SOUTHWEST COLORADO TAKES CHARGE!

                                  

In March 2012, Take Charge! will be headed to Southwest Colorado. On Saturday, March 24th, students from high schools throughout the region will come together to reach out to residents of Durango. In addition, Take Charge will be working with Fort Lewis College on “No Impact Week” from March 19th – 23rd, and conducting middle- and high-school assemblies throughout the region.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy resources for Southwest Colorado:

• Four corners office for resources efficiency (4CORE) http://fourcore.org/
• Southwest Conservation Corps http://sccorps.org/

Green jobs resources for Southwest Colorado:

• Fort Lewis College http://www.fortlewis.edu/
• Pueblo Community College, Durango http://www.pueblocc.edu/campuses/sccc
• SESP Green Job info website http://www.greencareersco.com/
 

Local organizations, clubs, and schools focused on community service and/or energy:

• Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) http://www.coyac.org
• Durango High School Green Club http://dhs.durangoschools.org
• Mancos High School http://mancosre6.edu/
• Dolores High School http://www.dolores.k12.co.us/
• Montezuma-cortez High School http://www.cortez.k12.co.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=3
• Fort Lewis Environmental Center http://fortlewis.edu/environmentalcenter/home.aspx

BRING TAKE CHARGE TO YOUR SCHOOL!

WHAT IS TAKE CHARGE!?

A youth outreach and education project funded through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s State Energy Sector Partnership.

BOOK A FREE TAKE CHARGE! ASSEMBLY

Email Stephanie@GroundworkColorado.org  or call 303-455-5600

ABOUT TAKE CHARGE! SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

Take Charge! has outreach representatives throughout the entire state of Colorado.  These Take Charge! staff members give educational and  interactive presentations on energy efficiency, renewable  energy, green jobs and service learning to Take Charge!

QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL ANSWER FOR YOUR STUDENTS IN OUR PRESENTATION

Why is the green jobs industry growing?

What types of skills are required to get a green job?

What green jobs are available in Colorado?

What are our renewable energy sources?

How is energy generated and transmitted?

What does Colorado’s energy consumption look like?

How do we use energy in our homes and schools?

How can we Take Charge! in our communities?

How much energy do we waste?

How can we save energy?

What is wind power?

What is solar power?

What is geothermal power?

What is biomass power?

What is a green job?

TAKE CHARGE! IN COMMERCE CITY THIS OCTOBER

Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! program is coming to Commerce City on Saturday, October 15, 2011 for a day of service. We’ll be partnering with Adam’s County Education Consortium (ACEC) to expand awareness of energy conservation resources like home energy assessments, which can help folks save money and live greener. To make the kind of impact we want, we’ll need 100 students to join us, and that means we need you! Email TakeCharge@GroundworkColorado.org if you want to get involved!

ACEC works with Adams County school districts, post secondary education institutions, local governments, community-based organizations and the business community to create personalized academic skills development, career exploration and employee skills for all learner groups in Adams County. For more information visit their website at http://www.adamscountyeducation.org.

Links to local energy conservation and green jobs resources:
United Power
Adams County Workforce Center
Xcel Energy

TAKE CHARGE! IN COLORADO SPRINGS THIS OCTOBER

Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! program will come to Colorado Springs on Saturday, October 8, 2011 for a day of service. We’ll be partnering with Colorado College’s EnAct club, Colorado College’s Center for Service and Learning, Stratmoor Community Center, Colorado Springs Utility, and the City of Colorado Springs to expand awareness of energy conservation resources like home energy assessments, which can help folks save money and live greener. To make the kind of impact we want, we’ll need 100 students to join us, and that means we need you!  Email TakeCharge@GroundworkColorado.org if you are interested in getting involved!

EnAct, the longest running student group on campus, focuses on raising environmental and social awareness at Colorado College and within the Colorado Springs community. It’s an umbrella organization that gives students the resources to pursue the environmental and social projects they value, alongside others who share the same goals. Previous EnAct projects include: celebrating Earth Week; developing the college's present recycling program; researching regional environmental issues like mid-west climate change; and bringing in speakers to educate students on current environmental issues. In 1991, EnAct instituted the Timothy Linnemann Memorial Lecture on the Environment. EnAct is open to anyone passionate about the environment. For more information, go to http://www.coloradocollege.edu/students/enact.

