Mentors Needed
Millennium Quest High School (MQHS) at the Manual Educational Complex and 100 Black Men of Denver are collaborating together on an exciting new Black and Latino Mentoring program. Male and female community minority mentors will meet with selected students individually or in small groups (two to four persons), to develop a supportive, caring relationship over the course of the school year. Mentors are asked for a minimum commitment of an hour every other week based on the convenience of the combined schedules of the mentor and mentee(s). The kick-off event for mentor/mentee matches will be the evening of Tuesday, March 7. A brief Mentor orientation will be provided prior to that date.
For more information call Sam Williams at 303-307-1131, or Misti Aas, at 720-423-6417 or 303-617-7109.

DAFF African Marketplace
Accepting Applications
The 7th Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival produced by the Pan African Arts Society, will launch “African Marketplace,” located on the film festival grounds at the Starz! Film Center on the Auraria Campus from Wednesday, April 26 through Sunday April 30.
For more information, visit www.panafricanarts.org and download “African Marketplace” Booth Application or contact Kifungua Ma’at at 720-291-3260.

“Café Nuba” Features National Slam Poets for Women’s History Month
Women’s creativity and power is celebrated at “Café Nuba: It’s Hot & It’s Black” this month featuring poetry, live art, music and dancing with spoken-word artists and national slam champions, Mahogany Browne (Baltimore, MD), Andrea Gibson, (Boulder, CO), and Sonya Renee (Washington, DC) with live music from Flobots, and soulful beats from DJ Desire and DJ S.D.  Plus film previews from the upcoming Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival. There will be an open mike for invited guests, raffles, and early bird giveaways on Friday, March 31 at The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St. from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. You must be 21 with ID.
For more information, visit www.panafricanarts.org or call 303-298-8188.

Denver Pan African Film Festival Seeking Volunteers
The Pan African Arts Society (PAAS), the award-winning 501C3 organization that is coordinating the 7th Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival is looking for volunteers for the upcoming event slated for April 24 to May 1. Professional opportunities can be custom-designed and allow for creative freedom in developing artistic projects that enhance the community.  Some available volunteer positions include; Office Assistant, Communications Assistant, Youth Project Assistant, Art Design Assistant, Theatre Staff, and Public Relations Assistants.
Positions begin in March and go through the end of April.
For more information, call 303-298-8188 or visit www.panafricanarts.org.

Sankofa Arts Collective
Opens ‘Back Do’ Studio
The Sankofa Arts Collective will celebrate the grand opening of the ‘Back Do’ Studio March 17 and 18, at 3030 Downing Street with an opening reception of Sankofa: Live and In Color, Friday from 6 to10 p.m., featuring music by Ron Ivory. The celebration will continue Saturday with an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring a community arts event and entertainment by Jimmie Espirit. All events are free and open to the public. For more information call 303-907-4589.

Lutheran Family Services Gala
The 12th Annual Lutheran Family Services Gala, A Time of Caring: Mile High Hope, will be held on Thursday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Mile High Station, 2027 West Colfax Ave.  There will be dinner, musical entertainment, a program, a silent auction, and comedian Kevin Fitzgerald.
The 12th Annual Lutheran Family Services Gala supports programs including adoption, foster care, disaster response, refugee and asylum services, pregnancy counseling, and care management solutions for older adults.
Attire is Colorado casual. Tickets are $150 per person and $200 for patrons.
For information or reservations, call Michelle Livermont at 303-217-5860.  

44th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day
Parade Planned
The largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade west of the Mississippi pays homage to the great city of New Orleans. The 2006 theme is "Irish Mardi Gras." The parade will be held on Saturday, March 11, starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 1:30 or 2 p.m. The parade features over 200 entries with more than 10,000 marchers, including floats, clowns, pipe bands, high school marching bands, Irish step dancers, and El Jebel Shriners.
For more information, visit www.denverstpatricksdayparade.com or call 303-321-7888.

Expanding The Visions and Sistah Pride
Hosts Youth Empowerment Conference Expanding The Visions and Sistah Pride join forces to open a conversation between youth and adults from the African American community about education, careers, and making smart life-choices. The event will be held on Saturday, March 25 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. followed by a Teen Spring Break Party.
An additional feature of the conference will be workshops designed for parents and other significant adults who have a role in the lives of youth. Healthy dialogue will provide informative ways to continue the support and encouragement for empowering youth and strengthening our families today. Information and resources should be made available to parents and other adults in attendance.
For complete details and registration information visit www.aali-rockymtn.org or call 303-229-9035.

