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Election season: Get your vote on!
 Citizens Project knows that your vote is your voice, and we encourage you to get involved this election season. Read about local issues and candidates in our NEW nonpartisan Voter Guide, get involved with a campaign, be an advocate for your values among your friends, family and colleagues. But most of all, make your voice heard and VOTE! |
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You're Invited: Election Education Forum
Citizens Project, in conjunction with the Colorado Springs Independent, KOAA, and Stargazers Theater will be hosting one more Election Education Forum to engage and inform the local community on the decisions they'll be asked to make on the November ballot.
Election Education Forum
Tuesday October 19, 2010, 5 - 7pm
Stargazers Theater10 Parkside Dr., Colorado Springs, CO
Featuring State Legislature Candidates Pete Lee and Karen Cullen, Ballot Measure 62, and the Colorado Springs Strong Mayor proposal
Additional support for the Election Education Forum provided by: 9to5, National Association of Working Women - Colorado, Artemis Women, Colorado College, Colorado Springs Branch NAACP, Inside/Out Youth Services, League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region, One Colorado, Peak Parent, Pikes Peak Equality Coalition, Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center, the White House Project, and the Women's Resource Agency.
Thanks to our media panel: KRCC, The Independent, The Gazette and the Colorado Springs Business Journal. |
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Polling Places Alert
Concerned about a "chilling effect" on voting, a group of non-profit organizations this week called for El Paso County Clerk Bob Balink to diversify the precinct polling locations and create a public selection process, and invited candidates for El Paso County Clerk and Recorder to commit to inclusive polling places and transparency in the selection process.
 An alarming 72% of El Paso County precincts are located in churches, with other Front Range counties varying from 9% (Weld vote centers) to a 38% (Larimer vote centers) of precincts/voting centers located in churches. A 2010 study in Political Psychology found that voting in churches had a measureable effect on how voters cast ballots compared to voting in more neutral locations. The researchers concluded that to reduce this effect church locations should be kept to a minimum, polling places should be in non-consecrated areas of the church and religious symbols should be covered.
"Churches are part of the fabric of every community and serve as meeting places for many secular activities. We do not have an issue, in general, with churches serving as polling places, as long as the process in choosing them is public, all faiths are included in the choices and overtly religious symbols are not displayed in the polling places," said Kristy Milligan, executive director of Citizens Project.
The Election Department has refused requests to meet and discuss polling place selection processes.
Learn more about this issue and stay tuned for ways you can help make polling places inclusive of all voters. |
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Citizens Project Seeks Nominations for the 2011 Divine Award
 Who is Simply Divine?
Nominations Due November 11, 2010 - Citizens Project's Seventh Annual
Divine Award!
Citizens Project invites residents to submit nominations for this prestigious award that recognizes a person in the Pikes Peak region who has worked tirelessly to create a vibrant democracy in which equal rights are protected, individual freedoms are secure, differences are respected and people fully participate in civic life.
Tell us in 300 words or fewer why your nominee should be recognized. Please provide specific information about your nominee's roles in the community - both officially and informally - and how you believe your nominee has made a lasting impact on the community. Please include your name and daytime phone number with your nomination. Email nominations to info@CitizensProject.org by November 11.
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Get Involved
City seeks nine volunteers to serve on the new Human Relations Commission
The City of Colorado Springs is seeking applicants with a commitment to ensuring equal treatment and equal opportunity for all city residents to fill nine seats on the newly formed Human Relations Commission (HRC).
 Commissioners will represent a diverse cross-section of the city's population, have experience with advocacy, mediation and reconciliation, especially among less privileged and minority communities, work well with conflicting groups and interests, and be able to commit to three hours per week.
Send letters of interest and resumes no later than Friday, November 12, 2010 to mdevine@springsgov.com or mail to City Council; Attention Marti Devine Sletta; P.O. Box 1575; Colorado Springs, CO 80901.
Gay & Lesbian Fund For Colorado's Advancing Equality Awards
Once again, the Gay and Lesbian Fund invites you to nominate someone you think is doing invaluable work to advance equality for all Coloradans for an Advancing Equality Award. Nominees can be individuals or organizations that fit into one of the following six award categories:
Outstanding Nonprofit Organization (organization)
Outstanding Public Official (individual)
Outstanding Community Supporter (individual or organization)
Youth Advocate for Excellence (individual)
Outstanding Ally in the Faith-based Community (individual or organization)
Stonewall Supporter for Gay & Transgender Rights (individual or organization)
All nominees must live in Colorado and work to advance equality for Coloradans. Winners receive a $5,000 grant to be given to the nonprofit organization of his or her choice.
The nomination form is available on our website in the "Advancing Equality Awards" section. Please note that the nomination deadline is Friday, Oct. 29, 2010.
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Articles of Interest
Suicides Put Light on Pressures of Gay Teenagers
October 3, 2010
Don't Eat the Soup! It's Pro-Muslim!October 9, 2010 Texas Freedom Networkread it here
Biologist: Evolution theory no place for amateursOctober 10, 2010
Houston Chronicle
read it here
Support For Same-Sex Marriage Edges UpwardOctober 6, 2010
The Pew Forum
read it here |
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Recent CP Blog Posts
Join the Conversation
Gay Rights Lost the Battle, but Can Still Win the War
read it here
Citizens' Religious Freedom Toolkit Now Available
read it here
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Upcoming Events
FREE HEALTH FAIR at Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center
Saturday October 16 2010, 1-6pm
2508 E Bijou (at North Parkside)
FREE Flu shots, HIV testing, basic wellness checks, women's wellness exam referrals, info on mental health, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, and more! Questions? Call 471-4429, or David@YourPrideCenter.org.
2010 Fifth Annual Colorado Springs Conflict Resolution Month EventsThursday, October 21, 8am to 5pm
Regis University, 7450 Campus Drive Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
$25, $15 for Students
Register by October 15 here Enter code: Resolution
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Forum
Thursday, October 28, 2010
6pm-8pm
Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, 315 E Costilla St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Free: Dinner & Childcare provided
Questions and RSVP to Maggie Gomez or Rosemary Harris Lytle at 303-628-0925 or 800-522-0925
Educating Children of Color Summit
Saturday, January 22, 2011
8am-4pm
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO USA 80918 http://educatingchildrenofcolor.org
Please check out our events calendar for more upcoming events!
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The Gazette is a valued partner of Citizens Project and they are extending a special offer to our supporters. Click on the link above to subscribe to The Gazette and they will donate $25 to Citizens Project. You can stay up-to-date on all your local news, and support us at the same time! |
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