Justice Watch (JW) is a new branch of CC Prison Project club that has recently been created and focuses on holding judges and attorneys accountable for fair treatment in courthouses. Justice Watch sends students to the El Paso County Courthouse (located on S. Tejon St.) to observe and report judges’ demeanor. The club’s goal is to make sure that judges are behaving appropriately and are held accountable for bias or mistreatment. JW’s mission statement is “to be the eyes and ears of the community and keep judges accountable for their behavior.” This group offers an opportunity for low time commitment and high impact involvement for students.

One of CCE workers, Julia Bazavluk, recently connected with Key Duckworth, one of the leaders of Justice Watch. We have asked her to share what kinds of activities JW performs, how students can get involved, what the purpose and goals of the group are. Now, in the form of a interview, we are going to share what we have found out.

Julia: Hi Key! Thank you so much for being willing to share information as well as your thoughts and hopes about Justice Watch with us. To start, please tell us what inspired the creation of the JW at CC?

Key: Hi Julia! Thank you for reaching out to me. Starting this group on campus was not my original idea, but an idea pitched to Gail Murphy-Geiss by a former student. Gail has been sending students to the courthouse as part of her FYE for many years. By creating a Justice Watch club, we are hoping that we can get enough data to compile a report for the Chief Justice.

Julia: Is CC JW going to be connected to Justice Watch Inc. (https://www.judicialwatch.org/) ? If yes, in what ways, and how would you plan to cooperate with them?

Key: We are not affiliated with this organization. Justice Watch did, however, start as a now-defunct non-profit in the Springs community (https://www.guidestar.org/profile/72-1586290). We hope to bring Jan Weiland and other community members back into the organization once it is more established.

Julia: This sounds like a good plan, and we hope you will be able to accomplish it! How do you think Justice Watch will impact CC students, culture, and atmosphere on campus?

Key: I think that Justice Watch will make CC students more aware of what truly goes on in the court system. Additionally, if we succeed in gathering enough data to present a report to the Chief Justice, I think the experience will empower students to be more politically active by showing them that they can actually have an impact on judges behavior. (In the past, Justice Watch reports have resulted in 2 judges being removed from juvenile court for inappropriate behavior.)

 

Julia: Wow, we didn’t know that JW has had such a big impact in the past! But what can CC students bring into the club, and how can they get involved?

Key: Students can get involved by contacting any of the group leaders. We will give students a rundown on what to expect at the courthouse, how to fill out a data sheet, and how to act while observing judges. After that, they are free to go to court and observe/record data whenever is convenient for them (preferably at least once a block).

Julia: Also, what events, if any, will the club organize? Do you have specific ideas/dates in mind?

Key: We will try to meet at least once a block during the first week although we don’t have specific dates yet.

Julia: Are there any groups on campus that might be similar to Justice Watch? If yes, would you be able to cooperate with them and what would you do?

Key: I am not aware of any.

Julia: It’s good because it means that you are going to be a very unique organization that can potentially attract a lot of CC students. What will be an approximate schedule of the meetings? How big of a commitment will it be for students who get involved?

Key: We will try to meet as a group once a block. This can be as high or low of a commitment as student choose — they are free to observe as many dockets and judges as they want.

Julia: It is awesome that you provide a lot of freedom for the students do decide their personal level of commitment. But what do you feel will be the biggest issues/problems facing the club?

Key: I think our biggest issue will be student reliability. Because we have people go whenever is most convenient, I worry that some students will forget to or decide that walking twenty minutes is not worth it. I am hoping to start a group message of some sort so that people can arrange carpools or choose times to go in groups as I think this might keep people more accountable.

Julia: Oh, I see. I am sure that there will be students who are interested in the court system and a fair treatment of people there. Finally, where do you envision the club to be in five years?

Key:  In five years, I hope that we will be able to compile enough information to write a report every year. I also hope that we will have community members involved.

Julia: I hope you will achieve this goal, and we wish you best of luck!

Key: Thank you so much!

This past week, the CCE held our second community engagement fair for the 2017-18 school year.  Like the event in the fall, this event provided CC students with an opportunity to connect with representatives from local non-profits and educational partners of the Collaborative for Community Engagement (CCE) office. The CCE helps students go off campus and engage with the Colorado Springs community in meaningful ways through community service activities such as tutoring, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or raising money for charities. By bringing some of these organizations to our campus, Colorado College gave students a chance to make a difference not just on campus, but on a larger scale in Colorado Springs area.

Below are groups that had tables at the fair.  Students are welcome to reach out to them directly or use the CCE to make a connection. Additional contact details and organization information can be found  on our Summit site at https://apps.ideal-logic.com/cce.

Rocky Mountain Field Institute – https://rmfi.org – Dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of public lands in the Southern Rocky Mountain region through volunteer-based trail and restoration projects, environmental education, and restoration research. Contact information: Molly Mazel.

Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center – http://pptrc.org – Utilizing the unique and therapeutic attributes of the horse, their mission is to serve those with diverse needs, empower change, foster resilience, and nurture whole health through sustainable and innovative programs. Contact information: Chester DeAngelis.