Free Financial Insights Workshops
Free classes regarding basic financial planning concepts geared to the African American community are scheduled for March 7, 14, and 21 at the Park Hill Golf Course banquet room at 4141 East 35th Ave. in Denver. The classes will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.  Pizza will be served and a door prize drawing will take place. Space is limited to the first 50 people who enroll.
For more information or to enroll, call Steve Schott at 303-428-1448 x 202 or visit stephen@crhdc.org

Join The Buzz!  Volunteer At
The New Denver Art Museum
With the larger DAM complex opening in fall 2006, more volunteers are needed to welcome visitors, help in the museum shops, and at the information desks. An open house will be held to learn about these volunteer opportunities, meet current volunteers, and get excited about the opening. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, March 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 19 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 8 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and Saturday, April 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
For more information or to RSVP, call 720-865-5173 or email volunteer@denverartmuseum.org.

Learn Conflict Resolution
And Enrich Your Life
The Conflict Center presents a new four-week series entitled “Enrichment For
Gay & Lesbian Partners” the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. In a trust-worthy atmosphere, participants will discover couple-skills and resources while learning nonviolent approaches to society’s prejudices and conflicts.
Guided by teachers Oak Chezar MA and Reverend Carla Ficke, participants will discuss and practice handling conflicts in a manner that solves the problem while building partner relationships. Cost is $100 per couple, per four-week series.
For more information or to register, call Chanel at 303.433-4983 or email: Chanel.Freeman@conflictcenter.org.

Living Portraits Of
African-AmericanWomen
The National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Denver Section, and The African American Research Library of the Denver Public Library present 2006 Living Portraits of African-AmericanWomen, Saturday, March 11 from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Denver Central Library Basement Conference Room, B-2, 10 W. 14th Avenue. This year’s award winners are Danielle Caldwell, Marva Coleman, Ashara Ekundayo, Beverley Reddick-Jenkins, Commander Tracie L. Keesee, Delores Manns-Martin, Jacque’ T. Payne and Mrs. Johnnie Peters. Tamara Banks will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call Sylvia S. Smith at 720-913-1602. 

Mayor To Launch Neighborhood Forums
Mayor John Hickenlooper will launch his newest public-input initiative, Partnership Denver: Neighbors Building Solutions, this spring. The series of six community forums in March and April provides an opportunity to find solutions to neighborhood concerns by building partnerships with the city, neighborhoods, non-profits and businesses, while increasing coordination of intra-city resources, informing neighbors of current city initiatives, and stimulating citizen participation. 
Participants will use interactive key-pad technology to facilitate discussions and provide real-time data gathering and feedback. Mayor Hickenlooper, City Council members, and members of the Mayor’s Cabinet will be in attendance. 
Dates and Locations are as follows:
Southwest: Thursday, March 9 from 6 to 9 p.m., Southwest Improvement Council, 1000 S. Lowell Blvd.;
Northwest: Wednesday, March 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, 3655 Wyandot St.;
Southeast: Wednesday, March 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St.;
Green Valley Ranch: Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Recreation Center, 4890 Argonne Way;
Central East: Wednesday, March 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., Johnson & Wales University, 7150 Montview Blvd.; and
Central West: Tuesday, April 4 from 6 to 9 p.m., Centro San Juan Diego, 2830 Lawrence St.
Denver residents who want to join the interactive conversation in their area are asked to R.S.V.P to 720-865-9074.
 
ADL Hosts 25th Annual Governor's Holocaust Remembrance Program
ADL's 25th annual Governor's Holocaust Remembrance Program will be held on Sunday, April 30, in the Temple Buell Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event will feature "Voices of Survival" from two friends, David Gewirtzman, a child Holocaust survivor, and Eugenie Mukeshimana, a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide.
Tickets are required for this free event.
For more information or tickets, call Vanessa Martin in the ADL office at 303-830-7177 or e-mail her at vmartin@ADL.org.

