FREE
Week of September 8,
DENVER, COLORADO
A publication of
VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 42
Rising above drug abuse
State to offer free education to aspiring healthcare workers
Colorado youth say no to drugs and yes to community projects BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
For the past seven years, thousands of Colorado teens have decided to “rise above” and paint murals instead of using drugs. Empowering them is the Rise Above Colorado, a statewide substance prevention nonprofit that provides teens with “information, resources and healthy lifestyle alternatives to help them choose a life free of drug abuse,” according to its website. “When youth feel connected and a sense of belonging in their community, they’re much less likely to use drugs and alcohol,” said Rise Above Colorado Executive Director Kent MacLennan. MacLennan added that it’s not just a “don’t do drugs” message. “It’s sharing the positive choices that most teens make,” he said. That’s how the murals come in. In early August, about 40 teens created the organization’s 50th youth-led mural project. It is located on the outside of a building at 788 S. Broadway, which borders Denver’s West Washington Park and Baker neighborhoods. The murals provide the youth with “a sense of completion and ownership,” said Rise Above Colorado Program Director Jonathan Judge, who has been involved with all 50 murals. “They see it (a mural project) from beginning to end with their ideas and concepts. The catalyst is always the youth.” Rise Above Colorado started the youth-led murals in 2015. They are
Student tuition, fees covered BY HENRY HARGRAVE SOCIALMEDIA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Local artist Pat Milbery holds a rendering of the Rise Above Colorado mural located at 788 S. Broadway in Denver. The mural was youth-led, but the youth had the opportunity to work with Milbery, a professional artist, on the project.
SEE YOUTH, P4
Gov. Jared Polis announced the Care Forward Colorado program Aug. 24, an initiative that makes community college and technical programs free for aspiring healthcare professionals across the state. During the press conference, Polis was joined by Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, administrators from the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), students who will benefit from the program and community members from Arapahoe Community College (ACC). The initiative stems from bipartisan legislation signed in May, cosponsored by state Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Bob Rankin, along with State Rep. Kyle Mullica, in the form of Senate Bill 226. The bill was implemented to channel more funding to the development of healthcare education to guide Coloradans towards in-demand and well-paying healthcare careers. “(These jobs) pay good, and often, students have opportunities to move into management in these different fields,” Polis said. ”We will only increase our healthcare needs as our population grows older, and we want to make sure we have the caregivers and people with the right training to take care of everybody.” Dr. Angie Paccione, executive director of the Colorado Department
PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 24 | CALENDAR: PAGE 7
SEE EDUCATION, P5
Check out
HEALTH FALL 2022
Guide In this week’s paper!