Friends of the Peak – http://ww.fotp.com – A group with the goals of providing a unified, pro-active voice for the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of Pikes Peak, promoting and enhancing recreational opportunities and visitor experiences that are in harmony with that environment, and promoting awareness of and education about Pikes Peak. Contact information: Susan Jarvis.

Early Connections Learning Centers – https://www.earlyconnections.org – Focused on providing high quality, comprehensive early care and education for all. Contact information: Ashley Groves.

City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services –https://coloradosprings.gov/department/76 – The mission of City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services is to serve residents and visitors through stewardship of distinctive cultural, natural and recreational resources; provisions of exceptions facilities and programs; and effective leadership and collaboration for the vitality and economic health of our community. Contact information: Brian Kates.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains – https://www.plannedparenthood.org –  The Mission of Planned Parenthood is to provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual, to advocate public policies which guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services, to provide educational programs which enhance understanding of individual and societal implications of human sexuality, to promote research and the advancement of technology in reproductive health care and encourage understanding of their inherent bioethical, behavioral, and social implications. Contact information: Nico Wilkinson.

Pikes Peak United Way – http://www.ppunitedway.org – An organization committed to improving the quality of life in the Colorado Springs community. Contact information: Deanna Toney.

Pikes Peak Children’s Museum – pikespeakchildrensmuseum.org – Strives to develop and operate a innovative children’s museum serving the Pikes Peak region, envisioning the museum as a dynamic place for discovery and imagination and sparking a passion for lifelong learning. Contact Information: Nohea March.

Goodwill – discovermygoodwill.org – Goodwill strives to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by helping people reach their full potential through education, skills training, and the power of work. Contact information: Grace Vigil.

Ronald McDonald House – rmhcsouthercolorado.org – Keeps families with critically ill children close to each other and provides care and resources they need when they need it most. Contact information: Emily Odiwuor.

Care and Share Food Bank – careandshare.org – Care and Share Food Bank believes that no one should go hungry. Every day, they provide food to our partner agencies across Southern Colorado to serve our neighbors in need because well-fed communities are better for us all. Care and Share exists to ensure that the one in eight Southern Coloradans at risk of hunger have access to enough healthy and nutritious food to thrive. They know that children without adequate access to food cannot develop successfully, families cannot plan for their future, and seniors find it more difficult to remain independent. Contact information: Eric Pizana.

Peace Corps – peacecorps.gov – Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation. Contact information: Karyn Sweeney.

Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity – pikespeakhabitat.org – Brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Contact information: Iassa Ring.

CASA – Provides a volunteer’s voice in court for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic conflict and promotes awareness of these issues to ensure safe and permanent homes. Contact information: Uriko Stout.

Marian House Soup Kitchen – ccharitiescc.org – In response to Jesus Christ’s call to affirm the value and dignity of each human life, to build solidarity within the community, and to advocate for justice for the poor and vulnerable, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado humbly engages in the ministry of charity for those in both economic and spiritual poverty so that all – staff, volunteers, and clients –  may fully achieve their God-given potential. Contact information: Doug Rouse.

Colorado Springs CONO – cscono.org – Dedicated to improving Colorado Springs’ quality of life through neighborhoods. Contact information: Rachel G.

Children’s Literacy Center – childrensliteracycenter.org – Strives to build a life of success through a foundation of literacy. ONE child at a time. Contact information: Pamela Polke.

Kids in Motion – http://csdance.org/kids-in-motion/ – 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes dance in the Pikes Peak Region across generations. Their mission is to present a diverse range of world class dance forms, to educate young dancers, and to provide outreach to underserved children and their families. Contact information: marketing@csdance.org

 

A big thank you to everyone involved, and let’s hope next year’s fairs are just as successful!

Content by Julia Bazavluk
Edited by Richard Bishop

Dream Outside the Box

Beginning this semester, look out for a new student organization – Dream Outside the Box – here at CC. Dream Outside the Box (DOTB) is a non-profit organization in Colorado Springs that works to propel at-risk youth onto a higher education trajectory by mobilizing college students to engage children in imaginative careers and extracurriculars. DOTB work with children in existing youth development organizations to provide:

1. exposure to new activities and career options to broaden horizons beyond stereotypical career aspirations such as rap or football by inviting college student organizations to share their respective interests, such as chemistry & fencing
2. long-term development opportunities via weekly lessons, camps, and apprenticeships through partnerships with private organizations
3. opportunities for our youth to embrace service starting at age 5

Every Dream Outside the Box program is designed for dual impact: to propel youth in dream deserts toward higher education while cultivating leadership skills among collegiate volunteers. By producing imaginative programming in dream deserts, college students broaden the horizons of K-5 youth while developing skills to contribute toward the disruption of cyclical poverty.

CCE staff has recently talked to the initiator of the Dream Outside the Box club at CC, Turner Black. We would like to share in this blog what we have find out about the purpose and aspirations of DOTB at CC in the form of an interview.

Julia (CCE worker): Hi Turner! Thank you so much for cooperating with us and sharing this invaluable information about DOTB club that you have started. To begin, please tell us what inspired you to found DOTB at CC?

