MUSE November/December 2018

Inside This Issue Letter To The Editor...7 Montbello In The News...8 Elected Officials Speak Out...9 Happenings Around Montbello...10,11,12,13 Voices In The Neighborhood..14,15,16,17 Resources In The Community...18,19,20 Spotlight On Education ...21

The

State of Education in Montbello...4

FROM THE EDITOR’S TABLET

EDUCATION, NO SIMPLE SOLUTION Almost nothing has ignited the emotions and the activism of this community in the way that the issues surrounding education has. Since the very first issue, this publication has devoted many pages to shining a light both on the joys and successes of our Montbello graduates and also on the angst parents, grandparents, and others have felt regarding the overall state of public education in Montbello. Pick any day, any venue, any person of any age in Montbello and ask them their thoughts about education, the schools, DPS and the conversation quickly becomes animated with virtually everyone expressing their opinions and perceptions – positive and negative — with vigor.

Take for example a conversation with the new librarian at the Montbello Campus who is thrilled with the enhanced learning opportunities the remodeled library space has brought to her students. Or the parent whose son is at Oakland Elementary and is a dedicated volunteer at the school (read her thoughts in the Voices section). Or the parent who is angry that she lives across the street from the Montbello Campus but chooses to send her children to a high school out of the neighborhood because she believes that the quality of education students receive in her community will not prepare them for college success.

There are the “watchers” who are actively scrutinizing decisions being made by DPS and who have first-hand experience with the disappointments and frustrations that have come with a decade of closing and restarting schools only to find that students of color and students in poverty continue to be educated in “The Gap” and are still not being adequately served in our neighborhood public schools. There are the community organizations and school leaders who know that the key to serving students at risk of poor education outcomes is best carried out when the community forms a safety net around the school, the students, and the families. Finally, there are the philanthropists who, with what we hope are the best intentions, single out a handful of favored organizations to fund with an unrealistic expectation that monumental results will ensue in a relatively short time frame.

I began my career as a kindergarten teacher and devoted much of my professional life to working with diverse coalitions to build quality early education in communities across the state. I taught science to 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students in an alternative school focused on working students at risk of school failure due to poverty, immigration status, and other compromising factors. I worked on education policy at the state and national levels and taught college students seeking education degrees. And, I raised three children who are products of Denver Public Schools and now cheer on two grandchildren attending schools in the district.

Through those experiences over the last four decades, I know these three things to be true: 1) Educating children is a very complex endeavor.

2) Parents are largely left out of the discussions to determine what constitutes “quality” public education.

3) There is no one right or best way to provide a quality public education – every student is unique and so the options must also be unique.

I don’t believe our country (i.e. politicians, voters, business leaders) has adequately funded schools and teachers. I also believe in choice but only when every parent has the knowledge, wherewithal, and opportunity to make an authentic choice that is right for their child. Without those, then only the students with parents who have those resources and the power to be heard will have choice. Until every neighborhood school has the resources and support to be a quality education choice, then we will continue to fail our children and, ultimately, fail ourselves and our society.

Donna Garnett Editor Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition

PUBLISHER Montbello Organizing Committee/Denver Urban Spectrum EDITOR AND LEAD WRITER - Donna Garnett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Senator Angela Williams, Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore, Dave Beckhoefer, Tomi Amos, Caroline Corcoran, Meghan Treitz, Maricruz Herrera, Becky McLean, Kiera Jackson TRANSLATOR - Marta Welch PHOTOGRAPHER – Lifestyle Photos, Vanessa Martinez

The Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition (MUSE) is a bi-monthly publication produced and published by the Denver Urban Spectrum (DUS) and the Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC). MUSE is circulated throughout Denver’s Far Northeast community.

Contents of MUSE are copyright 2018 by Denver Urban Spectrum and the Montbello Organizing Committee. No portion may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers.

MUSE welcomes all letters, but reserves the right to edit for space, libelous material, grammar, and length. All letters must include name, address, and phone number. We will withhold author’s name on request. Unsolicited articles are accepted without guarantee of publication or payment and may be submitted to the editor at montbellonews@gmail.com.

For advertising information, email montbelloadvertising@gmail.com or call 303-292-6446.

ART DIRECTOR - Bee Harris ADVERTISING SALES - Melovy Melvin

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

3

The State of Education in Montbello

By Donna Garnett

proper attention being paid to those recommendations. The prevailing assumption was that DPS would do whatever it wanted without regard for the desires and recommendations of “the community.”

Fast forward several months and a number of actions that have had and will have an impact on the status of education in the Montbello community have taken place. These include: •A small cohort of activists formed after that fateful meeting and they have taken on a powerful role of watching over the actions of the District and advocating tirelessly for the students and their families. As a result of their advocacy and diligent insistence, this fall saw the opening of a newly renovated library to serve students in the three charter schools housed on the Montbello campus. New lights are illuminating the athletic fields at Montbello Campus making it possible for athletes to practice after dark.

•768 students in the Montbello community graduated from high school in 2018 – up from 333 in 2010, the year that the DPS Board decided to close Montbello High School. It is important to recognize that in that timeframe four new charter high schools have emerged to serve students in the community.

•In July, Superintendent Tom Boasberg announced that he would resign from DPS in November. In September, amid protests from communities across the district, the Board of Education extended the search timeline and incorporated community dialogue into the process. The Board has committed to selecting a new superintendent by December 10.

•A Supersearch dialogue was held at Montbello Recreation Center on September 22. Participants in the discussion identified “experience with diverse communities” as a top priority in the selection of a new superintendent. Second, candidates must have “teaching and administrative experience” and many cited the need for the new superintendent to live in the community and to be actively involved in the schools. A third priority identified was “prioritization of DPS issues.” Specifically, parents want to see neighborhood schools restored so that even those families with economic and transportation challenges can send their children to quality schools. Many asked for more wrap-around services that emphasis mental health support over more school resource officers and many want co-location of schools to end.

•The Denver school board voted in October to implement a more flexible process for intervening in struggling schools allowing more options around intervention as opposed to closing schools based solely on academic factors like performance on state math and reading tests.

Montbello’s McGlone Academy is one of those schools that is eligible for intervention this year as opposed to automatic closure.

The topic of education in Montbello is one that generates passion, opinions, optimism, and frustration – depending on the people engaged in conversation. Barely a year ago, a few hundred folks participated in a month-long, Denver Public Schools-led discussion about the issues and concerns of parents, educators, and community leaders. A mostly everchanging cast of participants gathered monthly to have facilitated discourse on topics such as academics, athletics, wellness, co-location of schools in shared facilities, and so on. As the process was drawing to an end, frustrations were deepening and trust in Denver Public Schools plummeted – a trust that was already thin in this community that is still bemoaning the closure of Montbello High School in 2014.

Tensions grew as parents and others expressed their concerns about the way in which student success is measured, the prioritization of resources for other neighborhoods and schools while efforts to address athletics and academic needs in the Far Northeast continue to be minimal. Parents decried the revolving-door policies that result in the exodus of teachers and administrators in FNE schools and the lack of diversity in teacher hiring and retention that further compromises equitable practices that affect students of color.

Many expressed their perception that the current DPS Board and Administration favor the proliferation of charter schools over striving for quality seats and outcomes in existing Montbello neighborhood schools.

Finally, the community questioned the allocation of district funds when some school buildings in Montbello are dangerously inadequate and lack timely maintenance of aging buildings.

Community members railed against the reform approaches that have been put in place, characterizing them as a disservice to students of color and those from low-income families. While test scores have risen among some students over the years, Black and Latino students, and those living in poverty continue to significantly lag behind those of their white and wealthier peers. These students have also borne the brunt of the district’s unsuccessful practice of closing low-performing schools (mostly in low-income and communities of color) and replacing them with charter schools, many of which have achieved better performance than the neighborhood schools they replaced.

In the face of these deficits, participants in the DPS process proposed a menu of strategies and solutions. Among those was a strong desire for creating a traditional, comprehensive high school in Montbello.

At the final community meeting, when participants met with then DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg with the intention of expressing their recommendations of strategies and approaches, emotions ran high and the meeting concluded without

Continued on page 6

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

4

El Estado de la Educación en Montbello Por Donna Garnett - Traducción por: Marta Welch

Adelante varios meses y se han llevado a cabo varias acciones que han tenido y tendrán un impacto en el estado de la educación en la comunidad de Montbello. Éstos incluyen: •Una pequeña cohorte de activistas se formó después de esa fatídica reunión y han asumido el poderoso papel de velar por las acciones del Distrito y abogar incansablemente por los estudiantes y sus familias. Como resultado de su defensa e insistencia diligente, este otoño se inauguró una biblioteca recientemente renovada para atender a los estudiantes en las tres escuelas autónomas que se encuentran en el campus de Montbello. Las nuevas luces están iluminando los campos deportivos en el Campus de Montbello, haciendo posible que los atletas puedan practicar después del anochecer.

•768 estudiantes de la comunidad de Montbello se graduaron de la escuela secundaria en 2018– comparado con 333 en 2010, el año en que el Consejo de DPS decidió cerrar la Escuela Secundaria de Montbello. Es de destacar que en ese período de tiempo, cuatro nuevas escuelas secundarias autónomas han surgido para atender a los estudiantes de la comunidad.

•En julio, el Superintendente Tom Boasberg anunció que renunciaría a DPS en noviembre. En septiembre, en medio de protestas de las comunidades en todo el distrito, el Consejo de Educación extendió la línea de tiempo de búsqueda e incorporó el diálogo de la comunidad en el proceso. el Consejo se ha comprometido a seleccionar un nuevo superintendente antes del 10 de diciembre.

•Un diálogo de Superbúsqueda fue sostenido en el Centro de Recreación de Montbello el 22 de septiembre. Los participantes en la discusión identificaron la “experiencia con diversas comunidades” como una de las principales prioridades en la selección de un nuevo superintendente. Segundo, los candidatos deben tener “experiencia docente y administrativa” y muchos mencionaron la necesidad de que el nuevo superintendente viva en la comunidad y participe activamente en las escuelas. Una tercera prioridad identificada fue la “priorización de los problemas de DPS”. Específicamente, los padres desean que se restauren las escuelas de vecindario para que incluso aquellas familias con problemas económicos y de transporte puedan enviar a sus hijos a escuelas de calidad. Muchos pidieron más servicios completos que enfaticen el apoyo de salud mental sobre más oficiales de recursos escolares y muchos quieren que termine la ubicación conjunta de las escuelas.

