May 01, 2023 02:59 PM UTC

What you can do to fight for progress this week (May 1)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

It’s the final full week of the 2023 session of the Colorado General Assembly. This probably isn’t the only action alert you’ll get from us this week, so let’s jump right into actions you can take both now and later to make a difference in these hectic final days.

We’re close to success on legislation to keep families connected when they need it most. Every year, Colorado families spend over $8.8 million lining the pockets of the state’s private telecom provider to talk to their incarcerated loved ones. Many are trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty, and the financial impact is felt most acutely by Black, brown, and low-income communities, which are disproportionately impacted by racist over-policing, harsh sentencing guidelines, and mass criminalization. In fact, over 50 percent of families with an incarcerated loved one struggle to meet basic housing and food needs. One in three families goes into debt just to stay in touch with a loved one behind bars, and women — largely Black and Brown women — carry 87 percent of the burden.

That’s why we urge the Colorado legislature to pass House Bill 23-1133, Cost Of Phone Calls For Persons In Custody, to stop charging families for prison communication. This important legislation has passed the Colorado House and is before the Colorado Senate this week. Click here to contact your state senator and urge them to vote YES on House Bill 23-1133.

Next, there’s still a chance to help protect Colorado’s most vulnerable renters from eviction. Colorado House Bill 23-1120 offers targeted eviction relief to tenants who are already receiving specific forms of federal disability and temporary assistance (SSDI, SSI, and TANF). We have a moral obligation to help tenants with disabilities obtain more negotiating power in the eviction process. Click here to contact your Colorado Senator and urge them to vote YES on House Bill 23-1120.

For the latest on the bills we’re working on this legislative session, check the PNC Bill Tracker.

Every legislative session has its ups and downs, and despite some disappointments along the way, we’ll have much to celebrate when lawmakers adjourn next week. This year, Colorado made historic progress on protecting reproductive rights and reducing the harm from gun violence. On other important issues like affordable housing and fairer, more transparent workplaces, we’re at the beginning of a multi-year campaign of education and advocacy that will lead to long-term change. Your help and support as we fight for our shared progressive values is as crucial now as it was almost 20 years ago when PNC set out to help remake the politics of this state. It sounds corny at times, but we truly can’t thank you enough. And working together, we’ll get it all done eventually.

Here are some more great ways to make a difference for the week of May 1, 2023:

All In Denver and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Mayoral Palooza

Community advocacy groups All In Denver, Warm Cookies of the Revolution, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and Youth on Record are hosting the 2023 Mayor Palooza event on Monday evening, May 1, at the Sie Film Center. Building from the ground-breaking 2019 Mayor Palooza, the 2023 edition will be structured as both a governance carnival and a job interview for Denver’s two Mayoral finalists.

When: Monday, May 1 at 6:00pm
Where: 2510 E. Colfax, Denver.

Click here to RSVP.

Expunge Colorado: Eligibility Overview – Record Sealing Drug Convictions in Colorado

Do you have a drug conviction record in Colorado? Do you want to know if that drug conviction is eligible for record sealing? Join Expunge Colorado’s educational webinar on eligibility for record sealing drug convictions. Expunge Colorado presents an educational webinar about the War on Drugs and restorative justice through record sealing. This presentation will cover the origins of the drug war, provide an overview of drug charges that are eligible to be sealed in Colorado and breakdown how long one must wait to petition to seal an eligible charge.

When: Tuesday, May 2 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: Phone Bank for Citizenship

Join us for a phone bank to get our Colorado Congressional Delegation signed onto HR1511 that would create a pathway to citizenship for millions! This phone bank will be in person at the CIRC and CIRC AF office (2525 West Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80219) and virtual via zoom.

When: Wednesday, May 3 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Denver Tenant Rights Workshop

Join us for a tenant rights workshop on May 4th at 6pm. The event will be both in person and virtual. At this workshop you can learn about what your rights are as a renter and talk to eviction defense attorneys!

When: Thursday, May 4 at 6:00pm
Where: 2680 W Mexico Ave., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Charity’s House Grand Opening and Fundraiser

You are invited to tour and support Denver’s newest housing for people facing housing insecurity in Denver, Charity’s House Apartments! The Charity’s House Apartments came from the vision of Mrs. Eddie and Pastor Bob Woolfolk, long-time community advocates in Five Points. They have helped many people, especially African American, unhoused, and formerly incarcerated neighbors providing services at, Agape Church, and Community Outreach Service Center, which they created to provide much needed support to the Five Points community. The Community Outreach Service Center will be providing supportive social work case work services to the 36 individuals living in the apartments.

When: Saturday, May 6 at 4:00pm
Where: Posner Center for International Development, 1031 33rd St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Denver Alliance for Street Health Response

Join DASHR as we support our unhoused community, distribute food and water, and reach out to businesses about alternatives to policing. Each week we will rotate through consistent meeting spots.

When: Sunday, May 7 at 11:00am
Where: Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Save the date: In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum

You are invited to join New Era Colorado, COLOR Latina, One Colorado and Cobalt for a special mayoral forum, inspired by the YouTube phenomenon, Hot Ones! We will be serving Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston wings that increase in heat (thanks to @FotmDenver!), as we ask them spicy questions on the issues that impact our communities most.

When: Monday, May 22 at 6:00pm
Where: Town Hall Collaborative, 525 N Santa Fe St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next week with more ways to help! Thanks again.