Voices From The Past: Amy Divine

To commemorate our 20th anniversary, Citizens Project invites former board and staff members to submit reflections on CP for inclusion in Freedom Watch Online and associated anniversary print collateral. If you're interested in contributing, please contact us.

How naïve can two people be?  Twenty years ago, Doug and I found out.

It might be comforting to believe that Citizens Project began with a vision to be the city-wide powerhouse that it has become.  But no, the original hope was to be able to occasionally generate 30 or so calls in response to intolerance.

The seed of CP began one morning over bagels and the Gazette at our kitchen table.  Amendment 2 was on the horizon; at that point without organized opposition.  And we had just read that the Pagan speaker on a diversity panel had been uninvited after a local radio program had received 8 complaining calls.

"If we can generate some calls in response, maybe another view can be heard."

The idea for Citizens Project was born.

Doug and I didn't know 30 people to approach, but we knew who did.

First stop: Richard Skorman.  Richard helped us create a small group of dedicated volunteers to get things started.  A trickle was beginning.

We still didn't understand that the trickle would become a river until D'Arcy Fallon wrote an article about the tiny Citizens Project for the Gazette.  It came out on a Saturday morning as Doug and I were loading the car to leave for the weekend.  The phone started ringing at 7:30, with a parade of grateful voices calling through the day.  "I thought I was all alone here," was the refrain.  We stayed home; one answering the phone while the other entered names into the computer.  Hundreds of names.

This was the real birth of Citizens Project.

 CP came to life because support for pluralism and compassion was alive and well in Colorado Springs - it just needed a vehicle.  Since then, many wonderful volunteers and staff have arrived to corral that energy, creating a vital, evolving and effective organization. 

It has been so gratifying to see a small, naïve vision, empowered by community, grow into a force that continues to change the conversation in Colorado Springs.

Amy Divine

Co-Founder of Citizens Project

Citizens Project 20th Anniversary Bash

Thanks to an incredible planning committee, the generosity of dozens of donors, and the 75+ people who attended Citizens Project's 20th Anniversary event, the evening was an incredible success.

Attendees were treated to a commemorative video done by The Big Something at KRCC, inspiring words from Erin Hannan (Citizens Project's current board chair), Megan Day (one of Citizens Project's early executive directors), Kristy Milligan (current executive director), and Barb Van Hoy & Ellie Collinson (former executive directors). The program was rounded out with archival displays and tours, courtesy of Pikes Peak Library District's special collections, and a 20-year retrospective compiled by Barb Van Hoy, Frances Gomeztagle and Alison Jones.

Continue Reading Here

New Office Open House

It's official-Citizens Project has moved to downtown Colorado Springs! After a week spent sorting boxes and moving heavy furniture, we are all settled into our new office space located above Poor Richard's (322 N. Tejon St. Suite 225).  We are now back at work doing what we do best-promoting equality, diversity and religious freedom throughout the Colorado Springs community.

We are gladly welcoming short drop-in visits from supporters and friends and, as promised, we will be hosting an open house Wednesday September 26th from 5:30-7PM at the new office. We encourage you to come and see Citizens Project's lovely new office. We are so excited to share our new space with you, and look forward to sharing ways that YOU can make a difference with Citizens Project.

The Department of Human Services Advisory Commission is seeking two volunteers for 3-year terms. The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications from community-minded citizens until Aug. 31.   

The DHS Advisory Commission has an at-large opening and another for District 4, which includes southern Colorado Springs, Security, Widefield, Fountain, Fort Carson and the area south to the county line.

The Advisory Commission reviews and provides formal recommendations about DHS' program operations and budget. Members assist in setting human services priorities in the county, enhancing community partnerships, and monitoring the coordination and implementation of DHS' initiatives and mandated services.   Members serve three-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms. 

For more information as well as application information click here.

August 28th

5-8pm

Inside/Out Youth Services

more information

New Office Open House

September 26

5:30-7:00 pm

Citizens Project Office

322 N Tejon St. Suite 225

more information

Strides for Epilepsy 5K Walk/Run

October 13

9am-12pm

America the Beautiful Park

more information