•El consejo escolar de Denver votó en octubre para implementar un proceso más flexible para intervenir en escuelas que luchan, lo que permite más opciones para la intervención en lugar de cerrar las escuelas basándose únicamente en factores académicos como el rendimiento en las pruebas estatales de matemáticas y lectura. La Academia McGlone de Montbello es una de esas escuelas que es elegible para la intervención este año en lugar del cierre automático.

•Los resultados de 2018 en el Marco de Rendimiento Escolar (SPF), se publicaron este otoño, mostrando por el segundo año consecutivo un sólido crecimiento en la alfabetización temprana en todo el distrito, lo que proporciona una base fundamental para el éxito de los estudiantes en la universidad, la carrera y la vida. Seis escuelas primarias de Montbello fueron calificadas como escuelas “verdes”, lo que significa que están cumpliendo con las expectativas y que estas escuelas están demostrando buenos resultados en muchas Continúa en la página 6

El tema de la educación en Montbello es uno que genera pasión, opiniones, optimismo y frustración, dependiendo de las personas involucradas en la conversación. Hace apenas un año, unos pocos cientos de personas participaron en un debate de un mes de duración dirigido por las Escuelas Públicas de Denver sobre los problemas y preocupaciones de los padres, educadores y líderes comunitarios. Un reparto de participantes, en su mayoría en constante cambio, se reunió mensualmente para facilitar el discurso sobre temas académicos, de atletismo, bienestar, ubicación conjunta de escuelas en instalaciones compartidas, etc.

A medida que el proceso se acercaba a su fin, las frustraciones se profundizaban y la confianza en las Escuelas Públicas de Denver se desplomaban– una confianza que ya era débil en esta comunidad que todavía lamenta el cierre de la Escuela Secundaria de Montbello en 2014.

Las tensiones aumentaron a medida que los padres y otras personas expresaron su preocupación por la forma en que se mide el éxito de los estudiantes, la priorización de los recursos para otros vecindarios y escuelas, mientras que los esfuerzos para abordar el atletismo y las necesidades académicas en el extremo noreste (FNE) continúan siendo mínimos. Los padres criticaron las políticas de puertas giratorias que resultaron en el éxodo de maestros y administradores en las escuelas FNE y la falta de diversidad en la contratación y retención de maestros que compromete aún más las prácticas equitativas que afectan a los estudiantes de color. Muchos expresaron su percepción de que el Consejo y la Administración actuales de DPS favorecen la proliferación de escuelas autónomas en lugar de esforzarse por obtener asientos y resultados de calidad en las escuelas existentes en los vecindarios de Montbello. Finalmente, la comunidad cuestionó la asignación de fondos del distrito cuando algunos edificios escolares en Montbello son peligrosamente inadecuados y carecen de mantenimiento oportuno de edificios antiguos.

Los miembros de la comunidad criticaron los enfoques de reforma que se han implementado, caracterizándolos como un mal servicio a los estudiantes de color y aquellos de familias de bajos ingresos. Mientras que los resultados de los exámenes han aumentado entre algunos estudiantes a lo largo de los años, los estudiantes Afro-Americanos y Latinos, y los que viven en la pobreza, siguen rezagados significativamente respecto a los de sus compañeros blancos y más ricos. Estos estudiantes también han sido los más afectados por el fracaso de la práctica del distrito de cerrar escuelas de bajo rendimiento (principalmente en las de bajos ingresos y comunidades de color) y reemplazarlos con escuelas autónomas, muchas de las cuales han logrado un mejor desempeño que las escuelas vecinas que reemplazaron.

Ante estos déficits, los participantes en el proceso de DPS propusieron un menú de estrategias y soluciones. Entre ellos había un fuerte deseo de crear una escuela secundaria tradicional e integral en Montbello.

En la reunión final de la comunidad, cuando los participantes se reunieron con el entonces Superintendente de DPS Tom Boasberg, con la intención de expresar sus recomendaciones de estrategias y enfoques, las emociones se aceleraron y la reunión concluyó sin que se prestara la debida atención a esas recomendaciones. La suposición prevaleciente era que DPS haría lo que quisiera sin tener en cuenta los deseos y recomendaciones de “la comunidad”.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

5

Continued from page 4

Continúa de la página 5 áreas, con algunas áreas que necesitan alguna mejora. Cabe destacar que estas escuelas, en general, tienen un servicio predominantemente históricamente desatendido en nuestras escuelas públicas, incluidos los estudiantes de color, los estudiantes en situación de pobreza, los estudiantes del idioma inglés y los estudiantes con necesidades especiales.

•Las organizaciones basadas en la comunidad están buscando enfoques para apoyar a las escuelas y las familias a las que sirven mediante la colaboración y la focalización colectiva en los recursos para crear un impacto más fuerte. Por ejemplo, el Centro de Recursos de Families Forward, el Comité Organizador de Montbello, CLLARO, y Academy 360 han formado un Colectivo de Educación de Montbello con el propósito de implementar un Enfoque de Educación del Niño Entero.

Otros están invitados a unirse al colectivo en un modelo que colocaliza los recursos de la comunidad con una escuela para que las familias tengan acceso inmediato a los servicios que apoyan sus necesidades para que el maestro pueda enfocar sus esfuerzos en educar a los estudiantes.

•Nuevos jugadores han venido a la mesa para fomentar nuevas y poderosas relaciones en apoyo de los padres, los estudiantes y las escuelas.

Uno de ellos es FaithBridge con un enfoque en trabajar con la comunidad de fe para generar más apoyo en la educación. Otro es RootED, que ofrece nuevos recursos a organizaciones en la comunidad enfocadas en apoyar a los padres en sus esfuerzos por manifestar más puestos de calidad en las escuelas de Montbello.

El futuro de la educación en Montbello no es de ninguna manera un éxito, y los activistas más exigentes de la educación no pueden abandonar su escrutinio y defensa, pero el panorama ciertamente ha adquirido un nuevo elenco desde esa noche llena de ira y frustración hace un año. Existe la oportunidad de que el distrito escuche y trabaje activamente con los padres y los líderes y activistas de la comunidad para continuar abordando los problemas que comprometen el futuro de nuestros hijos. ¿Qué harás personalmente, para abogar y actuar en nombre de los miles de estudiantes que residen y aprenden en Montbello? Y

•2018 results on the School Performance Framework (SPF) were released this fall showing for the second year in a row strong districtwide growth in early literacy, which provides a crucial foundation for students’ success in college, career and life. Six Montbello elementary schools were rated as “green” schools meaning they are meeting expectations and that these schools are demonstrating good results in many areas, with a few areas in need of some improvement. It is noteworthy that these schools by and large serve predominantly historically underserved in our public schools, including students of color, students in poverty, English language learners and students with special needs.

•Community-based organizations are pursuing approaches to supporting schools and the families they serve by collaborating and collectively targeting resources to create a stronger impact.

For example, Families Forward Resource Center, Montbello Organizing Committee, CLLARO, and Academy 360 have formed a Montbello Education Collective with the purpose of implementing a Whole Child Approach to Education. Others are invited to join the collective in a model that co-locates community resources with a school so that families have immediate access to services that support their needs so that the teacher can focus her/his efforts on educating students.

•New players have come to the table to foster new and powerful relationships in support of parents, students, and schools. One of these is FaithBridge with a focus on working with the faith community to engender more support around education. Another is RootED which offers new resources to organizations in the community focused on supporting parents in endeavors to manifest more quality seats in Montbello schools.

A bright future for high quality education in Montbello is by no means a slam dunk and those most exacting education activists cannot let up their scrutiny and advocacy, but the landscape certainly has taken on a new cast since that anger and frustration-filled evening a year ago. Opportunity exists for the district to hear and actively work with parents and community leaders and activists to continue addressing the issues that compromise our children’s future.

What will you do personally, to advocate and act on behalf of the thousands of students who reside and learn in Montbello?Y Editor’s note: Donna Garnett, Editor of the MUSE, is a long-time educator.

She began her career as a kindergarten teacher, taught in the Teacher Education Department at Metropolitan State College, and served as the govergovernor’s early childhood edueducation advisor to the National Governors Association, working on national legislation related to elementary and secondsecondary education and the Colorado legislation that created charter schools.

Nota del editor: Donna Garnett, Editora de MUSE, es una educadora de largo tiempo. Comenzó su carrera como maestra de jardín de infantes, enseñó en el Departamento de Educación de Maestros en el Metropolitan State College, y se desempeñó como asesora de educación infantil temtemprana del gobernador en la década de 1990. Ella ha tratrabajado en la legislación nacional primaria y secunsecundaria y en la legislación de Colorado que creó escuelas autónomas.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

6

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Economy: Not Prepared For Our Children Editor: Our economy should be prepared for people to have children. That seems obvious, right? Yet, our economy isn’t prepared. Whenever someone has a baby, they face an economic crisis: Do they continue to work and spend much of their paycheck on childcare, or do they stay home to provide childcare, losing their paycheck and, perhaps, compromising their earning potential?

Our economic choices when having a child shouldn’t be “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” For a long time, our economy depended on the unpaid labor of women (often enslaved women) to provide childcare. Women were shoved out of the economy, out of the public arena. We have made great strides in women’s right to be actors in the public arena, but we haven’t adjusted our economy to reflect that, especially when it comes to childcare.

So, what do we do? We want childcare workers to be paid a good wage, but we don’t want to bankrupt young families. The answer is that we must create an economic structure that is built for both. We can do this at the federal, state, or city levels and even within our own businesses.

First and foremost, we must make child care assistance programs to be more like Social Security and less like a scratch-off lottery ticket— right now you’re lucky if you get assistance and that assistance isn’t much. We need a system where we pay overtime and then can tap into the fund when we need childcare. I may not have $15,000 upfront to pay for childcare in the first year of my child’s life, but if we create an economic structure like Social Security, then I can slowly pay it off. This also provides a stable pot of money with which to pay childcare workers a living wage.

On top of that, we have to have paid family leave. When your child is sick or has just experienced trauma, you need to be able to be there for them without the threat of losing your paycheck. Every other developed country has it.

