Boulder, CO - MyTown Colorado2024-03-29T12:27:50Zhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/forum/categories/boulder-co/listForCategory?categoryId=2021996%3ACategory%3A12&feed=yes&xn_auth=noOpinion: The Cannabis Industry in Colorado is Struggling, but it Could be Worsetag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2024-02-20:2021996:Topic:2729582024-02-20T20:04:51.889ZJasper Geierhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/JasperGeier
Since I came out to Colorado in 2019, it would be safe to say I’ve enjoyed the weed. I came from Chicago, Illinois where I’m a medical patient and where cannabis culture and legalization have manifested in very different ways than it did in Colorado. Don’t get me wrong, you all in Colorado were first, but in recent years the industry has slowed down.<br />
Amid the continued federal prohibition and an abundance of supply but little demand following the massive upswing in consumption during the…
Since I came out to Colorado in 2019, it would be safe to say I’ve enjoyed the weed. I came from Chicago, Illinois where I’m a medical patient and where cannabis culture and legalization have manifested in very different ways than it did in Colorado. Don’t get me wrong, you all in Colorado were first, but in recent years the industry has slowed down.<br />
Amid the continued federal prohibition and an abundance of supply but little demand following the massive upswing in consumption during the pandemic, cannabis business owners have found it difficult to keep their doors open all over the state. A lot of factors play into what is going on with Cannabis in Colorado these days but for us stoners it’s easy to find some silver linings.<br />
Colorado was the first state in the U.S. to allow the recreational sale of marijuana back in 2012, when amendment 64 to Colorado’s constitution, for the first time, allowed for the sale, regulation, and consumption of recreational marijuana. Legalization was a landmark decision that not only allowed the citizens of Colorado to enjoy cannabis, but also spawned an industry of legal cannabis tourism, at the time unheard of in the rest of the U.S.. Legalization has been great for Colorado, as state taxes on cannabis have gone toward providing $40 million annually to the “public school capital construction assistance fund.”<br />
Federal prohibition continues to be, objectively, the largest hurdle faced by the cannabis industry. As other states began legalizing recreational cannabis and the industry as a whole grew larger companies began operating across multiple legal states, however due to the continued federal prohibition of cannabis these companies are still prohibited from transferring any cannabis products from one state to another. Beyond the limitations it places on interstate commerce, anybody legally working in the cannabis industry in Colorado can technically be tried under federal law, although in recent years the Federal government has agreed to not provide funding for law enforcement that contradicts local state laws.<br />
An end to federal prohibition would truly open up the industry like never before and the Biden administration is said to be working to make it a possibility by fulfilling his 2020 campaign promise to reduce federal restrictions on marijuana. As of October 2023, the DEA seems likely to approve the HHS’s recommendation that marijuana be reduced to a schedule 3 substance.<br />
Amendment 64 that allowed the recreational sale, use, and regulation of marijuana in Colorado also stated that “Marijuana should be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol,” and I for one totally agree out of the interest of public safety. Even the most staunch marijuana supporters, myself included, must acknowledge that to regulate marijuana in a similar manner to alcohol we need a weed breathalyzer.<br />
Well at least something like a weed breathalyzer. Last year researchers at The University of Colorado Boulder conducted a study right around the corner from my house. The “proof of concept” study, a collaboration between the university and NIST, found unlike blood alcohol concentration the presence of THC in blood does not equate to the level of intoxication one may or may not be experiencing. The findings suggest that it is unlikely that cannabis impairment can be judged off of a one breath sample. However the National Institute of Standards and Technology has offered CU a $600,000 grant to continue the research.<br />
Stoners may scoff, but to be interested in public safety is to support the fight against impaired driving, which accounted for 47 cannabis related fatalities in car crashes during the last five years according to CDOT.<br />
Last year I saw John Mulaney at the Macky Auditorium. Fresh out of rehab for drugs and alcohol, Mulaney’s new comedy show commented heavily on addiction and offered audience members a chance to share their own experiences with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Muaney asked audience members to raise their hands if they’d been to an outpatient rehab facility before, calling on one young man to hear his story. The guy spoke about how he took himself to a rehab center after being involved in two cannabis related car wrecks. He admitted to regularly consuming cannabis behind the wheel as said that after his second near death experience he knew he needed help.<br />
People can say whatever they want about cannabis and all the ways in which it is better than alcohol, it truly is a healthier vice, but any substance that causes impairment has the ability to cause irreparable harm to others on the road. Any attempt to federally regulate legal marijuana therefore requires measures put into place to protect public safety, just as they do with regards to alcohol.<br />
None of this is to say that support for increased regulation is not favored in Colorado. Colorado has been at the tip of the spear of cannabis legalization from the very beginning and at this point the only way to sustain the increased size of Colorado’s cannabis industry would be allowing exportation to other states. The market in Colorado has been saturated with cannabis cultivators, shops, and brands who after 11 years of legalization can’t find any more new customers to justify continued growth. The pandemic saw an unprecedented increase in marijuana sales as people stocked up in order to pass long hours at home during lockdown. 2020 recreational and medical sales topped $226 million but unfortunately there seems to be no foreseeable way to reach those highs again.<br />