Creative Residencies At PlatteForum
PlatteForum, a one-of-a-kind arts center in Lower Downtown Denver, announced the May 5, 2006 deadline for applications to its Creative Residency Program. The program is open to artists in all genres including the visual and performing arts, design arts, new media, installation, filmmaking, writing, book arts and craft/folk arts. Artists can apply as individuals or in collaborative teams. Students may apply but are required to have a teacher or established artist as the lead artist on their project. Artists apply to use PlatteForum as a studio environment from 4 to 6 weeks, and have access to the studio 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each resident or collaborative team proposes a body of work that will be in part dedicated to creating unique art experiences with youth. Artists receive a modest stipend during their residency.
For more information or an application, visit www.platteforum.org or call 303-893-0791.

Residents Sought For
Citizens Police Academy
Aurorans will be able to cross the thin blue line this spring, when the Aurora Police Department opens the doors to its first Citizens Police Academy for 2006. The 14-week program provides participants with an unprecedented view into nearly every operational facet of the police department, from crime scene investigations to community policing; from vice and narcotics to victims services. Participants also are privy to community policing strategies and techniques, while getting a unique opportunity to discuss community issues and concerns with officers and officials at all levels of the department. The course takes place at various sites from 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, from Feb. 21 to May 3. A similar 10-week class for seniors takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Fridays, from March 6 to May 8, at the Aurora Senior Center, located at 30 Del Mar Circle.
Each academy applicant must submit to a criminal background check.
For more information or to register, call 303-739-6346 or visit www.auroragov.org/police.

Support Aurora Education
Foundation’s Annual Fundraiser
The public is invited to the Aurora Education Foundation's annual fundraising event, "Savor the Flavor" on March 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Embassy Suites (I-70 at Havana). This event benefits the Educator Scholarship Fund for the Aurora Public Schools. Sample fine wines, martinis, and microbrews, while enjoying delectable cuisine, live entertainment, and silent auction items. Tickets are $50 per person. Anyone interested in being a volunteer, assisting to set up and break down, may receive a ticket at half-price.
For more information, call 303-326-1090 or e-mail ahuttonh@msn.com.

Great Games Week:
Fun For The Whole Family;
Spring fever has hit and there will be no shortage of kids with energy. The Denver Art Museum is just the place for families to play and explore during the Museum’s Great Games Week, from Saturday, March 25 through Sunday, April 2. Gallery games will be available every day that the Museum is open during this time. Play Bingo or Eye Spy in the galleries, or go on a journey through the Museum with one of our Family Backpacks. All family activities are free with general Museum admission; admission is always free for kids 12 and under. Additionally, the Just for Fun Family Center will be available everyday beginning Saturday, March 18, and will remain available daily through the fall.
For more information, call 720-865-5000.

Arvada Center To Commission New Public Art Work
The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities invites visual artists residing in the United States to apply for a public art commission, in conjunction with the Center's upcoming expansion project. The deadline for submissions is April 3. This outdoor, site-specific sculpture will be part of a new landscaped courtyard adjacent to the planned 200-seat black box theater. The budget awarded for the final commission will be $65,000. Finalists will be selected on April 13. Marquettes/designs are due on May 15, and the final commission will be announced on Nov. 5, as part of the Arvada Center's 30th Anniversary Celebration.
For more information call 720-898-7250 or visit arvadacenter.org/callforentries.

7th Annual Multicultural
Conference Opens
The Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is hosting its 7th annual multicultural conference to educate minority women in the metro area regarding differences and similarities between cultures in relation to breast health. The event is free and will be held Saturday, March 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Renaissance Denver Hotel at 3801 Quebec St. Admission is free and includes complimentary lunch, but an RSVP is required. 
For more information, call Veronica Hernandez at 303-744-2088 ext. 304.

CCA Hosts Recognition Luncheon
Community College of Aurora will hold the CCA Foundation’s Scholarship Donor Recognition Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver on April 7. The luncheon event will honor over 40 donors who have funded more than $160,000 in scholarships for CCA students over the past year. Participating in the recognition activities will be Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, Michael Durkin, CEO of the Mile High United Way, and John Alexander, president of the Helen K. & Arthur E. Johnson Foundation.  In addition, 182 scholarship recipients will be acknowledged, and several will share their personal stories of how CCA and the scholarships have impacted their lives.
For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu or call Diana Whye, CCA Foundation Executive Director at 303-360-4833.
                                                 
Volunteers Needed
At Starsmore Discovery Center
Starsmore Discovery Center in North Cheyenne Cañon Park is looking for volunteers who want to have fun, meet people from all over the world, and help one of Colorado Springs's most beautiful sites continue to serve the community. We are recruiting now for our 2006 season, which will begin April 5. 
For more information, call Starsmore Discovery Center at 719-578-6146.

