CMC Students join Aspen Institute discussion on Hate and Intolerance

By Carrie Click

ASPEN - Two Roaring Fork Valley students who will attend Colorado Mountain College this fall were recently given a rare opportunity to participate in an Aspen Institute symposium about an alarming trend. “The Rise of Hate,” held July 18-20, explored the history and underlying causes of hate, and the increasing incidents of hate crimes, intolerance and hate speech.

Invited to attend the forum were Anthony Rodriguez-Moore and Lilian Mixco, who recently graduated from Glenwood Springs and Basalt high schools, respectively. Each student has been awarded an Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholarship that covers two years of tuition, books and fees at Colorado Mountain College.

The Aspen Institute invited incoming CMC student and Alpine Bank Scholar Lilian Mixco to participate in its symposium, “The Rise of Hate,” which explored the history and increasing occurrence of hate crimes and hate speech. Photo Phil Dunn

The two students joined a roundtable discussion among participants from the Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, a national group that supports the institute and its programs.

The students said they’d never before been to anything like the symposium, which required them to read in advance more than 200 pages of material about white supremacists and the history and psychology of hate, as well as to complete a pre-evaluation questionnaire to help the moderators guide discussions.

One of the expert moderators was Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, whom Rodriguez-Moore met at the symposium.

“It was top shelf,” said Rodriguez-Moore. “I want to be a civil rights attorney. Being part of this symposium further drives me to want do this kind of work.”

They also met Tony McAleer, a former organizer of a neo-Nazi group, the White Aryan Resistance. Today, through Life After Hate, he’s helping people involved in any hate group to get out of the group and turn their lives around to embrace all humanity.

At the symposium Mixco, who was born in Aspen, told participants that she has been bullied on social media because of her ethnicity and has had hate speech directed at herself and her family. She said listening to McAleer talk about how he became a supremacist and later, how he stopped, was enlightening.

“When his family fell apart, he sought power,” she said. “He needed power in numbers. It was only when he had his own child, his little girl, that he changed. He had a human in his hands he was in charge of. He had to step back.”

Anthony Rodriguez-Moore was awarded an Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholarship to attend Colorado Mountain College for two years, and participated in Aspen Institute’s “Rise of Hate” symposium. Photo Phil Dunn

Rodriguez-Moore said he learned that people who have so much hate towards others tend to think the world is against them. “They think it’s a big conspiracy, since they think they’re the center of the universe,” he said. “Based on my experience, hate isn’t really a natural trait. It seems like people who hate or do hateful actions aren’t using their own voice. They’re molded and brainwashed.”

Both students said they believe reaching children can help alleviate the rise of hate.

“One major point we talked about is intervening during the early stages of development,” said Rodriguez-Moore.

“We need to start at schools,” said Mixco. “Having diversity clubs, teaching kids about different cultures. Why are all these people fleeing their countries to start new lives? We need to study history.”

From left, Paige Flentge of Glenwood Springs, Jackson Houston of Dillon, Mackenzie Cagle and McAllister Glynn of Rifle, Tyler Miller of Parachute, Karuna Owens of Carbondale and Elizabeth Darst of Frisco work together to move marbles along tubing during a trust-building group exercise during First Ascent Youth Leadership at CMC Leadville.

First Ascent: Opportunities in the outdoors

By Carrie Click

LEADVILLE - Executives on corporate outdoor retreats spend a lot of money to climb mountains together while learning to improve their leadership and communication skills. For a group of regional middle and high school students, though, it’s all part of a free, weeklong, college-preparatory summer program called First Ascent Youth Leadership.

Based at Colorado Mountain College Leadville, First Ascent is now in its 23^rd year. From July 8 to 13 this summer, 33 students from the college’s six-county district participated, traveling from Carbondale, Parachute, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, New Castle, Steamboat Springs, Summit County and Vail to take part in the program.

The J. Robert Young Foundation sees to it that First Ascent continues to provide these secondary-school students with unforgettable life lessons. A longtime corporate sponsor, the foundation helps make it possible to provide the program free of charge to attendees.

“We truly appreciate their sponsorship and continued support,” said Carolyn Larsen, First Ascent’s program manager, who, like all First Ascent staff, came up through the ranks, initially as a student participant, then as lead counselor.

Stepping up and leading

“My whole purpose in doing First Ascent is to learn about leadership so I can make the world better and improve civilization,” said Sophia Henry, who in August will enter 10^th grade at Summit High School in Frisco. “Today we need people who know what they’re doing to step up and help lead.”

Counselors and staff break students into teams and guide them through their paces – from hiking Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest peak, to rock climbing near Camp Hale and rafting down the Arkansas River. All activities are designed to teach team-building skills and increase self-esteem.

“I didn’t know if I could do all these things,” said Allyson Murray, a Rifle High School student entering 10^th grade, “but my team supported me. When I was rock climbing, I only thought I could make it halfway, but my team supported me to the top.”

‘Open-minded to everybody’

Integrated into the program are group dynamic exercises promoting problem solving, consensus-building and conflict resolution. Personality and career assessments help students get a sense of who they are.

“In our society, we learn it’s all about the individual,” said Ethan Gamburg, who will be in 10^th grade at Summit High School in Frisco this August. “But First Ascent has helped me realize you have to be open-minded to everybody. It’s not just about me helping myself. It’s about helping my community.”

Gaining First Ascent insights has other benefits, too.

“I had so many new experiences and learned new skills,” said Mack Henry, who is entering ninth grade at Summit High School. “And that all looks good on a college application. I’m really thrilled.”

“Everybody should have the opportunity to do this,” said Zoe Welch, who will be a 10^th-grader at Steamboat Springs High School. “Culturally, I met so many new friends. All different types of people came to First Ascent and we all blended.”