We should too.

We also need to encourage businesses to consider having childcare onsite and ensure that every community has enough quality childcare locations. If we can fly a man to the moon, we can plan for childcare facilities near where parents live or work.

Finally, we must push for a living wage and a union for everyone. The government has a role to play, but employees should have the power to find specific solutions with their employers regarding childcare and other issues.

I’ve raised three kids, and I’m providing childcare for my granddaughter. I know that childcare is hard work. I know that if our economy doesn’t take our youngest citizens into consideration, then we have failed them and our society.

I also know that the solutions are present and doable. We just have to muster the political will to get them done.

Sincerely, Christine Alonzo Editor’s note: Christine Alonzo is a Montbello resident and is running for Denver City Council District 11. She has been a leader in the Latino comcommunity and the labor movement. To learn more about her, check out her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineAlonzoforCityCouncil/. https://www.facebook.com/ChristineAlonzoforCityCouncil/.

expulsadas de la economía, de la arena pública. Hemos logrado grandes avances en el derecho de las mujeres a ser actores en el ámbito público, pero no hemos ajustado nuestra economía para reflejar eso, especialmente cuando se trata de cuidado de niños. ¿Asi que que hacemos? Queremos que a los trabajadores de cuidado de niños se les pague un buen salario, pero no queremos llevar a la quiebra a las familias jóvenes. La respuesta es que debemos crear una estructura económica que se construya para ambos. Podemos hacer esto al nivel federal, estatal o de la ciudad e incluso dentro de nuestras propias empresas.

Encima de todo, debemos hacer que los programas de asistencia para el cuidado de niños sean más parecidos a la Seguridad Social y menos como un boleto de lotería para raspar— ahora mismo tiene suerte si recibe asistencia y esa asistencia no es mucha. Necesitamos un sistema donde pagamos horas extra y luego podemos aprovechar el fondo cuando necesitamos cuidado de niños. Es posible que no tenga $ 15,000 por adelantado para pagar el cuidado de niños en el primer año de vida de mi niño, pero si creamos una estructura económica como la Seguridad Social, entonces puedo pagarlo lentamente. Esto también proporciona una cantidad de dinero estable con la que pagar a los trabajadores de cuidado infantil un salario digno.

Además de eso, tenemos que tener un permiso familiar pagado. Cuando su niño está enfermo o acaba de experimentar un trauma, debe poder estar allí sin la amenaza de perder su cheque de pago. Todos los demás países desarrollados lo tienen. Nosotros también deberíamos tenerlo.

También debemos alentar a las empresas a que consideren tener cuidado de niños en su sitio y asegurar que cada comunidad tenga suficientes lugares de calidad para el cuidado de niños. Si podemos llevar a un hombre a la luna, podemos planificar instalaciones de cuidado de niños cerca de donde viven o trabajan los padres.

Finalmente, debemos presionar por un salario digno y una unión para todos.

El gobierno tiene un papel que desempeñar, pero los empleados deben tener el poder de encontrar soluciones específicas con sus empleadores en relación con el cuidado de los niños y otros temas.

He criado a tres hijos y estoy proporcionando cuidado de niños para mi nieta. Sé que cuidar niños es un trabajo duro. Sé que si nuestra economía no tiene en cuenta a nuestros ciudadanos más jóvenes, les hemos fallado a ellos ya nuestra sociedad. También sé que las soluciones están presentes y son factibles. Solo tenemos que reunir la voluntad política para hacerlos.

Sinceramente, Christine Alonzo Nota del editor: Christine Alonzo es residente de Montbello y se postula para el Distrito 11 del Concejo Municipal de Denver. Ella ha sido una líder en la comunidad Latina y el movimiento laboral. Para obtener más inforinformación sobre ella, visite su Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ ChristineAlonzoforCityCouncil/.

ChristineAlonzoforCityCouncil/.

Support MUSE!

Economía: no preparado para nuestros hijos Editor: Nuestra economía debe estar preparada para que las personas tengan hijos.

Eso parece obvio, ¿verdad? Sin embargo, nuestra economía no está preparada.

Cada vez que alguien tiene un bebé, se enfrenta a una crisis económica: ¿Continúan trabajando y gastando gran parte de su sueldo en el cuidado de niños, o se quedan en la casa para proporcionar el cuidado de niños, perdiendo su sueldo y, tal vez, comprometiendo su potencial de ingresos?

Nuestras elecciones económicas al tener un hijo no deben ser “condenadas si lo haces, condenadas si no lo haces”. Durante mucho tiempo, nuestra economía dependía del trabajo no remunerado de las mujeres (a menudo mujeres esclavizadas) para proporcionar cuidado de niños. Las mujeres fueron

The Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition

To advertise your product, service or event in the January/February MUSE, or for more information, email Melovy@urbanspectrum.net or call

303-292-6446

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

7

MONTBELLO IN THE NEWS

Montbello Neighborhood Awarded $1.1 Million Grant for Healthy Living Walkable Loop

will improve access to healthy, affordable food for all residents, and build social cohesion and increase physical activity within a vibrant cultural context.

The Loop will connect activated gardens throughout the community, including the Montbello Urban Farm at United Church of Montbello, Marie L. Greenwood School, Academy 360, Monarch Montessori, and McGlone Academy. Two of those participating gardens will feature physical fitness trails and will include safe playground options to encourage more physical activity among children. Art projects, reflecting the diverse cultures of Montbello, will be installed at points along the Loop in partnership with Colorado Black Arts Movement and Montbello 2020. Traffic calming interventions will be placed by Walk Denver and Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK), and a neighborhood safety lighting project, implemented by Be Well, will offer additional security after dark.

Montbello’s FreshLo project will also include a grocery-store anchored cultural hub that is being developed with extensive community engagement and input. Additional resident engagement opportunities include Montbello Alive!, F.A.V.A. Heal the Hood, Collectiva Creando Cambios en Colorado, and District 11 Day of Beauty.

“The Healthy Living Walkable Loop will come to life through the efforts of several community organizations,” said Donna Garnett, MOC Executive Director. “We’re excited to collaborate with partners across Montbello to build an accessible walkway throughout the neighborhood that promotes healthy activity and displays the rich culture and soul of this community.”

Denver – Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC) has announced receipt of a $1,105,000 three-year grant from The Colorado Health Foundation in support of the Montbello Healthy Living Walkable Loop. The project is a component of MOC’s FreshLo Initiative, a comprehensive community economic development project initiated and funded by the Kresge Foundation, which is designed to create places in the community that promote cultural heritage, artistic expression, animate public and private spaces, rejuvenate structures and streetscapes, improve local business viability and public safety, and bring diverse peoples together. Collectively, these places

About Montbello Organizing Committee The mission of the Montbello Organizing Committee is to help engage Montbello community members and provide them with resources to develop grassroots leadership skills and tools to address issues that affect their quality of life.Y Editor’s note: For more information, contact Angelle C. Fouther, Montbello Organizing Committee, email angellefouther@gmail.com or 303-868-1796.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

8

ELECTED OFFICIALS SPEAK OUT

Montbello Speaks Out with a Community Speaker’s Bureau

Editor’s note: If you are interested in joining the Montbello Leadership Cabinet, contact Stacie.Gilmore@denvergov.org or call 303-720-9139. To see the most recent version of the 2019 Mayor’s Budget, visit, https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-departmentof-finance/financial-reports/city-budget.html

By Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore

Full Day Kindergarten: The Right Choice for Colorado

Education is critical to improve and support all

members of our community and that is what the Montbello Leadership Cabinet has strived to do since its start. The District 11 Council Office brought together Montbello neighborhood organization leaders and community experts in 2016 to create opportunities for community education, outreach and advocacy around neighborhood resources. The group has made amazing strides and has kicked off the Montbello Speaks - Speaker’s Bureau that will provide important education and information for residents about financial empowerment and navigating our changing economy. Events will be filmed to ensure that we can share this information to a broader audience as well.

It’s exciting to see where the Montbello Leadership Cabinet started and where we are headed. At the beginning, we were discussing the issues facing our community, and that led us to important topics such as affordable housing and preservation, financial empowerment, aging in place and estate planning.

We realize that we still need to work on complex issues such as food access, transportation and infrastructure, but we must also work on preserving our community and its residents during a time of increasing cost burdens associated with housing and growth. Through the facilitation of Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler and Betsy Kummer, the group is currently working through a list of tangible action steps to help provide needed resources and education to the neighborhood.

The first event of the Montbello Speaks - Speaker’s Bureau was held on Wednesday, October 24th with District Attorney Beth McCann presenting on the topic of fraud, scams and elder abuse. Denver’s Channel 8 has also filmed the event and will be broadcasting it regularly so that community members and even other neighborhoods can take advantage of this information. The Montbello Leadership Cabinet has created a community vetted list of over 20 experts on subjects from youth financial education to homeownership affordability to estate planning for the future. They have committed to hosting an event as part of the Montbello Speaks – Speaker’s Bureau not only for their organization, but for the greater Montbello neighborhood.

Alongside the Montbello Leadership Cabinet efforts, the District 11 Council Office has also been working to get more resources that would benefit our community. For the 2019 Mayor’s Budget, councilmembers were asked to bring forth 3 priorities that were either not in the budget or not robust enough. My specific requests which were successfully included in the 2019 budget are: •$150,000 for two additional full-time Financial Coaches and Navigators for a total of $300,000 for four new employees to be added to the Office of Financial Empowerment for residents to use their community financial centers like the one in Montbello at the AP Taylor building to seek financial guidance; •$10,000 allocated for the future printing of a Homeowner Resource Guide to be included in the annual property tax bill. This insert will be bilingual and will help residents navigate city resources associated with mitigating housing cost burdens; and •$500,000 additional for both Vision Zero and Safe Routes to School improvements outside the urban core for a total of $1 million in investment in 2019. Public Works will also be adding two positions to implement this request.

Since being in office, with great partnerships like the Montbello Leadership Cabinet, District 11 is proud to have brought in over $158 million in housing, safety, infrastructure, food access, parks, workforce and expanded city services. We continue to work with our community to bring the resources, amenities, and opportunities that the Montbello, Parkfield, and Green Valley Ranch neighborhoods need and deserve!Y

By Senator Angela Williams

Our state has an education problem: Colorado ranks 43rd

in the nation when it comes to per-pupil funding for K-12 education and 49th when it comes to our ability to bridge achievement gaps for students in poverty.