Denver Office Of Cultural Affairs Presents Free Expo
On Saturday, March 4, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs will present its first Building Creative Businesses Expo. The program will be held at the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Expo will offer Denver’s creative community (e.g., artists, filmmakers, dancers, graphic designers, musicians, etc.) a “one-stop” opportunity to learn about the various city, non-profit and for-profit resources available to help grow and stabilize creative businesses. This is a free program. 
More than 35 organizations will be participating as exhibitors and workshop presenters. Exhibitors will be located in the Atrium of the Webb Building. Interested participants may register for workshops on the day of the event.  Room capacity for workshops is limited; registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information or a complete schedule of workshops and program details, visit www.denvergov.org/createdenver.
 
Call For Entry! Artists, Writers,
And Performing Artists
The Rocky Mountain Women’s Institute is accepting applications for the 2006/07 Associate Program through April 19. We provide a yearlong support program to six to 10 selected associates each year. This includes a stipend of $1,250 to assist with a creative project, public presentation/performance opportunities, and a one-month exhibition at the Emmanuel Gallery on the Auraria Campus, an opportunity to teach at the University level, and monthly/bi-monthly meetings with fellow Associates to discuss the creative process. Applicants must reside within commuting distance of Denver. This is not a residency program.
For more information or an application, call 303-830-1818 or contact Elizabeth Braden at erbraden@yahoo.com.
 
Sin Palabras/ Body Language Exhibit
On Display At DAVA
Sin Palabras/Body Language, artworks by DAVA Youth with guest artists Ken Peterson and Kirk Robinson will be on display from March 2 to April 21. Opening reception will be March 2 from 4 to 7 p.m.  Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA) is located at 1405 Florence St., one block south of Colfax in Original Aurora.
This exhibit explores human expressions, emotions, and postures through a variety of media. Youth ages seven to 17 in DAVA’s after school programs created non-verbal forms of communication through clay faces, drawings and digitally manipulated photographs.
The exhibits are free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday or by appointment.
For more information call 303-367-5886, visit www.davarts.org, or e-mail davagallery@qwest.net.
                                               
Financial Stewardship & Empowerment Conference Slated For April
Single Mothers of Color (SMOC) will present a half day conference, Financial Stewardship & Empowerment Conference on Saturday, April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Daniel’s Fund, 101 Monroe St. in Denver.  This conference is geared toward working single mothers of color, but is open to all women of color.  Featured guest speaker, Tanisha Sykes, Associate Editor of Black Enterprise, will speak during the lunch hour on wealth building and financial empowerment. Registration is free to SMOC members, $10 for non-SMOC members and includes continental breakfast, lunch, door prizes, plus valuable information and resources. Space is limited.  Registration deadline is Monday, April 25.
For more information and to register, call 303-293-2126 or visit www.smocdenver.org.
 
Summer Jobs Available
At U.S. Embassies
Spend a summer working in a U.S. Embassy in one of 90 locations throughout the world. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's International Internship Program is a paid internship program and is in need of applicants. Through work assignments, participants learn various aspects of international trade, trade policy, international relations, diplomacy, regional and cultural considerations, etc. Positions are available in Western Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Deadline is March 15. Applicants must be a currently enrolled student, a U.S. citizen and in good academic standing. For application information visit www.fas.usda.gov/admin/student/IIP_Brochure.pdf.

Sorority To Host Recognition Luncheon 
To highlight the accomplishments of its Rhoer Club Members, The Theta Zeta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. will host its 2nd Annual Sigma Pearls recognition luncheon at the Hyatt Denver Tech Center on March 26. Doors open at noon and the program begins at 1 p.m. The Rhoer Club provides a positive experience for young women, ages 13 to 18, in leadership development, mentoring, community service, and rites of passage.
The chapter will award a member of the Western Region, the Corine J. Green Anchor Award in honor of the only Grand Basileus elected from the Western Region.
Tickets are $30. For more information or tickets, call 303-337-9376 or e-mail the chapter at thetazetasigma@yahoo.com.

