Assets in the Community

Sharing What Works

Where are asset-builders showing up in our community? Everywhere.

Read what groups and individuals are doing to support youth in their communities.

Assets in Organizations

Assets in Schools

Assets and Diversity

Assets and Individuals

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Assets in the Community

The Community Action Project board, spearheading the asset integration in the southeast-Denver suburbs that comprise the Cherry Creek School District, has devoted seven years to building awareness and support of the asset message. Board members include parents and educators, as well as representatives from law enforcement, clergy, youth organizations and local government. The CAP board has held three 24-Hour Relay Challenge fundraisers; three Youth and Adult Summits, seven Asset Action Weeks, and a Learn to Live Healthy Fitness Festival-all to mobilize and unite community leaders to become partners in the community's asset-building initiative.
Contact: Brenda Holben and Lynn Stambaugh, 303-486-4247; bholben@ccsd.k12.co.us
In October, the Cherry Creek School District's Community Asset Project hosted a community event to release the results of Search Institute's Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey that the district administered to middle and high school students last spring. Search Institute President Peter Benson was the keynote speaker at the event, which drew 250 parents, staff, and students. While the survey results showed ground both gained and lost since the survey was last administered, Benson pointed out the need for a sustained, community-wide effort to build the number assets youth need in their lives. Eight young people punctuated the message by describing what the assets mean in their own lives.
Contact: Brenda Holben and Lynn Stambaugh, 303-486-4247, bholben@ccsd.k12.co.us
The Prevention Office for Cherry Creek School District offers six-week parenting workshops, as well as day-long Saturday workshops, titled: "Assets Are Happening Here." This year, the office added a Dad's Day Out parenting workshop. Taught by prevention staff members, Brenda Holben and Lynn Stambaugh, the workshops have led many attendees to become asset champions in their child's schools, in their neighborhoods, and in their faith organizations.
Contact: Brenda Holben and Lynn Stambaugh, 303-486-4247, bholben@ccsd.k12.co.us
The Greeley Youth Net, a consortium of family and youth-service providers, meets the third Friday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Greeley Recreation Center to discuss specific topics of mutual concern and to share asset-building success stories. Sponsored by the Greeley Youth Initiative, the meetings are well attended and valued by participants.
Contact: Luis Llerna, 970-350-9771
In October, several volunteers conducted focus groups with more than 150 high school students from the St. Vrain Valley School District in the Longmont area as a follow-up to Search Institute's Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes & Behaviors survey administered in the schools last April. The focus group participants provided concrete ways that adults and youth can create neighborhoods, schools, and communities that are caring and that value youth. The information from the local students will help the City of Longmont direct resources where they will be most effective in building the "community values youth" asset.
Contact: Jill St. Aubin-King, 303-651-8580; jill.staubinking@ci.longmont.co.us
Youth board members of Youth Central, the hub of asset-focused activities for youth in Montrose, joined the Youth Tobacco Coalition's campaign to reduce second-hand smoke in public places. The Coalition's activities coincided with a heated political debate and ballot issue to rescind a Clean Indoor Air Ordinance in the City of Montrose. Youth voiced approval of the Ordinance at a City Council work session, saying it has a positive impact on local teens. In November, the Ordinance was upheld by the voters. The youth played a significant role in that outcome.
Contact: Nancy Wilson, 970-252-2572,tppi@rmi.net
Now in their fourth year, Youth Issues Consortium (YIC) meetings at Montrose High School continue to regularly draw some 50 youth and adults. The meetings are now planned and facilitated by youth. The meetings serve as a forum for youth to discuss issues that affect their lives and to brainstorm with other community members how to build assets for local youth. Educators, clergy, represenatives from law enforcement, juvenile justice and city government are among the sectors represented at the monthly meetings.
Contact: Nancy Wilson, 970-252-2572, tppi@rmi.net
The Montrose Teen Court uses youth as prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, and jurors for cases involving youth offenders. The Teen Court youth are mentored by adult attorneys. In its first nine months, Teen Court was involved more than 150 youth and adult volunteers. The start-up and operations for the project were coordinated out of Youth Central-the hub of positive youth activities in Montrose. The youth and adult board members of Youth Central are serving as the advisory board for the Teen Court. They are currently working to obtain funding and have a proposal before the City of Montrose to incorporate Teen Court into the Municipal Court funding. Cindy Harwood, the juvenile diversion specialist for the City of Montrose, is coordinating the project.
Contact: Nancy Wilson, 970-252-2572, tppi@rmi.net
The South Routt County Youth Service Council, made up of youth, educators, law enforcement, county commissioners and youth-serving agencies, is spearheading the asset initiative in the region. Youth are the primary voice for the organization and its activities. The YSC has sponsored summer events, such as a Fishing Derby, Night Tag in the park, volleyball and softball games, and programs at the teen center. Contact: Angie Kimmes, 970-879-6188, angelakimmes@hotmail.com
