DPS Hires Manual Alum And Top Area School Leader As New Manual Principal
Denver Public Schools (DPS) announced that Dr. Robert Stein, current Head of School at Denver’s esteemed Graland Country Day School, has been tapped to lead the new Manual High School when it reopens this fall to ninth grade students. After a thorough national search informed by the Manual community’s renewal work, Stein emerged as the top pick because of his extensive leadership experience, commitment to students, and strong vision for Manual’s future. A graduate of Manual himself, Stein has deep roots in the Denver community and has a record of success bolstering student achievement and fostering strong teaching and learning communities. Throughout his twenty-five year career in education, Stein’s focus has been centered on improving student learning. A 10-member community committee interviewed finalists and made recommendations to Superintendent Michael Bennet and Chief Academic Officer Jaime Aquino.
For more information about Stein’s appointment or about Manual High School, call 720-423-6300 or visit manual.dpsk12.org.

Webb Official President For CBCC
Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, who has led the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) on an interim basis for nearly a year as president and chief executive, accepted the job last month at the request of the chamber’s board. Chamber Board Chairman Odell Barry said Webb’s leadership since April 2006, including the chamber’s two-month-old leadership program and education scholarship program, prompted the board to forgo a national search. Webb brings stability to a growing organization, Barry said.
For more information, visit www.coloradoblackchamber.org.

Shaka Foundation Adds New Board Members
The Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth announced that former Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb has joined its national board of trustees, and former Denver Clerk and Recorder Wayne Vaden have been voted to be the organization’s local board of trustees Vice Chairman. The non-profit company also announced that small-business owner, Selena Dunham, and local real estate executive, Jay Barry, have been appointed to the group’s local board. As a member of the national board, Webb’s duties will include acting as an advisor to the board’s chairman and vice chairman. The national board meets once a year with the two board chairs to discuss outstanding issues concerning the foundation. Other national board members are Odell Berry, chairman of the board of directors of the Black Chamber of Commerce; former Denver Public School Superintendent Dr. Evie Dennis; former NLF player Mark Haynes; Kevin Koser, a partner in Exaserv, a Texas corporation; Edward and Richard Robinson, of the Robinson Family Foundation; Lou Vairo, of USA Hockey; and syndicated television talk show host Montel Williams.
For more information, call 303-337-2515.

Registry Established For Volunteer Emergency Medical Personnel
As part of the state's effort to prepare for large-scale public health emergencies, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has contracted with Global Secure to create a registry for volunteer medical professionals who would want to assist in the event of such an emergency. The medical volunteer system provides a secure, web-based system for registering, credentialing, mobilizing and communicating with individuals and groups of volunteers. The volunteer system improves Colorado 's emergency response capabilities by creating a reserve of qualified, screened volunteers ready to assist when disasters strike. In its first two months, nearly 500 volunteers have registered in one of the volunteer system's nine groups. Volunteers may become part of the system's groups for administration and logistics personnel; medical reserve corps; dentists; allied health professionals (including pharmacists); physicians; nurses; veterinarians; pre-hospital professionals, such as emergency medical technicians; and mental health and mid-level providers.
To volunteer or for more information, visit covolunteers.state.co.us or www.coloradodmat.com.

Criminal Justice Group Adopts A School
Concerned about the over representation and disparate numbers of youth of color in the justice system, the Colorado chapter of the National Association Of Blacks In Criminal Justice (NABCJ) has adopted the Challenges, Choices and Images (CCI) Literacy and Technology Charter School. It is hoped that this partnership will help reduce the risk of youth becoming delinquents and entering the juvenile justice system. CCI is a charter school committed to creating an educational environment that addresses the unique learning needs of experiential learners, particularly African Americans and other students of color as well as those from low income families. This student population, grades K – 12, has traditionally experienced limited academic success in traditional institutions. The Adopt-a-School Project will operate throughout the academic year.
For more information, contact Ivan Tate at 303-322-5569 or Elaine Neal at 303-371-7354.

HUD Awards More Than $10.3 Million In Grants Supporting Homeless Initiatives
Dozens of homeless programs in the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative will receive more than $10.3 million in grants awarded by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson. HUD’s homeless assistance in the Denver area represents an increase of more than $700,000 compared to last year. Nationwide, $1.4 billion in HUD grants will support a record 5,300 local programs, providing critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support more than 150,000 individuals and families.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov.

