RISE | Southeast is an initiative developed and led by resilient, inspired, strong, and engaged residents of 80910 and 80916. In 2016, El Paso County Public Health was the recipient of El Pomar Foundation’s Possibilities grant and El Pomar made a seven-year commitment to help fund RISE | Southeast an initiative aimed to enhance southeast Colorado Springs from within through resident led change.
Our Vision
A vibrant, connected community that provides opportunity for all to thrive.
Our Mission
To enhance the southeast from within through resident led change.
Check out the RISE | Action Plan below:
| Connect people | ||
| Objective | Action | Outcomes |
| Neighborhood identification and activation | Host clean-up days, block watches, neighborhood meetings (Involve HOAs, businesses) | Define neighborhood borders and develop map Regular community events for neighborhoods |
| Communication with youth | Promote Southeast CS Facebook page, Instagram | Outreach and visibility on social media platforms Communication tool for younger populations |
| Centralized website for RISE | Develop a website with mobile-friendly capabilities and disability, kiosks, bulletin boards | Virtual hub for information dissemination |
| Newsletter/newspaper/ postcards *complementary website and app (?) | Solicit for technical assistance *Next Door | Communication tool with information desired by residents |
| Capture resident stories | Community (His)Story collection and publication | Cultural history identified, shared and collected to bridge youth with older adults (intergenerational) |
| Media relations and media produced locally | Invite media to community events Develop mobile friendly website, kiosk, bulletin boards Create a local YouTube channel, innovative outreach methods | Improved perception of Southeast Colorado Springs Earned media (television, print, web) Virtual hubs to distribute information |
Website/platform for Southeast Colorado Springs area service providers to communicate with one another | Find/solicit for web developer | Website with all components identified in the scope of work |
| Research similar service provider forums, websites, and communication hubs Identify all desired components for an online platform modeled from best practices | Website with desired components, partner organization feedback (dashboard – including a shared community calendar, organizational profile) | |
| Connect people to resources | |||
| Objective | Action | Outcomes | Timeline |
| Identify all stakeholders and determine gaps | Expand list of stakeholders to include businesses, religious organizations, educators, etc. | A more comprehensive and inclusive list of community participants in organized activities | Initial by Dec. 31, 2017 Ongoing |
| Introduce RISE efforts to the community | Plan, coordinate and host community picnics, summer festival (Shades of Colorado Springs) for social connections Provide free, family-friendly activities for the community | Connect residents to new resources and ways to get involved Feed the community Activate underutilized spaces | Ongoing (annually) |
| Enhance safety and connectedness of neighborhood by facilitating communication between school staff (counselors), police, library staff, council person, social workers, CSFD, health educators/providers, and other community organizations to discuss community issues. | Host regular meetings at schools or other local venues. (“Town Hall”, “Lunch ‘n Learn” style) | Strengthen neighborhood connections among community service professionals Identify and provide education on what are areas of concern before they become enforcement issues Enhance Neighborhood Watch programs Reduce procedural barriers in bringing community concerns to the attention of local officials | Ongoing |
| Create networking, educational and mentorship opportunities for the community (personal and professional) | Plan “Community check-ins” to network, share organizations’ progress, and celebrate local leaders (e.g. Hispanic Council Concilio) | Enhanced capacity; ability to nurture new leaders; recruit and train local residents for jobs, engagement opportunities Create a central space for input on civic engagement | Ongoing |
| Connect people to places | |||
| Objective | Action | Outcomes | Timeline |
| Plan and build a community resources center that offers services, classes and resources for all ages | Pop-up events Advocacy assistance to proceed with site selection and site planning for community space | Keep neighborhood informed of local SE land use planning efforts (ULI Report Launch) Neighborhood voice represented in site selection | Fall 2017 Ongoing through 2023 |
| Furnish hub space | Identify partners willing to donate furniture, local businesses with excess | Spaces defined – seating, tables available | Ongoing |
| Transportation priorities | Discuss transportation needs in 80916/10 zip code areas Develop and solidify a plan for independent transportation in SE COS Continue to advocate for increased public transportation | Local access to existing routes | Ongoing |
| Activate spaces for programming | Provide a safe space for exercise and educational classes and workshops (life skills – nutrition, budgeting, parenting, etc.), provide meeting space, play space | Classes held Space booked/rented | 2018 |
| Explore opportunities for affordable housing | Research innovative options | Areas identified for pilot projects | 2019 |