Church Women United
Hosts World Day Of Prayer
St. Laurence Episcopal Church in Conifer will be the site of South African Women and HIV/AIDS World Day of Prayer sponsored by Church Women United, an ecumenical movement to bring about peace and justice through its priority program "Strengthening Families in the 21st Century." The service will be held on Saturday, March 4, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. This year’s service was prepared by the women of South Africa with an emphasis on the HIV/AIDS crisis.  All proceeds and donations will be distributed to various organizations in South Africa expressly for the fight against this rampant disease. There will be a presentation of slides as well as South African refreshments. 
For more information contact Barb Johnson at barbstanj@msn.com.

BeadforLife Open House
BeadforLife, a nonprofit organization based in Boulder, will sponsor an open house on Friday, March 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 1143 Portland St. in Boulder. BeadforLife provides impoverished Ugandan women an opportunity to earn a living by making beautiful paper-bead jewelry out of colorful recycled paper. The beaders are HIV positive women as well as refugees displaced by a devastating war in Northern Uganda. Many are widows caring for their own children as well as AIDS orphans. In spite of these challenges, the beaders are resilient, hardworking, and resourceful. All net profits are returned to Uganda through community development projects in the areas of health, education, and affordable housing. BeadforLife sells its beads woman to woman at home parties hosted by volunteers who open their hearts and homes to help "eradicate poverty one bead at a time." To learn more, to buy beads, or to host a party contact us at www.beadforlife.com.
 
Children Of Uganda
With pulsing rhythms, quicksilver movements, powerful drums, lyric flutes, and songs of joy and hope, Children of Uganda will perform exhilarating East African music and dance with commanding skill and awesome richness of human spirit on Saturday, March 11. The 20 children, aged eight to 18, have all lost a parent, often both, to AIDS or war, and their performances raise funds for their fellow orphans at home. Children of Uganda confirm the transformative power of art and demonstrate the importance of sharing culture across generations and borders.
Tickets are $20-$35. For information call 303-871-7720.

LPS, et al. Host Dinner and Auction
Littleton Public Schools, in partnership with the Center for Teaching International Relations and Project Education Sudan will host a gala dinner and silent auction on Saturday, March 11 at the Driscoll Ballroom at DU from 6 to 9 p.m. Keynote speaker will be General Majak D’Agoot, an advisor to the President of Southern Sudan.
For information or to donate auction items, contact Shanna Hurt at shurt@lps.k12.co.us.

Focus On Mali: Films And Discussion
The public is invited to attend the screening of two films focusing on Mali on Friday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 571 Galapago St., Denver 80204. The films will be followed by a question and answer session with Cherif Keita. The first film, A Bamako, les femmes sont belles is 65 minutes long and the second film, Oberlin-Inanda: The Life and Times of John L. Dube, is 55 minutes long. This is a free event, though donations are appreciated.
For more information or to RSVP, call 303-831-0304 by Wednesday, March 15.
 
Paul Rusesabagina Speaks
Paul Rusesabagina, who is featured in the film Hotel Rwanda, will speak at Mackey Auditorium on Wed., April 5. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and the event will start at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit http://www.colorado.edu/StudentGroups/ceb/.  

Volunteers Needed To Install Smoke Detectors In Seniors’ Homes
Volunteers of America, with the support of the American Red Cross, will be installing free smoke detectors in seniors’ homes in Denver. Each senior receiving a smoke detector will also receive a fire and home safety information packet. This ongoing initiative is part of the Volunteers of America Handyman Program, which provides minor in-home safety-related repairs for Denver seniors aged 60 and over. Volunteers must provide their own tools and pass a background check before visiting the homes.
For more information or to volunteer, call 720-264-3331.

RFB&D Now Recruiting Volunteers
The Rocky Mountain Unit of the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), located at 1355 South Colorado, Blvd., is recruiting volunteers. RFB&D, a national nonprofit organization, was founded in 1951 with a mission to provide recorded textbooks to individuals, from kindergarten through graduate school and beyond, who are blind, visually impaired, learning or physically disabled. Volunteer opportunities at RFB&D are varied.
For more information or to volunteer, call 303-757-0787, or send e-mail to betsyrfbd@qwest.net.