It was good being the first state in the country to legalize weed, but as nationwide attitudes toward marijuana have begun to shift in favor of continued legalization, Colorado’s position as the first has come with some drawbacks. First of all the elephant in the room; Montana and Arizona’s legalization of marijuana in 2020 with New Mexico following the next year. Having been one of the only recreationally legal states for so long there is little doubt that cannabis tourism as well as illegal transportation of marijuana across state lines constituted a somewhat significant portion of Colorado’s marijuana sales.<br />
The pandemic was great for the weed business all over the country at first, coinciding with recreational legalization in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York between 2019 and 2023. While in Colorado, the record highs of the pandemic would be impossible to sustain in the long run.<br />
Whenever I’m back home in Chicago it is hard not to be aghast at the culture of legal marijuana that has developed since the pandemic. I may not be from Colorado but I have seen enough to know that the regulations and corporatization that have dominated the cannabis market in Illinois seem utterly wasteful, counterproductive, and exclusionary in comparison. Yet, as of this year, Colorado has fallen to the sixth largest cannabis job market in the U.S., behind California, Michigan, and even Illinois.<br />
As of 2023, of the six largest cannabis companies in the U.S., three are based in Chicago, Illinois, where cannabis products are sealed in wasteful packaging at the factory. Options for dispensaries are limited and ones that cater to medical patients are even more scarce. Dispensaries are usually brightly colored and nicely decorated, but there is nothing more depressing than the prices. In Chicago consumers often pay 89% more per item than in the rest of the U.S., and yet people just keep buying it. So far in 2023, Illinois cannabis retails have seen over $950 million in sales with 68% of those coming from only ten brands.<br />
As a medical patient I get to pay almost ten times less tax on cannabis than recreational customers in Illinois, however I often find myself being gouged for an eighth in Chicago when I could buy it in Denver for a quarter the price or less. That is with a prescription.<br />
The pandemic fueled rapid growth of the cannabis industry in Illinois because legalization simply came at the right time. Citizens of Illinois had all the time in the world to go out and try cannabis during the lockdowns of 2020. People did in Colorado too, but having had legalized recreational cannabis since 2012, between the market saturation, continued legalization in other states, and the sales bubble of the pandemic, it doesn’t seem feasible for Colorado’s weed sales to ever return to their record highs.<br />
If federal legalization doesn't become a reality, then it’s on Colorado to find out where to go with its cannabis industry. In a move toward cultivating a more self-sufficient industry Governor Polis announced this past year that Colorado’s new Cannabis Business Office will be offering loans in order to help establish cannabis businesses that “meet the state’s social equity requirements.” Such a program would bolster Colorado’s cannabis industry by bringing in greater diversity to the industry which is already much more developed than some of its more recent peers. Because cannabis remains illegal federally, participating in business legally in Colorado comes with drawbacks like an inability to secure many loans, hence the cash only business model. Getting the funds necessary to start or sustain a cannabis business can be even harder for those who received a criminal record for dealing with marijuana in the past, but by offering them state loans, Colorado can improve its social equity in a way no other state can.<br />
Although Colorado’s cannabis industry has entered a severe lull, it’s important to remember that the biggest is not always the best. Colorado has shown great maturity in leading the charge for cannabis legalization since 2012. While working toward a federally legalized future Colorado has always been focused on protecting its own industry and the people who work in it. Colorado’s willingness to adapt to the changing circumstances of cannabis legalization gives consumers like me the feeling that legalization is about more than profits.<br />
I can’t say the same about Illinois. I have to say that I envy those Chicagoans who’ve never bought legal weed anywhere else, maybe they think they’re getting the best product for the best price. However, having purchased marijuana in multiple states and countries, and having cared about the culture and repairing some of the damage done in the drug war, I can say with confidence that Colorado’s example should be looked to by other states, even if it doesn’t work for everyone. Legal Cannabis in Illinois feels like a racket, it feels dirty and wrong on so many levels. Between the excessive plastic packaging, the exorbitant prices, and lack of availability of recreational marijuana in Illinois, I urge those in Colorado’s cannabis industry not to wish for the situation that is happening in Illinois even if it means more sales and more profitability.<br />
Unlike a lot of other states, it is safe to say that Colorado not only has its own history of marijuana, it has its own history since legalization. Future lawmakers and business people alike will have missed out if they don’t look back on Colorado’s intimate history with legalized weed. How can we as a country hope to repair the social inequities caused by the war on drugs if the federal government decides to follow Illinois’s model? How can we actually impact the illegal market by offering a superior yet cost effective product instead? I don’t know the answers to these questions but I know that Colorado is closer than some other states to figuring it out.<br />
<br />
Sources:<br />
Brambila , Nicole C. “Marijuana Breathalyzer? CU Boulder Study Says It’s Tricky.” Colorado Springs Gazette, 13 Sept. 2023, gazette.com/news/marijuana/cannabis-breathalyzer-not-likely/article_90e14348-531e-11ee-bc27-232c59ddf521.html.<br />
Boyanton, Megan Ulu-Lani. “Colorado’s Cannabis Industry Has Fallen on Hard Times. What Does the Future Hold?” The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 21 May 2023, <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2023/05/21/colorado-cannabis-marijuana-weed-dispensaries-downturn/">www.denverpost.com/2023/05/21/colorado-cannabis-marijuana-weed-dispensaries-downturn/</a>.<br />
