Education
Young Professionals Group Past Meetings

Young Professionals Accomplishments:

• More than 200 people have attended past meetings.
  
• 40 signatures gathered for Coloradoans for Fairness and Equality ballot initiative.
  
• 50 Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) complaints filed. Members called on the PUC to investigate whether or not phone companies unlawfully gave the NSA their phone records.
  
• 60 letters sent to President Bush demanding justice at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. The letter urges the President to close down the detention center, stop torturing detainees and give them due process.
  
• Calls to state and federal officials advocating ACLU positions on issues related to NSA spying, torture and immigration.

Want to volunteer on the YP Committee and help us continue the success? Contact Rachel Chaparro at rchaparro@aclu-co.org or 303-777-5482 x109 for more information.

Past Meetings:

Date & Location: March 10 - Forrest Room 5
Recap: This was the first YP’s Group event intended to gauge whether or not there would be interest in this type of program. More than 50 people came and raved about the idea – giving the YP Committee the green light to schedule YP meetings! Judy Twedt, ACLU Colorado College Fellow, talked about the goals for the YP’s while gathering feedback and suggestions on expectations for the program.

Date & Location: April 14 – Space Gallery
Meeting Details: ACLU 101 & Abuse of Power
Recap: At the first official YP’s meeting Rachel Chaparro, ACLU Manager of Education and Development, explained the ACLU’s work with particular emphasis on the organization’s education and advocacy programs. Taylor Pendergrass, ACLU Staff Attorney, spoke about current and past ACLU of Colorado cases. Lisa Graves, National ACLU Senior Counsel for Legislative Strategy, spoke about Abuse of Power by the President. “The executive branch is flagrantly using its awesome powers to illegally spy on Americans private lives, torture detainees and engage in unprecedented secrecy,” she said. The ACLU and all of its affiliates are currently engaged in the Abuse of Power Campaign to raise awareness about the egregious misuse and usurping of power by the executive branch. The Campaign’s goal is to expose the break-down in fundamental checks and balances and mobilize people to call on their congressional elected officials to hold our President accountable. For more information, click here.

Space Gallery

Date & Location: June 29 – Translations Gallery – Contemporary Textile Art
Meeting Details: Re-cap of the 2006 Colorado Legislative Session
Recap: Representative Andrew Romanoff, Speaker of the House, gave a brief overview of the 2006 Colorado Legislative session. However, since the special session on immigration was a few days away he primarily focused on the bills that were going to be introduced and the desired outcomes of this historic session by both politicians and constituents. According to various media outlets and political pundits, the Colorado legislature’s special session produced some of the “toughest” immigration laws in the nation. The landmark legislation that was passed denies all public services, except emergency, to illegal immigrants, punish employers who intentionally break the law; and requires a valid state ID to vote. For a summary of the bills passed, click here. Ms. Chaparro gave the group an update on the Abuse of Power Campaign and the ACLU of Colorado positions on 2006 ballot initiatives.


Andrew Romanoff speaks to the audience

Date & Location: July 18 – Museum of Contemporary Art
Meeting Details: Torture at Guantanamo Bay
Recap: John and Anne Holland, prominent Denver attorneys, are a father and daughter team who represent clients at Guantanamo Bay. They talked about the grave injustices and inhumane treatment occurring at the facility, as well as the US government practice of kidnapping individuals and taking them to countries like Morocco, Egypt and Jordan to interrogate them. The Holland’s explained to YP members that most of the detainees were sold to American troops by warlords and have not been charged, and are thus being held without due process. Detainees are subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment such as being exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures, prolonged periods of sleep deprivation, beatings that include slamming of head and body into steel beds or floor, burned with cigarettes during interrogation, garden hose pushed in mouth and water turned on until one can’t breath and use of military dogs for intimidation. Kidnapping, torture, and spying are Un-American. What makes Americans proud of our history is the high regard and respect we have for the rule of law. In America, all people, even elected officials, are subject to the law. Breaking the law by kidnapping people and condoning torture stands in stark contrast to what we, as Americans, believe is acceptable government conduct. For more information, click here.

The audience listens to John and Anne Holland

Date & Location: August 16 - Habitat Gallery and Studio
Meeting Details: Talk by Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Recap: Congresswoman Diana DeGette discussed her efforts to preserve civil rights and civil liberties.

Date: September 13 - Boulder Meeting
Location: Blink Gallery, 1011 Pearl Street in Boulder
Meeting Details: Featured speaker Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden talked about her efforts to defend your rights and freedoms at the State Capitol. Mingle and check out the art from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The meeting was from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Date: September 20
Location: Sandy Carson Gallery, 760 Santa Fe Dr.
Meeting Details: Guest speaker was Michael Brewer, Policy Director for The Center, who discussed Referendum I. Mingle and check out the art from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The meeting was from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Date: October 18
Location: Mi Casa Resource Center, 360 Acoma St.
Meeting Details: The ACLU Foundation and the Latina Initiative co-hosted a public forum for local experts to discuss and debate upcoming ballot issues. Distinguished speakers Rep. Terrance Carroll, Councilman Michael Hancock and others addressed both sides of important ballot issues ahead of the upcoming November 7th election. Issues included the Minimum Wage, Immigration Referenda K & H, Domestic Partnerships/Gay Marriage Ban and Preschool Matters.

Date: January 17, 2007 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Location: Rule Gallery, 227 Broadway, Denver.
Meeting Details : Come enjoy wine and food, check out the art, and hear ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Cathy Hazouri present a recap of 2006 and a strategic plan to protect civil liberties in 2007.
CLE credit: 1 general credit, .6 ethics credit.

Rule Gallery

Date & Location: February 21 – The Lab at Belmar
Meeting Details: Blues Brews & Bills: the first annual Young Professionals Fundraiser
Recap: Colorado's Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff updated the crowd on the progress of the current legislative session. Blues/roots rockers American Relay played a well received set. Local microbrewers Odell, Flying Dog and Great Divide provided libations to accompany a massive BBQ buffet courtesy of Wolfe's BBQ.

Date & Location: March 15– SmithKlein Gallery
Meeting Details: The Boulder YP Group kicks off their monthly meeting schedule.
Recap: Thirty-odd Boulderites laughed, gasped and otherwise absorbed ACLU Staff Attorney Taylor Pendergrass' informal two-pronged lecture. He began with police departments' misuse of Tasers and the Taser, Inc corporation's, ahem, shocking refusal to acknowledge the serious dangers posed by its product. He then neatly segued (no, really) into the City of Lafayette's misguided attempts to raise the punishment for marijuana possession from a $100 fine to a $1,000 fine AND a year in jail. The crowd, which included everyone from preschool teachers to law students, loved it.

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