IN OUR APRIL EDITION ~ A force to be reckoned with In Colorado Springs, a small-but-talented cadre of women firefighters prove that this isn't just a man's career.
MANY VOICES ... ONE COMMUNITY • INAUGURAL EDITION • VOL. 1, ISSUE 1
Everybody
welcome Enter the world of Fannie Mae Duncan, Colorado Springs’ godmother of inclusion
'Grit and grace. That was Fannie Mae.' —Kay Esmiol, Fannie Mae Duncan biographer
By Regan Foster
The Southeast Express
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s she wrote in her memoir, it started with a letter. “Dear Fannie Mae Duncan, “We’d like to borrow your life.” From that salutation, penned by a group of enthusiastic middle-school students and sent to a vanguard of Colorado Springs’ arts, culture and civil rights, grew an original play. From the play grew a memoir. Following the memoir came a documentary. And anchoring it all, a friendship Continued as FANNIE MAE page 4
COURTESY PHOTO/THE COLORADO WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME
Fannie Mae Duncan
NNIE MAE
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Fannie Mae Duncan poses with two police officers at her music venue the Cotton Club. Duncan forged a tight bond with the police during her decades owning the iconic music venue.
A new voice for Southeast
Standing-room-only crowd cheers Express launch their neighborhoods while building a strong sense of community.” — Mayor John Suthers “There has been a perception of Southeast and people have been imposing their stories on Southeast. Yolanda Avila Now, with
PHOTO BY BRYAN OLLER
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers addresses the crowd at the Southeast Express launch event, Jan. 30 at the Sand Creek Library.
this newspaper … we get to tell our story. We’re gonna be true: We’re gonna talk about the good, the bad,
INSIDE
A crowd some 125 people strong gathered Jan. 30 at the Sand Creek Library to celebrate the launch of the Southeast Express, and to hear from featured speakers. Here is some of what they had to say: “Now more than ever, it’s vital that Southeast Colorado Springs be connected to the news and information that directly impacts
the ugly and the wonderful tapestry of all that is going on here.” – City Councilor Yolanda Avila
“This was not done by any one person or any one organization or any one fiefdom. This was done by a community of people: the newspaper, all the progress that we’ve made, all the sacrifices we’ve Taj Stokes made. … This is an opportunity for our community to start to share its voice and I’m so supportive of that.” – Thrive Network Executive Director Taj Stokes To watch a full video a photo slideshow of the event, visit Southeast.Express.
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Making the court-side page 20 connection
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Inspiration from the past while looking to the future
F
rom talking to people who actually knew her, reading her memoirs and watching an exquisitely crafted PBS documentary, I feel like I now know the late, great Fannie Mae Duncan as well as one can know the departed. More importantly, I’ve come to love Regan Foster and admire her. What a remarkable human being she was! Without question, a force of nature. Who else but an absolute vanguard could go from being the granddaughter of slaves to a self-made millionaire? Who else would do so when social norms insisted that, based strictly on gender and skin color, she would not be an entrepreneur? Who else would have the moxie to look the chief of police in the eye and tell him, when he insisted that she ban white patrons from her iconic jazz club, “I check ’em for age. Nobody tol’ me I had to check ’em for color”? I mention all of this because Fannie Mae is as much a model for me right now as she was the inspiration for our cover story. She broke the bonds of social expectations and rewrote her own narrative. And that sounds kind of familiar. You see, not that long ago — a few months, really — I was working as a reporter and section editor at the state’s oldest daily newspaper. Once I thought it would be my journalistic home until I retired. Then John Weiss tapped me to serve as the founding editor of this newspaper. My task was to
create a great community newspaper and website of, by, and for the 80,000 diverse and vibrant residents of Southeast Colorado Springs. The thing is, Southeast has been, until now, a news desert — a community with very limited access to the local news and information that feed community-building, pride and an informed citizenry. About the only coverage this amazing community has received had been superficial, quick stories about crime, poverty, gangs — the bad stuff that negatively shapes its reputation and also impacts its self-perception. Its narrative, if you will.
In order to succeed, we need your help. We are a newspaper that is of, for and by you, Southeast. Share your opinions, your stories, your triumphs, your tragedies. There were virtually no stories, I was informed, about the amazing entrepreneurs, students, athletes, teachers, musicians and veterans who are reinventing and reinvigorating this area. My assignment was to change that. This is a neighborhood on the verge of a renaissance. There are amazing organizations like the RISE
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS The Southeast Express accepts letters to the editor. To submit an opinion for consideration, email regan.foster@southeastexpress.org; or call Regan Foster at 578-2802. The Express reserves the right to determine suitability. Copyright ©2019, all rights reserved.
The Southeast Express is a project of fiscal sponsor and Colorado nonprofit Concrete Couch and with the support of Colorado Publishing House, Colorado Springs’ largest locally owned media company. Concrete Couch is a natural partner for the Express' communitydriven vision, as both seek to elevate and foster dialogue within the community.
235 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 578-2802 • southeastexpress.org
Editor and General Manager REGAN FOSTER Senior Consultant LOU MELLINI Senior Account Executive JAMIE ROMERO-AGRUSA Account Executives LANNY ADAMS VANESSA NAGEL DANIELLE ROGGE Production Manager JAYSON PETERS Graphic Designers ROWDY TOMPKINS, MELISSA EDWARDS Community Outreach Director MANNY LOPEZ DEL RIO COLORADO PUBLISHING HOUSE Chair JOHN WEISS Executive Editor Emeritus RALPH ROUTON
To inquire about advertising ... jamie.agrusa@southeastexpress.org
Our
MISSION
To inform, celebrate, educate, empower and challenge the 80,000 vibrant and diverse residents of Southeast Colorado Springs.
Coalition, the Council of Neighbors and Organizations, the Thrive Network and the Solid Rock Community Development Corp. working from the inside to coalesce the neighborhood’s social service and nonprofits; to train leaders and entrepreneurs; and to redevelop blighted properties and encourage community reinvestment. There is a recent, million-plus dollar initiative spearheaded by State Sen. Pete Lee and State Rep. Tony Exum to stem the prison pipeline by supporting grassroots efforts to transform public safety. And most importantly, there is a community that is standing behind and enthusiastically embracing these efforts. (As an aside, when I say “embracing” I am being literal. I have never received more hugs from complete strangers and new friends than I have in Southeast.) Suffice it to say, we are thrilled to be a part of it all. But in order to succeed, we need your help. We are a newspaper that is of, for and by you, Southeast. Share your opinions, your stories, your triumphs, your tragedies. We know there is more to this area than what the social norm, or the area’s traditional media outlets, acknowledge ... let’s trumpet it from the rooftops! Speak up, Southeast: Our ears and hearts are open. Contact Southeast Express Editor and General Manager Regan Foster at (719) 578-2802 or regan.foster@ southeastexpress.org.
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A legacy cast in bronze By REGAN FOSTER The Southeast Express
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n 2017, just 555 of America’s approximately 10,000 outdoor sculptures featured women, according to the Smithsonian American Art Museum Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture. If Kay Esmiol has her way, the gap will close by one in the next few months. Esmiol, a retired Eagle View Middle School English teacher, is leading a campaign to have a life-sized bronze statue made and publicly displayed in tribute to the late Fannie Mae Duncan. “Her life is an interesting study in the American dream,” Esmiol said. “She had a work ethic, she was a middle child, she was the leader of the group. She was the one who could do something for the whole family. “The story is one that could unite this city in a way that could be more inclusive. She was the catalyst for the integration of the city.” During the Civil Rights Era, Duncan was a local icon. That’s because the African-American woman who was two generations removed from slavery owned and operated the hottest, most-inclusive nightclub in town, the Cotton Club. Her motto, “Everybody welcome,” hung in a boldly lettered sign in the venue’s front window. In the last 12 years of Duncan’s life, she and Esmiol formed a fast friendship. Now Esmiol wants to honor the maven of inclusion by having her likeness cast in bronze. The statue is proposed for the courtyard of the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts
Fannie Mae Continued from page 1
that would spur an ongoing effort to unify a city under the now-iconic motto, “everybody welcome.” “This is the story that is our gift,” said Kay Esmiol, a retired English teacher at Eagle View Middle School who encouraged her students to write that now-formative letter nearly three decades ago. “Fannie Mae would at first be quite stunned by the enormous attention. She would be gracious in thanking people who had helped her. “What would make her happy would be the way the city is coming together. It wouldn’t be all about her, it would be that what she wanted to see happen, did. . . . She loved Colorado Springs. She absolutely loved this place.” Esmiol should know. For more than a decade, she served as biographer, editor and confidante for Duncan. Together the pair penned 2013’s “Everybody Welcome: A Memoir of Fannie Mae Duncan and the Cotton Club,” (CHIAROSCURO Press) and today, 14 years after Duncan’s death at age 87, Esmiol is on a mission to honor her friend’s legacy via a life-sized lasting tribute cast in bronze.
just down the street from the site where Duncan’s beloved venue once stood. The envisioned memorial includes a series of large granite blocks, engraved with the names of sponsors who donate a cumulative $100 or more. The ultimate goal, Esmiol said, is to build a meditative space where passersby may sit and contemplate Duncan and her legacy. “What we really want to do is, without saying it in so many words, invite them to sit there and think about the story and all of these people who supported it,” Esmiol said. “The more names, the more we can say ‘look at all these. This is who we are. We support [inclusion] and we believe everyone should be welcome.’ ” The statue itself is expected to cost $100,000, while the granite blocks, etching, installation and transportation will ring in at an additional $50,000. The city requires 10 percent of the value of the sculpture — an additional $10,000 — for maintenance, Esmiol said, bringing the total price tag to $160,000. As of Jan. 25, $88,326 had been raised. Esmiol hopes to have fundraising wrapped up by the end of May. Fort Collins-based sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy is creating the statue. She unveiled a series of maquettes, or clay models, and a model bust of the subject at a gala event in November. They depict a young, robust Duncan, dressed in an elegant suit and one of her trademark hats, standing with a foot cocked and an arm gesturing, palm up, toward the horizon. The effect is warm, welcoming and embodies the spirit that Esmiol and others recall. regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
Inclusive education
Fannie Mae Bragg was born July 5, 1918, in Luther, Oklahoma, the fourth of seven children of Herbert and Mattie Bragg. Duncan wrote in her memoir that when announcing her birth, her uncle Jesse proclaimed: “It’s
EXPRESS PHOTO/REGAN FOSTER
This photo shows the maquette, or clay model, of a bust of Fannie Mae Duncan. Fundraising is underway to build a public memorial to the iconic club owner and vanguard of the Civil Rights Era.