Roberts, Chris. “Dea Likely to Approve Marijuana Rescheduling Recommendation.” MJBizDaily, 9 Nov. 2023, mjbizdaily.com/dea-likely-to-approve-marijuana-rescheduling-but-election-lawsuits-could-get-in-way/.<br />
Laurence, Emily. “Your Guide to Cannabis Legalization by State.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/health/cbd/cannabis-legalization-by-state/">www.forbes.com/health/cbd/cannabis-legalization-by-state/</a>.<br />
Stash, Team. “The 12 Largest Cannabis Companies in 2023.” Stash Learn, Learn, 27 Nov. 2023, <a href="http://www.stash.com/learn/largest-cannabis-companies/">www.stash.com/learn/largest-cannabis-companies/</a>.<br />
“Federal Implications.” Colorado Cannabis, cannabis.colorado.gov/legal-marijuana-use/federal-implications. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.<br />
Mitchell, Thomas. “Colorado Launches State-Funded Loan Program for Marijuana Businesses.” Westword, Westword, 25 Apr. 2023, <a href="http://www.westword.com/marijuana/colorado-launches-marijuana-business-loans-funded-by-state-taxes-16702079">www.westword.com/marijuana/colorado-launches-marijuana-business-loans-funded-by-state-taxes-16702079</a>. The Earth Laughs in Flowers Local Artist and Therapist Uses Art to Heal from Traumatag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2024-01-21:2021996:Topic:2727272024-01-21T20:15:46.377Zjoy redstonehttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/joyredstone
<p>Local artist Joy Redstone is no stranger to tragedy but has spent a lifetime using it to connect meaningfully with others. When she lost her husband unexpectedly 10 years ago to suicide, she turned to art to create solace and speak to the enormity of the loss. Joy had no formal training in art, having spent her career as a social worker and therapist. Joy is best known in Boulder for her work as Executive Director of Bridge House and Clinical Director of Naropa Community Counseling.…</p>
<p>Local artist Joy Redstone is no stranger to tragedy but has spent a lifetime using it to connect meaningfully with others. When she lost her husband unexpectedly 10 years ago to suicide, she turned to art to create solace and speak to the enormity of the loss. Joy had no formal training in art, having spent her career as a social worker and therapist. Joy is best known in Boulder for her work as Executive Director of Bridge House and Clinical Director of Naropa Community Counseling. Following a severe illness with Covid, Joy experienced health changes that have no longer allowed her to work in such demanding roles. She turned to art to make sense of her difficult childhood and her adult losses. She creates both assemblage art and digitally altered photography. Although she is self-taught, Joy has had 12 solo shows and been in 100+ group shows, 47 of which have been juried shows (local, regional and national.) She is a member of Next Gallery in Denver and a featured artist at Studio32Nobo in Boulder. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In her artist statement, she says:</p>
<p><em>“The world’s beauty surrounds us. When our attention is given, even the ordinary can become transcendent and will fill our hearts. These photographs and assemblage pieces celebrate the loveliness of the ordinary, the flowers that fill our gardens and line our streets as well as the animals that are our faithful companions.</em></p>
<p><em>Does your heart hurt? At times, at least? The path of a human life always intersects loss. Inevitable loss of those we love the most, the relentless loss of our youth, but even the most forlorn person can become whole again. The most meaningful path that I have found to personal healing has been through the vehicle of art. Art has drawn my eyes, heart, and spirit to the everyday beauty of the prosaic.</em></p>
<p><em>The antidote of loss is all around you. Press your palms to the red Colorado earth. Lift your eyes to the cobalt sky. In that pause, allow the ordinary, piercing beauty of our companions to guide your home to yourself.”</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to the opening, scheduled for Friday, March 8, 5-10 pm at Next Gallery. On Saturday, March 9, 10-12 pm at Next Gallery (6501 W. Colfax, Lakewood), Joy will lead a workshop entitled, <strong><em>The Earth Laughs in Flowers: Using the Arts to Heal Grief</em></strong> . The workshop is free, and Joy will use her training as a therapist to give a presentation first and lead an art making activity for participants. Materials will be provided.</p> The Earth Laughs in Flowers Local Artist and Therapist Uses Art to Heal from Traumatag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2024-01-21:2021996:Topic:2728462024-01-21T20:07:21.277Zjoy redstonehttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/joyredstone
<p>Local artist Joy Redstone is no stranger to tragedy but has spent a lifetime using it to connect meaningfully with others. When she lost her husband unexpectedly 10 years ago to suicide, she turned to art to create solace and speak to the enormity of the loss. Joy had no formal training in art, having spent her career as a social worker and therapist. Joy is best known in Boulder for her work as Executive Director of Bridge House and Clinical Director of Naropa Community Counseling.…</p>
<p>Local artist Joy Redstone is no stranger to tragedy but has spent a lifetime using it to connect meaningfully with others. When she lost her husband unexpectedly 10 years ago to suicide, she turned to art to create solace and speak to the enormity of the loss. Joy had no formal training in art, having spent her career as a social worker and therapist. Joy is best known in Boulder for her work as Executive Director of Bridge House and Clinical Director of Naropa Community Counseling. Following a severe illness with Covid, Joy experienced health changes that have no longer allowed her to work in such demanding roles. She turned to art to make sense of her difficult childhood and her adult losses. She creates both assemblage art and digitally altered photography. Although she is self-taught, Joy has had 12 solo shows and been in 100+ group shows, 47 of which have been juried shows (local, regional and national.) She is a member of Next Gallery in Denver and a featured artist at Studio32Nobo in Boulder. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In her artist statement, she says:</p>