Students of color perform and grow at lower levels than their White and Asian peers across all grade levels and subject areas, according to results from the 2017 Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS). The results also show that Colorado currently has the second largest achievement gap in the country.

If we want to close the achievement gap and give every Coloradan a fair shot at success, then we need to get serious about funding full-day kindergarten.

Several studies have found that full-day kindergarten leads to better longterm and short-terms gains. In the short-term, full-day programs help students achieve better academic outcomes the following year and boosts self-confidence. In the long-term, full-day programs can help narrow the achievement gap because teachers can provide more personalized attention and better identify and address learning challenges. In fact, some of the greatest beneficiaries of full-day kindergarten are students from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to the National Education Association.

While the Colorado Department of Education doesn’t require school districts to offer full-day kindergarten programming, we’re fortunate that most do. But the state only covers a little more than half a day of programming, leaving school districts to find money for additional instruction by cutting other programs, finding outside funding, or charging parents tuition.

While the actual cost of full-day kindergarten varies by school district, most monthly tuitions vary from $200 to $400 according to the Denver Post.

The monthly tuition for full-day kindergarten in Denver Public Schools varies by family size and monthly pretax income, but ranges from $0 to $375 per student. That means that enrollment in a full-day kindergarten program in Denver can cost more than $3000 per child. That extra cost puts financial pressure on low-income and middle class families.

Those families who can’t afford full-day kindergarten have to worry about shifting work schedules and finding childcare. The average annual cost of child care for a four-year old was more than $18,000 for in-home care and more than $26,000 for center-based child care according to the 2017 Child Care Aware Report. That is a significant burden, forcing families to allocate a large portion of their income towards child care.

If Coloradans had voted to pass Initiative 73 in the midterm elections, an increase on income taxes for those earning more than $150,000 would have raised $1.6 billion for preschool, kindergarten, special education, and more.

Despite the outcome of the election, we still need to make this commitment to our children regardless of what happens at the ballot box.

An investment in our children is an investment in our economy and our future. The Economic Policy Institute and Committee for Economic Development found that there was a three dollar return for every dollar invested in early childhood education thanks to better grade retention rates and lower dropout rates later in life.

Full-day kindergarten shouldn’t just be a luxury available to those who can afford it. We – as parents, educators, and education advocates – have a responsibility to ensure that every child has a strong foundational background that sets them up to succeed throughout their life. Y Editor’s note: Angela Williams is a Colorado State Senator serving Senate District 33 which includes Montbello. Senator Williams can be reached at sen.williams.sd33@gmail.com.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

9

HAPPENINGS AROUND MONTBELLO

Montbello Residents Have Something To Say – A Report on Resident Perceptions of the Neighborhood

their responses while many older residents wanted the surveyors to read the questions and enter their responses. Some people responded that they are “over-surveyed” by too many people knocking on their doors. Some residents were not familiar with the MUSE and wondered if the paper could be delivered to their door each issue.

Among the respondents (English and Spanish speakers combined), 21.3 percent had lived in Montbello for 1 – 5 years, 20.5 percent had lived in the neighborhood 11 – 20 years, and almost 7 percent had lived in the community for 21 or more years. Fifty percent own their own home and 41 percent rent their homes. The remaining respondents were living with friends or relatives.

By Donna M. Garnett, Editor Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition

People have something to say. Just ask them.

The Results

Between Sept. 22 and Sept. 30, a team of 10 young people did just that – they asked residents what was on their minds about life in Montbello.

Following is the outcome of Montbello Organizing Committee’s 2018 biannual community survey that was funded, in part, by Steps To Success, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and RootED. Montbello Alive! – A community event celebrating the annual anniversary of Montbello’s annexation into Denver offered the perfect opportunity to kick off the survey. It was a beautiful fall day with neighbors showing up at the Montbello Campus for the annual 5K run and Fun Walk. The community FEASTival that followed featured community resources, games and activities for all ages, delicious food, and talented musicians - including Denver’s First Lady, Mary Louise Lee’s band. All in all, it was a great opportunity to talk with folks about their perceptions and feelings about Montbello.

As a follow-up to the questions posed in 2014 and 2016, residents were asked “From your perspective, what are the top 5 most significant problems or concerns facing the Montbello neighborhood today?” A list of issues that emerged in past surveys was provided with an option for survey-takers to write in other issues. Up to 5 responses could be included. At the top of the list were several of the same issues that emerged in previous surveys, issues that remain unresolved by leaders and government entities. Forty-three percent of respondents said the lack of an accessible Full-Service Grocery Store in the neighborhood is their highest concern. Other top issues included Crime (41 percent), Poorly Performing Schools (33 percent), Youth Violence (25 percent), and Not enough Affordable Housing (25 percent). English and Spanish speakers identified the same top five issues.

Other perceived issues of concern included Lack of Options for Youth (22 percent), Inadequate Transit System (21 percent), Gentrification (18 percent), Unsafe Walking/Biking (18 percent), Lack of Resources for Seniors (17 percent), Lack of Medical/Mental Health Services (18 percent), Too Many Fast Food Restaurants (16 percent), Too Many Liquor Stores (16 percent). Surprisingly, only 7 percent indicated that they thought there were too many marijuana facilities. Again, there were very few differences in the responses from English and Spanish speakers.

The Survey The survey instrument was developed by Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC) and is intended to update community organizations and leaders with specific questions posed to the community in 2014 and, again in 2016. Twelve questions were asked that ranged from “How long have you lived in Montbello?” to “What are the top 5 most significant problems or concerns facing the Montbello neighborhood today?” The questions were asked in English or Spanish and respondents could reply in English or Spanish. Respondents were able to enter their answers directly into a handheld device or, for those who were not comfortable with the technology, the surveyors recorded their answers directly into the device. With this technology, the responses were immediately recorded into the database for later analysis.

MONTBELLO RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ISSUES IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY

The Process

•Lack of a Full-Service Grocery Store (43%) •Crime (41%) Poorly Performing Schools (33%) •Youth Violence (25%) •Not Enough Affordable Housing (25%) •Lack of Options for Youth (22%) •Inadequate Transit (21%) •Unsafe Walking and Bicycling Conditions (18%) •Gentrification (18%) •Lack of Medical/Mental Health Services (18%) •Lack of Resources for Seniors (17%) •Too Many Fast Food Resources (16%) •Too Many Liquor Stores (16%)

Ten young people ranging in age from 18 years to 25 years were hired by MOC and were trained and supervised by Kiera Jackson of FaithBridge on techniques for canvassing and recording survey responses. The surveyors queried participants at Montbello Alive! and those who completed the survey received a $5 discount ticket to be used at any food vendor at the event.

On subsequent canvassing days, the surveyors knocked on doors in target sections of the community. While the process did not follow procedures associated with random-sampling, the targeting of specific blocks and residential areas was intended to reach a cross-section of the community. All houses within a 5-block radius of the Montbello Campus were canvassed, as well as, most homes in proximity to Oakland Elementary, Marie L. Greenwood Academy, Farrell B. Howell, and McGlone Academy. Residents at the Crossroads Apartments were also canvassed. These areas were selected as they represent the ethnic makeup of the community and also represent a large concentration of families with children (per the Denver Data Atlas).

At the conclusion of the visit, the surveyors gave respondents information about community resources, including a copy of the most recent MUSE. In all, 1,468 homes were contacted. Generally, residents were happy to take the survey and expressed gratitude that the instrument was available in Spanish as well as English. Younger respondents liked the option of entering

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

10

HAPPENINGS AROUND MONTBELLO Residents were also asked about their grocery shopping preferences, specifically, where do they do most of their food buying. Twenty-four percent of English-speaking residents indicated that they do their grocery shopping at the Walmart Boutique on Chambers and Green Valley Ranch Boulevard. Fifty percent said they shop for groceries in nearby Green Valley Ranch at the King Soopers or Walmart off of Tower Road; another 23 percent shop at other locations outside of the Far Northeast neighborhood. The last 3 percent said they shop at Save-A-Lot, 7-11 and other neighborhood convenience stores.

Another question related to where residents get information about community resources, services, or where to get help for themselves or their family.

The responses are informative and suggest avenues for reaching residents in the Montbello community. As may be expected, the majority of respondents said they get information through the Internet, specifically, Google and social media such as Facebook (28 percent).

However, 22 percent said they get their information from other sources such as friends, family, the newspaper and an equal number said they look to their doctor for information about community services and other forms of help. Among both English (13 percent) and Spanish (20 percent) speakers, residents look to their child’s school for information and help. Almost 12 percent get their information from Montbello Organizing Committee’s MUSE publication. Other places where people turn for help and information include one’s pastor, priest, or rabbi (about 10 percent); Councilwoman Gilmore’s Office (about 10 percent); and almost 10 percent dial 311.

The survey also included a question focused on health disparities. Does anyone in your household experience any of the following health conditions: high blood pressure, obesity or overweight, heart disease, depression, diabetes, kidney disease? These particular health issues can be addressed to a degree by better nutrition, diet, and physical activity.

Among the 154 English speaking respondents who indicated that someone in the household experiences one or more of these conditions, 51 percent experience high blood pressure, 32 percent have diabetes, 27 percent are overweight or obese, 20 percent suffer from depression, and 11 percent have heart disease. Among the Spanish-speaking respondents, 47 percent are overweight or obese, 32 percent have diabetes, 21 percent have depression, 16 percent have high blood pressure, and 16 percent have kidney disease.

Finally, residents were asked if they were intending to move out of the community within the next year and if so why? People are not planning to move out of Montbello – 70 percent of those who responded to the English version of the survey said they have no intention of moving out of the community while 85 percent of those who responded in Spanish don’t plan to move. Not surprisingly, the primary reason people who are planning to move are doing so because of the rising costs of renting or owning a home in the

neighborhood. Other reasons for leaving included high crime, lack of amenities, and getting a good offer on their home.

