Author Archives: ProgressNow Colorado

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Here in Colorado, abortion rights were the law before Roe v. Wade extended those rights to everyone in America.

In 2022, a radical shift at the U.S. Supreme Court has changed everything. Abortion rights that were once guaranteed across America are facing a threat that was considered unthinkable just a few years ago. If Roe is overturned by the 6-3 right wing Supreme Court, Colorado will become a haven for abortion care as a dozen states automatically trigger bans on abortion based on the decision. Already after the Court allowed new abortion restrictions to take effect while the legal fight goes on, Colorado is seeing greatly increased demand for abortion care.

That’s why it’s so important that we pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), legislation just introduced in the Colorado General Assembly to protect fundamental abortion rights in Colorado even is Roe v. Wade is overturned. Click here to join the coalition fighting to pass RHEA this legislative session.

Eight years ago, Colorado voters were assured that allowing the U.S. Senate to fall into in Republican hands would “pose no threat to abortion rights.” [1] Today, we know this was a terrible falsehood that lulled Coloradans into complacency. We can never take abortion rights for granted again.

Take a moment right now to sign the petition urging lawmakers to pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), and stand by for more ways to help on this critically important issue.

Thanks for your help! Here are a few more great ways to fight for progress for the week of February 22, 2022:

OneCO Legislative Update

The 2022 Legislative Session has reconvened and there are several bills that will impact the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families this year. Join One Colorado, fellow Colorado legislators, and community members for our 2022 LGBTQ Legislative Update on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at X Bar. We will be closely monitoring Covid-19 rates in the lead-up to this event, and will require facial coverings and proof of vaccination. We will share our legislative accomplishments from the last two years, legislation we are currently working on, and more about how you can join our movement to continue advancing LGBTQ protections in Colorado.

When: Wednesday, February 23 at 6:00pm
Where: X Bar, 629 E Colfax Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado People’s Alliance 2022 Lobby Day

Join us in a weekend of grassroots lobbying and community power. We will host an in-person and virtual lobby day weekend, with each day having a unique agenda. Friday February 25th-IN-PERSON Saturday February 26th-VIRTUAL We will provide breakfast, trainings, and at-home Covid test kits (for in-person only).

When: February 25-26
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Powerhouse Science Center: The Dysfunctional Approaches of Industry and Agencies to Wolf Management

Erik Molvar is a wildlife biologist and Executive Director of Western Watersheds Project, a nonprofit conservation group dedicated to protecting and restoring watersheds and wildlife throughout the American West. His scientific research explores the influence of predation risk on the evolution of social behavior in Alaskan moose, and the role that herbivores play in altering ecosystem function. His conservation work has spanned a diversity of issues including oil and gas development, renewable energy siting, forest defense, livestock grazing issues, wilderness and Monument designation, and large carnivore recovery.

When: Friday, February 25 at 6:00pm
Where: Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio, Durango

Click here to RSVP.

History Colorado: Bold Women. Change History. Women’s History Symposium

In conjunction with the Bold Women. Change History. initiative, History Colorado will be holding a gathering of scholars, researchers and those who are curious to explore how women’s history is found in unexpected places on February 26, 2022 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the History Colorado Center. The day will feature a keynote from Dr. Karen Roybal, assistant professor of Southwest Studies at Colorado College, multiple panel discussions, presentations and lunch.

When: Saturday, February 26 at 8:30am
Where: History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Metropolitan Diversity & Economic Equity Partners – “Metro DEEP” Inaugural Gala

Join us for the Metropolitan Diversity & Economic Equity Partners INAUGURAL GALA at the Tivoli Turnhalle. Sponsored by The Colorado Health Foundation, Northwestern Mutual & 1st Bank. Learn about the work of Metro DEEP and hear from State Senator James Coleman. Special Performances by DJ KTone and Comedian Monie Jonezy. Hosted by 9news Anchor Alexandra Lewis.

When: Saturday, February 26 at 6:00pm
Where: Tivoli Turnhalle, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights: Latino/a Advocacy Day 2022

Join us on March 13th and 14th for our 16th Annual Latino/a Advocacy Day! We will be inviting legislators to sit with us and discuss our policy priorities as a community, learn from community organizations, and talk through how to lobby for positive change.

When: March 13-14
Where: McNichols Building, 144 W Colfax, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: LGBTQ Lobby Day

Join One Colorado for our 2022 LGBTQ Lobby Day! The only way we can shape the future of equality in Colorado is by making sure our elected representatives hear from us, so mark your calendar and sign up to join us! Don’t worry if it’s your first time at Lobby Day, we’ll train you, feed you, and provide you with all the information you’ll need to feel comfortable.

When: Monday, March 14th at 8:00am
Where: First Baptist Church, 1373 Grant St, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next week with more ways to fight for progress. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• ‘I’ve always been fearless:’ Colorado Paralympians prepare for Beijing Games
• Internment camp Amache set to join national park system with Senate bill passage
• Colorado ends crisis care protocol for hospital staffing

awesome + controversy

• Colorado voters could decide on eliminating daylight saving time
• Colorado lawmakers want to spell it out: It’s perfectly legal for kids to play outside or walk to school alone
• Ukrainians hold rally at Colorado State Capitol as talks of invasion continue

awful + uniting

• Colorado plastic surgeon arrested in teen patient’s death after botched surgery
• Candidate for congressional seat arrested on multiple felony charges
• Colorado inmates say state is violating ban on forced work

awful + controversy

• Bipartisan poll finds spiking concern over water supply and climate change in Colorado and Western states
• Secretary of state announces lawsuit against Elbert County clerk over alleged election security breach
• Leading GOP Senate Candidate Won’t Tell Fellow Election Conspiracists to Stop Short of Violence

In the last few weeks, we’ve witnessed another brazen right-wing assault on public education in one of Colorado’s largest public school districts. After a far-right majority took office in the 2021 off-year elections, Douglas County’s Board of Education has launched a political purge of the district–dismantling programs meant to teach equity to students and terminating the district’s popular superintendent without cause.

And then it got worse. When Douglas County teachers protested against the secret and potentially illegal side-dealing to engineer the firing of Superintendent Corey Wise, local conservative radio hosts and even a former Republican candidate for statewide office, George Brauchler, called for the names of teachers who protested to be publicly released.

You read that right. Republicans in leadership positions calling for individual teachers to be targeted for harassment. And even after the school board majority backed down and refused to release the names publicly, Brauchler is still defending his outrageous conduct. [1]

Is this the kind of public school politics–or for that matter any kind of politics–we want in Colorado?