<p><em>“The world’s beauty surrounds us. When our attention is given, even the ordinary can become transcendent and will fill our hearts. These photographs and assemblage pieces celebrate the loveliness of the ordinary, the flowers that fill our gardens and line our streets as well as the animals that are our faithful companions.</em></p>
<p><em>Does your heart hurt? At times, at least? The path of a human life always intersects loss. Inevitable loss of those we love the most, the relentless loss of our youth, but even the most forlorn person can become whole again. The most meaningful path that I have found to personal healing has been through the vehicle of art. Art has drawn my eyes, heart, and spirit to the everyday beauty of the prosaic.</em></p>
<p><em>The antidote of loss is all around you. Press your palms to the red Colorado earth. Lift your eyes to the cobalt sky. In that pause, allow the ordinary, piercing beauty of our companions to guide your home to yourself.”</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to the opening, scheduled for Friday, March 8, 5-10 pm at Next Gallery. On Saturday, March 9, 10-12 pm at Next Gallery (6501 W. Colfax, Lakewood), Joy will lead a workshop entitled, <strong><em>The Earth Laughs in Flowers: Using the Arts to Heal Grief</em></strong> . The workshop is free, and Joy will use her training as a therapist to give a presentation first and lead an art making activity for participants. Materials will be provided.</p> 2023 COLORADO GOVERNOR’S CITIZENSHIP MEDAL RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCEDtag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2024-01-09:2021996:Topic:2724262024-01-09T00:04:35.485ZGrace Markleyhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/GraceMarkley
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Annual award honors exceptional Colorado leaders living their legacy</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year’s honorees for the</span> <a href="http://www.theeventcgcm.org"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">were announced by Governor Jared Polis in partnership with…</span> <a href="https://www.livecivico.org/"></a></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Annual award honors exceptional Colorado leaders living their legacy</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year’s honorees for the</span> <a href="http://www.theeventcgcm.org"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">were announced by Governor Jared Polis in partnership with</span> <a href="https://www.livecivico.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CiviCO</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the state’s premier nonprofit leadership development organization. The medals are bestowed upon citizens and organizations who inspire excellence and service. 2023’s six recipients will be honored with a dedicated ceremony on January 25, 2024 at</span> <a href="https://www.historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center"><span style="font-weight: 400;">History Colorado Center</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">as part of Colorado Leadership Month.</span></p>
<p><b><i>The 2023 recipients and categories:</i></b></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">John Fielder, Photographer — Colorado Mountain Leader Award (posthumous)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Carlotta Walls LaNier, Civil Rights Leader</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">— Vanguard Legacy Medal</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">John Street, CEO and co-founder, PAX8 — Growth and Innovation Medal</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lauren Young Casteel, President and CEO, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado— Public and Community Service Medal</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Osvaldo Garcia Barron, Student</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">— Emerging Community Leader Medal</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, Rob Perlman, President and COO — Corporate Citizenship Medal</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The medals, established in 2015, and inspired by the Presidential Medal of Freedom, represent the highest honor recognizing each recipient’s significant contributions to communities across Colorado. Nominating partners cultivate a list of community leaders, which are presented to the Governor for his final selection process. Each of the 2023 medal recipients share the distinct quality of living their legacies through their life’s work. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Each year, it is an honor to award the Governor’s Citizenship medals and celebrate the incredible people, organizations, nonprofits, and businesses, committed to bettering Colorado, ” said Governor Jared Polis. “The six recipients selected this year have gone above and beyond in their commitment to our state. On behalf of all Coloradans, I thank those being honored for working to make Colorado a great place to live and inspiring others to do the same</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.” </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><b><i>Additional 2023 recipient and category details and</i></b> <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nae5hraq00nmww2kgvfvq/h?rlkey=y3igsamxdjv08y45juze1uz2n&dl=0"><b><i>link to all honoree headshots</i></b></a><b><i>:</i></b></p>
<p></p>