Support the cause Building a memorial to Fannie Mae Duncan is expected to cost $160,000: $100,000 for the life-sized bronze statue; $50,000 for transportation, installation and an etched-granite donor wall; and $10,000 to the city of Colorado Springs for maintenance. As of Jan. 25, $88,326 had been raised toward the effort. To contribute to the project, send donations to the Pioneers Museum at 215 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903. Make sure to include “Fannie Mae Duncan statue” in the memo line.
a girl! Here comes nothin’ but trouble.” Whether or not that particular piece of family lore is true, what is clear is that from childhood on, Fannie Mae lived life her way. She displayed an early talent for business while working at her family’s farm stand and was the
Check it out Kate Perdoni’s hour-long documentary, “Colorado Experience: Fannie Mae Duncan,” is available online at tinyurl.com/RMPBS-FannieMae
Mark your calendar Who: The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Institute What: A screening of “Colorado Experience: Fannie Mae Duncan” and panel discussion with filmmaker Kate Perdoni When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 7 Where: Hillside Community Center, 925 S. Institute St. How much: Free For more details: tinyurl.com/Duncan-Welcome
Courtesy photo/Kay Esmiol
This portrait of Fannie Mae Duncan is signed ’To my lovely “friends” Pat and Kathleen Esmiol. 2/28/95. Fannie Mae Duncan”
type of student who, despite a talent for mischief, became a classroom leader. When Herbert Bragg died in November 1926, his oldest children left school to work and help keep the family afloat. But Fannie Mae continued her studies and, despite the tragedy of loss and the challenges of being uprooted from her family home, excelled academically. In 1929, Fannie Mae’s aunt, Fang Harris, trekked to Oklahoma from Manitou Springs. Harris saw the struggle to keep the family afloat and offered for the eldest child, Frances Bragg, to join the Harris family in Colorado. Frances seized the opportunity, and after a few years, was established enough to have the clan join her. In the multi-racial neighborhood where the Bragg family settled, and in her years at the integrated Colorado Springs High School (now known as Palmer High School), Fannie Mae’s inclusive nature took root. In her memoir, she wrote about befriending a veritable melting pot of neighbors, from the Tafoya family to the Rev. Chester Morgan and his wife, Sister Anna. “Our neighbors were a real mixed group of folks,” Duncan wrote. Continued as FANNIE MAE page 6
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Do you ever feel like Southeast Colorado Springs doesn’t get the credit it deserves? Like all the great things that people, churches, organizations and groups do here every day don’t get acknowledged?
FIVE
Well that ends today. The “High Five,” is intended to let you sing the praises of, give a shout out to or slap a high five, if you will, with those who are doing good things in Southeast. It is a space for you to share your great news, and that of your friends, family and clubs. We will gladly consider submissions related to events and undertakings of general interest. To submit an item for the High Five, email a detailed description of the event, including date and place, and photos with identifying information from left to right to features@southeastexpress.org; for more information, call Regan Foster at 719-578-2802.
OK now: Let’s slap some high fives, shall we?
COURTESY PHOTO/REGINA ENGLISH
Five of the eight young ladies crowned Dec. 9 in the My African American Miss scholarship pageant pose for a portrait with pageant founder Regina English.
Grace, poise, dignity and being “fabulous on purpose” were the order of the day Dec. 9 at the Lon Chaney Theatre. That was because young ladies affiliated with the philanthropic and community-service agency Be You vied for scholarships and crowns in the My African American Miss (Yes M.A.A.M.) scholarship pageant. Participants were judged on an interview, outfit of choice, formal wear and an on-stage question. The Royalty Court is: Jailani Williams, Sanai Robertson, Miyah Pettiford, Nevaeh Dowah, Aliyah Parra, Mahalia Hancock, Tierra Tisby and Jawai Williams. The judging panel comprised State Rep. Tony Exum; Stephane Wallace and Nicole Frazier, board members of the African American Youth Leadership Conference; and Paul Prosper, executive director of the African American Youth Leadership Conference and president of the Omega Psi Phi Colorado chapter. Pageant participants stepped out in philanthropic style Dec. 22 by hosting a toy giveaway at the Ruth Holley Library.
COURTESY PHOTO/ANDY PETERSON
Felicia Hug (left) and Sara Suarez bag cookies for distribution to the homeless during a Jan. 12 cookie and sock drive at the Soul, Community, Planet (SCP) Hotel in Southeast.
On Jan. 12 at Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotel, Felicia Hug, a yoga instructor, kept busy overseeing the packaging of new socks and fresh cookies About two dozen volunteers, including members of Colorado Springs Girl Scout Troop 42821 and Urban Peak, descended on the hotel to help with a cookie and sock drive that Hug dubbed “Sweet in the Stomach, Warm on the Feet.” The effort, which was co-hosted by SCP, was designed to warm the tummies and toes of some of the city’s homeless population. Hug had placed a personal goal of 300 pairs of socks and an equal number of individual cookies on the drive. In the end, she collected 638 pairs of footwear, 500 treats, a $50 cash donation, underwear, a blanket, hand warmers and hand-written notes of encouragement. They were distributed by the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission. features@southeastexpress.org
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Fannie Mae Continued from page 4
‘Grit and grace’
Fannie Mae worked throughout her teenage years as a waitress and housekeeper. She married Edward Roy Duncan in 1939, a year after she became the first person in her family to graduate from high school. Knowing she wanted bigger things than the service jobs typically held by black women during and after the Great Depression, Fannie took a manager’s job at the Haven Club. A soda fountain for black soldiers at the then-segregated Camp Carson, the spot flourished under Fannie Mae’s care. Along the way, she rediscovered her entrepreneurial flair. Fannie Mae decided it was time that she and Ed go into business for themselves. She persuaded City Manager Earl Mosley to issue her a business license, and the couple became the proud renters of a USO lunch stand located on Colorado Avenue. As Fannie Mae and Ed’s reputations grew, so, too, did their business. Before she was done, Fannie Mae would own a series of businesses anchored by the legendary music venue the Cotton Club; convert her personal home into a hotel for African-American dignitaries and musicians who were denied lodging at most white-only establishments; engage in first a legendary showdown and then a longtime alliance with Police Chief Irving “Dad” Bruce; and be credited with helping Colorado Springs maintain a calm course of racial integration and inclusion during the turbulent tides of the 1950s, ’60s and beyond. “What she accomplished was just her whole philosophy,” said Deborah Radman, a director of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) and chair of its Brand Awareness Com-
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mittee. Duncan was posthumously inducted to the hall in 2012. “It was a really tough time in the era of Civil Rights. She really managed, with all of her grace and her flamboyance and her good nature and her sense of humor, to bring people together despite a lot of odds,” Radman continued. “Being an activist and entrepreneur as a black woman at the time was virtually impossible, and she never let that cow her at all.” Or, as Esmiol put it: “Grit and grace. That was Fannie Mae.”
in Denver — an original production dubbed “Everybody Welcome” was born. “We got her stories,” Esmiol said, grinning at the memory. “They listened to everything and got their scenes. We read to her constantly.” The production was supposed to be a one-off. Instead, it ended up running occasionally for two years and in three different venues, including Colorado Springs’ former Smokebrush Theater. And what a story the youngsters had to tell...
Forging friendship
Open to all
Esmiol is, in her own way, a local legend. She’s a petite woman with dark, expressive eyes that alternately peer intently out from under a thick head of hair and dance when she tells stories about her longtime friend. At Eagle View in the early 1990s, she sponsored the minority club and was a co-sponsor of the Young Writers’ Club. She noticed that, despite their talents, students of color often shied away from auditioning for school productions. When asked, they told her that was because the major shows didn’t include leads who looked like them. “I said, ‘We’ll just write our own plays, then, and you get all the leads,’ ” Esmiol said. “I said that before I thought it all through.” With that promise made, Esmiol had to come up with a subject worthy of her students’ time and energy. “I found Fannie Mae and I thought, ‘Oh my, she is so fabulous!’ ” Esmiol said. The youngsters agreed and Esmiol gave them their first writing assignment: A letter that would persuade the influential maven of Colorado Springs entertainment to share her history, memories and experiences. From a series of student-led interviews at Duncan’s home — by then
By all accounts, Fannie Mae Duncan was a force of nature — a strong, smart, self-made woman who feared neither hard work nor controversy. But for all of her myriad accomplishments, arguably what cemented her legacy was the success of the Cotton Club. For nearly three decades in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, Fannie Mae Duncan ran the downtown music bar that was located just south of the Antlers Hotel. With a lineup that included some of the era’s most visionary artists — think Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson and Ella Fitzgerald, among others — and, as Fannie Mae described it in her memoir, “a 20-foot-high sign in flamingo-pink neon,” the club soon became the city’s premier music and dance venue. Since the closest lodging for her African-American performers was in Denver, Duncan purchased a 42-room mansion and turned it into a haven for visiting musicians and dignitaries. Whether at her home or in her club, Esmiol said, Duncan believed everyone, regardless of background or ethnicity, deserved to enjoy great jazz. But not all agreed. Police Chief Bruce called the Duncans to a meeting to discuss the club’s policy of racial integration. Bruce
Here’s what’s making headlines in Southeast and beyond ...