The last question on the survey gives some perspective as to why people are staying in the community. When asked “what do you like about the Montbello community,” nearly every respondent had something positive to say about the place where they live. Many talked about the friendliness of people, and the fact that the neighborhood is family-oriented. Many commented on the quiet, calm nature of Montbello and expressed appreciation for the diversity and inclusiveness that characterized this cohesive neighborhood.

Despite the high cost of housing in other parts of Denver, many feel that housing is still affordable here in the neighborhood.

For many, the answer was simply, “its home, it’s my home; it’s where my family has always been.”Y

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

11

HAPPENINGS AROUND MONTBELLO - MONTBELLO ALIVE 2018 • PHOTOS BY LIFESTYLE PHOTOS - VANESSA MARTINEZ

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

12

HAPPENINGS AROUND MONTBELLO - MONTBELLO ALIVE 2018 • PHOTOS BY LIFESTYLE PHOTOS - VANESSA MARTINEZ

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

13

VOICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Colorado Innovation Schools Act

By Tomi Amos, Executive Director NDIZ

In 2008, the state of Colorado passed the Innovation Schools Act allowing the creation of innovation schools across the state. Traditional district schools can apply for innovation status, giving them additional flexibility and autonomy over time, people, and money. The law also allows the creation of an Innovation Zone, or iZone, which is created by a cluster of innovation schools within DPS that share “common interests, such as geographical location or educational focus.”

The Northeast Denver Innovation Zone (NDIZ) is Denver Public School’s second and largest iZone serving more than 3,000 students in Northeast Denver. NDIZ serves Swigert International School, McAuliffe Manual and McAuliffe International middle schools, and Northfield High School – all of which are International Baccalaureate (IB) Denver Public Schools operating in Northeast Denver. The Zone is dedicated to empowering the community – students, staff, leaders, and families – by creating educator and communitydesigned learning communities, tailored to the needs of students and communities, and the adults who serve them. The Zone is its own nonprofit organization that will provide instructional support and oversight to Zone Schools and is governed by its own local board of parents, school representatives, and individuals living in each of the communities where NDIZ schools operate. NDIZ was approved by the Denver Board of Education last June and started operating at the start of this school year.

Tomi Amos, the Zone’s Executive Director, serves as the equivalent of an instructional and operational superintendent for the NDIZ schools. Tomi joins the Zone as a former teacher, school administrator and Colorado Department

of Education employee dedicated to supporting and developing school and district leaders serving low performing schools around the state. Tomi is charged with supporting the execution of the overall vision and strategy for NDIZ and will ensure that schools within the zone have the necessary operational and financial support to accomplish dramatic improvements in student achievement. As the Executive Director, Tomi is responsible for all aspects of NDIZ’s organizational health and will support the creation, monitoring, and improvement of network-wide systems that will ensure the success of the individual schools and the Zone structure. Tomi will support NDIZ’s strategic growth and other initiatives, oversee sound budget processes, and support each school’s value-driven professional culture and, in partnership with each School Principal, the achievement of the school’s academic goals.

NDIZ joins the Luminary Learning Network – DPS’s first Innovation Zone, and The Beacon Network – the third DPS Innovation Zone that was approved by the Denver Public School Board in October. The addition of future zones is dependent on schools identifying a collective need for another Zone, staff voting to approve the Zone and the DPS Board voting to approve the Zone.Y Editor’s note: For more information on NDIZ, visit Zone’s Website: www.NDIZ.org or contact Tomi Amos, Executive Director, Northeast Denver Innovation Zone at 720-29-.6446.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

14

VOICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD / VOCES EN EL BARRIO

Proposed “Public Charge” Rule Change Will Lead to Sick, Hungry Kids

By Caroline Corcoran and Meghan Treitz, MD, FAAP

Children are Colorado’s future, so we must provide every opportunity for them to succeed. Every child should have food to eat, a warm bed to sleep in, and regular check-ups and medical care, so they can come to school ready to learn and grow to be healthy, productive adults.

Access to those basic necessities is being threatened by a proposed change to immigration rules that would force millions of families to choose between the things they need and the people they love. The new rule, if it becomes official, would punish immigrants by making it possible to deny them green cards, or legal status, if they access public benefits they qualify for. Eligible immigrants use Medicaid, food assistance, and other public programs to help themselves and their families stay healthy and working, but those who continue to enroll may lose their opportunity to get legal status and could be deported. If this change is implemented, many families will disenroll from these critical programs to avoid potential separation. This means a poorer, sicker, hungrier, weaker state and country.

As a pediatrician and a teacher, we spend a lot of time with kids. Your kids. Your neighbors’ kids. Our community’s kids. And we cannot overstate how important these public programs are to their well-being. Over half of all children in Colorado are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), and over 200,000 receive other types of public assistance; these programs mean a lot to so many families. The Colorado Health Institute estimates 75,000 Coloradans would lose health insurance with this change, and 45,000 of those are children. That would double the uninsured rate among Colorado’s kids. A child with chronic asthma can’t thrive without medication, but he also can’t thrive without his mom. These programs keep roofs over our kids’ heads, food in their bellies, and ensure they can see the doctor when needed. Coloradans shouldn’t have to choose between their family’s health and keeping their family together.

Across the country, up to two million children could lose health coverage, and hundreds of thousands of children could fall into poverty. Moreover, the stress of this policy change and other anti-immigrant policies are taking a deep and irreversible toll on our children. We have already seen students having panic attacks in classrooms and emergency rooms because they’re afraid their parents will be taken away. Kids are showing up to school hungry, unable to concentrate or learn because they haven’t eaten in 24 hours after losing access to critical SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as “food stamps”) benefits. Families of mixed immigration statuses are pulling their children out of school, avoiding doctors’ offices and other community institutions, and facing impossible decisions about their future.

The health and education of our future leaders are being compromised already, but this rule change would take it so much further.

Children’s health and well-being will be compromised. Are we willing to let the federal government play favorites with our kids—who gets to live and thrive and who is expendable? If the answer is no, then we must stop this rule from being implemented. It is already causing irreversible harm, and we cannot afford to wait to act. We call on our legislators and other elected officials to take action against this attack on our children. We know Colorado’s future is bright because all our children have access to the programs and services they need to grow up healthy, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Y Editor’s note: Caroline Corcoran is a teacher at McGlone Academy in the Montbello neighborhood of Denver and has taught in public education for 10 years, and Meghan Treitz, MD, FAAP is a general pediatrician and President of the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

El Cambio Propuesto de la Regla de “Carga Pública” Conducirá a los Niños Enfermos y Hambrientos Por Caroline Corcoran and Meghan Treitz, MD, FAAP Traducida por: Marta Welch

L

os niños son el futuro de Colorado, por lo que debemos brindarles todas las oportunidades para que tengan éxito. Todos los niños deben tener comida para comer, una cama caliente para dormir, y revisiones médicas periódicas, para que puedan venir a la escuela listos para aprender y crecer para ser adultos saludables y productivos.

El acceso a esas necesidades básicas está siendo amenazado por un cambio propuesto a las reglas de inmigración que obligaría a millones de familias a elegir entre las cosas que necesitan y las personas que aman. La nueva regla, si se convierte en oficial, castigaría a los inmigrantes al permitirles negarles la tarjeta verde o el estatus legal, si acceden a los beneficios públicos para los que califican. Los inmigrantes elegibles usan Medicaid, asistencia alimentaria y otros programas públicos para ayudarse a sí mismos y a sus familias a mantenerse saludables y trabajando, pero aquellos que continúan inscritos pueden perder su oportunidad de obtener un estatus legal y pueden ser deportados. Si se implementa este cambio, muchas familias se darán de baja de estos programas críticos para evitar una posible separación. Esto significa un estado y país más pobre, más enfermo, más hambriento, más débil.

Como pediatra y maestra, pasamos mucho tiempo con los niños. Tus niños. Los hijos de tus vecinos. Los niños de nuestra comunidad. Y no podemos exagerar la importancia de estos programas públicos para su bienestar. Más de la mitad de todos los niños en Colorado están inscritos en Medicaid o CHIP (Programa de seguro de salud para niños), y más de 200,000 reciben otros tipos de asistencia pública; Estos programas significan mucho para muchas familias. El Instituto de Salud de Colorado estima que 75,000 Coloradenses perderían el seguro de salud con este cambio, y 45,000 de ellos son niños. Eso duplicaría la tasa de no asegurados entre los niños de Colorado. Un niño con asma crónica no puede prosperar sin medicamentos, pero tampoco puede prosperar sin su madre. Estos programas mantienen los techos sobre las cabezas de nuestros niños, la comida en sus barrigas y aseguran que puedan ver al médico cuando sea necesario. Los Coloradenses no deberían tener que elegir entre la salud de su familia y mantener a su familia unida.

En todo el país, hasta dos millones de niños podrían perder la cobertura de salud, y cientos de miles de niños podrían caer en la pobreza. Además, el estrés de este cambio de política y otras políticas contra los inmigrantes están teniendo un costo profundo e irreversible en nuestros niños. Ya hemos visto a estudiantes que tienen ataques de pánico en las aulas y salas de emergencia porque temen que se lleven a sus padres. Los niños asisten a la escuela con hambre, no pueden concentrarse o aprender porque no han comido en 24 horas después de perder el acceso a los beneficios críticos del SNAP (Programa de Asistencia de Nutrición Suplementaria, también conocido como “cupones de alimentos”). Las familias con estatus migratorio mixto están sacando a sus hijos de la escuela, evitando las oficinas de los médicos y otras instituciones comunitarias, y enfrentando decisiones imposibles sobre su futuro. La salud y la educación de nuestros futuros líderes ya están en peligro, pero este cambio de reglas lo llevaría mucho más lejos.

La salud y el bienestar de los niños se verán comprometidos. ¿Estamos dispuestos a dejar que el gobierno federal juegue favoritos con nuestros hijos, quién puede vivir y prosperar y quién es prescindible? Si la respuesta es no, debemos detener la implementación de esta regla. Ya está causando un daño irreversible, y no podemos darnos el lujo de esperar para actuar. Hacemos un llamado a nuestros legisladores y otros funcionarios electos para que tomen medidas contra este ataque contra nuestros niños. Sabemos que el futuro de Colorado es brillante porque todos nuestros niños tienen acceso a los programas y servicios que necesitan para crecer sanos, y no lo tendríamos de otra manera.Y Caroline Corcoran es una maestra en McGlone Academy en el vecindario de Montbello en Denver y ha enseñado en la educación pública durante 10 años, y Meghan Treitz, MD, FAAP es pediatra general y Presidenta del Capítulo de Colorado de la Academia Americana de Pediatría.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

15

VOCES EN EL BARRIO / VOICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

El Corazon De Las Escuelas De Primaria Esta En Montbello

By Maricruz Herrera

D

urante los últimos cuatro aňos, me he involucrado como padre en una escuela que ha conseguido un gran cambio en la vida de mis hijos y se ha convertido en un aspecto fundamental para la vida de mi familia.