<p><b>Colorado Mountain Leader</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">-</span> <a href="https://www.johnfielder.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">John Fielder,</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Photographer</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This posthumous award is given at the discretion of the governor to community leaders who have made significant contributions to Colorado through their legacy.</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">John Fielder was and will always be “Colorado’s Photographer,” capturing the essence of our state’s greatness. Since 1973, he has traversed every one of Colorado's 104,984 square miles, bringing us closer to the awe-inspiring splendor of our surrounding landscape. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In his lifetime, Mr. Fielder was an unwavering champion of environmental conservation. He received the prestigious Ansel Adams Award from the Wilderness Society and Sierra Club. His name now graces the annals of the Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame, and his life’s work finds its home to make multigenerational impact at History Colorado.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr. Fielder leaves behind a legacy of profound consequence, having cultivated a deep-seated appreciation and guardianship of Colorado's natural wonders. His unique perspective and storytelling through the art of photography have not only allowed people to connect with the magnificent outdoors but have also kindled the flames of stewardship for our environment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><b>Vanguard Legacy Medal</b> <span style="font-weight: 400;">-</span> <a href="https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/carlotta-walls-lanier/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Carlotta Walls LaNier,</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Civil Rights Leader and Changemaker</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Honoring a community leader who has made transformational contributions to the community throughout his or her career.</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Carlotta Walls LaNier, a civil-rights legend, is the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, who in 1957, were the first black students to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, our nation’s proving ground for Brown v. Board of Education. Dr. Walls LaNier received the Congressional Gold Medal, NAACP’s Spingarn Medal; she is an inductee in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame as well as the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She serves as president of the</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Little Rock Nine Foundation, created to promote equality of opportunity for all, particularly in the field of education. Dr. LaNier moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State College, known today as the University of Northern Colorado. In 2009, she completed her biography,</span> <i><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School.</span></i></p>
<p><b>Emerging Community Leader Medal</b> <b>—</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Osvaldo Garcia Barron, Boulder High School</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recognizing a young community leader who has demonstrated excellence and made a positive impact on their school and community.</span></i></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Osvaldo's extensive civic engagement and leadership roles at Boulder High School and within the Boulder community reflect a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity and advocating for the Latino community. As President of the Boulder High School Latino Student Organization (LSO), Osvaldo recruited and led a membership of more than 25 students. Osvaldo served as a board member on the Boulder Valley School District Youth Equity Council and mentored at Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). His role as an appointed youth board member with the Youth Opportunities Advisory Board helped to promote youth voices in the Boulder community & advise the municipal government on youth-related matters. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the summer of 2023, Osvaldo served as an intern for the Office of Equity & Belonging. In this capacity, he compiled research on Immigrant Legal Defense Funds across the country, contributing to the forthcoming City of Boulder Legal Defense Fund. Osvaldo grew up in Boulder with five sisters and his parents, and graduated from Boulder High School in 2023. He is currently a freshman at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><b>Growth and Innovation Medal</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">—John Street, CEO and co-founder,</span> <a href="https://www.pax8.com/en-us/leadership/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PAX8</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This award is given to an entrepreneur who has led with exceptional ingenuity and growth while inspiring and creating new possibilities among all in our state. </span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr. John Street is associated with a legacy of innovation for creating disruptive technology that empowers companies to flourish. He is a visionary who institutes a human-centric approach to building extraordinary employee cultures. Throughout his career, Mr. Street built four start-ups in Colorado – Telephone Express, USA.Net, MX Logic, and in 2012, Pax8 – all of which garnered Inc. 5000 status. In an intensely competitive landscape, he pioneered the concept of a cloud marketplace. In the last year, Mr. Street's vision of Pax8 becoming the world's premier cloud marketplace has transformed into reality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Mr. Street's approach to leadership is firmly grounded in servant leadership, prioritizing people above all else and promoting equality and justice. His passion for giving back to the community and advancing corporate social responsibility is evident in the formation of Pax8's Social Impact Team. A cornerstone of his legacy is mentorship, with many of Colorado's top business leaders benefiting from his guidance over the years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><b>Public and Community Service Medal</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">—Lauren</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Young</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Casteel - President and CEO,</span> <a href="https://www.wfco.org/home"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Women’s Foundation of Colorado</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Honoring a government or community leader who serves the public through innovation, operational excellence and progressive vision</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A commitment to social justice of all forms has been Lauren</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Young</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Casteel’s life-long driving force. Ms. Casteel currently serves as president and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO),</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">the only statewide, community-funded foundation protecting the progress and advancing gender, racial, and economic equity for all Colorado women.