FLTI Week 13

“Hearing and understanding means resisting the urge to persuade, which seems both radical and uncomfortable.” -Catherine Epstein

Dear Leaders,

We are so close to Day at the Capitol! This event is the apex of our training – we will observe the civic process firsthand and meet our legislators face-to-face. We will observe Senate and House proceedings, attend committee hearings and engage with other participants across the state. It was on this day in 2017, when I was a participant, that our cohort became a reality. I met Rep. Jeff Bridges (now Senator) and shared my Civic Project to bring FLTI to his district. He connected me to the Mayor of Sheridan (now-FLTI Alum Dallas Hall) that afternoon and from there our site was born! This day is POWERFUL!

THIS WEEK:

In Session 13, we will discuss What is Public Policy? 

Adult objectives:

• Understand public policy as a tool for democracy, citizen participation, and social impact.
• Recognize the kinds of public policy and what components make them succeed.
• Discuss the particular significance of policy related to prevention and intervention.

Youth objectives:

• Understand the importance of public policy as a tool for democracy, citizen participation, and social impact.
• Understand the structure of the state government (and parallel federal government) and experience the process of introducing and passing a bill in the legislature.
• Understand the lawmaking process and understand how citizens participate in the lawmaking process.

Important Information:

• Submit your Civic Project Rough Draft in person or via email by next Tuesday.
  • Project examples attached in the email for your reference.
• Participant homework – The attached worksheet will be given out on Tuesday in both classes. If you would like to get a head start, complete the worksheet and bring it to class.

 REMINDERS:

• Civic Project Report rough draft is DUE. Project Report Components attached.
• Day at the Capitol is Monday, April 15. Employer/school letter attached.
• A 3 sentence description and Project Title is due Week 18 (May 7).
  • Review the 2018 Civic Project Report for inspiration.
• Other important dates are noted on your Table of Contents sheet in your binder.

NEWS:

• Interesting article on public health efforts: When “Upstream” Public Health Efforts Fall Short.
• Vision Performing Arts College Prep is hiring and recruiting. More info here.
• Southwest Denver FLTI is hiring a Site Coordinator. Posting here. 
• Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) program needs volunteers to help build a wheelchair ramp on April 16 and 17 from 9a-4:30p. Sign up here.
• Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver needs Spanish-speaking volunteers to survey residents in Globeville and Elyria-Swansea (GES) on weekdays from 5 – 7:30p throughout April and May. Sign up here.
• Community meeting April 18 at Colorado Community Church (2220 S Chambers Rd) 8:30a-11a to discuss fatherhood engagement and overall effort to prevent child abuse/neglect. RSVP here.

“Compromise, communication, and consistency are needed in all of our relationships, not just the romantic ones.” -alex elle