Fort Collins in the News!

[Arpi Miller]

Hello Dear Commissioners!

We are excited to learn about the county budget process in the next couple months. We'd like to explore how we can create ongoing support for the impactful programs seeded with ARPA dollars; we are also interested in supporting efforts to increase housing stability and workforce programs (including ESL offerings) that ultimately allow our community to experience mobility and thrive. We'd love to continue to talk with you about all these needs!

Thank you! It's been so wonderful to see you all at different ISAAC events like the Community Empowerment Workshop, Adelante Graduation and the opening to our joint Exhibits with Picture Me here. Here are a few things going on in the coming weeks. We'd love to see you there!

• CBS came up to Fort Collins to do a story on the Art Exhibits we have worked on with Picture Me Here. They gave a shout out to the new Center for Creativity. Querida Family and Hyphens & Hemispheres will run through this Sunday (12-6pm). Click on photos to see bios and more information about our diverse community, and stop by while you still have the chance! 

• Additionally, local artist Jesús Castro wrote a series of plays for Hispanic/Latine Heritage month. They are taking place in that same gallery space every weekend. "Un Soñador en Fort Collins" premiered last weeked. "Betty La Poderosa," based on the life of community leader Betty Aragon-Mitotes, opens this weekend. These are amazing examples of community-based theater.

• Over the next month, ISAAC will be running our Newcomer Youth Winter Drive. We provide winter/hygiene gear to recently arrived immigrant and refugee youth the PSD newcomer program, and we'll be doing a distribution through PSD field trips to the Future Ready Center at the mall, where youth can "shop" for winter gear, pick up a hygiene bag, and practice their English ordering a fancy hot drink at LIMA Coffee House and/or seeing a movie at Cinemark. This is one of the most joyful things we get to do. We'd love you to accompany us for any part of it. We will be doing a similar Drive in Loveland in December.

Fliers attached!

Arpi Miller & team ISAAC