Growing Up Boulder—a new youth engagement and action initiative—will hold a kick-off event at the University of Colorado at Boulder (UCB) from noon to 6 p.m. at the University Memorial Center (on the corner of Broadway and Euclid).
“This will be THE place to be for all Boulder Valley teens on Saturday,” Dr. Deirdre Pilch, Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership at Boulder Valley School District said.
Growing Up Boulder is a joint community initiative between the City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), CU-Boulder and a growing number of community organizations.
The free event for youth and their families will feature:
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A poetry slam;
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A logo design contest for the initiative;
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Graffiti art activity with a local artist;
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Discussion of youth issues with city leaders;
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Activity teaching youth how to create short community-related videos; and
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Free food, music and hourly giveaways.
Young people participating in the initiative have helped craft the kick-off event to ensure it reflects their community priorities while providing a fun venue for the exchange of ideas. In addition to break-out sessions on topics such as “skateboarding as a means of transportation,” they will present results from their recent survey of Boulder businesses.
“We want to create an environment in which young people are not only at the table and being heard, but where they are partners in helping to make change happen,” Director of Children, Youth and Environments Center at UCB Willem van Vliet said. “We talk about this concept in the classroom and in our research. The project is a chance for us to put theory into action.”
“We’re very excited about this new initiative,” added Jane Brautigam, Boulder’s city manager. “It’s a way for us to engage an entire part of the population that doesn’t typically come to Council meetings and other city events. We think they have important information that we need to hear. We look forward to working with them on how to make the city a better place for everyone.”
Partnering to create the Growing Up Boulder initiative are CU-Boulder, the City of Boulder, BVSD and a number of community partners including Boulder Housing Partners, the I Have A Dream Foundation, Voices For Children CASA, the Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, and independent local schools. The initiative is also supported by an award from the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee and a gift from Cynda Collins Arsenault.
Note to media: Photo opportunities will be available with local youth discussing community-related issues with the city council members. See the event schedule below for complete details.
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Growing Up Boulder Kick-off Event:
Saturday Oct. 10, 2009; Noon to 6:00 p.m.
CU-Boulder University Memorial Center (UMC), Glenn Miller Ballroom
12:00–1:00 p.m. Open House and Registration
1:00–5:00 p.m. Presentations and Roundtable Discussions
5:00–6:00 p.m. Free Concert
Growing Up Boulder aims to build meaningful connections between young people, community leaders, and decision-makers to make Boulder a more inclusive city that supports the needs of all young people. For more information, visit www.growingupboulder.org.