Click here to tell George Brauchler and the DougCo school board majority you won’t stand for it.

The recent events in Douglas County are another reminder of the outright contempt conservatives have for public schools, and their desire to censor curriculum that makes conservatives uncomfortable. That’s not what education in America has ever been about. Every few years in Colorado conservatives sneak into power in a school board race and proceed to become a national embarrassment. That’s what it takes to remind voters of the damage the far right will do with our kids’ schools every time they have the power.

In 2022, we’re mobilizing to defend public education from threats without and within. Click here to take a stand against political experimentation with our public schools and attacks on teachers in Douglas County. We’ll keep you up to date on upcoming events and actions, and share your comments with the school board and the press.

Public education shouldn’t be a partisan petri dish. Messing with our schools is messing with our kids, and that should bring out the “Momma Bear” in all of us.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

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As you’ve probably heard, many businesses in Colorado are having a hard time finding enough workers.

At the same time, a pool of qualified talent is waiting for their chance to get back in the game.

Did you know that one in three Coloradans have some type of criminal record? Old convictions for minor infractions can create lifelong obstacles to employment, housing, and education. Right now thousands of Coloradans are unemployed and under-employed because of a debt they repaid to society long ago.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of the coalition supporting the Clean Slate legislation just introduced in the Colorado legislature. Clean Slate creates a process for automatically sealing records for those who are already eligible, have completed their sentence, and committed no further infractions.

Sealing old court records for those who have completed their obligations and want to rejoin the economy makes sense for everyone. Lack of economic opportunity lies at the heart of rising crime and recidivism.

Click here to help our friends at Healthier Colorado pass Senate Bill 22-099, the Clean Slate Act by contacting your lawmakers right now and urging them to support automatic sealing of eligible court records.

Thanks for your help passing this important legislation! Here are a few more ways to fight for progress for the week of February 7, 2022:

Latino Caucus Annual Outlook

Join us as we kick off 2022! Come learn about the Latino Caucus and what we’ll be working on this year. You must be fully vaccinated to attend this event. Masks will be required. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are limiting the number of people in attendance. The location is TBD, but the event will be in Denver.

When: Tuesday, February 8 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

“Black In Action” 2022 Legislative Activation

Join Urban League Young Professionals of Metro Denver for a 2022 legislative activation with Colorado Black Caucus leadership, featuring an overview of 2022 legislative priorities benefiting our community, mock committee meetings, and ways to continue making your voice heard on the issues that matter to you.

When: Tuesday, February 8 at 6:30pm
Where: The Lydian, 2590 Welton St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Rally to Support Public Workers

Stand with Colorado public workers like firefighters, nurses, paramedics, and teachers as we rally in support of the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Bill! The rally will take place on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol.

When: Thursday, February 10 at 10:30am
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Amir Locke Black History Month Voting Rights Rally ACLU PeoplePower

Join us in banding together during the second weekend of Black History Month to ensure voting rights are a guarantee in a historically racist system. With last week’s defeat of the voting rights legislation due to the filibuster, many Americans are angry with this decision. We will voice our concerns about this, as well as other issues we face such as money in politics, climate, and student loan debt, in front of the Capitol, on the sidewalk near the west side (Civic Park) entrance. Tell as many people as possible about this!

When: Saturday, February 12 at 10:00am
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Art for LGBTQ+ Mental Health

An event organized by a Queer youth member to raise awareness and money for LGBTQ+ mental health resources. A variety of Queer artists will come on stage to showcase talents such as; poetry, dancing and singing. Throughout the night audience members will receive tools to combat the mental health challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face. To purchase tickets visit lgbtqart.brownpapertickets.com all proceeds go directly to The Center and One Colorado. Sponsored by Adams County Pride, One Colorado and The Center.

When: Sunday, February 13 at 1:00pm
Where: Northglenn Recreation Center

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: OneCO Legislative Update

The 2022 Legislative Session has reconvened and there are several bills that will impact the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families this year. Join One Colorado, fellow Colorado legislators, and community members for our 2022 LGBTQ Legislative Update on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at X Bar. We will be closely monitoring Covid-19 rates in the lead-up to this event, and will require facial coverings and proof of vaccination. We will share our legislative accomplishments from the last two years, legislation we are currently working on, and more about how you can join our movement to continue advancing LGBTQ protections in Colorado.

When: Wednesday, February 23 at 6:00pm
Where: X Bar, 629 E Colfax Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

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

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• State Task Force Unveils $400 Million Affordable Housing Plan for Colorado
• Leroy Garcia resigning from Colorado Senate for Pentagon position
• PHOTOS: Golden Retrievers take over Golden, Colorado for Goldens in Golden

awesome + controversy

• Colorado Senate bill aims to automatically seal non-violent criminal records
• Proposed bill aims to prevent porch pirate thefts by offering money for anti-theft devices
• Arctic Blast Sent A Colorado Thermometer Down To -48°F Thursday, Coldest Place In The Nation

awful + uniting

• Deep Freeze Especially Dangerous For People Experiencing Homelessness
• Colorado librarian alleges she was fired for objecting to cancellation of LGBTQ, youth of color programming: “My only option is to speak out”
• Silverthorne police sergeant arrested on several domestic violence charges, child abuse charge

awful + controversy

• Third county clerk in Colorado investigated for possible unauthorized copy of voting system server
• Aurora police chief fires union president after letter mocking diversifying department
• Douglas County school board fires superintendent in 4-3 vote

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It’s been four months since CU Regent Heidi Ganahl launched her campaign for governor–or less than four weeks if you count Ganahl’s “relaunch” last month after the first launch failed miserably. But in all this time, it’s been incredibly difficult to find out just what Heidi Ganahl stands for.