April ballot takes shape Colorado Springs voters will have a sizable ballot coming their way this spring. Eleven hopefuls are vying for three at-large seats on City Council, while four will make their bids for the mayor’s seat. The order in which they will appear on the ballot was determined in a Jan. 25 lottery. The candidates for mayor are: Lawrence Martinez, John Suthers, John Pitchford and Juliette Parker. Those running for at-large City Council seats are Gordon Klingenschmitt, Bill Murray, Val Snider, Wayne Williams, Tony Gioia, Terry Martinez, Regina English, Tom Strand, Randy Tuck, Athena Roe and Dennis Spiker. In addition, voters will be asked whether the city charter should be amended to allow uniformed fire department personnel to enter into collective bargaining. Election day is April 2. Voter registration can be completed online by visiting sos.state.co.us.
The Southeast Express and Citizens Project have teamed up to host a free voter forum at 6 p.m. March 14 at Sierra High School, 2250 Jet Wing Drive.
NAMI launches support class
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado Springs chapter will host a free, 12-week program for family and friends of adults living with mental illness. Classes begin Feb. 25 and will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays, through May 20. The location of the classes is being withheld pending registration. For more information or to register, call 719473-8477 or email info@namicos.org.
Library district checks out of fines The Pikes Peak Library District is making it even easier to love a good book. The district eliminated overdue fines Feb. 1, which also happens to be the start of Library Lover’s Month. That means readers will no longer be financially penalized for books that are returned late. The district also plans to roll out automatic renewals. The day before a book is due back, and if no other patron has it on hold, the system automatically renews it. That give readers up to six more weeks with the literature. And that’s good news for the area’s most vulnerable
argued that people of different races should not be “mixing” and told Fannie Mae Duncan to stop admitting white people. “I check ’em for age,” she infamously fired back. “Nobody tol’ me I had to check ’em for color.” In the end, Bruce not just relented, but agreed. Moreover, from that initial confrontation grew an alliance based on mutual respect and friendship. And from the chief ’s change of heart sprang a sign that became a motto and is now on the verge of becoming a movement: “Everybody welcome.” (See "A legacy cast in bronze,"page 4.)
Lingering legacy The Cotton Club was demolished in 1975 as part of the city’s urban renewal efforts. But today, Duncan’s fans and friends are taking steps to honor her legacy, promote her story and perpetuate her mission of equality and unity. “Female entrepreneurs in the early 1900s were unheard of,” CWHF’s Radman said. “Even in the ’50s, you grew up and you were a housewife. . . . Being a woman of color made it even more special. “Fannie Mae is the perfect example of the concept of ‘aspire higher than what I learned from my father.’ I feel sort of connected to her.” Kate Perdoni, a producer with Rocky Mountain PBS who lives in Colorado Springs’ Hillside neighborhood, released late last year the documentary, “Colorado Experience: Fannie Mae Duncan.” “There are so many people who are still alive who were touched by her,” Perdoni said. “Every single relative, every niece or nephew or cousin, has a lifetime of stories of the giving and her philanthropy and just the way they felt when they were around her.” regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
families, Library Services director Tim Blevins said in a statement. “Our mission as an organization is to eliminate barriers to information and resources, not create them,” he said. Overdue fines accounted for less than 1 percent of the library’s overall revenue in 2017, library research shows. Fines will still be levied on lost or damaged materials, and automatic renewal will not apply to rapid reads, electronic materials or equipment.
Pioneers Museum celebrates Black History Month The Pioneers Musuem, 215 S. Tejon St., is celebrating Black History Month with four tours a week during February. Since the founding of Colorado Springs in 1871, African-Americans have socially, politically, intellectually, culturally and economically shaped the region. Tours highlighting this history will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesdays; 11 a.m. Fridays; and noon and 1 p.m. Saturdays. The events last 60 minutes and drop-ins are welcome. For more information or to book a tour for a group, call program coordinator Meg Poole at 719-385-5631 or email mpoole@springsgov.com. — Compiled by Regan Foster
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'We’re just more prepared than ever' D-2 ready for any incident, security personnel say By REGAN FOSTER The Southeast Express
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hortly before 8 a.m. on Dec. 5, just as Harrison High School students were gearing up to start their academic day, a staff member spotted a loaded pistol magazine abandoned in a corridor. What was supposed to be a normal academic day immediately turned into a less-than-typical morning spent on lockout. That meant the students were sequestered to their classrooms while the building, campus and teens themselves were searched. No one was injured, nor was the pistol immediately recovered, but for now-retired Harrison School District Two security chief John Taylor, the day went by the book. “We responded, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded, we did a thorough search of the school,” he said. “The process is in place and it worked really well,” added Bob Erspamer, Taylor’s successor at the head of the D-2 security team.
School safety is an understandably sensitive subject. But when there is a reason to be vigilant, a pre-existing plan, good inter-agency coordination and plenty of training can help keep an alert from becoming a crisis. “When you talk about security, it’s not two guys, four guys, 11 guys,” Taylor said. “It’s a whole adult world out there.” Both Taylor and Erspamer are former police officers, and with their help and expertise, the district has developed, implemented and trained on an emergency response plan. “We always end our training by saying ‘You don’t want to scare people, we’re just more prepared than ever,’ ” Erspamer said. “Your students are way, way, way safer in school than they are outside.”
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The district observes three levels of emergency response: lockout, lockdown and evacuate to a location. When Harrison high went into lockout in December, the students stayed put for about four hours while security personnel and police searched the campus, inside and out. Communications Director and Chief of Staff Christine O’Brien said the all-hands-on-deck approach served Harrison and its students well. “A lot of homework and studying was accomplished,” she said. Admittedly, the lockout was an extreme scenario. But keeping students safe is a daily undertaking. All district buildings are monitored by cameras and radios, and a team of 13 security officers partners with a trio of city police resource officers to keep
campuses as protected as possible. In addition, O’Brien said, the district implemented the Raptor system in each school. The digital system, which requires every guest to present a photo ID, allows campus staff to screen for registered sex offenders, check for custody issues, coordinate volunteers and respond to emergencies. It also gives administration an accounting of all guests who are in a building at any point in time, O’Brien said. On any given day, Erspamer said, the security team could deal with a barrage of issues, from traffic snarls to behavioral problems. “We’re busy every single day,” he said. regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
Your students are way, way, way safer in school than they are outside. — Bob Erspamer, Harrison School District 2 school and safety director
DOING YOUR PART Harrison School District 2 utilizes a variety of media to keep parents in the loop about school safety incidents or weather-related events. To ensure that you are getting the most up-to-date information related to your student’s school, take the following steps:
For school-specific alerts: • Contact the school registrar and make sure he or she has your most current email address and telephone number on file. That’s because, in the event of an incident, the district will text and email updates. • Follow the district and your child’s school on social media outlets.
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For weather alerts: • Download the free Harrison School District Two app, available in more than 65 languages, from either the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Follow the district on social media outlets. • Check the district and school websites. • Tune in to local media.
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School improvement plans get board nod Mitchell, Swigert to get academic overhauls By REGAN FOSTER Southeast Express
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ith the accountability clock ticking, three Colorado Springs School District 11 institutions will get state-mandated academic overhauls under plans approved in January. The district board gave the go-ahead to improvement plans for the Galileo School of Math and Science, Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy and Mitchell High School. But it did so only after delivering a stern message to the schools’ principals. “Our students deserve the very best that we can bring to the table, nothing less,” board President Jim Mason told the administrators. “Our students are the only reason we are here. “These plans will be executed to standard. We are going to improve student achievement at these schools, and we are going to do to it together.” The Colorado Department of Education ranks schools’ performance on four levels: performance, improvement, priority improvement and turnaround. Schools that receive a priority improvement or turnaround rating are put on so-called “performance watch.” If a school has failed to make the improvement or performance grade for five consecutive years, the state may step in to reorganize, convert it to a charter or even close the institution. Galileo and Swigert, both middle schools, have both been on priority improvement status for two years, while Mitchell High School has been on priority improvement for three. Mitchell High draws students from Southeast, and its plan is to take a multi-disciplinary approach to both improving academic performance and reducing absenteeism and dropout
rates. On the academic side, Mitchell is committed to improving grade-level proficiency in reading and math through after-school tutoring sessions, Saturday school and the use of the Learning Center, among other efforts. This also aims to reduce the number of Ds and Fs scored, while simultaneously increasing SAT/PSAT scores. Mitchell currently has a 72 percent four-year graduation rate, with 4.2 percent of students dropping out of school entirely. Its goal is to increase the four-year graduation rate to 90 percent and slice the drop-out rate by at least half. The school works with a life coach who is tasked with stabilizing families in crisis, and the improvement plan calls for increasing home visits and family engagement for at-risk students. At Southeast-area Swigert, 84 percent of students receive free or reduced-cost lunch this year, according to the improvement plan. The minority-majority school has a highly mobile population and about one-third of students speak a language other than English at home. Like Mitchell, Swigert’s improvement plan addresses both academic performance and institutional culture. Its scholastic plan is pinned on teachers reworking their lesson plans so they align with assessment standards. The vision includes regular assessments and weekly classroom visits from school administration. The principal will also conduct a weekly meeting with staff. On the culture side, the school is committing to monitoring how students feel at and about the school, reducing chronic absenteeism and evaluating school discipline, among other factors. The Galileo School of Math and Science, which is located on North Union Boulevard, is not in or bordering Southeast.