Turner: Hi Julia! Thank you for helping me promote this organization at CC. Turner: When I was signing up for clubs and applying to participate, I had trouble getting accepted to most of the programs, as they were all quite full. I also happen to simply love and believe in this program, and therefore I thought it would be a great idea to bring it to CC community. I decided to bring DOTB to CC because I know this community on campus can be a bubble sometimes, and I think it is important to be able to create meaningful connections with members of the community, especially when that can be done by reaching out to our youngest generation.

Julia: I have heard that the very first DOTB organization was founded in Columbia University. I was wondering if CC DOTB is going to be connected in any way to Columbia’s club?

Turner: We are not connected to Columbia’s DOTB group in any direct way. However, we are connected with a group that was founded at Missouri State University by a friend of mine when she was a freshman in college. She is now a successful adult who helps to run these programs all across the country.

Julia: This is awesome! I hope she will be able to help you promote your organization at CC.  How do you think this club will impact CC students, culture, and atmosphere on campus?

Turner: I hope this club will allow even more students to get involved with youth in the community in fun, variable, and creative ways. Because our model requires a different student group or organization to get involved each week (as our “Dream Buddies”), a large number of students are able to be involved just a couple of times, when they are available, and are able to become exposed to volunteering with youth without a huge commitment. Along with that, we really strive to create and maintain a consistent group of volunteers (“Volunteer Buddies”) that are willing to make time every week to come and see their “Dreamers” (students) and to truly create a bond with one or two students so that the students have some consistency and something to look forward to each week that includes the same people.

Julia: And what do you think CC students can bring into the club, and how can they get involved?

Turner: CC students can bring energy, creativity, organizational skills, and management skills- all of those things would be helpful. However, the only true requirement for students to bring is a heart full of love ready to pour out to the kids each week. Getting involved is as easy as texting (817) 889-7303 or signing up for our organization on Summit! We will have an interest meeting in early next semester, and will also be at the winter activities fair. There is also an app called DOTB that anyone can download to sign up to volunteer, get more information, and watch adorable videos of previous students sharing their experiences and newfound dreams.

Julia: It looks like there are a lot of ways for CC students to connect to DOTB! Also, What events, if any, will the club organize? Do you have specific ideas/dates in mind?

Turner: I am not quite sure yet, although I do know we will have a fun interest meeting in the first block of next semester, and will weekly be going to a local school or YMCA (not 100% sure which one yet) to do exciting and meaningful activities with elementary school aged students.

Julia:  Are there any groups on campus that might be similar to Dream Outside the Box? If yes, would you be able to cooperate with them and what would you do?

Turner: Yes, there are other groups on campus that work with students, and I would enjoy collaborating with them, especially if they are working with students in middle or high school. I believe that bringing in students of other ages to talk to the elementary schoolers and answer questions about higher education would be a really cool opportunity, especially because we need to inspire them to stay in school until graduation if we want to inspire them to pursue higher education, whatever that may look like. The only issue I foresee with collaborating with other groups is the transportation of students and volunteers, as our budget is somewhat limited in that respect at the moment.

Julia: Talking about the commitment level this club will require, what will be an approximate schedule of the meetings? How big of a commitment will it be for students who get involved?

Turner: We will meet once a week for the first three weeks of block, and then will likely take one week off for fourth week of each block. Each meeting will be located near campus, and transportation will be available for those without cars. Every session will take about an hour and a half total, as the session with students is officially one hour, but volunteers are expected to show up about half an hour early to go over the day’s activities and prepare the supplies – that way, everyone is on the same page when working with kids individually, and we will be able to have group discussions afterwards, as everyone performed the same tasks. Overall, this will not be a terribly time consuming commitment, and, at least for me, it always seems to be far more fun than stressful, as the students are so sweet and loving.

Julia: So I assume there will be opportunities for CC students to get off campus with the club?

 

Turner: Definitely! We will have weekly sessions at another location off campus, so there will be lots of reasons for students to get off campus.

Julia: What do you feel are the biggest issues/problems facing the club, if any?

Turner: At this point, the main issue I foresee is not being able to recruit enough committed people that will want to come each week, as there are already many clubs on campus. However, I have hope for this club, as I truly believe that once people try it out, they will fall in love with it!

Julia: I hope that many of CC students will be very interested in signing up for DOTB, since even though there are a lot of clubs at CC, there are none similar to DOTB in its purpose. FInally, where do you envision the club to be in five years?

Turner: In five years, I envision the club still in action, with a well-rehearsed curriculum and a stable group of committed students leading it. I hope at this point, we will be able to reach out to our previous students and see how they have come in school, and possibly bring them back into our wing of support and involve them in giving back to their community by doing service through the DOTB programming and mentoring other students to continue pursuing their biggest dreams.

Julia: Thank you so much for such thorough responses! I am very excited to see your passion and see what great things DOTB will do in the future!

Turner: Thank you! DOTB will try its best to live up to our expectations and hopes.

 

Content and interview by Julia Bazavluk