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">During her tenure she has more than doubled The Foundation’s annual grantmaking total, reaching $2.76 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23 while diversifying WFCO’s giving communities and investments. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She is also the first person in Colorado to lead three foundations collectively with</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">more than</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">30 years of philanthropic leadership. Throughout her career, Ms. Casteel has earned numerous accolades. Most recently, she received the 2023 Athena Leadership Award from the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce; the Anti Defamation League Mountain States Region's 2018 Civil Rights Award; the 2016 Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award, presented annually by Denver’s Mayor to a member of the community; and one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in 2015 by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2021, Ms. Casteel received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Colorado.</span></p>
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<p><b>2023 Corporate Citizenship Medal -</b> <a href="https://www.steamboat.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Rob Perlman, President and COO</span></p>
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<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Recognizing a Colorado-based company that has made a significant positive impact in the </span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> community through its culture, vision and execution.</span></i></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation's (SSRC) vision is to be the friendliest, most welcoming mountain destination in the world and they fulfill that by, in their own words, "Celebrating, caring for, protecting, and encouraging a vibrant and resilient community. We believe in treating our people and our community well, and along the way, contributing to those who share our vision and our passion for Doing Good." </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They have three key pillars under which they organize their work: Prioritizing People, Protecting the Planet, and Investing in Community and their efforts can be seen on a daily basis. Most recently Steamboat took the lead in developing an Employer-Based child care facility with spaces for 35 local children, to find a collaborative solution for a crisis in their community and blaze a trail for employee support in rural and resort areas. Steamboat continues to lead the way in sustainability with audits and innovative approaches to climate issues that impact their community and industry. The leadership team, under the guidance of Rob Perlman, are active community participants serving as board members and participants at a variety of local nonprofit organizations including Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, The Steamboat Chamber, Boys & Girls Club, Community Ag Alliance and more.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This year’s medal recipients are bold leaders who lived their legacy,” said Ryan Heckman, chairman of CiviCO. “It is an honor to partner with Governor Polis and former governors to celebrate</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">the power of leadership</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> and recognize the enduring and powerful impact these award honorees have made and continue to make in Colorado.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year’s medal recipients will be honored at a ceremony held at History Colorado Center on January 25, 2024. Ticket and sponsorship opportunities are limited. Please visit</span> <a href="https://www.theeventcgcm.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.theeventcgcm.org/</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">for more information. </span></p>
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<p><b>ABOUT CiviCO</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CiviCO is the premier nonprofit that cultivates civic-minded leaders to improve the state of Colorado. By providing access to leadership programming and a vast network of community role models, mentors and thought leaders, CivicCO fosters community-driven, multi-generational leaders who purposely change our communities across the state through positive actions. CiviCO’s signature programs include:</span> <a href="https://www.theeventcgcm.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the</span> <a href="https://www.livecivico.org/2020-cgfp"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Governors Fellowship</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> and the</span> <a href="https://www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/whats-your-story"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What’s Your Story</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">” exhibit at the History Colorado Center. To learn how an organization or individual can create positive action for a better Colorado or</span> <a href="https://civ.memberclicks.net/join-now-menu"><span style="font-weight: 400;">become a member</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">of the CiviCO community visit</span> <a href="http://www.livecivico.org"><span style="font-weight: 400;">www.livecivico.org</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">or contact</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Info@LiveCiviCO.org</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.colorado.gov/governor"></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> Fundraiser for animals around the world!tag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2023-09-28:2021996:Topic:2716012023-09-28T19:21:59.869ZMaya Keyhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/MayaKey
<p>I work for a local nonprofit called Project AnimalAid. We collect and distribute medical supplies and equipment to over 120 animal welfare organizations in 40 plus countries. All of the supplies that we distribute were destined for the landfill before we "rescued" them. Now they are saving the lives of dogs, cats, donkeys, rhinos, eagles, raccoons, and more.</p>