Total nt r n e ollme Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy Mitchell High School Galileo School of Match and Sciences District 11
regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
Number of students receiving free or reduced-cost lunch
474
1,345
498 27,245
444 1,006 441 16,373
Percentage of students who drop out of school
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Your Community. Your Voice.
Stand Up for a Child as a CASA volunteer. YOU can make a difference right here in your own neighborhood for abused and neglected children.
We have families and children in our community who are in crisis. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates and CASA volunteers are trained to advocate for the children.
There are hundreds of kids waiting for someone to speak up for them… waiting for someone like YOU.
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Find out how you can make a difference at the next CASA Volunteer Information Session on February 8.
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More details available at
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3.1
Source: Colorado Department of Education 2016-17 figures
CASAPPR.ORG or by calling 719-447-9898
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From idea to execution By CORY PETERSON For the Express
A
n aspiring entrepreneur will garner more than $40,000 in cash and services as the winner of the second Southeast Business Plan Competition. Sponsored by the Southeast Express, Colorado Springs Business Journal and the Colorado Springs Independent, the contest is designed to help nurture small business start-ups in the region. “Successful small business can help jump-start a family, as well as the entire community,” Colorado Publishing House Chairman John Weiss said about why his company launched the competition. The first winner, in 2016, was Melissa Chapman. The 42-yearold had been contemplating opening her own salon for at least a decade. “Probably longer,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve had it in my head that, ‘Oh, if I opened my own shop, this is what it would be.’ ” After enrolling in the Thrive Network's entrepreneurial training program, Chapman
entered her plan and was selected the inaugural winner. (In the interest of full disclosure, Chapman has been Editor Regan Foster’s stylist since 2008.) This year’s contest aims to help a deserving Southeast entre-
“
Successful small business can help jump-start a family, as well as the entire community.
”
— Colorado Publishing House Chairman John Weiss
preneur get his or her company off the ground. The proposal can be from a start up that will launch in the next 6 months or an established business that has been operating for less than two years. The best plan will be rewarded with an extensive suite of services from some of the best IT, website development, legal, real estate, banking and entrepreneurial-education pros in the area.
To submit your plan, visit CSBJ.com/nominate. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, call 634-5905. When she entered the ’16 competition, Chapman was self-employed and renting a booth at a northside salon. And while she had previously studied three semesters of business at Pikes Peak Community College, she hadn't felt confident enough to open her own space. But buoyed by the win, She set about searching for premises in Southeast. She settled into a 1,200-square-foot space at 1726 S. Circle Drive, inside the Market at Spring Creek shopping center. Chapman signed a five-year lease on the last day of 2016, and Melissa’s Hair Therapy opened its doors on March 31, 2017. After 24 years of making other people feel beautiful, Chapman has found beauty in the way Southeast has embraced her. “It’s no small thing,” she said. “I might just be a little blip on the radar, but that little blip has been supported by the whole community.” news@southeastexpress.org
Solid Rock
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Fresh Start Investment Program SERVING TOGETHER TO REVITALIZE SE COLORADO SPRINGS
Fresh Start Investment Program is a free business development, entrepreneurship, and personal development program that support the formerly incarcerated and their families to become successful entrepreneurs and employees. We provide a fresh start to individuals that will enable them to become business owners and impact community.
The new business must be in SE Colorado Springs.
Assistance in financing will be available upon completion of program. For more information: Schedule a meeting with our business consultant @ Solidrockcdc.com or call 719-393-7625
FEBRUARY — MARCH 2019
Melissa Chapman, the owner of Melissa's Hair Therapy on South Circle Drive, won the 2016 Southeast Business Plan Competition. The contest returns this year.
Express photo/Cory Peterson
GET INVOLVED Submissions are now being accepted for the 2019 Southeast Business Plan Competition. To qualify, would-be businesses: • Must be headquartered in the 80910 or 80916 ZIP codes. • Must either plan to launch within six months or be less than 2 years old. • Must not be a franchise, nonprofit or multi-level marketing company. • Must be a legal resident of the United States. • Must not be owned by family or staff of Colorado Publishing House. Expansions will be allowed if the headquarters are in Southeast. To apply or for further details, visit CSBJ.com/nominate. For more information on sponsorships or advertising, call 634-5905.
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CITY CON LETTER FROM YOUR CITY LEADERS
This is an exciting time for Southeast Colorado Springs. Your City government continues to support community improvements through connectivity, infrastructure, economic development and transit. The Mayor’s Office and City Council are working in unison to identify both funding and potential opportunities to further improve Southeast Colorado Springs. This community is a vital part of Colorado Springs, represented by diverse small businesses, military families, iconic culture and vibrant neighborhoods. Local, state and federal funding opportunities are beginning to drive investments for key projects in the Southeast that will improve quality of life; and the City is committed to connecting with the Southeast community by informing residents about these projects. We urge you to use the resources included here to get involved with your City government. — Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers and City Council
YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT AT WORK We’re a best-in-class city with continued growth and a strong economic resurgence, and people around the nation are taking note. City staff and elected officials continue to embrace the challenge of making our city match our scenery. We are dedicated to ensuring Colorado Springs residents continue to enjoy a healthy quality of life and a fiscally sustainable and resilient city.
The city meets this challenge by investing in vital public infrastructure to improve our roads, bridges and stormwater systems, and to provide public transportation options. Police, fire and emergency management professionals stand ready to respond to public safety needs, both every day and during times of crisis. The city also
strives to maintain a vibrant quality of life through investing in parks, trails, open spaces and recreational amenities.
Key components to maintaining a strong community are outlining a vision for the continued physical development of our city and attracting and retaining a vibrant workforce to share in and help build our future. Promoting job creation, helping companies already located here to expand, and attracting new companies to Colorado Springs all help meet this goal. For Southeast Colorado Springs, these essential elements ring especially true as we strive to preserve its unique characteristics while celebrating the many great things that are in store.
GOCOS!
Coming this spring to www.ColoradoSprings.gov and Apple and Android app stores. With the GoCOS! mobile app residents can report potholes, find City information, contact elected officials and much more
GET INVOLVED:
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS — Did you know the City has over 30 boards serving under City Council? Learn more about each board and commission or apply to serve! • Coloradosprings.gov/boards
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM — Are you looking for training before joining a board or commission? Enroll in the Colorado Springs Civic Engagement Program to learn the ins and outs of serving on a government board, committee or commission! • Coloradosprings.gov/civics
PUBLIC NOTICES — Be in the know! Check Public Notices to find out when and where City meetings are held. • Coloradosprings.gov/public-notices
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NNECTIONS 2018 HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SOUTHEAST The City made significant investment in infrastructure improvements in Southeast Colorado Springs in 2018 and continues to focus on addressing roads, bridges, recreational spaces, stormwater infrastructure and public safety. • Nearly 40 lane miles of roadways received 2C-funded repaving, in tandem with adjacent curb and gutter and pedestrian ramps being brought into ADA compliance. Major roads include Murray and Fountain boulevards, Circle Drive and Airport Road. Routine maintenance between repaving helps our roads achieve their full lifespan: Nearly 23,000 potholes were repaired and 106 lane miles of roadway received chip seal or crack seal in this effort. • Work continues to fully reconstruct the roadway and replace aging stormwater and utility infrastructure along Pikes Peak Avenue between Shooks Run and Printers Parkway. When complete this summer, this $17 million project will also provide a roadway that’s new from the ground up.
SAND CREEK CHANNEL STABILIZATION 2C ROADWAY MAINTENANCE
• A $926,000 grant from the Colorado Springs Health Foundation expanded fitness opportunities in Memorial Park, with over 7,000 feet of new and improved concrete trail installed in 2018. Together with several new fitness stations throughout the park, the public can enjoy improved walking trails, and connectivity and better access to park amenities and opportunities for outdoor fitness. • In 2018, the City completed approximately $6.3 million in stormwater projects in the Southeast, including channel stabilization along a portion of Sand Creek and storm drain improvements along Galley Road.
NEW FITNESS EQUIPMENT AT MEMORIAL PARK
ON THE HORIZON FOR 2019 AND BEYOND • Within the next four years, this area will see an estimated $45 million invested in infrastructure improvements to fix roads, sidewalks and bridges, and build ADA accessible ramps at intersections. • Renovation of the Prospect Lake Beach House at Memorial Park will start soon thanks to a $700,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado that aims to connect youth and families to nature. We hope to open the new space and welcome the public early this summer. • Nearly $2 million will go toward five stormwater projects in the area, ranging from small inlet improvements to a large channel stabilization project to reduce flooding and accommodate growing stormwater infrastructure needs. • Crews will repave 63 lane miles of roads and bring pedestrian ramps into ADA compliance in tandem with paving. Look for cone zones later this year on portions of South Carefree Circle, Chelton Road, Palmer Park and Union boulevards as they are among some of the major roads on the 2C paving list for 2019. • Several projects are now in design, including major reconstruction work on Academy Boulevard. Design for replacement of the Circle Drive Bridges is underway, with construction to begin in 2020. The City has partnered with Harrison High School to create a student ambassador program to engage students throughout the process.
STAY CONNECTED
PLANS FOR PANORAMA PARK UNDERWAY • With continued input from the community in 2019, the Parks Department will begin the new design of Panorama Park, which can serve as a neighborhood focal point. Be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to provide input on this park revitalization project. • To address the public safety needs of our growing community, a new Sand Creek police substation is set to open in late spring 2019.
