Press Release

Naropa University and Project YES to Provide Grant Funding for
East Boulder County Community Groups

BOULDER, Colo. (May 11, 2005) -- On Monday, May 16, 2005, Naropa University and Project YES will host an open house to present the Lafayette Youth Project findings to the East Boulder County community. At that time, Naropa and Project YES will also invite schools, nonprofit agencies, churches, and organized student and parent groups to apply for more than $40,000 in funding for pilot projects that address critical youth needs identified by a prior grant-funded dialogue process: specifically, recreational activities, bilingual and emotional support, and employment and volunteerism opportunities. Part of the statewide "Communities Strengthening Colorado" grant, the Lafayette Youth Project is a grassroots community-based learning initiative that aims to create a shared vision for Lafayette youth by piloting youth-oriented projects. The May 16 open house will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the student center at Lafayette's Centaurus High School.

Describing the federally funded grant, which was awarded to five regions throughout the state, Eric Fretz, director of the Community Studies Center at Naropa University, said, "Unlike traditional grants, which are written in private and then laid over the top of a community, the 'Communities Strengthening Colorado' grant works in the opposite direction. This grant invites community members to identify problems and provide their own solutions." Naropa University, in partnership with Project YES, a Lafayette nonprofit agency, received the CSC grant for East Boulder County.

A year ago, a leadership committee was formed under the auspices of the grant. Forty concerned Lafayette citizens made up the leadership committee, including middle and high school students, teachers, parents, community activists, nonprofit representatives, city officials, and Naropa University students and faculty. After receiving three months of training in the dialogue process from Naropa University and Project YES, the committee interviewed hundreds of community members through informal conversations or "community cafes" to identify Lafayette's most pressing needs and their impact on its student population.

One Lafayette high school student said, "Lafayette youth need help. There are kids out there who are suicidal, on drugs, and simply unmotivated. By providing them with alternative outlets, kids can turn their lives around."

Committee members will provide training in grant writing directly following the open house to ensure that a diverse pool of local applicants, including those previously unfamiliar with the grant process, will apply.

Project YES (Youth Envisioning Social change) is a community-based nonprofit agency, committed to creating leadership opportunities for youth through the arts and service learning. In addition to the Service-Learning Partnership, which promotes the academic success and civic leadership of Lafayette students through service learning, Project YES hosts after-school programs at its Youth Center, as well as provides students with an opportunity to create a piece of public art about a student-identified issue through its Art in the Community workshop.

Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. Contemplative education is an approach to learning that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental studies, psychology, religious studies, and creation spirituality. It offers BA, BFA, MA, MFA, MDiv and MLA degrees, as well as professional development training and classes for the community. In addition, the university runs study abroad programs in Sikkim, India and Prague, Czech Republic.

Contact

Jane Rubinstein
Manager, Public Relations
Naropa University
PH 303-245-4643
FAX 303-245-4676
jrubinstein@naropa.edu

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