August SUN Outreach and Board of Directors Meetings

The August SUN Outreach Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 21 from 6:30-7:25pm at the Central Park Recreation Center. The August SUN Board Meeting will follow from 7:30-8:45pm. Both meetings are open to the public. A tentative outreach meeting agenda includes updates from Denver Police about ongoing safety in the region, resident concerns about events at Dicks Sporting Goods Park, and updates from other community partners. During the SUN board meeting, committees will present updates on discussions held during July (Education, Sustainability, Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion), a preview of each follows below, if interested in engaging with work on one of these areas, please attend the August meeting.

SUN Outreach Committee and Block Captain Network

The SUN outreach committee is dedicated to promoting community engagement and connectivity, and facilitating the block captain network. Any resident of a block that does not currently have a block captain, or any resident interested in learning who is the SUN block captain on their block should contact StapletonUnitedNeighbors@gmail.com to inquire. A block captain is a volunteer who helps with communication between neighbors by organizing a block directory, works with Denver police to set up or renew Neighborhood Watch training for the block, and encourages neighbors to get to know each other (block party, service work, or other informal gatherings). SUN contacts block captains when regional issues arise for which local input would help.

SUN Sustainability Committee

In the coming year, SUN’s Sustainability Committee is working to organize a tree planting for fall, a sustainability-themed movie night in early November, and a Sustainability Fair in June of 2019. The SUN Sustainability Committee leads the neighborhood’s efforts as a participant in the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program within the City and County of Denver. Intended to encourage direct citizen action, the Sustainable Neighborhood Program provides support to neighborhoods in order to assist citizens in enhancing neighborhood sustainability and reducing the environmental footprint of residents. Residents can join the Committee’s email list to learn about upcoming meetings and events at http://eepurl.com/dx5Z-X and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/snpstapleton/

Sand Creek Regional Greenway Volunteer Day

Saturday, August 11, 10am-12pm, Smith Road Trailhead Sand Creek

Join the SUN Sustainability Committee in a Denver Sustainable Neighborhoods Program and our friends at Sand Creek Regional Greenway, Runners Roost, and Cheluna Brewing for a volunteer day at the Smith Road Trailhead followed by a benefit for Sand Creek Regional Greenway at Cheluna Brewing. Volunteers will meet at the Smith Road Trailhead of Sand Creek Greenway at 10 am. Projects for the day may include trail repair, invasive species removal, planting native species, cleaning out flood refuse and trash, painting over graffiti. Volunteer work is scheduled to end at noon, to be followed by fellowship at Cheluna Brewing in Stanley Marketplace. All volunteers (over age 5 years) are welcome and encouraged to participate in the clean up. Please come wearing closed toe shoes and bring a water bottle. Water, snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided on-site.

SUN Education Committee

The SUN education committee met in July and outlined priorities for the next year and will present these priorities to the SUN board at the August SUN board meeting. The committee will be planning an education forum dedicated to updates from Denver Public Schools on plans for an additional middle school in the Stapleton area, adequate space at Northfield High School, monitoring the Northfield Resolution, and the choice process for the Stapleton-Area Elementary School Enrollment Zone. SUN’s education committee is exploring opportunities to engage families and children in order to strengthen the community, and embrace diversity and inclusion.

SUN Diversity & Inclusion Committee

The reactivated Diversity & Inclusion committee met in July, consisting of community and SUN board members. Discussion and planning focused on how we can better understand and act on the challenges and opportunities present in our community. Committee efforts will aim to promote and foster a welcoming environment where all people feel safe, valued, appreciated for their uniqueness and thus empowered to contribute to the rich tapestry of potential present in the community.

About SUN

Stapleton United Neighbors is a volunteer board serving as the Registered Neighborhood Organization for the Stapleton community in Denver. SUN’s mission is to provide a forum for resident voices; to facilitate communication between Stapleton residents, neighboring Denver residents, and the city of Denver; and to act on issues of importance to the community as a whole.

Stay in Touch with SUN

Follow SUN on Facebook for the most current neighborhood news and event information: @stapletonunitedneighbors

Visit SUN’s website to sign up for email updates and learn more about how SUN can advocate for the community: www.stapletonunitedneighbors.com.

Attend SUN’s monthly Community Outreach Meetings to hear from community leaders and organizations and engage in-person. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 –7:25pm at the Central Park Rec Center. In August SUN meetings will be held on the 21st. In September there will not be a meeting on the third Tuesday in order to allow for the observance of Yom Kippur beginning at sundown.