Visit ColoradoSprings.gov/news for all the latest news from the City of Colorado Springs. Follow us on social media. • CityofCOS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram • City Website: www.ColoradoSprings.gov
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King and queens of clubs Three teens on quest for Youth of the Year title SPECIALIZING IN BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTING AND TAXES FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUALS
Serving the Southeast since 2011 We are grEAt at what we do, so you can be great at what you do!
2130 S. Academy Ste. 200, 80916 Janet Duncan, EA
719-426-2876
Marissa Mitchell
DuncanaccountinganDtax.com
By REGAN FOSTER
Zane Merrill
The Southeast Express
I
t starts with the essays — three of them, to be precise. Then there are the letters of recommendation — again, three. There are the application, the biographies and the speech. Then there’s delivering the entire package, without notes, to a 200-plus-person audience that has paid big bucks to be there. No, it’s not the world’s craziest job interview. It’s the process that a young man and two young women have undertaken over the past several months on a quest to be named the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region 2019 Youth of the Year. The club winner will be announced Feb. 21 at a gala dinner and celebration that begins at 6 p.m. at the Antlers, 4 S. Cascade Ave. That teen
Rebecca Starnes
will go on to represent the club at the state championship in Denver. “It’s a lot of work,” said Sherrell Bethel, assistant program director of the Boys & Girls Club. “The kids who have been through it know, ‘OK, this is the process.’ ” Marissa Mitchell from the Southeast E.A. Tutt Club and Zane Merrill and Rebecca Starnes, both representing the Westside’s El Pomar Club, will make their bids for the prestigious title. “The Youth of the Year [candidates] that we work with are pretty phenomenal,” said Jrace Rider, the club’s senior director. “The kids are all up there, pouring their hearts out and doing what they can.”
No small undertaking That may be a bit of an understateContinued as QUEST page 18
‘I wouldn’t be the person I am today’ 2018 Youth of the Year reflects on learning, leadership By REGAN FOSTER The Southeast Express
B
rent Knight had a tough decision: help lead the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region to volleyball victory or defend his title as the club’s Youth of the Year. The 16-year-old junior at James Irwin Charter High School is a lifelong athlete who discovered a love and passion for volleyball his freshman year. But at the same time, he had long wanted to be the club’s Youth of the Year. He claimed the title at age 15 but has yet to help his club team tackle the tournament circuit. So when he realized that the youth competition would interfere with his game schedule, he had a choice to make. Athletics won out ... for now. “I’ve been running for Youth of the Year since my freshman year,” said the articulate teen with the infectious laugh. “I did it twice and I had started the process of doing it a third time, then I had to drop out.”
Brent Knight
For Knight, the club is more than a place to spend time after school. In many ways, it’s family. His father Derrick Knight was a club employee, and Brent would tag along to work long before he was old enough to join. He became a member as soon as he was qualified; then, in either fifth or sixth grade, Knight Continued as LEADERSHIP page 16
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Sounds like Southeast
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If you’re quiet in this library space, you’re doing it wrong
By REGAN FOSTER Southeast Express
R
emember when libraries were silent places? Not here. “You’ll often see people dancing from this window,” said TerryJosiah Sharpe, a senior library associate with the Pikes Peak Library District’s Sand Creek Library. As he spoke, Sharpe snapped his fingers, his thick head
(Above): Senior Library Associate Keegan Kellogg produces a podcast in the Studio at Sand Creek Library. The studio is free to residents, provided they complete an hourlong orientation session.
of dark hair bobbing in time to a song only he could hear. He wasn’t being glib. Sharpe is one of two sound and production experts who man a state-of-the-art recording studio at Sand Creek. “It really is a hub and a networking place for musicians and talent,” he said. From its microphones and instruments to its computer-assisted editing software and sound-mixing equipment, the Studio at Sand Creek is jam-packed with the same type of items you would find in a professional New York or Los Angeles recording space. Only here, it’s free. Anyone who wishes to record a track — whether it is a musical piece, spoken word, a comedy routine or a podcast — may do so, provided the patron attends an hour-long training session and books the space in advance.
Siren’s song
(Right): The studio includes multiple instruments and top-of-the-line sound and mixing equipment.
Like a singer/songwriter searching for the perfect lyric, the Studio at Sand Creek didn’t come together easily. Library District Chief Executive John Spears asked then-Sand Creek Branch Manager Abby Simpson and her team
WATCH THE VIDEO Editor Regan Foster tried the studio for herself recently. You can watch check it out at Southeast.Express.
Continued as STUDIO page 18 EXPRESS PHOTOS/REGAN FOSTER
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Events and more... Art Events
Museum Free Day: providing access to the FAC’s general admission offerings to the widest possible audiences in the Pikes Peak region. Feb. 9, 10 a.m. Free. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., 634-5581, fac@coloradocollege. edu, coloradocollege.edu/fac. Sustainability Skillshare: an opportunity to learn new skills like canning, basic construction, up-cycling, bike maintenance and cold frame construction. Feb. 9, 9 a.m. to noon. Concrete Couch, 214 E. Vermijo Ave., 373-7694, concretecouch.org.
Business & Tech
Choosing an Appropriate Legal Entity: discussing the differences between a sole proprietorship, LLC, and S-Corp as well as the practical legal and tax implications of each type. Feb. 7, 9-10:30 a.m. $30. Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, 559 E. Pikes Peak Ave., #101, 667-3803, sbdc@ elpaso.com, pikespeaksbdc.org/ workshops. Free Tax Preparation: an event wherein IRS-certified PPCC accounting students will prepare and file tax returns for individuals with household incomes of $55,000 a year or less. By appointment only. Clients should bring their social se-
Sil
curity cards or ITINs, photo ID and tax documents. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., through March 23. Free. PPCC Centennial Campus, 5675 S. Academy Blvd., 502-4829, TaxHelpCO@PPCC.edu, ppcc.edu. Minding Your Business: a chance to learn about available resources to help you start your business or grow it. Includes industry outlook, competition, vendors and target markets. It will also cover financing and marketing. Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m. Free. Sand Creek Library, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., tzarsky@ppld.org, ppld.librarymarket.com.
Comedy & Improv Science Riot: with STEM professionals trying their hand at stand-up comedy. After completing workshops led by professional comedians, the scientists talk about their professions with hilarious results. Ages 18+. Feb. 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $14. Ivywild School, 1604 S. Cascade Ave., 368-6100, tinyurl. com/IvywildScienceRiot.
Concerts
“Intimate Conversations: Unplugged”: a raw and authentic music series that will feature and spotlight vocalists, bands and instrumentalists who want to capture music lovers with an up-close and personal experience. Feb. 9, 4-6 p.m. $25. Tim Gill Center for Public Media, 315 E. Costilla St.,
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459-7663, 360spectrummgmt@ gmail.com, facebook.com/360spectrummgmt.
Health & Wellness CPR classes from American Heart Association: get certified by the American Heart Association in adult, child, infant CPR, AED and first aid. Get your card in one week. Pre-registration required. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Mondays, 6-9 p.m.; through Dec. 14. $60, includes a book. Simple Therapeutics, 3100 N. Academy Blvd., #115, 229-5504, jdcleveland78@gmail.com, simpletherapeutics.massagetherapy.co. Finding Our Voices: offering healing art workshops for survivors of sexual assault/harassment and their allies. All supplies provided. No experience necessary. Drop-ins welcome. Feb. 9, noon to 3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., 728-9677, findingourvoicescs. org.
Kids & Family
Active Adventurers Group: a weekly indoor group for parents/ caregivers and their children. Activities will include toy time, a craft, socializing, a group activity and clean up. Mondays, 9:30 a.m. Hillside Community Center, 925 S. Institute St., 520-9463, springsgov. com. Homeschool Day: Tinkering, an engineering-themed day to get your creativity flowing as you use your brain to solve problems and find
y Friends
Thrift Store
Donate. Shop. Find. Repeat! You never know what treasures you’ll find when you shop at the Silver Key Friends Thrift Store. With a wide selection of good quality clothing and household items, from vintage to recently recycled, there’s something for everyone. The store also features a specialty Home Medical Equipment Department for gently used wheelchairs, canes, and other mobility aids. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your purchase – and donations of your own used items at the store – helps support the vital community services provided by Silver Key for anyone age 60+.
1605 S. Murray Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80916 Open Monday – Saturday 9 am to 4 pm www.silverkey.org/thrift-store
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Home M edical Equipme nt Departm ent
Wednesday Senior Day: Save 15% Every Wednesday, seniors age 60+ receive a 15% discount (excluding items in the Home Medical Equipment Department).
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FEBRUARY — MARCH 2019
out how things work. Science On a Sphere® presentations, wind tube, ball maze and more. Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $2-$7. Space Foundation, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, 576-8000, mcory@spacefoundation.org, discoverspace.org. Storytime: introducing children ages 3 and up to the joy of storytelling and more. Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (preschool classes) and 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (families). Free. Pikes Peak Library District, Sand Creek Library, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., 597-7070, ppld.librarymarket.com.
