too.

When: Saturday, March 11 at 1:00pm
Where: 1980 Dahlia St, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Uncovering Denver’s History of Segregation Part 1: The History of Five Points-Whittier

Did you know that real estate appraisers once described Whittier as one of the highest-quality Black residential neighborhoods in the US? Or that Cherry Creek and Lower Downtown used to be significant Black enclaves? Learn the history of the Five Points-Whittier neighborhood, from the early twentieth century to today with the Redress Movement. The Redress Movement envisions a society where the harm done through segregation has been remedied and repaired, where all of our citizens live in well-resourced neighborhoods, all of our community members have equal access to home ownership, and where what zip code you were born into no longer determines the shape of your life.

When: Saturday, March 11 at 1:00pm
Where: Ford-Warren Branch Library, 2825 N High St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

History Colorado: Perspectives of Black History in Colorado

Spend an afternoon with Dexter Nelson II, the associate curator of African American history and cultural heritage at History Colorado, and explore the state’s current exhibits and collections to learn about the impact African Americans have had in Colorado. This course takes a closer look at the perspectives being prioritized in the museum’s current exhibit narratives, ways to learn about and promote Black history in Colorado, and the ways history can be more complete when all voices are heard.

When: Saturday, March 11 at 1:00pm
Where: History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

The Parasol Patrol Supports the “Out for Homes and Parks” Event

Parasol Patrol is honored to help welcome guests to the “Our for Parks and Homes” event at Tracks in Denver. In these challenging times, we face issues of classism and “othering” of so many disenfranchised communities. The Parasol Patrol volunteers are trained to stand as a peaceful barrier between youth and protesters with the goal of reducing chaos and keeping everyone as safe as possible. Our volunteers and community members will use umbrellas to create a visual barrier and walk audience members to the door of the venue. The organizers are calling for attendees to dress colorfully and festive specifically for chilly weather in support of drag performers everywhere. So feel free to be bold and bright!

When: Saturday, March 11 at 5:45pm
Where: Tracks Denver, 3500 Walnut St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to take action. Thanks again!

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Colorado Week in Review for March 5, 2023

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  by: ProgressNow Colorado March 5, 2023 at 12:13 PM MST

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

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