School Board Elections
The League of Women Voters is hosting a school board candidate debate on Thursday, Oct. 12, broadcast on Denver Channel 8. The District 4 portion will begin at 7pm and At-Large portion at 8pm. Important Dates: Oct. 16: Voting registration deadline. Nov. 7: Election Day and last day to return ballots. A ballot drop box is located at the Central Park Rec Center. https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-elections-divison.html
October SUN Monthly Meeting
October 17, 2017
Central Park Rec Center
Outreach Hour, 6:30–7:30pm, Parks Advisory Group-focused meeting
Tentative Agenda for Parks Discussion:
Wicker Park: John Buetow, Frank Goldsmith, Mandy, Doug Marsh, Maureen Upton. Issues are dead plants, lighting, sun shade, parking, information about sports fields in the area and funding for area east of Central Park Blvd. and north of Prairie Meadows Pkwy.
Sports Complex and Lacrosse fields: Scott Peterson: Lack of places to play
Uplands and Westerly Creek North: Paul Frohardt: Are wildflowers a possibility?
Prairie Basin Park: Genin Valerie, Genin Yuri, Jeff Hottle: Update on status
Beeler Park, Tom Gleason: Report on status and park plans
26th Ave. Park, Lucia Correll: Update on status
If interested in being a primary contact for a park, contact Lucia: 1corollary@gmail.com
SUN Board Candidate Bio
The SUN board meeting will follow the parks meeting (described above), from 7:30-8:45pm. During this meeting, the board will vote on a candidate for the board, Dr. Jeff Ederer, biography below.
Dr. Jeff Ederer recently retired from a career in higher education administration where he served in leadership positions at seven different universities in the public and private sector. Since his retirement, his days are spent as a realtor with Greenfield & Associates as well as starting a new business called “College Route Map” where he and his associates will be offering workshops and services for students and families who are navigating the college search and process, focusing on finding the right college and achieving success throughout all four years.
Dr. Ederer is regularly asked to lead workshops and provide consulting services to educational and corporate clients. Focus areas include leadership development, social justice education, performance management, and team building. Additionally, he has authored articles and served as presenter/facilitator for numerous professional, regional, and community-based conferences.
As a child Dr. Ederer made a goal to set foot in all 50 states and travel to all seven continents, a dream that seemed bold and challenging to achieve. However, he completed the 50-state quest in 2005 when he trekked to Alaska for the first time. As of now, he has traveled to 61 countries on six continents with more to come.
Dr. Ederer has lived in five different states and often finds ways to contribute to the communities where he has lived, participating in various civic activities as well as serving on nonprofit boards. He currently lives in Stapleton with his wife and their dog, Truman.
Inclusivity Action Plan
SUN’s Inclusivity committee’s initial meeting was Oct. 4, 2011; however, community support of a separate initiative proved to be unsustainable. Efforts around inclusivity and diversity were then folded into ongoing activities of the full SUN board. In order to highlight ongoing and promote future efforts around inclusivity initiatives, an Inclusivity Action Plan is now a reference point for community members who would like to engage in the community in a way to create a unified and inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.
In partnership with Denver’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships, participate in discussions around race and justice (see Citizen Denver Talks, more information below).
To address traditional settings of institutional racism, we will continue to advocate for affordable housing goals in the community, strong public schools in Denver, and contribute to criminal justice reform in partnership with the Denver DA’s office.
In partnership with the MCA, continue to develop events meeting the needs and preferences of a robust community.
In partnership with Colorado’s state historian, we will establish an annual community event around reflection—learning about our complicated past. Planning meeting: Dec. 5 – Central Park Rec Center
Consider ways in which we can honor the land on which we reside.
Improve connectivity between Stapleton and surrounding communities through open dialogue with neighboring Registered Neighborhood Organizations, and seeking opportunities to connect residents.
Support initiatives with local organizations to promote equity.
Reflect on SUN board composition; identify ways in which the board is diverse and representative of the full range of intended stakeholders. Identify opportunities for improvement as applicable.
Denver Talks – Read. Listen. Discuss.
Save two dates to participate in the citywide conversation about race, social justice, and Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric. Both events are free and open to the public.
Denver Talks Kickoff Party:
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2–5pm
Clyfford Still Museum
Pick up your free copy of Citizen at the party and listen to a series of readings inspired by the book. Snacks and drinks will be available.
Participate in a talk facilitated by a Lighthouse Writers Workshop instructor
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6:30–8pm
Central Park Recreation Center
Other talks will be taking place across the city. For locations, or to schedule an additional discussion, visit:
https://denvertalks.org or https://lighthousewriters.org/events/
Rankine uses Citizen to talk candidly about racism today, from outright brutality to incidents so subtle “you begin to distrust that they even happened,” Rankine writes. “And yet you know that you feel bad somehow.” What can we learn from the experiences presented in Citizen? How can we use what we learn to create a more inclusive and accepting community? Lighthouse Writers Workshop, the City and County of Denver, and NEA Big Read want Denver-area residents to read the book and start talking. Free copies of Citizen are being distributed throughout the city, and metro-area public libraries will have print, e-book, and audio editions as well as book club kits available.
Fail.
While very nice and well-meaning, this kind of plan is superficial, too little and too late. It is a perfect example of how white privilege gets in the way of “real” conversations, “real” action and “real” social justice. I would say more about it…however, I do encourage SUN to do what it can to make improvements.