One big problem with that is Heidi Ganahl herself. Right after Ganahl launched her campaign for governor, her social media accounts were wiped clean of hundreds of posts, which included support for extreme and hateful candidates like Lauren Boebert and other statements that would be embarrassing for a candidate for governor of Colorado. [1] Not only that, Ganahl completely deleted her accounts on far-right social media sites like Parler and Gab. [2]

How do we find out what Heidi Ganahl stands for when she hides her own record? Research, and what we’ve uncovered so far is deeply troubling:

• Heidi Ganahl still won’t say whether she believes the 2020 election was decided fairly, despite claiming she trusts the elections in Colorado “or she would not be running.” [3]
• Heidi Ganahl claims to support women and women’s rights, but she says she would “take a hard look” at signing legislation that would ban abortion in Colorado. [4]
• Heidi Ganahl says she wants to keep Colorado kids safe, but she welcomed and laughingly agreed with far-right columnist Dennis Prager to Colorado who called COVID-19 vaccines for kids “child abuse.” [5]
• Heidi Ganahl claims she’s for openness and transparency in government, but she hid her campaign for governor for months behind a fake “podcast” to avoid accountability. [6]
• Heidi Ganahl claims she supports higher education, but tried to force budget cuts at CU that would have resulted in layoffs of teachers and staff. [7]
• Heidi Ganahl, as University of Colorado Regent, was the only vote in support of ex-CU President Mark Kennedy after a damning report was published documenting his “failure of leadership.” [8]

Everywhere we look, we keep finding more ugly truths behind Heidi Ganahl’s slogans. And that’s where you come in. Have you had an experience with Heidi Ganahl that the voters of Colorado need to know about? Do you have information that would be useful to hold Ganahl accountable? Click here to drop us a line to share your concerns.

Working together, we’ll make sure Heidi Ganahl doesn’t get to hide from her record in 2022. Stay tuned for what we find out!

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

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The 2022 session of the Colorado legislature is past the ceremonial beginnings, and getting to work on the hundreds of bills that have been introduced so far.

This year, we’re helping our members keep track of important legislation making its way through the process with our 2022 Colorado Bill Tracker. We’ll be updating this list throughout the legislative session as bills are scheduled for debate:

When a bill’s status changes, we’ll keep this page updated–and when it’s your turn to participate in the process, whether by testifying for or against legislation or contacting your lawmakers, we’ll provide links on this page to the information you’ll need to take action.

Although most of the media’s attention is focused on dysfunction in Washington, at the state capitol in Denver our progressive majority legislators are focused on delivering on promises to make life better, fairer, and more affordable for everyone.

Do you know of a bill we should be tracking through the Colorado legislature in 2022? Drop us a line at info@progressnowcolorado.org with the bill number and links to information you’d like included.

Here are a few more ways you can make a difference for the week of January 31st, 2021:

Black History Month Film Showing, “Black Art: In the Absence of Light”

ACT Human Rights Film Festival, CSU’s Black/African American Cultural Center, and Gregory Allicar Museum of Art are collaborating to screen the documentary “Black Art: In the Absence of Light” on Colorado State University campus in the Behavioral Sciences Building, room A101. The documentary is inspired by the late David Driskell’s landmark 1976 exhibition, “Two Centuries of Black American Art,” and offers an illuminating introduction to the work of some of the foremost Black visual artists working today.

When: Wednesday, February 2 at 6:30pm⁠
Where: CSU Behavioral Sciences, CSU Fort Collins

Click here to RSVP.

Climate Justice Workshop II: Community, Action and Leadership

***This event is for CU Boulder students, staff and faculty*** Half-day intensive training where we will explore our roles in climate justice. We will learn about the history of the environmental justice movement to ground our learning. This context will enable us to better understand current climate justice leaders as well as potential areas to navigate our own leadership. We will hear from experts from different fields and community leaders to better understand what climate justice looks like in our society. Through discussion and interactive exercises we will explore what curiosities arise and next steps for engagement.

When: Saturday, February 5 at 10:00am
Where: Idea Forge at CU Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

Save the Date: Rally to Support Public Workers

Stand with Colorado public workers like firefighters, nurses, paramedics, and teachers as we rally in support of the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Bill! The rally will take place on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol.

When: Thursday, February 10 at 10:30am
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: Art for LGBTQ+ Mental Health

An event organized by a Queer youth member to raise awareness and money for LGBTQ+ mental health resources. A variety of Queer artists will come on stage to showcase talents such as; poetry, dancing and singing. Throughout the night audience members will receive tools to combat the mental health challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face. To purchase tickets visit lgbtqart.brownpapertickets.com all proceeds go directly to The Center and One Colorado. Sponsored by Adams County Pride, One Colorado and The Center.

When: Sunday, February 13 at 1:00pm
Where: Northglenn Recreation Center

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: OneCO Legislative Update

The 2022 Legislative Session has reconvened and there are several bills that will impact the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families this year. Join One Colorado, fellow Colorado legislators, and community members for our 2022 LGBTQ Legislative Update on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at X Bar. We will be closely monitoring Covid-19 rates in the lead-up to this event, and will require facial coverings and proof of vaccination. We will share our legislative accomplishments from the last two years, legislation we are currently working on, and more about how you can join our movement to continue advancing LGBTQ protections in Colorado.

When: Wednesday, February 23 at 6:00pm
Where: X Bar, 629 E Colfax Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks again! We’ll see you next week.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• ‘We anticipate a continued decline’: Colorado School of Public Health says COVID lull could last into summer
• Denver Broncos hire Nathaniel Hackett for first stint as head coach
• PHOTOS: Snow-sculpting competition returns to Breckenridge

awesome + controversy

• Colorado Springs ballot measure is a test case for marijuana popularity
• Minimum age to buy assault-style weapons in Colorado would change under proposed law
• Judge Rules Against Whitewater Rafting Firms in Wage Dispute

awful + uniting

• Servicemembers in Colorado put on ‘prepare to deploy’ orders because of Russia
• Horrifying funeral home allegations prompt bill that would give Colorado regulators more power to inspect
• Denver to pay $500,000 to student shot in eye with 40mm sponge round during George Floyd protests

awful + controversy

• The Children’s Museum is temporarily closing after ‘unacceptable behavior’ of guests refusing to comply with the City mask policy
• Robert Sigg: Denver Media Mogul’s Criminal Past, Link to Tragedy, Ties to Trump Apologist
• Congressional ethics investigators say Rep. Doug Lamborn may have misused official resources

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As you may have seen in the news this weekend, right-wing CU Regent Heidi Ganahl announced she’s running for governor of Colorado.

But wait, you ask. Didn’t that already happen?