Literary Events
“Everybody Welcome: Fannie Mae Duncan”: featuring author Kathleen Esmiol, discussing her research on the life and times of Fannie Mae Duncan, an African-American business leader and owner of the Cotton Club. Feb. 7, 6-8 p.m. $22. Patty Jewett Bar & Grill, 900 E. Espanola St., 385-6908, info@ zontapikespeak.com. Open Mic, Spoken Word, Poetry Night: an open mic for all young performers of any talent, including music, comedy, poetry and dance. Tuesdays, 8 p.m.-midnight. Free. Royal Castle Lounge & Grill, 2355 Platte Place, 375-1886, daniel@ royalcastlelounge.com, royalcastlelounge.com. The Shop: Open Mic & Lab: beginning with a forum that evolves into an open mic, and ending with a workshop for artists to premiere works in progress for critique. Feb. 7, 8:15-10:30 p.m. Free. Royal Castle Lounge & Grill, 2355 Platte
Leadership Continued from page 14
doesn’t remember precisely which, he met a reigning club Youth of the Year. “Listening to her story and just like seeing how much of an impact she had on other people within her community, and seeing her branch out and become a leader ... was so inspiring to me,” Knight said. “From then on, that was always one of my main things. I wanted to be Youth of the Year.” That’s no small undertaking. To qualify, youths ages 14 to 18 must write three essays, gather letters of recommendation from three adults, complete an extensive written application, and write, memorize and deliver a three-minute speech that weaves together the different elements of their personal essays. To top it off, the speech must be delivered without notes before a panel of judges and an audience that, in recent years, has numbered in the hundreds. The contest takes place during the club’s premier gala fundraiser. “That’s just for the local level,”
Place, 375-1886, njedipoet@gmail. com, facebook.com/theshopcs.
Special Events Ruth Holley Library Rededication with Open Mic: honoring this influential community leader with a writing workshop hosted by poet Ashley Cornelius, a “Listen to Black Womxn” open mic for black female performers, and a donation drive accepting new and used books. Feb. 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Ruth Holley Branch Library, 685 N. Murray Blvd., 597-5377, facebook. com/Poetry719.
Volunteering Volunteer Informational Session: an opportunity to learn what it means to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children. Find out how you can be the voice for a child who is involved in the court system due to abuse, neglect or domestic violence. Includes lunch. Feb. 8, noon to 1 p.m. CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, 418 S. Weber St., 447-9898, kerik@ casappr.org, casappr.org. — Compiled by Alissa Smith; edited by Regan Foster
For more events go to....
SOUTHEAST. EXPRESS
Knight said with a grin. Knight doesn’t balk at hard work. He is an honors student who studies college-level English, AP physics and honors trigonometry. He holds a job at a local restaurant, and has set his sights on studying biomedical engineering, sports therapy and kinesiology in college. Until then, he plans to establish an educational program called Youth for Unity at the local Boys & Girls Club. “He really does have a heart for people,” said Jrace Rider, club senior director and Knight’s Youth of the Year mentor. Knight takes the praise in stride. If he can inspire another club member to succeed, it’s worth the work. “Most people, when they hear Boys & Girls Club, think after-school program,” he said. “It’s so much more. “The mentors there care about you so much. They push you to be a better person. They teach you leadership skills through the programs you go through. Without it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.” regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
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Providing Access to Opportunity UCCS, PPCC, and Colorado College students have unlimited access to bus service. Any bus, any time with just a swipe of their student ID card. Whether you need to get to school, work, or a doctor’s appointment Mountain Metro can help. Providing more routes, more service, more options.
mmtransit.com
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mentor who guides him or her along the way. “It’s a powerful program, it’s defiContinued from page 14 nitely my favorite,” Bethel said. “It’s ment, when you consider the process. one of the times that you really get to To qualify, Youth of the Year hopementor a kid one-on-one. They open fuls must meet age and academic up, they tell you things that they typirequirements (high schoolers with at cally don’t tell other people.” least a 2.9 GPA). They must pen three The mentors not only help edit personal essays detailing their club essays and polish speeches, they also experiences; their visions for Amerteach the youths about appropriate ica’s youth, including a challenge behavior — from stage presence facing today’s youth that they would to body language — and etiquette. like to address; and their personal They’ll even take hopefuls shopping brands — that is, their personal valto help them pick out a competiues, unique strengths and passions. tion-worthy outfit. Each hopeful has to gather letters of “These kids are getting groomed recommendation supporting his or in ways that they don’t even realize her leadership, character and service, is going to be so beneficial to them academic excellence and healthy later,” Rider said. lifestyle. Each letter “If you are better must be written by today than you were an adult, and the yesterday, you’re guidelines specify winning.” What: The Boys & Girls Club that the writers must of the Pikes Peak Region come from the teen’s Youth of the Year Dinner and Onward and Celebration club, academic and upward When: 6 p.m. Feb. 21 personal circles. The The victor of the Where: The Antlers Heritage students must also club contest will Ballroom, 4 S. Cascade Ave. complete a detailed move on to compete Cost: $200 individual tickets, application and pro$1,000-$10,000 table at the state level. vide a biography. sponsorships available The teen named the Then they tie it all RSVP: By Feb. 7 at Colorado Youth of together by writing, bgcppr.org/2019-yoy the Year will receive editing, memorizing Information or questions: a $5,000 scholarship and delivering a Nancy Cramer at and the right to (719) 570-7077 or three-minute speech ncramer@bgcppr.org represent the Centhat incorporates tennial State at the elements of each of Southwest regional their essays. Oh, and championship in Dallas, Texas. the speech must be delivered before a Whomever clinches the Southwest panel of judges and a captive audititle will walk away with a $40,000 ence of club supporters. The gala is scholarship, bragging rights and the not only a contest, but a club fundchance to vie for the $100,000 Boys & raiser and an opportunity to showGirls Clubs of America Youth of the case the exceptional youths who call Year title. the clubs home. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America “It’s good for the kids to be able to also follow a similar process to name share,” Bethel said. “When they finally give their speech ... they under- the Military Youth of the Year. There are 13 civilian clubs and four military stand their impact.” clubs in Colorado, according to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Colorado webLife lessons site. Three of the four military clubs Qualifying and competing for the are at the Air Force Academy, Petercoveted title sounds like a lot, and son Air Force Base and Fort Carson. it undoubtedly is. But the students regan.foster@southeastexpress.org don’t go it alone. Each youth has a
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Quest
Check it out
EXPRESS PHOTO/REGAN FOSTER
Senior Library Associate TerryJosiah Sharpe sits among the instruments inside the Studio at Sand Creek, a fully functional recording studio located inside the Sand Creek Library.
Studio
Continued from page 15
with increasing access to creative outlets in the Southeast branch. The original plans called for a small makerspace, but Spears asked the team to up the ante. Simpson is an advocate for the neighborhood’s burgeoning mu-
CHECK IT OUT The Studio at Sand Creek is open to musicians, voice actors, comedians, poets, podcasters or anyone who is interested in cutting an audio recording. It is free to the public, provided library patrons attend an hour-long orientation session and book the space in advance. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Hours are: • Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. • Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 5 to 8 p.m. • Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. • Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. • Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. • Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon • Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. (reserved for use of the drums) and from 1 to 3 p.m. Orientation sessions take place most Saturdays, and the library hosts open mic/ karaoke on a first-come, first-served from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursdays. For more information or to register for a class, email Keagan Kellogg at kkellogg@ ppld.org or visit ppld.org/creative-services/ studio-sand-creek.
sic scene, so she tapped Keegan Kellogg, a creative services library associate and longtime musician, to design a recording space to rival the best in the business. “Really, it was John telling Abby and the people who work here, ‘dream bigger, do more.’ They did and this is what we got,” said Sand Creek Branch Manager Jake Rundle. “The vision they had for it is just
spectacular. I can’t wait for the Pikes Peak Library District to do the next thing.” The studio, which was built with the help of Comcast, is stocked with state-of-the-art equipment, including instruments, mixing boards and conversion equipment. Renovation of the space — it was once a café area with vending machines — cost about $385,000, Kellogg said. The next addition, due to be escorted to Sand Creek from Germany this year, will be a vinyl cutter for musicians who want to make records, Rundle said. And while some people doubtless miss the sodas and snacks, Studio at Sand Creek has been busy since its 2017 opening. About 450 people have attended orientation sessions, and one local musician recorded a full-length gospel album there. “Everything gets used,” Kellogg said. “I am not going to say, ‘Hey, I knew all of this was going to work,’ but I got really lucky.”
No shushing here
For years, the tableau of a library depicted a silent place where adults and children sat bent over tables full of books, studiously taking notes or quietly swapping discoveries while a stern-but-helpful librarian kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. Clearly, this isn’t that. If you’re quiet in the Studio at Sand Creek, you’re doing it wrong. “Access isn’t just knowledge, access is things,” Rundle said. “That’s why libraries have makerspaces and studios. Libraries are still serving the mission of providing equal access to information. Access just looks different in 2019 than it did in 1999.” regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
HELP WANTED The Studio at Sand Creek, located inside the Sand Creek Library, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., is staffed by two professional musicians and recording experts. However, volunteers who can help with all facets from backup vocals and instrumentals to production are always appreciated. All hopefuls must complete a volunteer application and be able to pass a background check.
For more information or the application, visit ppld.org/volunteer.