Following an asset presentation to their parent group, parents in Steamboat Springs wanted to focus on parenting skills in their community. The group invited Dr. Charles Fay from the Love & Logic Institute to provide 3, 1-hour workshops in Steamboat for school counselors, teachers and school staff, and parents. Letters went out to parents of all three local school districts, and ads were placed in the local media. Parents, teachers and counselors were encouraged to submit particular questions or problems they wanted Dr. Fay to address. Some of these included bullying, curfews, and the numbers of extra-curricular activities. Fifteen counselors, 40 teachers, and 225 parents attended the workshops. The Asset Task Force will continue to work with the schools to develop more ways to give support to parents.
Contact: Angie Kimmes, 970-879-6188, angelakimmes@hotmail.com
Asset Builders of the Summit in Summit County focuses on integrating assets within existing organizations and programs and on creating events that promote asset building. In the second half of 2001, ABS continued to partner with Summit Daily News and AM Locksmith to provide monthly news stories that recognize asset builders. It also worked with Summit County School District, Alpine Bank, the Rotary Club, Krystal 93 and the Stephen C. West Ice Arena to sponsor its 2nd annual "Inspired by Assets Writing Contest." Students wrote on the theme, "I show that I care by…" Prizes are given for each grade. It also created an Assets Action Month booklet, detailing information on the asset framework and on community resources for youth, in coordination with its Asset Action Month in October. The events of the month culminate with Make A Difference Day, which drew a record-breaking 500 citizens of all ages this year. Contact: Tara Eaton, 970-668-2077
Summit County Youth and Family Services applied for a AmeriCorps Promise Fellow to serve the county and included objectives based on assets. Notably, the county's application was accepted for the fourth year in a row-one of only two host sites to be granted a fellow for four consecutive years. Ben Bornstein, the AmeriCorps Fellow for 2002, will be concentrating his service year on building assets in school-age youth through a visual arts program for the day camps. He is also coordinating the county's Make A Difference Day event in 2002. Summit County's former AmeriCorps fellow, Tara Eaton, started the READ IT! Program, Reading Efforts Are the Difference for Infants and Toddlers, which has blossomed into a well-known, intergenerational asset-building project. Tara is now the asset coordinator for ABS. Angela Goldrick, another AmeriCorps fellow, volunteered for the Warm Welcome program, a home visitation service for all mothers and newborns in Summit County. She is currently developing an assessment tool for her the program.
Contact: Tara Eaton, 970-668-2077
Kaiser Permanente in Denver sponsors a troupe of young actors and actresses who have developed age-appropriate presentations with asset messages that it performs in the community. "Body Wise" was produced for elementary schools, and "Voices Theater" for middle/high schools. Discussions and/or workshops facilitated by the young actors follow the presentations. The performances are free.
Contact: Glenna Kelley, 303/344-7258.
Groups of asset-trained high school students from Ranum and Westminster high schools helped facilitate interactive workshops at a Peace Leadership Conference for middle school students in Denver hosted by the Conflict Center. The conference took place at Regis College in October 2001 and students from several area middle schools attended with their counselors.
Contact: Stephanie Hoy, 303/863-2105,
stephanie@buildassets.org
St. Martin's Plaza in Denver's Cole Neighborhood received a HUD grant to fund $5,000 of asset training, which ACY's training staff is providing. Staff has worked with Cole's Neighborhood Watch Group and will train its Crime and Safety Board and local police officers in two follow-up trainings in 2002.
Contact: Patsy Roybal, 303/985-0122,
patsyjr@aol.com
Two public forums, held in Jefferson County in October, centered around creating a more cohesive suburban community that values its youth. Organized by a community coalition called Parents and Community Connecting Together (PACCT), the afternoon and evening events both featured motivational speaker Mark Scharenbroich. Participants discussed ways to work together as "change agents" for youth and the community by promoting the asset framework.
Contact: Lori Hoffner, 303/972-7977,
lorih@jcmh.org
A weekly radio program in Trinidad, Cancion Mexicana, showcases Mexican music, celebrates the culture, provides words of advice, and highlights asset messages. Many of the asset PSAs are created by the Trinidad High School Spanish class students and members of the after-school Asset Building Club. The 2-hour program is sponsored by the school district.
Contact: Chico Martinez, 719/846-4414,
seniors@rmi.net
A group of asset-trained youth in Trinidad interviewed elders in their community and compiled their stories into a publication titled, A Community Quilt. The project, sponsored by Seniors, Inc., was empowering for the young people and helped connect them with seniors in the community. The youth presented their project at the National Conference for Grantmakers in Aging in Denver last October. Seniors, Inc. hopes to market the publication as a way to raise funds for other asset-building efforts in Trinidad.
Contact: Chico Martinez, 719/846-4414,
seniors@rmi.net