| Create signature features unique to Southeast CS | Host projects that define the Southeast Community | Revitalization through Public Art, Mural, Time Capsule, Physical Structure Increase community pride Entryway Signage into Southeast | 2023 |
| Community Wi-Fi | Partner with Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) to promote Wi-Fi units w/cellular broadband for patron rental Explore Wi-Fi expansion, 5G LTE and opportunities for enhanced services with network providers (e.g., Comcast, CenturyLink) Work with city and county to add Wi-Fi expansion into their future infrastructure plans Work with local businesses to expand Wi-Fi access points Investigate the use of very high frequency (VHF) and/or ultra high frequency (UHF) for Wi-Fi access points | Improved capacity, connection Expanded number of Wi-Fi access points | Spring 2018 |
| Connect people to opportunity | |||
| Objective | Action | Outcomes | Timeline |
| Propose utilities subsidies for residents to turn on outside lights from dusk to dawn (explore solar options) | Request additional lighting for parks, recreation programs (Energy Resource Center, Pikes Peak United Way, County, HBA Cares) Research subsidy programs (e.g., LEAP) Organize listening session with CSU reps, Parks Department and neighbors with professional moderators, food, and childcare | Hire moderator to facilitate session and frame the issues. Proposed MOUs for subsidized residential and public services | Fall/Winter 2017 Ongoing Winter 2017 |
| Promote available financial assistance funds for low-income homeowners and tenants (e.g., HUD grants) | Host opportunities to learn about housing rehabilitation funding | Improve living conditions for community’s most vulnerable Increase the number of safe, affordable housing options | Initial event: April 2017 Annually |
| Reduce food insecurity | Identify more sites for food distribution by partner organizations | Fresh food options more readily available for residents Creation of community gardens | Fall 2017 |
Improve access to governmental and social service agencies by requesting service locations in SE CS | Compile list of most requested services via survey or review of previous studies/surveys. Conduct interviews with agencies in question and prepare short document of agency barriers to locating/expanding to SE area. Explore innovative ideas (i.e., mobile) | Service gap analysis Consolidated documentation of barriers for service expansion for agencies and other providers to inform next steps for advocacy at all levels Present to neighborhood org, City Council, and larger community | Fall 2017 – Spring 2018 Fall 2017 |
| Advocacy assistance dependent on findings of barrier study • Propose pop-up service pilot project • Identify sites for temporary or permanent locations • Loans/grants | Fall 2017 | ||
| Identify and promote resources for job training | Identify existing programs and populations served —United Way, Mt. Carmel, PPWFC, PPCC Increase awareness and development of career training opportunities, pathways, apprenticeships, completion of HS diploma/GED Expansion of PPWFC service hours in YMCA and other locations in Southeast CS Identify funding opportunities to increase THRIVE programs (develop entrepreneurship skills to create small business and solo enterprise opportunities) Work with D-11 and existing/new businesses located in the 80910/16 to create internships for HS students paid or unpaid Support policies that will require agencies and organizations providing social services or healthcare to residents to actively recruit applicants from service area (e.g., Peak Vista, Atlas Prep, child care centers, CPCD – Giving Children a Headstart) | Inventory of local job opportunities (determine skills needed/link training to emerging job market) Residents completing training programs or HS/GED program Residents trained in specific skills (healthcare and childcare training/certification) Residents hired into local jobs Entrepreneurs starting new small businesses Sites offering job training and skill development within the community | 2018
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| Connect people to potential | |||
| Objective | Action | Outcomes | Timeline |
| Continued resident leader engagement | Civic participation in decisions impacting SE CS | Aligning investment from city/county with need for SE Provide a platform for change based on RISE priorities | Ongoing |
| Innovative models of funding | Work with Colorado Criminal Justice Restoration Coalition on legislative bill for Department of Corrections reallocation of parole violation funds Explore other grant opportunities | Funding for physical space Funding for local business startup Leveraged resources from other sources | 2018 – 2019 Ongoing |
Entrepreneurial Education | Provide educational opportunities in SE for potential entrepreneurs | Increase in start-up businesses | 2019 |
| Partner with entrepreneurial businesses wanting to locate in SE CS | Presence of new businesses Local job opportunities | Ongoing | |
| Economic Opportunity Zone (EOZ) | Incentivize businesses to locate/relocate to SE CS through tax credits (TIF) | Increase in businesses physically located in SE Reduce vacancies in buildings around SE Increase living wage job opportunities | Ongoing |
| Support the creation of a Community Development Corp. (CDC) or Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) | Research how a CDC and/or CDFI is created Explore development of a local CDC for Southeast Identify alliance partnerships | Organized structure to coordinate community-building activities specific to the area Increased funding opportunities (HUD) | Late 2018-2020 |