And the answer is, yes it did! But Ganahl’s first launch of her campaign last September was such a dismal failure that she had to “re-launch” her campaign Saturday. Unfortunately for everyone, Ganahl’s “new” campaign is the same old hypocrisy:

Heidi Ganahl still won’t say whether she believes the 2020 election was decided fairly, despite claiming she trusts the elections in Colorado “or she would not be running.” [1]

Heidi Ganahl claims to support women and women’s rights, but she says she would “take a hard look” at signing legislation that would ban abortion in Colorado. [2]

Heidi Ganahl says she wants to keep Colorado kids safe, but she welcomed far-right columnist Dennis Prager to Colorado who called COVID-19 vaccines for kids “child abuse.” [3]

Heidi Ganahl claims she’s for openness and transparency in government, but she hid her campaign for governor for months behind a fake “podcast” to avoid accountability. [4]

Heidi Ganahl thinks she can “shake the Etch-a-Sketch” and reinvent her weak and failing campaign, but she’s wrong–and in 2022 it’s our job to hold her accountable. Take a moment right now to support ProgressNow Colorado as we prepare to launch our campaign to tell the truth about “Heidi the Hypocrite” Ganahl. There is no better investment you can make at this moment than supporting Colorado’s largest and most effective multi-issue progressive advocacy organization.

Thanks as always for your support. With your help, every voter in Colorado will get the facts about Heidi Ganahl before it’s too late. Here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of January 24, 2022:

AFSC & Coloradans For Immigrant Rights: January Spotlight On the CO State Legislature

Join us for our January Spotlight On, Immigrant Rights at the CO Legislature on Tuesday, January 25th at 5:00 PM. Welcome to the 2022 Legislative Session. There is some great pro-immigrant legislation that will move forward in Colorado in the upcoming legislative session. Join us to learn the details about these pieces of legislation from representatives of the various campaigns spearheading them. Learn what role you can play in their success. AFSC will provide a packet with information on the bills themselves and other important legislative information!

When: Tuesday, January 25 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: Sus Derechos en el Trabajo | Your Rights at Work

The next installation of Community Connections Night will be held on January 25th from 6 to 7 pm through Zoom. Programming will include an introduction to UndocuHub and a presentation about your rights at work, including important information about your rights at works during the pandemic. Towards Justice is a nonprofit law firm that represents workers in litigation and other advocacy in an effort to build worker power and advance economic justice in our home state of Colorado and across the country.

When: Tuesday, January 25 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Art is always intertwined with the social, and political worlds of its creation. In this program, Professor Willa M. Johnson will tell the stories of political dissidents and Jewish men, women, and children who were interned across Europe, including in the pre-war German city of Düsseldorf and in three war-period French camps, using the work of the German Communist artist Karl Schwesig and a chorus of archival data.

When: Thursday, January 27 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Powerhouse Science Center: Living with Wolves. Ranching with Wolves: Lessons from the Northern Rockies.

In person and Livestreaming on Facebook. Please join us for a discussion with Matt Barnes, who has worked in the Northern Rockies to implement strategies that enable coexistence between livestock, wolves and griz. Matt will speak about his experiences working to prevent conflict between wolves and livestock. Matt is a range scientist, wildlife conservationist, and former ranch manager. He works with landowners and managers to improve rangeland stewardship and prevent conflicts with large carnivores such as wolves.

When: Friday, January 28 at 6:00pm
Where: Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio, Durango

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next week with more opportunities to take action. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• Colorado unemployment rate lowest since pandemic began
• Mikaela Shiffrin leads 17-member U.S. ski team nominated for Olympics
• Thousands around Colorado march to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision

awesome + controversy

• Strike ends: King Soopers, UFCW Local 7 reach tentative agreement
• Colorado to give out free KN95 masks at libraries, but program’s rollout leads to confusion
• Grand Champion Steer Takes Center Stage At Brown Palace

awful + uniting

• Lack Of Clean Water Forces Rapidly-Growing Town To Suddenly Stop Issuing Building Permits
• Why Colorado Suffered Most Traffic Deaths Since 2002 Last Year
• Alamosa 911 Dispatcher Arrested On Sexual Assault Charge

awful + controversy

• Who Is Jenna Ellis, the CO Lawyer Subpoenaed by House Insurrection Investigators?
• Boebert asked Jewish visitors to Capitol if they were doing ‘reconnaissance’: report
• Colorado attorney general targets landlord price gouging following Marshall fire

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Dear {{ user.first_name|default:”Friend”|title }},

This year’s celebration of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took on added significance against the backdrop of the continuing struggle to pass voting rights legislation in Washington. The fight for voting rights for every American was central to Dr. King’s vision, and the family of the slain civil rights leader called for the U.S. Senate to take action on voting rights as the best way to honor his legacy. [1]

Here in Colorado, once again the best and worst in public leadership is on display. Today, in a debate over a resolution in the Colorado legislature urging Congress to pass voting rights legislation, far-right state Rep. Ron Hanks invoked Dr. King to spread toxic falsehoods about the 2020 elections, and even conspiracy theories blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] It was a shameful reminder of the ignorance we’re up against as we fight to ensure the voting rights we take for granted in Colorado for every American.

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the fight to pass voting rights legislation isn’t over. Our friends at the Declaration for American Democracy and partners at Common Cause continue to organize in West Virginia and Arizona as progressives in those states try to persuade Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to change course. Click here to find out how you can get involved.

With the 2022 legislative session ramping up, you’re about to have many more opportunities to make a difference helping pass good bills and stopping bad ones from now through the beginning of May. Here are a few more ways to take action for the week of January 18, 2022:

League of Women Voters of Denver: Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care

Vicki Cowart, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, will be our guest speaker addressing issues of reproductive freedom in Colorado. Please plan to attend this important briefing and invite your friends and family.

When: Tuesday, January 18 at 4:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Mexican Gray Wolf Presentation and Public Comment Writing Workshop

Please join Middle Gila Broadband Leader Roz Switzer for a Zoom presentation and comment writing workshop to advocate for the Mexican gray wolf. You’ll find out what these magnificent animals need to survive and thrive, then break out into smaller groups—each staffed with a wolf expert—to answer your questions and help you write your comments to the USFWS.

When: Tuesday, January 19 at 4:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Clinic hosted by Atlantis Community!

Partnering with Denver Health, Groundwork Denver, One Colorado, Joy as Resistance, and New Era.

When: Thursday, January 20 at 2:00pm
Where: 201 S Cherokee St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

January Lakewood Town Hall: 2022 Legislative Session

Please join Representative Chris Kennedy, Senator Brittany Pettersen, Representative Kerry Tipper, Representative Lisa Cutter, and Representative Monica Duran for a Town Hall discussion on the 2022 Legislative Session.

When: Saturday, January 22 at 9:30am

Click here to RSVP.

Black Democratic Legislative Caucus Annual Preview and Update

The Black Democratic Legislative Caucus is excited to invite you to the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus Annual Preview and Update Jan 22nd at 11:00 am MT at the Blair-Caldwell African-American Library.

