Meetings and Trainings

As a response to the community's request to hold cultural competency trainings, the Community Integration Initiative hosted a Training for Multicultural Care: Toolkits to Promote Cultural Proficiency in Glenwood Springs, on September 19, 2007, in partnership with the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. The training was attended by representatives of local non-profit organizations. Originally the training was to address health disparities, but it went far beyond the topic and gave a broad prospective in cultural proficiency. Participants left the training with increased knowledge on different cultures and ways to approach a culturally diverse audience. A series of the training may be organized in spring of 2008.

The Aspen to Parachute region has been experiencing an influx of immigrants from Western  Africa. Some of them are moving from Summit County. Others are coming from different states. These immigrants appear to be invisible and isolated in the community. We estimate there are approximately 30-40 in this area, mainly concentrated in Glenwood Springs. To address the need to approach this immigrant group, the Community Integration Initiative hosted an information meeting with Phil Gazley from Lutheran Family Services (LFS) on December 14, 2007. The LFS Refugee & Asylee Programs began resettling refugees in Colorado in 1978 in response to the wave of refugees arriving from Southeast Asia. The meeting studied the feasibility of creating a network of support for the West African immigrants.

 John Gardner/Post Independent

Read article Assimilation program depends on Glenwood community participation to learn more about the meeting.        

Phil Gazley returned on January 25, 2008 to train members of the Community Support Team and the West African Support Team was established. Community Support Team is a model developed by Lutheran Refugee Services to help receiving communities assist refugees as they adapt to a new culture and different way of life. Receivng and West African community members are working together to make this unique effort possible. Members of the Support Team meet on a regular basis, exploring more and more possibilities to help the West Africans who reside in Glenwood Springs.