On Saturday, April 18, Boulder County secondary students, who participate in the University of Colorado Boulder’s Public Achievement program will host Building Bridges, a free community carnival and information fair at Casey Middle School (1301 High Street) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
An opportunity to both foster community and better educate the public about immigration trends and policy, the event will include carnival attractions and games; live entertainment, including monologues from Motus Theater’s Do You Know Who I Am; an information fair, featuring representatives from nonprofit agencies and student groups, and workshops facilitated by a representative from Congressman Jared Polis’ office on current and pending immigration policy, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents.
Jointly planned by Public Achievement students, who attend Angevine Middle School, Casey Middle School, and Centaurus High School, Building Bridges is open to the public. In lieu of charging an admissions fee, organizing students will collect donations on behalf of Intercambio Uniting Communities.
“I have been honored to mentor and work alongside with the bright and motivated students at Casey Middle School. The student's active organization of Bridging Communities is a clear example of their passion for civic engagement and interest in immigration reform,” said CU-Boulder senior and Public Achievement coach Chris Melendez
“Over the three years that I have been involved in Public Achievement as both a coach and TA I have developed a strong understanding of the power that lives in community outreach and relationship building,” said Jackie Flowers, a senior at CU-Boulder and a teaching assistant for Public Achievement. “This event has provided my fellow coaches, as well as the students we work alongside, the space to network with other community organizers and create something that will be impactful beyond the event due to our passion and personal connection with the topic of immigration."
This event is made possible by funding from a University of Colorado Boulder Outreach and Engagement Award and the City of Boulder’s Youth Opportunities Advisory Board.
Housed in CU Engage, CU-Boulder’s center for community-based learning and research, the University of Colorado’s Public Achievement program seeks to promote student retention and access to post-secondary education through civic engagement programing. More than 100 CU Boulder undergraduates and 350 K-12 students participate in the program each year.
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