When: Saturday, January 22 at 11:00am
Where: 2401 Welton St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

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

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• Gov. Polis and Democrats unveil 2022 legislative platform
• Rep. Ed Perlmutter reflects on his retirement from Colorado’s 7th Congressional District
• Colorado Parks And Wildlife Agents Help Remove Trash Can Lid From Deer’s Neck

awesome + controversy

• Researchers say cannabis compounds might prevent COVID-19 infection
• Thousands of Colorado King Soopers workers go on strike for better pay, protections
• Some surviving Marshall Fire homes were built with fire-resistant material

awful + uniting

• Colorado had hottest six months in history, new data shows
• Colorado’s COVID hospitalizations top November peak, but fewer being treated primarily for the virus
• Founder of Impact Locally, a clothing bank for Denver homeless, charged with charitable fraud, theft

awful + controversy

• Navient cancels student loans for over 1K Colorado borrowers as part of nationwide settlement
• Prosecutors take Peters investigation to grand jury
• Jared Polis to “aggressively assert” water rights as Nebraska plans $500M canal in Colorado

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On Wednesday, the Colorado General Assembly gavels in for the 2022 session! Building on the historic progress made last year on a broad range of important issues like health care, education, environmental protection, and civil rights, your progressive majority is moving forward this year with another ambitious agenda:

Saving people money. Last year, Colorado passed the Colorado Option to bring down the cost of insurance premiums. This year, the trend of saving money on healthcare, prescription drugs, fees paid by businesses and individuals, and other expenses incurred by families and small businesses accelerates.

Keeping the promise of paid family leave. Colorado voters spoke, and it’s time for the legislature to carry out our wishes. At the top of the progressive agenda this year is the funding to set in motion Colorado’s landmark paid family leave plan giving thousands of Colorado workers a measure of control over their work-life balance.

Restoring funding to public education. For many years, Colorado has been forced to short-change public education in order to balance the state’s budget. This year, the plan is to reduce the so-called “budget stabilization factor” to its lowest level in years, and get closer than ever to keeping the promise made to Colorado kids by the state’s voters two decades ago.

Protecting reproductive choice in a post-Roe world. With abortion rights under a threat that was considered unimaginable just a few short years ago, the complete overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing abortion rights to every American, defending the reproductive rights Coloradans have had enshrined in law since before Roe is a crucial priority. Even after Colorado voters have rejected attempted to ban abortion in this state over and over in the past fifteen years, we’re still just one election away from disaster.

That’s just the beginning of what is expected to be another action-packed and historic session of the Colorado General Assembly. And we need your help to make it happen! Watch this space for alerts on opportunities to help pass (and when necessary, help kill) legislation. And thanks as always for everything you do to fight for our shared progressive values.

Here are some more ways to make a difference for the week of January 10, 2022:

Chalkbeat Colorado’s 2022 Legislative Preview

Join us for our annual discussion of key education topics likely to surface during the upcoming legislative session. This year’s conversation will be held virtually on Zoom Webinar from noon – 1:30 MT on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Last year, our conversation with lawmakers ranged from standardized testing and learning loss to funding for K-12 and higher education and school discipline. This year, we’ll discuss possible changes to K-12 funding, efforts to expand college access, the rollout of universal preschool, parental rights in the classroom, next steps for school accountability, the state’s role in addressing staffing shortages and transportation challenges, and more!

When: Tuesday, January 11 at 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute

Known as the most prominent spokesperson and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains one of the most inspirational figures in history for his pursuit of equal rights and his nonviolent approach to civil rights protests. The evening will feature special guest performances and will honor recipients of the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards.

When: Tuesday, January 11 at 7:30pm
Where: Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Showing Up for Racial Justice – SURJ Denver: Canvassing for STAR in Cap Hill

Join Denver SURJ on Saturday, January 15th as we chat with local businesses about Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program, which deploys mobile emergency response teams of paramedics and mental health professionals to engage individuals experiencing crises related to mental health issues, poverty, houselessness, and substance abuse.

When: Saturday, January 15 at 4:00pm
Where: Capitol Hill Books, 300 E Colfax, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Air Quality and Climate Justice in Colorado (In-Person and Virtual)

Hosted by Colorado Jewish Climate Action and Ekar Farm, celebrate Tu Bishvat and Martin Luther King Jr. Day by joining scientists, community activists, and elected officials to learn why Colorado suffers from such bad air quality, which communities suffer the most, and the actions we can take to achieve climate justice.

When: Sunday, January 16 at 4:00pm
Where: Congregation Rodef Shalom, 450 S Kearney St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: OneCO Legislative Kickoff

The 2022 legislative session will soon reconvene and there will be several bills that will impact the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. Join One Colorado and members of the Colorado General Assembly at X BAR (629 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203) for our Legislative Kickoff! This will be an opportunity to meet pro-equality legislators and learn about what we’re expecting in 2022.

When: Wednesday, January 19 at 6:00pm
Where: X BAR, 629 E Colfax, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

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

awesome + uniting

• All those crows will remember you, so be nice
• Alysa Liu eyes 3rd US figure skating title, 1st Olympic spot, after moving to train in Colorado
• Colorado snowpack up 68% from 4 weeks ago

awesome + controversy

• Polis appoints former rival Walker Stapleton to economic development commission
• Why some Uber and Lyft drivers are trying to start a labor movement in a Denver airport parking lot
• Republican state Sen. Don Coram will run to unseat Lauren Boebert

awful + uniting

• “Hang on to one another”: President Biden promises Marshall fire victims federal help during Boulder County tour
• Vic Fangio fired as Broncos head coach after three losing seasons
• Denver police investigated gunman a year before deadly shooting spree

awful + controversy

• Colorado King Soopers workers formally announce intent to strike
• Polis says he commuted trucker’s sentence to end circus around case; Judge expresses frustration
• On Jan. 6 anniversary, Colorado Democratic members of Congress push for preservation of democracy

awesome + uniting

• Coors Field in Denver Is Chosen as Replacement Host for 2021 All-Star Game
• Colorado venue was world’s most-attended venue in 2021
• How Nikola Jokic got better from his MVP season: “He’s just in control of everything”

awesome + controversy

• Jockeying begins for Colorado’s new 8th Congressional District
• Colorado Election Results: All Three Statewide Measures Go Down in Flames
• 2021 Colorado legislative session comes to an end