Links to local energy conservation and green jobs resources:
Colorado Springs Utilities
Energy Resource Center of Colorado
Pikes Peak Workforce Center

TAKE CHARGE! IN PUEBLO THIS SEPTEMBER

Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! program is coming to Pueblo on Saturday, September 24, 2011 for a day of service. We’ll be partnering with Colorado State University at Pueblo’s Upward Bound program to expand awareness of energy conservation resources like home energy assessments, which can help folks save money and live greener. To make the kind of impact we want, we’ll need 100 students to join us, and that means we need you! Email TakeCharge@GroundworkColorado.org if you want to get involved!

Upward Bound is a program that helps prepare high school students for college. The organization helps young people to develop the skills and motivation necessary to succeed in higher education. Participants receive tutoring in literature, composition, foreign languages, mathematics and science. Participants also get involved with cultural events, obtain assistance with college preparation, financial aid, scholarships and career development. Pueblo’s Upward Bould program helps almost 100 students annually. There are currently more than 650 programs in operation throughout the United States.

Visit the Upward Bound website at http://www.colostate-pueblo.edu/studentservices/Pages/UpwardBound.aspx.

Links to local energy conservation and green jobs resources:
Pueblo County Weatherization Program
Black Hills Energy
Pueblo Workforce Center
Pueblo Community College

TAKE CHARGE! IN BRIGHTON THIS SEPTEMBER

Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! program will come to Brighton, Colorado on Saturday, September 10, 2011 for a day of service. We’ll partner with the Brighton Youth Commission and United Power to expand awareness of energy conservation resources like home energy assessments, which can help folks save money and live greener. To make the kind of impact we want, we’ll need 100 students to join us, and that means we need you! Email TakeCharge@GroundworkColorado.org if you want to get involved!

The Brighton Youth Commission (BYC) is a body of 20 students and six adults whose job it is to create youth-centered community change. They meet twice a month to study problems and plan community events that will have a positive impact on Brighton’s youth. Each commissioner is a representative of the city and of his/her specific school. To find out more, go to http://www.brightonco.gov/department/board.php?fDD=21-80.

Interested in joining? The Brighton Youth Commissioners go through an application process and are selected based on leadership, commitment and passion for helping Brighton’s youth. Applications are always being accepted, and interviews are held every May.

The Brighton Youth Commission has brought FREE recycling to Brighton!
Click here for more information.

Links to local energy conservation and green jobs resources:
United Power
Adams County Workforce Center

Energy Service Corps' Energy Assessment Music Video

Watch a music video created by New Jersey's Energy Service Corps to see what type of work is being done in Colorado and in other states!

Take Charge! TODAY

Brought to you by: U.S. Department of Energy

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STUDENT VOLUNTEERS HELP SWITCH ON CONSERVATION

Walking from door to door, light bulbs in hand, student volunteers swap out front porch lights for Denver homeowners while they talk to them about all the simple ways basic living alterations can benefit the environment.

The Porch Bulb Project had students canvassing the North Denver neighborhoods Jan. 17 as part of Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! Project where student volunteers take their knowledge of energy conservation and act upon it.

The project aims to prove that making an environmental difference is as easy as replacing an incandescent front porch light bulb for a compact florescent bulb. This simple change, at no cost to the homeowner, saves energy and prevents the release of CO2 emissions, Take Charge! Project Manager Stephanie Fry said.

Although it only began two months ago, the program already has about 100 student volunteers.

“[Take Charge!] has really taken off,” Fry said. “It’s like a mouth to a fire hose.”

Groundwork Denver was founded in October 2002. The organization engages the community in several different projects, from tree planting to community revitalization projects to youth employment projects.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, teams of two volunteers were able to reach on average 30 to 50 homes. With 100 volunteers, there were 50 teams who were able to reach between 1,500 and 2,500 homes.

Take Charge! spends 10 weeks in a single neighborhood. Communities in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Denver and Durango have received the energy efficient, CFL light bulbs. Census maps are referenced so low-income communities are selected to take part in the project, Fry said.

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