Esta escuela se llama Oakland Elementary y se encuentra localizada en el vecindario de Montbello.

Me encantan los maestros, en especial la maestra Suarez. La conozco desde hace tres aňos. Desde el primer d¡a mi hijo ha conectado emocionalmente con ella, hasta el punto que puede expresarse por si mismo y sentir que su voz es importante. Este sentir es igual para todos sus compañeros. El resultado de esta relación es un ambiente donde el aprendizaje se disfruta y tiene grandes resultados.

Oakland se especializa en ayudar a los estudiantes en todos sus aspectos humanos y ha invertido grandes esfuerzos en la salud mental y bienestar de todos los alumnos. Este aspecto ha sido un valor por el que la escuela apostό desde el principio hace ya cinco aňos.

Durante los últimos cinco aňos, Oakland ha trabajado con gran esfuerzo y dedicación para convertirse en un referente en la comunidad de Montbello y ha pasado de ser una escuela en rojo, lo cual significaba el cierre inminente, a ser una escuela en verde, lo cual significa que la escuela se ha superado y cumple las espectativas académicas impuestas por el distrito.

Este ha sido un gran éxito para una comunidad donde escasean los recursos educativos y económicos. No es fácil encontrar otra escuela en la ciudad de Denver donde haya maestros que eligen continuar en una escuela de estas características durante un periodo prolongado de aňos y sobretodo luchando contra todo pronόstico.

Esta son las razones por las que eleg¡ traer a esta escuela a mis hijos a pesar de las circunstancias. Siempre crei en los maestros y el personal educativo. Pero sobretodo por todo el empeňo y el trabajo que han invertido para que esta escuela consiga todos los logros obtenidos.

Quisiera aprovechar la oportunidad para agradecer a la escuela de Oakland, a todo el personal educativo y en especial a la directora Lisa Mahannah por no rendirse y por su fe en la comunidad y sus niños.Y

During the past five years, Oakland Elementary has worked with great effort and dedication to become a leader in the community of Montbello and has gone from being a school in “red”, which meant the imminent closure, to be a “green” school, which means that the school has passed and meets the academic expectations imposed by the district.

This has been a great success for a community where educational and economic resources are scarce. It is not easy to find another school in the city of Denver where there are teachers who choose to continue in a school of these characteristics for a prolonged period of years and especially fighting against all prognostics.

These are the reasons why I choose to bring this school to my children despite the circumstances. I always believed in teachers and educational staff. But above all, for all the effort and work they have invested so that this school accomplishes all of their achievements.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Oakland Elementary School, all the educational staff and especially Principal Lisa Mahannah, for not giving up and for her faith in the community and its children.Y

The Heart of Elementary Schools Is In Montbello

By Maricruz Herrera

D

uring the last four years, I have been involved as a parent in a school that has made a great change in the lives of my children and has become a fundamental aspect of my family’s life.

This school is called Oakland Elementary and is located in the Montbello neighborhood.

I love the teachers, especially teacher Suarez. I’ve known her for three years. From the first day, my son connected emotionally with her, to the point where he can express himself and feel that his voice is important. This feeling is the same for all his classmastes. The result of this relationship is an environment where learning is enjoyed and has great results.

Oakland Elementary specializes in helping students in all their human aspects and has invested great efforts in the mental health and well-being of all students. This aspect has been a value which the school deliberately set since the beginning, five years ago.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

16

VOICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Child (WSCC). This model focuses on 10 components that support the wellness of a child in school (see image). Using this model, A360 •prioritizes daily physical education, •serves six to eight different fruit and vegetable offerings through its salad bar and snack program with Denver Public Schools (DPS), •offers dedicated socialemotional and mental health supports.

Social-emotional and mental health supports include daily Crew blocks (opportunity for relationship and classroom culture building), a four-day-a-week School Psychologist, and three days a week Masters of Social Work graduate students in partnership with University of Denver. The school also created a Whole Child Supports Manager position, focusing specifically on both behavioral and academic Tier II supports through targeted interventions tailored to meet individual student’s needs. Additionally, the school hosts a full family engagement calendar and has a classroom management system grounded in positive narration and restorative practices. While this article only highlights a few of the components that the school champions, these are some of the most impactful on its student body.

A360 continues to prove a critical piece of research to be true - the healthier students are in school, the more successful in their academic performance they will be. This is part of the recipe to continually push both academic growth and proficiency of every student. The school is a Meets Expectations or Green school in the eyes of both DPS and Colorado Department of Education (CDE), due to its increase demands in both Literacy and Math. The school continues to close academic gaps and increases its proficiency scores year over year.

A crucial and influential piece of the WSCC model is community engagement. Academy 360 is fostering the Montbello Community Collective by sharing its spaces with several community organizations, creating partnerships and opportunities to share resources, serving both A360 families and the greater Montbello community. Currently, Families Forward Resource Center, Montbello Organizing Committee, Children’s Farms in Action, Colorado Black Arts Movement (CBAM) and Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization (CLLARO) all office at 12000 East 47th Avenue. Hundreds of Montbello residents and those serving Montbello have congregated and collaborated within the walls at A360 over the last couple years.

Given the school’s health and wellness efforts and the evolution of the Collective, A360 is a featured destination on the “FreshLo Healthy Living Walkable Loop” envisioned for Montbello over the next three years. What was once 20,000 square feet of asphalt on the west side of the property is now a haven for open, active playspaces and accessible and free healthy food. Who says you need grass to grow food? The school has 12 raised beds growing food in the spring and summer months; food is given to the weekly No Cost Grocery Program in partnership with Denver Food Rescue where hundreds of pounds of food is shared with community. All are welcome every Thursday at 3:30 p.m., year-round and rain, snow, or shine.

In spring 2019, the school will break ground on its intergenerational playground, thanks to the Colorado Health Foundation. This new feature will include a fitness landscape where 4-year olds through 94-year olds can engage in physical activity together as families. Y

Montbello Elementary School Changes The Narrative Of How A School Serves Its Community

By Becky McLean, Director, Wellness & Operations at Academy 360

A

long 47th Avenue, near the District 5 police station and the neighborhood post office is a random, gray four-story office building. From street view, the facility is unassuming, but inside resides a community of 200 students engaging in rigorous academics with a foundational focus on health and wellness – from its youngest students in preschool through 5th graders grappling with becoming teenagers.

Academy 360 Elementary School (A360) has been serving the Montbello community since August 2013 using a Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) model called Whole School, Whole Community, Whole

Editor’s note: If you are interested in learning more about the school, its academics, and how it champions health and wellness, call (303) 5741360 to schedule a tour or visit their website at www.academy-360.org.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

17

RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY

FaithBridge – Churches and Schools Working Together for Better Education

By Kiera Jackson “It has always been the responsibility of the church to broaden horizons, challenge the status quo, and break the moors when necessary.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

FaithBridge is a faith-based non-profit, founded on the premise that if our children have access to a safe and highquality education today, they will have access to a bigger and brighter future tomorrow. Our organization works to mobilize and support the faith community to improve education in Colorado. We believe that by mobilizing the power our communities already possess, all can lead the way toward educational excellence within their homes, schools, and communities.

As people of faith, we look to heroes from our past who led the way towards social change like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said that justice is indivisible, and we believe that our faith is indivisible from justice.

Improving education in Colorado for ALL students requires that ALL be at the table. It means establishing our churches as pillars in our communities once again to serve as the strongholds of justice. We see this work no differently than feeding the hungry or sheltering the homeless. This work, for us, is a ministry.

Across the state and within our very neighborhood in Montbello, we have schools and communities that have been neglected, mistreated, and silenced all while serving kids with little resources, with little funding, and with little flexibility to do the work that they, as school leaders and teachers, have been called to do. We enter into this work with great love, and from this great love comes concern for what we do not see. We do not see our black and brown students graduating at the same rates as other students, we do not see the same facilities, same resources, or even the access to the quality education needed to be successful.

We enter into this work with a heart of reconciliation knowing that as we do this work for our students, that we do so through building bridges, repairing relationships, and refocusing our efforts towards improving education for our students.

Lastly, we enter into this work to pursue justice because we are commanded to. Not for titles, not for recognition, not for any worldly gain, but because we are commanded to care for those around us. Please join us in this movement as we work to improve education in Colorado. We do this work by giving tools and supports needed to those within our churches to advocate and elevate their issues. We help create education experts within our church congregations, as a ministry, to take on systems of injustice within their neighborhoods, school districts, and even statewide. Y For more information, visit our website at www.faithbridgeco.org You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you’d like to learn more or invite us to do this work within your church, email james@faithbridgejames@faithbridgeco.org.

Editor’s note: Kiera Jackson is a lifetime resident of Montbello and is the Director of Operations for Faith Bridge.

FaithBridge - Iglesias y Escuelas Trabajando Juntas para Una Mejor Educación Por Kiera Jackson Traducido por: Marta Welch “Siempre ha sido la responsabilidad de la iglesia de ampliar horizontes, desafiar lo convencional y romper los páramos cuando necesario”.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

FaithBridge es una organización sin fines de lucro basada en la fe, fundada en la premisa de que si nuestros hijos tienen acceso a una educación segura y de alta calidad hoy, tendrán acceso a un futuro más grande y más brillante mañana.

Nuestra organización trabaja para movilizar y apoyar a la comunidad de fe para mejorar la educación en Colorado.

Creemos que al movilizar el poder que ya poseen nuestras comunidades, todos pueden liderar el camino hacia la excelencia educativa dentro de sus hogares, escuelas y comunidades.