awful + uniting

• Colorado surpasses 10,000 COVID deaths
• 58 minutes of terror: How the Boulder King Soopers shooting unfolded
• ‘A force of nature’: Marshall Fire grows to 1,600 acres, forces evacuation of Superior, Louisville, Broomfield

awful + controversy

• Trump Lawyer Blamed Pence for Violence as Rioters Stormed Capitol
• “No such thing as bad publicity”: Lauren Boebert maintains hold over CD3, despite Islamophobic comments
• 2021 in Tina Peters

awesome + uniting

• Record-breaking Colorado Gives Day raises $54.4 million for local nonprofits
• Coloradan Nichole Ayers Chosen For NASA’s New Astronaut Candidate Class
• Load of toads: CPW, Denver Zoo team up to save Colorado’s boreal toads with hope to release 20K tadpoles next summer

awesome + controversy

• Snow Drought Ends: It Was 7 Weeks Late, But Denver Finally Recorded A Measurable Snow
• Wellington marijuana initiative officially passes by a single vote
• US approves Indigenous name change to Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain for Colorado mountain

awful + uniting

• More than $73M in unemployment benefits paid to potential fraudsters, audit finds
• Furor Over Plea Deal for Ex-Cop Over Assault on Elderly Man
• RTD, TSA, Denver Police And Colorado Guardian Angels Stepping Up Patrols At Troubled Union Station

awful + controversy

• Mayor Hancock vetoes flavored tobacco ban slated to start in 2023
• Denver to consider outlawing homemade, untraceable “ghost guns” as they become more common nationwide
• Multiple CO Republicans Conceal Their View on Election Conspiracy Question by Saying They Can’t “Speak” for “Other States”

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Tomorrow our Colorado Gives Day campaign comes to a close. Thanks to everyone who has already scheduled your donation for tomorrow. And for those who have a box on your calendar to check, thank you in advance! We’re thrilled with the show of support we’ve seen so far.

Remember that this year your donation will go even further than before! Organizers have generously provided a matching incentive up to $1.5 million–but only on the ColoradoGives Day platform, so don’t miss your chance to double your impact.

Looking ahead to 2022, we’ve got a huge job ahead of us in 2022. Implementing the historic Build Back Better Plan once it’s finally passed by Congress, setting up Colorado’s new family leave and Colorado Option healthcare plans, confronting air pollution and climate change, defending reproductive rights, and continuing Colorado’s path of smart criminal justice reform. That’s just the start as we continue to build on the historic progress we’ve made in recent years in Colorado while defending our most important values.

With your help, we’re ready for whatever comes next. Let’s get to work! Here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of December 6, 2021:

The Center on Colfax: Call for Pride Committee Members!

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community? Have you always wondered what it takes to put on a massive outdoor festival? Do you want to make Denver PrideFest bigger, better and more inclusive? If you answered yes to any of the above then you should consider joining the Denver PrideFest Committee. The Center will be having an open call and informational session for potential new committee members on Monday December 6th from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Come out, meet current committee members, and see what it takes to run Denver PrideFest.

When: Monday, December 6 at 6:30pm
Where: The Center, 1301 E Colfax Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety Community Forum

The Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing & Public Safety is excited to kick off our monthly community forum series. This month we are partnering with The Conflict Center to share de-escalation skills to use with family, friends, and neighbors.

When: Tuesday, December 7 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

When: Saturday, December 10 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Film Screening: “Kiss The Ground” presented by 350 Colorado

Narrated by and featuring Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. Kiss the Ground reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. This movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species future.

When: Wednesday, December 8 at 6:30pm
Where: Trident Booksellers and Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder

Click here to RSVP.

Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education: EdEquity Corner

Please join us for EdEquity Corner, a monthly Zoom chat with neighbors about how to address every day education challenges with anti-racist values. Drop in, meet your neighbors for some much needed perspective, hope, and practical solutions during these uncertain times.

When: Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

9to5 Colorado: Making a Difference Donation Livestream / Facebook Live para Marcando La Diferencia

Join us for our 9to5 Making a Difference Donation Livestream to learn more about our role in the community and how we can make a difference together! This is a short Facebook Live with a quick overview of how 9to5 pushes out resources and what is needed to be able to complete that and as to why donations are important to our non-profit. Tune in and donate to help make a difference!

When: Thursday, December 9 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks again! We’ll see you next week.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• Colorado Space Company Will Help Build The Next Space Station
• Denver Police Prepare To Protect The More Than 100,000 People Expected Downtown For Parade Of Lights
• Are the Broncos ready for prime time?

awesome + controversy

• Colorado Democrats announce plan to protect abortion rights in light of Supreme Court case
• Denver man “damn lucky” to survive COVID-19 after 158 days in hospital
• ‘The Great Resignation’: Colorado Workers Quitting Their Jobs More Often Than Workers In Most Other States

awful + uniting

• Omicron variant detected in Colorado woman who recently traveled to Africa
• “Callous lack of humanity”: Denver police officer fired for not giving first aid to bleeding gunshot victim who died
• Colorado ranks among worst states for internet crimes. Here are ways to avoid them.

awful + controversy

• MyPillow CEO Hires Colorado Conspiracists to Jet Around Country Pushing Big Lie
• Democratic caucus chairs, progressives call for Boebert to be stripped of committee assignments
• ‘Stretch that rope’: Colorado conservative leader suggests Gov. Polis should be hanged

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We hope you’re indulging in some well-earned time, space, and rest after a great Thanksgiving holiday week.

As you get back in the swing of things, consider circling December 7th on your calendar. It’s Colorado Gives Day, when people all over Colorado will come together (virtually) to harness the power of our community to improve our state.

Here’s how you can help (or get ready to help), right now:

Give: Go to the official Colorado Gives Day page to schedule your donation for December 7th, to maximize your investment. All funds raised on Colorado Gives Day will be automatically matched by a generous community of supporters.

Create a calendar alert: Colorado Gives Day is December 7th (less than two weeks from today). Open up your calendar app of choice and create a reminder for yourself.

Follow and spread the word: As the day gets closer, consider following our social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter), and any other Colorado-based non-profit you’d like to support, for timely updates. Share our social media and this email with your friends and family to expand its reach exponentially. We couldn’t have gotten this far without you!

Thank you for your support! here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of November 29, 2021:

Featured event: Beyond the Bans CO: Pro-Repro Rights Proclamation Signing + Gathering

On Wednesday, December 1st, the conservative-majority Supreme Court begins oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Mississippi 15-week abortion ban case that could gut federal abortion rights and overturn Roe v. Wade. Join Beyond the Bans on the steps of the Colorado Capitol, to show SCOTUS and law-makers that we represent the majority of Americans who want and support abortion rights, access and justice and oppose the growing assault on our constitutional rights.