Four CMC students studying elementary education have been named to the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Future Educator Honor Roll. From left, CMC students Kelli Ludwig, Tiffany Simonson, Diana Hernández and Ana Chavira. Hernández and Ludwig attend CMC Vail Valley, and Simonson and Chavira attend CMC Glenwood Springs.

Colorado Mountain College students Diana Hernández, Kelli Ludwig, Ana Chavira and Tiffany Simonson were recently selected for the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Future Educator Honor Roll and were acknowledged at a ceremony at the state capitol.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week in May, the ceremony recognized outstanding students from Colorado’s educator preparation programs. At the ceremony CDHE Executive Director Dr. Kim Hunter Reed gave remarks, followed by Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne.

“This ceremony recognizes the tremendous impact our future educators will have on their students and the state of Colorado broadly,” said Reed. “Educators are training the next generation of artists, engineers, scientists and health professionals that will power our economy and enliven our communities. They truly make all other professions possible. We want all teachers and administrators — and especially our young educators — to know Coloradans support and appreciate their invaluable work.”

“Our four teacher candidates have implemented promising practices for all students,” said Dr. Leticia Burbano de Lara, Colorado Mountain College’s teacher education program associate professor. “Their strong lesson plans, instructional conversations, and ways of contextualizing the teaching and learning process create a classroom ecology in which students’ assets are embraced. Those are elements and conditions needed for engaging, relevant and meaningful learning.”

Profiles of the candidates are available at the CDHE’s website at https://bit.ly/2G27njk and below.

 CMC student profiles on the Future Educator Honor Roll

Student: Diana Hernández
Institution: Colorado Mountain College – Vail Valley at Edwards
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
About Diana: Diana is originally from San Diego, California. She came to Colorado hoping to improve her English language skills and decided to pursue her passion for teaching. She currently teaches English and Spanish math and literacy to moderate needs students from K-5 and is a full-time student. As a Spanish heritage speaker, Diana develops strong lessons for English and Spanish literacy and math to differentiate the needs of newcomers and students with moderate needs students. She incorporates the Social Justice Standards in her lessons to address identity, diversity, justice, and action issues to create spaces for mutual accommodation.

Student: Kelli Ludwig
Institution: Colorado Mountain College – Vail Valley at Edwards
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
About Kelli: Kelli lives in Gypsum and currently owns a small event and marketing company that subcontracts with outdoor companies. Two years ago, Kelli downsized her company when she decided to return to school and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher for children. She will be entering her internship year in the 2018-2019 school year. Kelli has implemented strategies and techniques, such as biograplhotophy cards and cultural quilts, to know her students in four dimensions: linguistically, cognitively, academically and socioculturally. This information has been used effectively during planning instruction and assessment.

Student: Ana Chavira
Institution: Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood Springs
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education
About Ana: Ana Chavira grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley. She is Mexican-American and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She has worked in the field of education for five years. Currently, she is pursuing her bachelor’s in elementary education with an endorsement, and she is proud to say she will be the first person in her family to have a college degree come May 2019. She values her family and community: her six-year-old son is her drive and motivation. She is passionate about teaching and strives to meet every student’s needs. Her strongest skills are her work ethic and compassion. She considers herself a lifelong learner that wants to be a force of good.

Student: Tiffany Simonson
Institution: Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood Springs
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
About Tiffany: Tiffany is a dedicated, caring, skilled, reflective and passionate teacher candidate who builds strong relationships with her students. Tiffany demonstrates a high level of commitment to her scholarship and field experiences. This is apparent in her growing leadership in her school, as school leaders seek her out to train other paraprofessionals. As a teacher candidate, Tiffany consistently incorporates best practices in lesson design, instructional strategies and strategies specifically intended to include cultural and linguistically diverse students. Tiffany’s high level of professionalism and commitment to culturally and linguistically diverse students makes her a great candidate for recognition as one of Colorado’s top teacher candidates.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper snaps a picture of CMC photography student Antonio Tavoletti, whose photo was selected for the Grand Avenue Bridge plaque in downtown Glenwood Springs. Photo Frank Martin

By Carrie Click

Antonio Tavoletti has just completed his first year in the professional photography program at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School for Communication, Arts and Media. So far, it looks like he’s picked the right major.

Earlier in the year, Tavoletti’s photography professor, Derek Johnston, was impressed by a series of photographs the student was working on, of Glenwood Springs’ emerging bridge as it was being constructed.

“My goal,” wrote Tavoletti in his artist’s statement, “was to create images that isolate the bridge from all other surroundings and focus purely on the architectural mastery.”

From Antonio Tavoletti’s series on the Grand Avenue Bridge. Photo Antonio Tavoletti

Johnston showed Tavoletti’s bridge work to Tracy Trulove, Colorado Department of Transportation’s Region 3 communications manager. CDOT was so impressed with the photographs, they asked to feature one of the student’s images on a large commemorative plaque permanently installed under the bridge at the Seventh Street plaza.

It doesn’t end there. At the bridge’s official dedication on June 22, Tavoletti was treated like a dignitary. Trulove invited him on stage where he received a round of applause for his bridge photography.

Then, he not only met and was photographed with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper at the ceremony, but the governor turned the tables and took Tavoletti’s photo standing in front of the plaque featuring the student’s bridge image.

To cap it off, from now through July 15, the Glenwood Springs Visitor Center, in the lobby of Colorado Mountain College’s central administrative offices at Eighth and Grand Avenue, is exhibiting several of Tavoletti’s bridge photographs.

Called “A Beautiful Span,” the exhibit showcases some of Tavoletti’s unique photos of the bridge. The exhibit is on view in the lobby at 802 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through July 15. Call the visitor center at 970-945-6580 for more information.