Como personas de fe, buscamos héroes de nuestro pasado que abrieron el camino hacia el cambio social como el Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. El dijo que la justicia es indivisible y creemos que nuestra fe es indivisible de la justicia. Mejorar la educación en Colorado para TODOS los estudiantes requiere que TODOS estén en la mesa.

Significa establecer nuestras iglesias como pilares en nuestras comunidades, una vez más, para servir como fortalezas de la justicia. Vemos este trabajo no de manera diferente a alimentar a los hambrientos o albergar a las personas sin hogar. Este trabajo, para nosotros, es un ministerio.

En todo el estado y dentro de nuestro vecindario en Montbello, tenemos escuelas y comunidades que han sido descuidadas, maltratadas y silenciadas mientras servían a los niños con pocos recursos, con pocos fondos y con poca flexibilidad para hacer el trabajo que ellos, como líderes y maestros de las escuelas, han sido llamados a hacer. Entramos en este trabajo con gran amor, y de este gran amor surge la preocupación por lo que no vemos. No vemos que nuestros estudiantes negros y marrones se gradúen al mismo ritmo que otros estudiantes, no vemos las mismas instalaciones, los mismos recursos, ni siquiera el acceso a la educación de calidad necesaria para tener éxito.

Entramos en este trabajo con un corazón de reconciliación sabiendo que al hacer este trabajo para nuestros estudiantes, lo hacemos a través de la construcción de puentes, la reparación de las relaciones y el reenfoque de nuestros esfuerzos para mejorar la educación de nuestros estudiantes.

Por último, entramos en este trabajo para buscar la justicia porque se nos manda. No por títulos, no por reconocimiento, no por cualquier ganancia mundana, sino porque se nos ordena cuidar a aquellos que nos rodean. Únase a nosotros en este movimiento mientras trabajamos para mejorar la educación en Colorado. Hacemos este trabajo brindando las herramientas y los apoyos necesarios a aquellos dentro de nuestras iglesias para abogar y elevar sus problemas. Ayudamos a crear expertos en educación dentro de las congregaciones de nuestras iglesias, como un ministerio, para asumir sistemas de injusticia en sus vecindarios, distritos escolares e incluso en todo el estado. Y Visite a nuestro sitio de web en www.faithbridgeco.org También nos puede encontrar en Facebook, Instagram y Twitter. Si desea obtener más inforinformación o invitarnos a hacer este trabajo dentro de su iglesia, por favor comuníquese con James@faithbridgeco.org.

La Srta. Jackson es una residente de toda la vida en Montbello y es la Directora de Operaciones para Faith Bridge.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

18

RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY

Strengthening Families 10-14 Program in Montbello

Steps to Success has a vision of “a self-empowered community that we are proud of” and the organization has been diligently working towards this vision with a goal of reducing youth violence in Montbello since 2012. A key part of the Steps to Success strategy has been to consistently and conveniently offer the Strengthening Families 10-14 program to community residents since 2014, with over 200 families completing the program over the past five years.

Comprehensive data collection efforts in both 2013 and 2016 reveal that some of the most significant risk factors for youth violence in Montbello are “Family Management Problems” and “Family Conflict”. Risk factors are predictors of problem behavior, and Steps to Success data analysis revealed that these two risk factors were elevated in Montbello. The Strengthening Families 10-14 program was chosen by community members to provide proven strategies for addressing family conflict and family management problems to families raising middle school children age 10-14.

Strengthening Families 10-14 is a seven-week program that Steps to Success runs in various faith-based and school-based settings throughout Montbello. The class is offered in both English and Spanish, with a meal, childcare and an $85 gift card provided for those who complete at least six out of the seven sessions. Class sessions begin with a family dinner, then parents and youth separate for the first hour to work on skills from the curriculum, and then come back together for the second hour to practice these skills together. Parents are taught to clarify expectations based on child development norms of adolescent substance use, use appropriate disciplinary practices, manage strong emotions when interacting with their children, and use effective communication skills. Children are taught refusal skills for dealing with peer pressure and other personal and social interactional skills. The sessions are led by three-person teams and include an average of eight to ten families per session.

The program has been heavily researched and has been proven to reduce substance use and depression among youth that participate in the program.

Montbello parents that have completed the program have lauded the program’s ability to increase parenting skills and report that families are often closer and communicate better after completing the program.

Steps to Success will offer two final classes for 2018, both at John H. Amesse Elementary, and both in Spanish. One session will run on Monday evenings from Oct. 29 through Dec. 17, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a second session running on Tuesday evenings at the same time from Oct. 30 through Dec. 18.

Families interested in sessions offered in Spanish should call Maria Alcocer at (720) 675-4461 for more information. Those families interested in sessions offered in English, or partners interested in hosting a class, should call Site Coordinator Angelia Baker at (720) 541-6521.Y

Denver Protective Services Investigates Reports of Abuse and Neglect of Seniors Every year, thousands of older adults are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, while others struggle to adequately care for themselves.

Perpetrators of abuse and neglect can be loved ones, individuals in a position of trust as well as strangers. In Colorado, more than 16,000 reports of adult abuse and neglect are received by Adult Protection Services each year, and Denver receives nearly 2,000 reports. Victims include older adults, many of them over the age of 70, and adults 18 years of age or older who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sadly, many incidents of abuse and neglect go unreported and it is believed that only one of every five incidents are brought to the attention of an investigative authority.

In Colorado, mistreatment refers to an act (or omission of an act) that threatens the health, safety or welfare of an at-risk adult, or that exposes the adult to a situation or condition that poses an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury. Mistreatment includes self-neglect, caregiver neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and exploitation.

It is the role of the Denver Human Services’ Adult Protective Services (APS) team to investigate reports of abuse and neglect of both at-risk seniors and other at-risk adults who have a diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability. APS collaborates with the Denver Police Department, the Denver City Attorney’s Office and the Denver’s District Attorney’s Office to investigate these reports.

Anyone can file a report of abuse or neglect, however, certain professionals – known as mandatory reporters – are required by state law to report to local law enforcement any suspected physical abuse, sexual abuse, caretaker neglect and exploitation of at-risk elders 70 years and older, and of at-risk adults 18 and older with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD).

Please visit the Colorado Department of Human Services website to understand who qualifies as a mandatory reporter and what the requirements are for reporting.

In Denver, these reporters must contact the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000 within 24 hours of observing or discovering the abuse or neglect. However, if the concerns reported pertain solely to self-neglect, mandatory reporters can connect with the APS Hotline at 720-944-4DHS (4347), 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

All other community members who are not identified as mandatory reporters are urged to connect with the APS Hotline at 720-944-4DHS (4347) to report concerns of abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect. These reports also should be made within 24 hours of observation or discovery.Y Editor’s note: For more information, visit https://www.denvergov.org/conhttps://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-human-services/programs/adults-andseniors/adult-protection-services.html. seniors/adult-protection-services.html.

ELDER ABUSE OR MISTREATMENT Signs of mistreatment include: •Multiple bruises that are not consistent with a fall •Black eyes, slap marks, kick marks, grasp marks and fingertip bruising •Burns •Fractures non-consistent with falls •Stench of urine or feces •Signs of malnutrition or over=feeding •Administration of inappropriate drugs •Adult is fearful for life or not wanting to get abuser in trouble

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

19

RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY

Denver Preschool Program Extends Quality Improvement Resources To All Preschool Classrooms The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) is expanding its Quality Improvement (QI) Program to include all preschool classrooms beginning with the 2018-2019 school year through the 2020-2021 school year.

This quality expansion will provide preschool programs with the professional support they need to help 3year-olds succeed in the classroom, now giving preschoolers two years of high-quality preschool to prepare them for kindergarten. This marks the first time in the nonprofit’s decade-long history that QI resources will be available to all preschool classrooms at DPP-participating schools located in the City and County of Denver.

The suggestion to broaden DPP’s QI service area came from DPP’s coaching and rating teams, as well as preschool directors who called attention to the unmet needs in younger preschool classrooms.

“At its core, DPP’s mission is to increase access to high quality preschool to Denver’s preschoolers,” said Jennifer Landrum, president and CEO

of the Denver Preschool Program. “One way we do this is by providing 4year-old programs with quality improvement resources. Extending our Quality Improvement Program to 3-year-old classrooms through the 20202021 school year will give many children in Denver two years of high-quality preschool, which we hope will mean even more kids are ready to succeed in kindergarten when they turn 5.”

Although tuition assistance remains limited to Denver families with a 4year-old enrolled in a participating program in the year before kindergarten, the QI expansion will positively impact all preschool students.

DPP’s QI Program includes professional one-on-one coaching, funding for preschool curricula or classroom learning materials, financial awards for proving a commitment to high quality teaching, DPP T.E.A.C.H.® and CDA™ scholarship eligibility and more. As part of the expansion, DPP will also increase the number of Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) observations conducted in preschool classrooms. DPP has used CLASS® since 2013 to measure the effectiveness of teacher-child interactions, which research suggests are critical to high quality early education.

“I’m grateful to live in a community that is choosing to prioritize its preschool students and the teachers who support their early learning,” said Renee Williams, an early childhood educator and director of Christ Lutheran Early Childhood Center. “Denver is one of the few major U.S. cities that invests in preschool tuition for children in their year before kindergarten and in the quality improvement of preschool classrooms through the Denver Preschool Program.”

This expansion will make QI resources available to approximately 200 classrooms of 3-year-olds, in addition to 550 classrooms of 4-year-olds that DPP predicts it will serve annually.Y Editor’s Note: There are 16 Denver Preschool Program sites in Montbello’s 80239 zip code. To see if your 3 or 4 year-old child is eligible, visit www.dpp.org/find-a-preschool-app.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

20

SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION

Free and Appropriate Education for All Students

By Donna Garnett

The classroom is bustling with activity when I walk in. I am greeted by a smiling student – a young man eager to find out why I am in his classroom. As I venture into the room, I see adults working with students in small groups. Some students are working independently while a couple are “doing their own thing.” Not unlike any of the other classrooms in the community that I have visited. Except, the students are part of the special education program at Collegiate Prep Academy located at 5290 Kittredge Street. These students have multiple disabilities which is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) term used to define a combination of disabilities that causes severe educational needs requiring multiple special education programs.

Over the next hour, I spend time with the teacher, Dialis De Quesada, who works with the thirteen 9th – 12 grade students who comprise this classroom.