When: Wednesday, December 1 at 1:00pm
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

2021 Symposium: Science in the Age of Misinformation

Join us as we explore truth, trust scientific authority, the media, and the fate of evidence-based thinking in a world of infinite information. December 1 of the Symposium will involve a number of expert panels and opportunities to network. December 2 of the Symposium will involve workshop sessions designed for active engagement.

When: Wednesday, December 1 at 8:00am

Click here to RSVP.

World AIDS Day Solidarity Walk

Please join the Golden Nugget Sisters as we walk in solidarity for the memory of those we lost to AIDS and for the many who are still living with this virus. December 1st is World AIDS Day and the Sisters will be walking in solidarity for those we lost to AIDS. We will be making stops to bars on Colfax including Tight End, Charlie’s, Xbar and Lucid. We will ask the community to write the names of their friends or loved ones that no longer walk amongst us on our Sisters white veil of REMEMBRANCE. And we ask that you write positive messages of love and support on the gold veil of HOPE for those who are living and thriving throughout the world. We hope to make this an annual tradition every year!

When: Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Cervezas for Causes- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition

Every month Cervecería Colorado partners with a non-profit to have a celebratory happy hour with proceeds benefiting that non-profit. The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is a statewide, non-profit organization that advocates for all immigrants in Colorado and the US. They are led by our directly impacted members and seek to uplift their voices to create change by and for the community. Their mission is to improve the lives of immigrants and refugees by making Colorado a more welcoming, immigrant-friendly state. They achieve this mission through non-partisan civic engagement, public education, and advocating for workable, fair, and humane immigration policies.

When: Thursday, December 2 at 5:00pm
Where: Cervecería Colorado, 1635 Platte St, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

ACLU of Colorado and ACLU of New Mexico: What you need to know about abortion access in New Mexico and Colorado

Do you know your reproductive rights in New Mexico and Colorado? No matter your relationship status, age, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or if you’re incarcerated or detained, you have reproductive rights. The ACLU of Colorado, the ACLU of New Mexico, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains are teaming up to host a virtual Know Your Rights event on December 2nd at 5:30 pm MST. Join us to learn about what your reproductive rights are in New Mexico and Colorado with a free virtual training! You will also learn more about the future of reproductive rights in both states and what our organizations are currently working on to expand and protect reproductive health care access.

When: Thursday, December 2 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back again next Monday with more ways to take action. See you then!

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• Friends Of ‘Daddy Bruce’ Keep Thanksgiving Traditional Alive
• Themed Colorado license plates up for auction, proceeds to benefit Coloradans with disabilities
• Front Range retailers hope 2021 holiday shopping season is a little brighter

awesome + controversy

• Polis, other pot-state governors, pushed to prod feds about allowing interstate commerce — industry has mixed reaction
• I-25’s south “gap” no more: New lanes to open next month as painful 3-year project nears end
• Aurora, Denver politicians announce gun buyback effort in response to recent violence

awful + uniting

• Denver and its surrounding counties just issued a new mask order. These five charts show why.
• Family Of Annika Williams, Woman Killed, Wants Stricter Penalties For Street Racers
• Aurora Police Union Head: Diversity Should Include Crackheads, Illegal Aliens, Molesters

awful + controversy

• Colorado Weather: Another Unusually Warm Week Without Snow Is In Store
• Rep. Ilhan Omar calls for ‘appropriate action’ to be taken against Rep. Lauren Boebert after she shared anti-Muslim story
• Colorado joins multistate investigation into Facebook’s alleged ‘willful practices’ that harm children

awesome + uniting

• Fairview High School Grad Jessica Watkins Will Become First Black Woman On International Space Station Crew
• KC Becker, former Colorado House speaker, appointed to lead regional EPA office
• North America’s rarest mammal: CPW releases more black-footed ferrets into Colorado

awesome + controversy

• Colorado governor, state union agree to raises for more than 30,000 employees under first-of-its-kind labor agreement
• Regional Transportation District offering $4,000 hiring bonus for several open positions
• Union: DIA Janitor Strike Ends With ‘Historic’ Agreement

awful + uniting

• Colorado’s COVID hospitalizations jump again as virus’ statewide death toll surpasses 9,000
• Aurora to pay family of Elijah McClain record $15 million to settle lawsuit — city insurance costs rocket
• ‘A public health crisis’: Aurora calls emergency meeting after 6 teens shot

awful + controversy

• FBI search Mesa County clerk Tina Peters’ home in election security breach investigation
• Colorado remains one of the 20 worst states in the nation when it comes to recycling
• A quarter of all towing complaints in Colorado are against one company: “These guys feel particularly predatory”

Following last night’s passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better legislation making historic investments in education, health care, affordable housing, renewable energy, and another year of funding for Sen. Michael Bennet’s landmark Child Tax Credit, ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest multi-issue progressive advocacy organization, thanked Colorado’s progressive majority congressional delegation for seeing this crucial component of the progressive agenda through its first big test–and called on the U.S. Senate to pass Build Back Better without further delay.

“Last night was a huge step for progressives in keeping the promise they made to America in 2020 to Build Back Better after the devastating COVID-19 pandemic,” said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Sara Loflin. “After months of wrangling, we’re closer than ever to making investments that every American family will see and feel in their daily lives. This legislation will help millions of working Americans by supporting the ‘human infrastructure’ that matters just as much as roads and bridges. Money Americans will save on health care will be redirected straight to the economy.”

“We’re thrilled to see that another year of full funding for Sen. Michael Bennet’s Child Tax Credit was preserved in the legislation that passed the House last night,” said Loflin. “Sen. Bennet’s Child Tax Credit is working right now to bring about the biggest reduction in child poverty in half a century. The direct monthly payments to millions of families are providing crucial economic stimulus where it’s needed most, and must be permanently funded by future legislation.”

“The Build Back Better Plan also represents the largest investment by the federal government in combating human-caused climate change in American history,” said Loflin. “Offsetting the cost of renewable energy conversion is a vital tool to incentivize the switch to renewable energy by individual consumers. Assistance is being targeted at individual consumers who need help most investing in renewable energy for their homes, which is where we must begin if the United States hopes to meet our international treaty obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Democrats must pass this landmark legislation in order to deliver on their promises to American voters,” said Loflin. “By delivering on the promises in the Build Back Better plan, millions of Americans will finally get to see what happens when progressives govern. After years of dysfunctional increasingly extremist Republican control in Washington, too many Americans believe that we can’t solve the big problems confronting us. Now is the best chance Democrats will have for a decade to prove them wrong.”