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More health care headed to Southeast Peak Vista to open Jet Wing Drive clinic Feb. 18 By REGAN FOSTER The Southeast Express
A gap in local health care services is about to get a big boost — more than 30,000 square feet and a wide range of providers’ worth. Nonprofit primary care provider Peak Vista Community Health Centers is expected to open a new clinic Feb. 18 at 1815 Jet Wing Drive. Dubbed the Health Center at Jet Wing, the facility will eventually house six medical, two dental and two behavioral health providers, along with enrollment services and clinical teams. It will also offer space to area social service and nonprofit organizations whose missions meld with Peak Vista’s. “This is important, it was truly a community need,” said CEO and President Pam McManus. “We knew we needed to get a building ... we could remodel and make it a healing aura.” The campus previously was home to Altierus Career College, and McManus said it met some very specific needs. The 30,500-square-foot building offers enough space that the clinic will be able to partner with other organizations in the area, she said. It also falls on existing bus lines, and is centrally located within an area where access can be an obstacle. “There’s different population areas ... so this felt like a good match for making sure it’s accessible to as many residents as possible,” McManus said. “It’s near some other agencies that we’ll be able to work
with and focus on collaboration.” It’s no secret that health care services are scarce in Southeast. The city’s major hospitals, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and UCHealth Memorial Hospital are both located downtown or north thereof, and urgent care options in Southeast are in short supply. This is despite the fact that in 2018, an average of 188,493 El Paso County residents were insured each month under Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program. According to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, that meant about one out of three El Paso County residents used the income-restricted program, and they rang up $1 billion in actual benefit costs that year, state records show. Currently, the only primary care provider in the Southeast region is Value Care Health Clinic. The 4-year-old, five-provider practice specializes in primary medical care through routine appointments, walk-ins and urgent care, and served more than 4,000 patients last year. Cory Arcarese founded Value Care in December 2014 to help meet the ever-increasing demands of an underserved population. She was pleased to hear that the care options are growing in the neighborhood. “We are very happy Peak Vista is bringing medical services to Southeast and joining us in our endeavor to serve [the area’s] residents with medical services,” Arcarese said. The facility will be Peak Vista’s 26th outpatient center serving Colorado Springs and the surrounding area, said Communications Director Kelly Utermoehlen. The agency initially planned to open its Southeast site this summer, but McManus said it
sped up the timeline in order to address the community’s needs. “Peak Vista has had this on our radar, and we’ve been listening to the community and residential leaders as well as other agencies,” she said. “We’ve been working on this for a long time. I think it was a matter of being able to find the facility and work with funders on different options and availability.” Peak Vista purchased its newest campus for $4.17 million and has budgeted about $3 million for renovations. Work is slated for completion and the building should open in its entirety this fall, Utermoehlen said. “We’re going to be using one side of the building, basically, how it is,” McManus said. “That will just be medical patients and behavioral health. Then, once the renovations are done, we’ll be able to move into the other side of the building and open it fully.” In addition to providing care, the campus will have on-site enrollment specialists to help clients navigate the complicated health care system. At its core, McManus said, the new Southeast clinic means partnership as well as providers. Multiple area stakeholders chimed in on the clinic, including representatives from the RISE Coalition, a partnership of more than 30 nonprofit, public, private and community agencies that serve Southeast. “It’s really important in health care that we all collaborate. I have a lot of respect for what Value Care offers,” she said. “We can all serve the community, and I have really appreciated RISE and the residential leaders and other agencies. I give them incredible credit for being able to share data, ideas, opinions.” regan.foster@southeastexpress.org
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Building the connection Basketball program teaches skills on court, in life By CORY PETERSON For the Express
T
he Palmer Terrors were off to a strong 4-0 start as of Jan. 21. That put the talented sixth-grade squad at the top of its bracket for the 2019 Denver-based Gold Crown Competitive Basketball Program. The silver division pits the Terrors against teams from Littleton, Castle Rock and Parker. And it all put a grin on Terrell Brown’s face. “We really have a talented pool of kids,” he said. “There are some kids you’ll be hearing about” in the future. That’s high praise from a former Division 1 player, one-time El Pomar fellow, multicultural student success coach at Pikes Peak Community College and president and chief executive of an organization dedicated to giving young boys in Southern Colorado Springs critical life skills by teaching them to play basketball. Brown’s program is called Hillside
Courtesy photo/Terrell Brown/Hillside Connection
Terrell Brown (right) encourages members of the Hilliside Connection basketball program during a game.
Connect, and since he launched it in 2017, the organization has trained close to 130 boys through a fourtiered mission that includes clinics, a summer league, community engagement and enrichment. And while the athletes learn oncourt skills, they also learn about
things like sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, volunteerism and hard work. Right now, registration is limited to boys, but Brown hopes include girls’ programs as soon as possible. “There’s a need,” he said. “We’re addressing that need for kids in the community.”
Roots to reality Brown, 26, grew up playing basketball in Southeast. A graduate of Palmer High School, he was a star of the Colorado courts who was named the 2010-11 5A Metro Player of the Continued as BASKETBALL page 21
Kids Club 360 is a safe and convenient before and after-school program providing services in District 2 @ Soaring Eagles, Otero (Oak Creek-feeder location), & James Irwin Charter Elem and in District 8 at Eagleside (Aragon, Jordahl, & Mesafeeder locations) for 5-12 year old’s. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.KIDSCLUB360.COM
If you are having an
OPEN E HOUS Let our readers know. For more information call
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Getting in the game Hillside Connection is powered by a squad of volunteers, board members and community partners. To volunteer or to become a sponsor, email Terrell Brown at hillsideconnectionCOS@gmail.com.
Overtime
About 60 boys in fourth through sixth grades register each summer for the Hillside Connection summer basketball tournament. The children not only learn skills on the court, but life lessons such as teamwork, commitment and service to community.
Basketball Continued from page 20
Year his senior year. He continued to play after high school, attending South Dakota State University and Otero Junior College, where he was a standout athlete and team leader for one season. But it was at Montana State University that Brown hit his collegiate stride and found his calling. In the classroom, Brown was a successful marketing student. On the court, he was a solid utility player. In the community, he strove to connect the university and its young fans. Then, his senior year, Brown learned he would not be re-signed to the team. With a year to go and just a few hours left to finish his degree, the kid from Southeast was on the verge of losing his scholarship. But Brown persevered and graduated with a degree in business marketing. He returned to his home court and joined El Pomar Foundation’s 2016 fellowship class. In that role, Brown worked closely with the Southeast Colorado Springs Project, Emerging Leaders Development Program and El Pomar & Denver Broncos Health and Wellness partnership.
Courtesy photo/Terrell Brown/Hillside Connection
And it was there that Hillside Connection was born. “It was an idea that just took off,” Brown said.
While the athletes learn on-court skills, they also learn about things like sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, volunteerism and hard work
Home court’s advantage In many ways, the Hillside Community Center, 925 S. Institute St., is Brown’s athletic home. His father Nathan Brown was a basketball coach there from 1999 to 2008, and Terrell Brown credits the program with preventing him from “falling victim to the environment [I] grew up in.”
SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT Here are our editor's picks for the must-see matches of February ... WEEK OF FEB. 4 Harrison High School Varsity wrestling: 9 a.m. Feb. 9 at Canon City High School, 1313 College Ave., Canon City. Mitchell High School Girls varsity basketball vs. Canon City: 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at Mitchell High School, 1205 Potter Drive. Boys varsity basketball vs. Canon City: 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Canon City High School, 1313 College Ave, Canon City. Palmer High School Girls varsity swimming state championships: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at VMAC Thornton, 5310 E. 136th Ave., Thornton. Girls varsity swimming state championships: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at VMAC Thornton, 5310 E. 136th Ave., Thornton.
Sierra High School Girls’ varsity basketball vs. Mitchell: 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at Sierra High School, 2250 Jet Wing Drive. Boys’ varsity basketball vs. Mitchell: 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Mitchell High School, 1205 Potter Drive.
WEEK OF FEB. 11 Harrison High School Girls’ varsity basketball vs. Sierra: 6 p.m. Feb. 12 at Harrison High School, 2755 Janitell Road. Boys’ varsity basketball vs. Sierra: 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Sierra High School, 2250 Jetwing Drive. Mitchell High School Girls varsity basketball vs. Harrison: 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at Mitchell High School, 1205 Potter Drive.
So Brown wanted to provide the same opportunity to today’s young athletes. Hillside Connection was formed March 12, 2017, and brings together boys in first through sixth grades to develop resiliency, teamwork and leadership skills. Hillside Connection hosts two annual basketball clinics at the community center and a summer league at Memorial Park. The league draws an average of 60 kids for five weeks (this year’s is scheduled for May 25 through June 22). In addition, elite squads of hard-working athletes are selected to represent the organization in the Rocky Mountain State Games and the Gold Crown tournament. Kids can also earn enrichment trips to venues like the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Broadmoor World Arena, Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts and Denver Broncos Training Camp. “Sports is a tool to bring together kids and partners in the community,” Brown said. But it’s not just about learning a skill or taking an educational field trip. Hillside Connection players also help with community betterment projects, such as painting the
Boys varsity basketball vs. Harrison: 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Harrison High School, 2755 Janitell Road. Palmer High School Coed varsity hockey vs. Coronado: 9:35 p.m. Feb. 13 at 1705 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Sierra High School Girls’ varsity basketball vs. Elizabeth: 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Elizabeth High School, 34500 County Road 13, Elizabeth. Boys’ varsity basketball vs. Elizabeth: 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Sierra High School, 2250 Jet Wing Drive.
WEEK OF FEB. 18 Harrison High School Varsity wrestling: State Championships, Feb. 21-23 at The Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver. Mitchell High School
No prep sports events scheduled
Palmer High School Coed varsity wrestling state championships: Feb. 21-23 at the Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver.
The next Hillside Connection summer basketball league is scheduled for May 25 through June 22 at Memorial Park, 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave. The league is free and open to boys in fourth through sixth grade, including those who will start seventh grade in the fall. Players receive jerseys, and play is overseen by certified volunteer coaches and referees. The league includes tournament play, community service opportunities and guest speakers. For more details, visit hillsideconnection.org, or follow the organizaiton on Facebook and Instagram.
court lines or repairing hoops at the Memorial Park basketball courts. As the program continues to grow, Brown hopes to expand its initiatives to include food-security education and tutoring. And he admits that, for a few young athletes, he has become a male role-model. “With that comes a great sense of responsibility at a young age,” Brown said. “There are certain things that we do not tolerate. It’s very structured; they have to be accountable.” If the parent testimonials are any indication, it’s working. One mother wrote on the Hillside Connection website: “My son has become an honor roll student, reliable friend and a better example for other kids in our Southeast community. Hillside Connection is empowering our youth above and beyond the game of basketball!” sports@southeastexpress.org
Sierra High School Varsity wrestling: State Championships, Feb. 21-23 at The Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver.