FBR Announces Partnership With Ameristar Casino
Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) announced their new partnership with Ameristar Casino Black Hawk to provide meals to food insecure individuals and families in Colorado. Ameristar is the first casino to partner with FBR for their Denver’s Table food rescue program. Ameristar will donate surplus prepared food to FBR and will be the largest contributor to this program, providing approximately 700 pounds of food per week to FBR and their partner agencies. Beginning this month, FBR will send a refrigerated Denver’s Table truck to Ameristar Casino Black Hawk every Monday and Thursday to pick up hundreds of pounds of surplus fresh gourmet food. Approximately 540 meals per week will be provided through this new partnership.
For more information, visit www.foodbankrockies.org.

DFD Receives Grant For New Testing Equipment
Lockton Companies and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company will award a $15,000 grant to the Denver Fire Department (DFD) for the purchase of new physical fitness testing equipment for new firefighter recruits to go through as part of their rigorous training. Each DFD recruit will have to pass through the demands of firefighter training, including this testing equipment, which will ensure they are fit to protect the families of Denver. The grant package is part of a nationwide program called Fireman’s Fund HeritageSM, which is funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (Fireman’s Fund®). The program is designed to provide needed equipment, training and educational tools to local fire departments.
For more information, visit www.denvergov.org/DFD.

NBIC Receives $3.3 Million Grant To Foster Minority Entrepreneurship
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a $3.3 million grant to the Denver-based National Business Information Clearinghouse (NBIC) to assist minority entrepreneurs in overcoming barriers to starting and maintaining a small business. Through this grant, NBIC will support the startup and growth of small businesses in regions across the country, including those participating in the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative. NBIC will combine innovative Web-based resources, on-the-ground technical assistance, and training to foster successful entrepreneurship in regional economies. Working with partners throughout the country including Western Union and local faith-based and community organizations, NBIC will provide entrepreneurial services to low-wage and displaced workers.
For more information, visit www.doleta.gov.

Bruce Randolph Middle School Gets New Security Officer
At a parent leaders public meeting on March 15, Denver Public School District 2 Commander Rhonda Jones and DPS administrators agreed to increase security personnel at Bruce Randolph Middle School. They will add an extra security officer to the staff for the upcoming school year. Parents were also invited to participate in the school’s Parent Watch program, coordinating parent volunteers to patrol their school at the beginning and end of the school day. Bruce Randolph received funding for this project through the Denver Foundation. The public meeting was organized by the Bruce Randolph Organizing Committee, a member of Metro Organizations for People (MOP). MOP has 37 member churches, schools, youth organizations and neighborhood organizations throughout metro Denver, addressing a variety of social issues, including education and safety, at the local and regional levels, and beyond.

T-REX Team Receives National Award
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) recognized Denver’s Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project with the Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award at its 88th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. This marks the first time a construction project in Colorado has received this distinction. Since 1992, the AGC has annually recognized successfully completed construction projects on which team members achieved a common goal, resolved conflicts, worked with stakeholders, and furthered the partnering concept. T-REX team members included the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation District, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and Southeast Corridor Constructors (SECC), a joint-venture partnership of Kiewit Construction and Parsons Transportation Group. In addition, many elected officials and staff members from the seven local jurisdictions through which the project passed provided input.

Denver Officials Launch New CDFI
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, City Council President Michael Hancock, City Councilman Rick Garcia, City Councilman Doug Linkhart and City economic development officials announced the launch of a new, private, nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI). Seedco Financial Services of New York City will operate the CDFI, which will work closely with the City on community economic development, including neighborhood commercial revitalization, affordable housing and small business expansion. It will leverage and invest at least $17 million in 2007 alone in local projects to create jobs and stabilize distressed neighborhoods. Seedco Financial Services is a national, nonprofit intermediary with $178 million in assets and historic ties to the Ford Foundation. The new CDFI is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and will be the largest CDFI in Denver. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is supporting the venture and will provide in-kind office space during the start-up period.
For more information, visit www.seedco.org/financialservices.

Denver Drug Court – New And Improved
A newly redesigned Drug Court is now up and running in Denver, designed to help ease the crushing volume of felony court cases, while at the same time offering life-changing treatment to people whose drug addiction is contributing to criminal behavior. The emphasis of the Drug Court is on immediate assessment, intervention and placement in treatment with a strict monitoring program and immediate consequences for non-compliance. The program uses a full range of incentives and intermediate sanctions to help defendants overcome their addictions and eventually graduate from Drug Court . It is anticipated that 1800 new defendants will be in Drug Court on an annual basis. At any given point in time, it is anticipated that 400 to 500 defendants will be under the supervision of County Court Probation and 1000 to 1200 defendants will be under the supervision of District Court Adult Probation. It is estimated that up to 30 percent of the criminal filings on an annual basis will be diverted from traditional District Court calendars. Denver Drug Court was originally established in 1994 as one of the first Drug Courts in the nation.