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Today, Gov. Jared Polis and other Colorado progressive leaders are in Washington, D.C. for the signing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the $1.2 trillion bill making important new investments in roads, railways, airports, high-speed internet access in rural areas, wildfire protection, vital water infrastructure, and more. Colorado will receive almost $4 billion to spend on roads alone, along with $910 million for public transit. Sen. John Hickenlooper won a major investment coming to Colorado to support making electric cars more affordable and easier to use than ever.

The bipartisan roads and bridges bill is a big deal, but we’re not done yet. As part of the agreement to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congressional leadership committed to a vote on the larger Build Back Better plan to invest in the “human infrastructure” we know is just as important as roads and bridges. Affordable health and child care is as important to working families as good roads to get to work on. The Build Back Better plan’s investment combating human-caused climate change is an historic first step toward meeting our obligations to the whole world’s future.

It’s not time to celebrate until the Build Back Better plan is signed into law. Let your leaders know you’re still paying attention and won’t settle for less. Call your member of Congress at 1-888-516-5820 and your U.S. Senators at 1-888-516-5820 (thanks to our friends at Communications Workers of America for the connection) and tell them to pass the Build Back Better plan without any further delays.

Thanks for your help getting this historic agenda over the finish line. Here are a few more ways to make a difference for the week of November 15:

Colorado Sierra Club: Monument Community Meeting on Tri-State’s Draft Energy Plan

Did you know that if you pay your electricity bill through Mountain View Electric Association, you have more say over your power than other Coloradans? As a rural electric co-op member-owner, you have an important role to play in deciding how our community sources its electricity. Right now, member-owners have a huge opportunity to push for the clean energy transition we need through Tri-State’s Electric Resource Plan (ERP) process at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Tri-State’s ERP decides how and where we get our electricity for the next 5-10 years.

When: Tuesday, November 16 at 5:15pm

Click here to RSVP.

How to Influence Colorado’s Oil & Gas Permitting Process

Please join us to learn about our state’s oil & gas operating permit process, how it can be improved, and what impact you can make by participating in it! Our goal is to provide members of the public with the information they need to access, analyze, give input, and influence oil and gas permits being considered by state regulators. Our featured speaker, Brad Klafehn, is an expert on oil and gas development plans.

When: Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Denver Press Club: Changing the Way We Cover Homelessness

More than 4,000 people in Denver don’t have proper housing, and the city spends between $42,000 to $104,000 per person each year on homelessness, studies found. It’s an ongoing issue for Colorado and a topic that requires thoughtful reporting from local journalists. Join moderator Cara DeGette, editor of Greater Park Hill News, and panelists Robert Davis, a Contributor to Denver VOICE; Jeremy Jojola , 9News investigative reporter, and Marcus Hill, a staff reporter at the Colorado Springs Independent, as they discuss strategies for reporting and writing on our homeless neighbors.

When: Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30pm
Where: Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Panel

This quarter, our social justice focus has been learning about and engaging with Immigration and Refugee Resettlement. Might you be interested in learning more about this topic? Our SJ Fall Team has organized an Immigration and Refugee Panel night! Join us on Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30 to hear from various folks in these spaces, learn about their work, the immigration process and more. Join us to learn about how we might engage in coming alongside folks experiencing resettlement. Some of our panel consists of representatives from Lutheran Family Services and the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau. Belong Folks and the wider community are welcome!

When: Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

League of Women Voters: Winning With Women

When women run for office, they win just as often as men win. So why aren’t there more women in office? Because they don’t run. The purpose of the event is to demystify the process for running for office and we do it in two parts. The first part is a panel discussion of elected women officials who will share how they decided to run for office, what was involved in campaigning, and what it is like to serve. This panel will highlight what it is like to run as a woman of color in Colorado.

When: Thursday, November 18 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

TDoR Eve March & Rally

Join The Center on Colfax and One Colorado as we gather to honor and remember those we’ve lost from the transgender community this year. Please meet at The Center (1301 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218) on Friday Nov 19th at 4:30pm for speeches by local Trans leaders, performances, and a march to the Capitol. One Colorado will also have a table set up with buttons and signs you can take to show your support for the Trans community. At 5:00 pm we will march down Colfax to the Capitol where we will gather on the west steps! We will hear more from our speakers, and read aloud the names of those who we have lost this year.

When: Friday, November 19 at 4:30pm
Where: The Center, 1301 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Denver Nuggets Pride Night with You Can Play & One Colorado

Join us we celebrate Pride Night with the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena! The first 500 tickets sold through this link will receive a free Denver Nuggets Pride Hat! Proceeds from the event will benefit One Colorado and You Can Play, so please share this widely with your networks!

When: Friday, November 19 at 7:00pm
Where: Ball Arena, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

We are pleased to be able to gather IN PERSON this year to remember and honor the lives of the transgender and gender expansive people we have lost in 2021. As we come together as a community to grieve those we have lost, we will also celebrate the strength and resiliency of our community through musical and poetic performances by local transgender and gender expansive artists. Refreshments will be served.

When: Saturday, November 20 at 1:00pm
Where: Denver Botanic Gardens

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks again! We’ll be back after the Thanksgiving break with more ways to fight for progress.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

awesome + uniting

• Colorado students combat climate warming, join UN COP26 summit in Scotland
• Colorado’s Fallen Heroes Memorial, 14 years in the making, formally dedicated ahead of Veterans Day
• How much money will Colorado receive from the infrastructure bill?

awesome + controversy

• Colorado voters reject all three statewide ballot measures
• Children are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID Vaccine. Here’s what you need to know
• Rep. Neguse announces gun violence prevention legislation in wake of Boulder mass shooting

awful + uniting

• From the Denver Broncos to the L.A. Rams: How the Von Miller trade went down
• Fewer than 100 ICU beds available in Colorado as COVID-19 hospitalizations increase
• Former Boulder County sheriff’s deputies get prison for detox van death

awful + controversy

• Mother Says Southwest Airlines Flight Crew Racially Profiled Her And Her Daughter On Flight To Denver
• The NRA illegally funded the campaigns of Donald Trump, Cory Gardner and other GOP candidates, lawsuit claims
• Denver’s Top Parking Enforcer ‘Fixed’ 21 Of His Own Tickets