Service Learning Trip Speaker Request

[Rachel and Ben Nelson]

Commissioner Kefalas,

Our church, Heart of the Rockies will be hosting service learning trips this summer focused on Housing Justice through the organization Be The Neighbor. These trips involve middle and high school students participating in hands-on projects and learning opportunities in Northern Colorado to understand the complexities and inequalities of housing.

We have two groups scheduled:

  - Week of July 20: 20 participants (ages 11–62)
  - Week of July 27: 21 participants (ages 13–50)

We are looking for an expert speaker to speak on the political aspects of housing such as the hurdles to build more affordable housing, or effective methods for activists to take to be a positive influence toward a more equitable community. We have had several church members that spoke highly of you as a resource with the experiences around our church's path for Heartside Hill. We are thinking an hour, two at most for speaking and questions/answers and currently Monday or Tuesday evening of both weeks is what would work best with our schedule, but we may be able to adjust if it would work better for you. The participants would be from other states, so topics that speak more generally outside of specific Colorado or Larimer County laws would be good. Is this something you would be interested in?

I am happy to discuss this further over the phone at 970-225-3383.

--

Thanks,

Ben Nelson

Be The Neighbor Site Director

Heart of the Rockies Christian Church

[Rachel and Ben Nelson]

Commissioner Kefalas,

Thank you for your interest, and for the suggestion of Rep. Andrew Boesenecker. Would you be available to speak on July 21 at 7pm at the Heartside Hill Community Building?

Thanks,

Ben Nelson

Be The Neighbor Site Director

Heart of the Rockies Christian Church

On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 3:53 PM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

Hello Ben,

Thank you for this kind invitation to participate in this service learning event, and I am most interested in speaking and having a conversation with the group members. Currently, I am available on 7/20 and 7/21. The following week, we may have land use hearings scheduled for the afternoon and evening of 7/27, and I may attend the Board of Adjustment meeting on 7/28. Please confirm. Have you considered Rep. Andrew Boesenecker as one of your speakers? Be well.

	John Kefalas (he/him) County Commissioner, District 1
	Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St | 2nd Floor PO Box 1190, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190 W: (970) 498-7001 Cell:  (720) 254-7598 jkef...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org

[Rachel and Ben Nelson]

Commissioner Kefalas,

The time and location would be July 21 at 7pm at the Heartside Hill Community Center, 6514 Brittany St, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

As far as topics, we think it would be good to talk about the political aspects of affordable housing, the obstacles people face to build it, get into, and stay in it, and ways that the service learning trip participants can advocate effectively in their local communities toward more equitable housing solutions. We will also speaking with CARE Communities on their affordable housing program and partnership to create Heartside Hill, meeting with L'Arche on inclusivity on another night, and plan on working with several other organizations (HNS, Homeward Alliance, Habitat for Humanity) throughout the rest of the week, if that helps give you an idea of the things we will be doing and trying to cover.

Let me know if you need any more information,

Thanks,

Ben Nelson

Be The Neighbor Site Director

Heart of the Rockies Christian Church

On Sat, May 16, 2026 at 7:51 AM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

Yes, please confirm this date and time, along with more details about the event. Thank you.

John Kefalas (he/him) County Commissioner, District 1

Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St | 2nd Floor PO Box 1190, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190 W: (970) 498-7001 Cell:  (720) 254-7598 jkef...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org

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[Rachel and Ben Nelson]

Sounds great, thank you! 

On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 9:50 PM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

Thank you, Ben. These details are helpful, and I have this conversaton on my calendar for 7/21. 

[Rachel and Ben Nelson]

My apologies; I sent too soon.  

Thank you so much! I have you set in our calendar. I will follow up the week before to ensure we are still on schedule as sometimes life happens.

Thanks,

Ben Nelson

Be The Neighbor Site Director

Heart of the Rockies Christian Church