“It’s amazing that the local community, Basalt, Carbondale and Aspen [and more], came together like this and contributed this staggering amount of money,” he said. “But they can’t keep doing it.”
Category: Social justice
Posted inSocial justice
Indigenous youths finish historic journey down Klamath River with help of Aspen-based nonprofit after dams removed
Now that the dams are out, Thompson hopes reconnecting with the river, including through salmon fishing and recreation opportunities, can help address a rise in health concerns such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as mental health challenges faced by tribes in the region, including addiction and suicide.
Posted inSocial justice
Residents and advocates push for stronger mobile home protections as investors buy up properties
“Right now, the residents, even if they have a bid that meets the price, the owner today could choose not to give it to the residents,” Sanchez said. “We believe that’s wrong and we believe that residents should have the opportunity to buy their own park first.”
Posted inSocial justice
Amid national protests, local residents speak out against ICE and support immigrant communities
“We cannot tie immigrants, tie the value of immigrants, to their utility to us. … [They], first and foremost, are people, and the fact that there are people is enough to advocate for them.”
Posted inSocial justice
Local attorneys spread awareness about increase in scams targeting immigrants
Immigration attorneys in the Roaring Fork Valley are spreading awareness about a recent rise in scams and extortion targeting immigrants in Colorado and across the country. An increase in federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration this year has resulted in heightened fear and insecurity for many immigrants, which can make people more vulnerable to […]
Posted inSocial justice
Advocates and attorneys see uptick in community reports of ICE activity, but caution the spread of misinformation
Aspen Public Radio’s All Things Considered anchor Halle Zander spoke with Social Justice Reporter Eleanor Bennett about the latest reports and her conversations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), local law enforcement agencies, immigration attorneys, and advocacy groups.
Posted inSocial justice
Schools partner with nonprofit Response to teach consent and prevent sexual violence
To try to prevent people from becoming victims and perpetrators, Basalt-based nonprofit Response is partnering with local schools to teach students about consent and healthy relationships in the age of smartphones and social media.
Posted inSocial justice
Carbondale nonprofit ‘a second home’ for growing number of immigrant students, expands Spanish-language services
“We have observed a significant increase in youth experiencing housing instability, as well as an increase in the proportion of Spanish-speaking newcomers, immigrants and refugees seeking assistance within our bilingual centers,” Greener shared in an email.
Posted inSocial justice
Local parents urge Polis to sign bill requiring social media crackdown on illegal activity after losing kids to overdoses
A report found that although most platforms already have policies banning illegal drug sales and have made some efforts to work with law enforcement to address the issue, companies’ responses to such activity on their platforms have had limited effectiveness.
Posted inSocial justice
COVID-19 was ‘the great accelerator.’ Its impacts are still rippling out.
“It’s convenient for people not to think about the pandemic, and sometimes you sound like a bit of an oddball when you talk about it,” said Katherine Sand, director of the resource center Aspen Family Connections. “But I think it’s a defining moment in our lives.”