WEEK OF FEB. 25 Harrison High School No prep sports events scheduled Mitchell High School No prep sports events scheduled Palmer High School Girls varsity golf: 9 a.m. Feb. 28 at Kennedy Golf Course, 10500 E. Hampden Ave., Denver. Sierra High School No prep sports events scheduled — Compiled by Regan Foster For complete February and March high school sports schedules, visit southeast.express. Schedules will be updated weekly, as information becomes available.
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CALENDAR — Compiled by Regan Foster
Editor’s note: Over the course of two years and interviews with hundreds of Southeast leaders, organizational representatives and residents, we have heard the need for a single, consolidated destination for community-engagement events, training sessions, volunteer opportunities and family friendly outings. The Express’ community calendar will run both in print and online, to help you plan and maximize your and your family’s free time.
The Southeast Express publishes events, meetings and notices of general interest for free both in print and online. Digital notices are updated on Fridays. To submit an item for consideration, email regan.foster@southeastexpress.org. Items for electronic consideration must be received by 5 p.m. the preceding Thursday; items for consideration in our print edition must be received by 5 p.m. the last Monday of the month. The Express reserves the right to edit content for style and clarity, and to determine suitability for publication.
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for those in need — Feb. 14 Dentist with a Heart Day: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Esthetic Family Dentistry LLC, 8580 Scarborough Drive, Suite 105.
Feb. 4
Adult education, “Minding Your Business”: 6 p.m., Sand Creek Library, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., 719-597-7070 or tzarsky@ppld.org.
Feb. 5
Harrison School District Two Board of Education: work session, 5:30 p.m., 1060 Harrison Road., 719-579-2000 or hsd2.org. Colorado Springs School District 11 Family Learning Institute: 6 to 8 p.m. (light dinner served at 5:45 p.m.), Galileo School of Math and Science, 1600 N. Union Blvd., d11.org.
Feb. 6
Harrison High School boys varsity basketball vs. the Classical Academy: 7 p.m., The Classical Academy, 9675 Stout Road. Harrison High School girls varsity basketball vs. The Classical Academy: 7 p.m., Harrison High School, 2755 Janitell Road. Sierra High School boys varsity basketball vs. Widefield: 7 p.m., Widefield High School, 615 Widefield Drive. Sierra High School girls varsity basketball vs. Widefield: 7 p.m, Sierra High School, 2250 Jet Wing Drive. Film in the Community, “Colorado Experience: Fannie Mae Duncan”: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Hillside Community Center, 925 S. Institute St.
Basketball Harrison High School boys varsity basketball vs. the Classical Academy: 7 p.m., The Classical Academy, 9675 Stout Road. Harrison High School girls varsity basketball vs. The Classical Academy: 7 p.m., Harrison High School, 2755 Janitell Road. Sierra High School boys varsity basketball vs. Widefield: 7 p.m., Widefield High School, 615 Widefield Drive. Sierra High School girls varsity basketball vs. Widefield: 7 p.m, Sierra High School, 2250 Jet Wing Drive.
Denver; $20-$44, 303-405-1139.
Feb. 12
Colorado Springs City Council: meeting, 1 p.m., council chambers, 107 N. Nevada Ave. Adult class, “Preserving Fruit Jam Making”: 5 to 9 p.m., Hillside Community Center, $15 per person, ages 18 and over only. RSVP to 719-385-7900 or hillsidecenter@springsgov.com.
Feb. 13
Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education: regular meeting, 6:30 to 10 p.m., 1115 N. El Paso St., 719-520-2000 or d11.org. Latino Community Luncheon: 11 a.m., Hotel Elegante, 2886 S. Circle Drive, latinocommunityluncheon.com or c.abeyta@live.com.
Feb. 14
Dentist with a Heart Day (free dental care for those in need): 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Esthetic Family Dentistry LLC, 8580 Scarborough Drive, Suite 105.
Feb. 15
High School boys varsity wrestling regional championships: Discovery Canyon High School, 1810 Northgate Blvd.
Feb. 16
Feb. 8
“Mother-Daughter Talk, Two Worlds One Home,” by Julissa Soto: 5 p.m., Atlas Preparatory Middle School, 1602 S. Murray Blvd.
High School boys varsity wrestling regional championships: Discovery Canyon High School, 1810 Northgate Blvd. Community Health Fair (screenings, demonstrations, stress management, food truck and more): Christian House of Prayer, 4360 Bradley Road.
Feb. 9
Feb. 17
Colorado Springs School District 11 All-School Chess Tournament: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palmer High School library, 301 N. Nevada Ave, https:// tinyurl.com/ybz7urem. Ruth Holley Library Rededication and Black Womxn OpenMic: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ruth Holley Library, 685 N. Murray Blvd.
Feb. 10
League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region “Love the League”: 4 to 6 p.m., Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave.
Feb. 11
School District 11 Community Night with the Denver Nuggets: 7 p.m., Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle,
getINVOLVED
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FREE DENTAL CARE
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All-ages concert, Roots of a Rebellion with Resinated: 7 p.m., The Black Sheep, 2106 E. Platte Ave.; $12-$14, ticketfly.com.
Feb. 18
Presidents Day: Government offices and schools closed.
Feb. 19
Adult education, Excel class: 4-5:30 p.m., Sand Creek Library Computer Lab, 1821 S. Academy Blvd.
Feb. 20
Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education: special meeting and work session, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., 1115 N. El Paso St., 719-520-2000 or d11.org.
The Southeast Express gladly considers family friendly, community-engagement announcements for inclusion in the community calendar and listings Please email your items to news@southestexpress.org and include “calendar” in the subject line.
“Beyond Dialogue: Tools for Reclaiming Trust” by Shaun King: 7 to 8:30 p.m., Kathryn Mohrman Theatre, 14 E. Cache la Poudre St., Eventbrite.com.
Feb. 21
Harrison School District Two Board of Education: regular meeting, 6 p.m., 1060 Harrison Road., 719-579-2000 or hsd2.org.
Feb. 22
Deerfield Hills Mobile Pantry: 11 a.m., Deerfield Hills Community Center & Sprayground, 4290 Deerfield Hills Road, 719-385-5996. Black Law Presents, “Art, Talent, Love Southern Art & Music Showcase”: 7 p.m., The Social, 3506 N. Academy Blvd.; $10-$20, Eventbrite. com. Concert, “Fannie Mae Duncan’s Legacy”: 7 to 11 p.m., Stargazers Theatre and Event center, 10 S. Parkside Drive; $5 general admission, children under 12 free.
Feb. 23
Children’s History Hour, “Charles Collins & The Horse Parade”: 9 to 10 a.m., Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, RSVP cspm.org/rsvp-for-an-event.
Feb. 24
Sixth annual Multicultural Black History Program: 4 to 7 p.m., Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, 10 S. Parkside Drive.
Feb. 25
Adult education, “Taste of Pillar”: 10 to 11:30 a.m., Sand Creek Library, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., Melanie Wehrle, mwherle@ppld.org or 719-531-6333, Ext. 6114.
Feb. 26 RISE Coalition: meeting, 1 to 3 p.m., Solid Rock Christian Center, 2520 Arlington Drive. Adult education, “Food Preservation Pickling Veggies”: 5 to 9 p.m., Hillside Community Center, $15 per person, ages 18 and over only. RSVP to 719-385-7900 or hillsidecenter@ springsgov.com.
Feb. 27
Colorado Springs School District 11 school board: regular meeting, 6:30 to 10 p.m., 1115 N. El Paso St., 520-2000 or d11.org
Feb. 28
Peak Startup February Pitch Night: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 415 N. Tejon St.
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In Your Words
What does Southeast Colorado Springs mean to you?
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Spotted in Southeast
Asked Nov. 13 at the Sand Creek Library
Leroy Jaramillo
Christine Zanoni
Kacey Dash
“I lived here my whole life, so when I think of this part of town . . . it’s convenient. You have the grocery story, the library, the Sand Creek Trail that’s good to ride your bike on.”
“The library here is really good, and we used to go the (movie theater) here. There are a lot of things that are good down here.”
“It’s open. (There are) nice people, a lot of job opportunities and a very nice, clean area.”
Banquet server
Jordan Bruno Game producer
“It is just pretty much a way of life. It’s my sunshine of happiness. It says ‘life’ to me.”
Homemaker
Maria Romero Student
“It means home — growth.”
Financial trader
Arnisha Gainer
Mental health social worker
“It’s beautiful here, I love it. We moved here from Ohio, so it’s a nice change of scenery. Nice people, I love (Southeast).”
Express photo/Regan Foster
A statue of the Greek goddess Nike is bathed in morning sunlight at the Shrine of Remembrance on a cloudless January day. The granite artwork is a life-sized replica of ’The Winged Victory of Samothrace,’ an ancient marble sculpture of the goddess of victory currently housed in the Louvre in Paris. The Express aims to highlight public art and unique spaces in each edition. Tell us about your favorite hidden gem by emailing features@southeastexpress.org.
Solid Rock Community Development Corporation We’re here to build a SE Colorado Springs economy that emphasizes the importance of small business development, affordable housing and infrastructure improvement which results in a healthy community environment.
“SE Colorado Springs is a truly diverse community. We are the example of collaborative efforts between city, private investment and businesses resulting in economic development.” Benjamin Anderson, Executive Director
Learn more at facebook.com/srcdc1
solidrockcdc.com