<p>We are having a fundraiser on October 8th called Project AnimalAid's Campfire. It's going to be a fun evening of s'mores, a hot…</p>
<p>I work for a local nonprofit called Project AnimalAid. We collect and distribute medical supplies and equipment to over 120 animal welfare organizations in 40 plus countries. All of the supplies that we distribute were destined for the landfill before we "rescued" them. Now they are saving the lives of dogs, cats, donkeys, rhinos, eagles, raccoons, and more.</p>
<p>We are having a fundraiser on October 8th called Project AnimalAid's Campfire. It's going to be a fun evening of s'mores, a hot chocolate bar, live music, and outdoor games. It's from 5:30-7:30 pm at beautiful Lone Hawk Farm in Longmont. All ages welcome!</p>
<p>Go to <a href="http://www.projectanimalaid.org/events">www.projectanimalaid.org/events</a> to register. </p> 4k for Cancer is riding through Coloradotag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2023-07-18:2021996:Topic:2708942023-07-18T14:47:08.964ZMacy Lipkinhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/MacyLipkin
Howdy! I'm part of a team of cyclists and runners traveling from Baltimore to San Francisco to raise funds and awareness for young adult cancer. We support the Ulman Foundation, a nonprofit based in Baltimore. We've had the most beautiful week in Colorado — climbing Trail Ridge Road and McClure Pass, watching the mountains turn from green and snowy to brown and rocky, and meeting fabulous and generous hosts. To learn more about our mission and support our project, please visit…
Howdy! I'm part of a team of cyclists and runners traveling from Baltimore to San Francisco to raise funds and awareness for young adult cancer. We support the Ulman Foundation, a nonprofit based in Baltimore. We've had the most beautiful week in Colorado — climbing Trail Ridge Road and McClure Pass, watching the mountains turn from green and snowy to brown and rocky, and meeting fabulous and generous hosts. To learn more about our mission and support our project, please visit impact.ulmanfoundation.org/macy. Boulder Airport Day - by EAA Chapter 1627tag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2023-06-19:2021996:Topic:2706152023-06-19T15:34:58.225ZKent Katnikhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/KentKatnik
<p>Boulder Airport Day</p>
<p><br></br>By EAA Chapter 1627 - Published June 19, 2023</p>
<p><br></br>The Boulder chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosted over a dozen<br></br>aviation support organizations and two dozen aircraft at the Boulder Municipal Airport Sunday<br></br>morning. Historically, Boulder Community Airport Days were held every other year, yet its been<br></br>five or six years since the last. During this time, airport users’ groups and stakeholders’<br></br>organizations have…</p>
<p>Boulder Airport Day</p>
<p><br/>By EAA Chapter 1627 - Published June 19, 2023</p>
<p><br/>The Boulder chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosted over a dozen<br/>aviation support organizations and two dozen aircraft at the Boulder Municipal Airport Sunday<br/>morning. Historically, Boulder Community Airport Days were held every other year, yet its been<br/>five or six years since the last. During this time, airport users’ groups and stakeholders’<br/>organizations have multiplied even during curtailed activities due to the pandemic. Sunday<br/>marked the beginning of more community involvement with the expectation that the airport will<br/>be hosting airport days every year from now on.</p>
<p><br/>Organizations at Sunday’s event included the Colorado Aeronautical Board, NCAR, CU ROTC,<br/>The Colorado Pilots Association, and the 99s, to name a few. The 99s is an international<br/>organization that provides networking, mentoring, and flight scholarship opportunities to<br/>recreational and professional female pilots. There was also the Vintage Aircraft Association and<br/>Colorado Search And Rescue.</p>
<p><br/>The biggest attraction was the Blackhawk and Dakota helicopters brought in by the Colorado<br/>Army National Guard. Young kids and adults were given an opportunity to learn about these<br/>aircraft and their rolls in state rescue operations. A third helicopter was the Medivac Flight for<br/>Life that is hangared and maintained at the Boulder Airport when it’s not parked at the Boulder<br/>Community Hospital. There were several home built aircraft and an 80 year old military trainer.<br/>Two gliders were on display along with two brand new trainers. The new trainers arrived at<br/>Journeys Aviation flight school last week, and will provide cleaner, quieter and lower cost pilot<br/>training.</p>
<p><br/>The hosting organization for this Airport Day was EAA Chapter 1627, which was formed and<br/>held it’s first meeting in December of 2018. The Chapter holds educational meetings on the<br/>third Wednesday of each month and hosts Young Eagles free flights for kids the second<br/>Saturdays of each month over the summer.</p>
<p>Learn more and join in on the EAA activities by visiting our website at <a href="https://chapters.eaa.org/eaa1627">https://chapters.eaa.org/eaa1627</a>.</p> Free Seedling Trees on Saturday June 3rd 7AMtag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2023-05-30:2021996:Topic:2704472023-05-30T20:13:11.361ZElizabeth Blackhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/ElizabethBlack
<p>Your Neighborhood Christmas Tree Farm will once again have 310 small seedling trees to give away, starting Saturday June 3rd at 7AM. The give-away will run until all the trees are gone. This is the 17th year we have given away trees and our 9100<sup>th</sup> tree was given away last year. Please do not call or email us. Just show up on the 3rd. Feel free to forward this notification to whomever you please.</p>
<p> The free trees are 1 – 3 foot tall oaks, Kentucky coffee trees, Russian…</p>
<p>Your Neighborhood Christmas Tree Farm will once again have 310 small seedling trees to give away, starting Saturday June 3rd at 7AM. The give-away will run until all the trees are gone. This is the 17th year we have given away trees and our 9100<sup>th</sup> tree was given away last year. Please do not call or email us. Just show up on the 3rd. Feel free to forward this notification to whomever you please.</p>
<p> The free trees are 1 – 3 foot tall oaks, Kentucky coffee trees, Russian hawthorns, Ohio buckeyes, bald cypress, horse chestnuts, tatarian maples, choke cherries, ginnala maples, honey locusts, lindens and catalpas. There are also some golden currants and red-leafed roses. All trees are drought resistant, but of course will grow faster and fix more carbon with extra water.</p>