The classroom is also staffed by two paraprofessionals and various therapists (occupational, speech, physical therapy, etc.) who come and go throughout the school day. Students experience a variety of disabilities ranging from physical, behavioral, mental, and emotional. The primary goal of their education is to prepare each student to live as independently as possible and connect the student with the community.

I am visiting this classroom at the suggestion of a parent whose child has benefited from his education at this school. He was the student who greeted me when I came in the room. His mom reached out to the MUSE to see if we might help identify opportunities in the community where her son could get involved. He shows some interest in gardening so we have referred them to Children’s Farms in Action to volunteer in the spring at Montbello Urban Farm.

During my visit, I talk with paraprofessional, Mary Jo Campbell, who has been a para in DPS for almost 10 years. Her duties range from feeding students, changing diapers, taking kids to the bathroom, conducting learning activities. Her favorite activities are the weekly cooking and baking classes she conducts with some of the students. The students bake cookies and brownies and then sell them to other students in the high school. Their profits are used to buy more supplies to make more cookies. Entrepreneurs in the making. I ask Ms. Campbell about the biggest challenges faced by paraprofessionals. Her answer -- not enough resources, not enough qualified paraprofessionals, and lack of parental involvement. Sounds like other schools I know.

Toward the end of my visit, I sit with Ms. Jennifer Woolf, an occupational therapist who is working with her client in the classroom today. O.T.s work with students to give them functional skills to get along in everyday life.

Employed by a private company she is paid through Medicaid. While special education laws require that schools provide free and appropriate educational and support services, the schools are overwhelmed with the lack of O.T. support and many families must look to other sources to address their children’s needs. I ask Ms. Woolf what she hopes for her students. “Every child in this room can be a functional member of their community. It is my job to help them realize their potential.”

I leave the classroom uplifted and hopeful for these students whose teachers clearly care deeply about them and are committed to giving them the best education possible. Isn’t that what all teachers should ultimately care about?Y

Open Enrollment for Health Care Coverage in 2019 – December 15 is Last Day to Sign up for Coverage Beginning January 1, 2019 It’s Open Enrollment time and Connect for Health Colorado is the only place where people in Colorado who buy their own health insurance can get financial help to lower the monthly cost. Customers can compare side by side all the health insurance plans available to them. Having health insurance helps protect you and your family’s health and finances. If you get diagnosed with a chronic condition, like diabetes and hypertension, or get in an accident, health insurance can help protect you from high, unexpected costs. It’s very important to shop and look at the whole cost of coverage, like the deductibles, copayments, whether your doctor is in network, and if you have medications. You may even be able to get lower copayments, prescriptions, and deductibles.

There are many ways you can enroll. You can go online at ConnectforHealthCO.com and apply on your own, you can call 855-7526749, and the client service center can do the whole application on your behalf. You can also find in-person help near you by searching on the website. No matter how you prefer to apply, there’s someone available to help you.

When you apply through Connect for Health Colorado, you will need to provide the names, address, family size, and expected future income for your household. When you apply, it is recommended that you bring your paystubs to help estimate your family’s future income.

Make sure when you’re shopping that you are at the right website, which is Connectforhealthco.com. Other sites may look similar but you must buy through Connect for Health Colorado to get help. They are the official health insurance marketplace for Colorado and all the health insurance they sell is certified to protect your health and finances.

Deadlines are coming up. December 15 is the last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2019. You must choose insurance by December 15 to avoid a gap in coverage. The last day to apply for 2019 health insurance is January 15, 2019.

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

21

Colorful Stories – Denver Urban Spectrum Hosts A Tribute To Women Of Color Five amazing women and their stories of tribulation, courage, and triumph were honored Nov. 3 at the Renaissance Hotel when Denver Urban Spectrum presented Colorful Stories – See me, Hear me. More than 300 people gathered to hear the stories of women who have experienced personal tragedy and trials that changed the course of their lives. Incredibly, each of these women rose above their experiences to create positive impact on the lives of others.

Part of their healing has been the telling and re-telling of the stories that changed their lives forever.

Those who attended the tribute were riveted to stories in their own words, as the women being honored told of their experiences that ranged from institutional racism, to public safety, to health disparities, to political engagement, to elder abuse. After each woman recounted her story, she was joined on stage by a local expert on the subject who spoke briefly about the topic and answered questions regarding resources aimed at addressing the challenges associated with those topics.

The luncheon was emceed and moderated by award winning journalist Tamara Banks. First Lady of Denver, Mary Louise Lee served as the honorary chair.

Following are snippets from each of the stories.

Carlotta Walls LaNier was the youngest of the Little Rock Nine, a group of AfricanAmerican students who, in 1957, were the first Black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the first Black female to graduate from Central High School. In 1999, LaNier and the rest of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bill Clinton. Determined to graduate from high school, LaNier endured humiliating insults and actions in that quest, telling the audience that she was spat on every single day from her first day until she graduated.

On June 9, 1993, Ollie Marie Phason’s 6-year-old son Broderick Bell was hit by a random gunshot.

This fateful event marked what came to be known as Denver’s “Summer of Violence.” While Phason’s son survived, so many others did not during the tumultuous times that followed.

Two months prior, she had lost her father to a senseless act of violence and shortly after her son’s shooting found out that her young daughter had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by a family member. Through her faith in God, she has persevered and will soon have released a book she has written on the power of prayer.

Denver playwright and actress, Rhonda Jackson was diagnosed in 1994 with Lupus, an incurable, debilitating, auto-immune disease. As the Community Outreach and Education Coordinator at Lupus Colorado, she is dedicated to educating the community about Lupus and prays for continuous research to find better solutions, better therapies and one day a cure. She recently wrote a play, Crying Wolf...Stories of the Lupus Warriors. In her play, characters wrestle with the indignities, pain, and isolation that they experience as they strive to reinvent the lives they once led.

Rhonda Fields entered politics after her work as a victims’ rights advocate in the wake of the murders of her son, Javad Fields, and his fiancée, Vivian Wolfe. The two Colorado State University graduates were murdered on June 20, 2005, less than a week before Javad and Vivian planned to testify as a key witness in the murder of Javad’s best friend. Fields is a former member of the Colorado House of Representatives and is, currently, a member of the state Senate representing District 29. She is also the founder of the Fields Wolfe Memorial Fund.

On Nov. 3, 2008, Ruth Boyd, an 80-year old mother, grandmother and great grandmother was beaten to death in her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her murder was never solved. Her daughter, Denver Urban Spectrum publisher, Rosalind J. Harris, has established the Ruth Boyd Elder Abuse Foundation to join the effort to prevent abuse against elders. Harris looks forward to the upcoming release of “The Story of Ruth” and is also preparing to open a bed and breakfast that will capture the warm, loving essence her mother left behind.

“Big Ma’s Place” will be a cherished establishment where people can gather and be well.

The Ruth Boyd Elder Abuse Foundation plans to provide safety resources and financial assistance for elders in need.

Among the resources provided will be electronic medical alert devices for people who cannot afford them.Y Editor’s note: The Colorful Stories videos are available to view on YouTube.

For more information on the Ruth Boyd Elder Abuse Foundation or become involved, email Denver Urban Spectrum Publisher Rosalind Harris at publishpublisher@urbanspectrum.net or call 303-292-6446.

Photos by Cecile Perrin Sweetz Photography

MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition - November/December 2018

22

November/December 2018 (November 2018) November 29: 10 a.m. to Noon Montbello Office Hours with Councilwoman Gilmore Arie P. Taylor Building Council District 11 Office, 4685 Peoria St. Suite 215 (Denver) For more information, call 720- 337-7711 or email Magen.Elenz@denvergov.org

(December 2018) December 4: 4 to 6 p.m. Steps To Success Community Board Meeting Montbello Recreation Center 15555 E. 53rd Ave. (Denver) For more information, email Dave at David.bechhoefer@colorado.edu December 6: 10 a.m. to Noon Montbello Office Hours with Councilwoman Gilmore Arie P. Taylor Building Council District 11 Office. 4685 Peoria St. Suite 215, (Denver) For more information, call 720-337-7711 or email Magen.Elenz@denvergov.org December 6: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Montbello 20/20 Community Meeting Montbello Recreation Center 15555 E 53rd Ave (Denver) For more information, email Montbello2020rno@gmail.com December 7: 6 to 9 p.m. 4th Annual District 11 Holiday Party Panasonic Building – 6144 N Panasonic Way, (Denver) Bring your family and friends and join Councilwoman Gilmore for the 4th Annual Holiday Party with live music from the SN3 band and vocalist Ellice Zoe, kids crafts and games, free food and much more! Everyone is welcome and it’s a free, family-friendly event. RSVP to Melissa.Sotelo@denvergov.org or call 720-337-7711 December 8: 10 a.m. to Noon Green Valley Ranch Office Hours with Councilwoman Gilmore Green Valley Ranch Library 4856 Andes Ct. (Denver) For more information, call 720-337-7711 or email Magen.Elenz@denvergov.org

If your organization has a Save The Date activity to be listed in the 2019 January/February issue of MUSE, send details to montbellonews@gmail.com.

Thanks For All You Do To Support The Montbello Community In this season of thankfulness and generous giving, we want to express our thanks to the readers, writers, and sponsors of the MUSE. Thank you to those who read and share this humble publication and to those who give us feedback on how to make the publication better, more meaningful, and more accessible. We are also grateful for the privilege of telling your stories and sharing your perspectives about Montbello. Those of you who take the time to contribute written articles are especially dear to our hearts. Living generously seems to be a theme at the end of 2018 – a theme being embraced by churches, some nonprofits, and, even a few corporations. In short, the meaning is intended to inspire us to amplify the impact of our gifts (small and large) on the causes and people that we care about. We can do that with our gifts of time, money, and countless simple ways of comforting others. Every issue of the MUSE is intended to shine the light on the many and varied efforts in Montbello that reflect living generously. Help us identify more of those efforts to highlight in 2019. All of us – from the editor, to the publisher, the ads manager, the translator, the distributor, the bookkeeper – who make the MUSE a reality every other month, wish you all the best for a joyful and peaceful holiday season. May you and your loved ones experience the generosity of spirit that surrounds us all.

Peace and love!