<p> We are located at 4340 13<sup>th</sup>, one block east of Broadway between Upland and Violet. Look for "Nelly-Belle the Carbon Cart" in front of the house and pick out your trees. Planting instructions are in a box on the cart. More information about planting your tree may be found at this link: <a href="http://www.neighborhoodchristmastreefarm.com/freeseedlings.html">http://www.neighborhoodchristmastreefarm.com/freeseedlings.html</a> More information about the various tree varieties are at this link: <a href="https://www.neighborhoodchristmastreefarm.com/2022%20Tree%20Descriptions.pdf">https://www.neighborhoodchristmastreefarm.com/2022%20Tree%20Descriptions.pdf</a> </p>
<p> Please be sure to plant your trees right away and take good care of them. It won't help the climate at all if you plant a tree, and then kill it with neglect. Planting trees helps sequester carbon in the soil and combat global warming. Trees can also make your life much more pleasant and cool!</p>
<p>Hope to see you on Saturday! Elizabeth Black and Christopher Brown</p>
<p> Your Neighborhood Christmas Tree Farm</p>
<p>4340 N 13<sup>th</sup> St</p>
<p>Boulder CO 80304</p> Zing for Zonta: Boulder's Got Talenttag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2023-03-22:2021996:Topic:2699272023-03-22T15:11:06.451ZPamela Malzbenderhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/PamelaMalzbender
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11001486896?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11001486896?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11001486896?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11001486896?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a></p> The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County Celebrates its 40th Anniversary with Zing for Zonta: Boulder's Got Talent!tag:www.mytowncolorado.com,2023-03-17:2021996:Topic:2695282023-03-17T16:14:33.147ZPamela Malzbenderhttps://www.mytowncolorado.com/profile/PamelaMalzbender
<p><strong>Boulder, CO (March, 2023) - Live from the Dairy Arts Center, <em>“Zing for Zonta: Boulder’s Got Talent”</em> is back to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County.</strong> This fun-filled talent competition will showcase performers from around Boulder County to benefit the Zonta Foothills Foundation. The stars are donating their talents to help build better lives for women and girls in Boulder County and around the world. Zing takes place on Friday,…</p>
<p><strong>Boulder, CO (March, 2023) - Live from the Dairy Arts Center, <em>“Zing for Zonta: Boulder’s Got Talent”</em> is back to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County.</strong> This fun-filled talent competition will showcase performers from around Boulder County to benefit the Zonta Foothills Foundation. The stars are donating their talents to help build better lives for women and girls in Boulder County and around the world. Zing takes place on Friday, March 31 at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St, Boulder, CO. Doors open at 6:00 pm with food and a silent auction from 6-7 and judged performances from 7-9. Tickets are $65 per person and all proceeds go to the programs of the Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County.</p>
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<p>The stars competing on the Zing stage are dance troop <strong>Alchemy of Movement,</strong> swing and jazz band <strong>Espresso!</strong>, tap and jazz dancer <strong>Maisha Diatta</strong>, singer and songwriter <strong>Lisa Selle</strong>, hula performers from <strong>The Hula School of the Western Mountains</strong>, folk singer <strong>Matt Nicodemus</strong>, electronic artist <strong>TLooP</strong>, and <strong>The Human Ukulele Band, HUB</strong>.</p>
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<p><strong>Erica Sodos</strong> returns as our Zing emcee and we are so excited to have her once again! For more than 30 years she has been entertaining and inspiring audiences and our Zing fans are no exception. Having made over 5000 appearances nationwide, Erica is a speaker, magician, psychic entertainer and one of the few female mentalists in the world.</p>
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<p>Our judges are Boulder County District Attorney <strong>Michael Dougherty</strong>, <strong>Dr. Patricia "Paty" Romero-Lankao</strong>, Senior Research Scientist NREL's Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences and <strong>Peggy Leech</strong>, Past-President of the Boulder County League of Women Voters and advocate for women’s and voter rights.</p>
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<p>The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County is celebrating its 40th anniversary supporting women and girls in our community. A group of advocates who believe that the power of a few make a difference for many, the Boulder Club’s mission is to “Build a Better World for Women and Girls.” Their Zonta EducateZ program is doing just that through scholarships, leadership clubs, and other hands-on support for women’s education. </p>
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<p>Since 2001 our members have raised more than $400,000 for community programs that support women and girls and we have contributed more than 30,000 volunteer hours to support community-based and international projects. These funds have supported our Boulder High School PantherZ Z Club, The Flatirons Golden Z Club, and seven local scholarships.</p>
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<p>In addition, Zonta focuses on improving the lives of women through advocacy and partnerships with local organizations like the Boulder County Domestic Violence Response Team, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Non-Violence, Moving to End Sexual Assault, Boulder Mental Health Department, Emergency Family Assistance Association, Community Foodshare, The Reentry Initiative and others. We also fund international projects in conjunction with Zonta International.</p>
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<p>Join us! Purchase at <a href="http://www.zontafoothills.org">www.zontafoothills.org</a> or at <a href="https://thedairy.org/event/zing-for-zonta-boulders-got-talent/">https://thedairy.org/event/zing-for-zonta-boulders-got-talent/</a> .</p>