News Release
March 21, 2006
Leadership Denver Presents Denver's Homecoming In Support Of Denver Public Schools Alumni And Friends Networks; Citywide Pep Rally Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 22) Will Promote Campaign And Invite Alumni To "Come Back To Class"
Michael Bennet, Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, thinks it is time to come back to class.
And he's not just talking about the students.
On Wednesday, March 22 DPS alumni, community leaders and resource providers will convene to recruit, renew and resource Denver Public Schools' "Alumni and Friends Networks."
Called "Denver's Homecoming," the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation's Leadership Denver Class of 2006 participants will hold a kick-off event at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 at the Auraria Campus (Turnhalle Room at the Tivoli Center, 900 Auraria Parkway) to encourage community support for Denver's high schools. Speakers at the event will include Superintendent Bennet, Denver Board Member Bruce Hoyt and East High School Principal Kathy Callum. In addition, the event aims to help connect members of existing Alumni and Friends Networks and leadership teams of emerging networks with various organizations that can provide assistance and resources.
The event is sponsored by the Leadership Denver Class of 2006, Metro State Community College and the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation.
In May, a city-wide "pep-rally" will encourage participation in the Alumni and Friends Networks. The event will invite Denver high school alumni to "come back to class" to help the city's next generation succeed to its fullest potential.
Schools targeted to have active, growing Alumni and Friends Networks by the start of the 2006-2007 school year include: Abraham Lincoln, East, George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Manual, Montbello, North, South, Thomas Jefferson and West high schools, and Denver School of the Arts.
Students with positive adult relationships are more likely to graduate and to succeed beyond high school. In addition, successful schools contribute to attracting businesses to Denver.
Current alumni groups at Denver high schools vary in their levels of activity. While several groups provide mentoring support, engage in fundraising and volunteer at the school, some Denver high schools have no alumni network or volunteer support from their local neighborhood. Ongoing participation of alumni and friends will help improve student achievement and strengthen the Denver community.
Leadership Denver will act as a liaison with existing groups and help them grow by meeting with schools and Alumni and Friends Network officials, recruiting leaders for new clubs, establishing delete some framework for clubs, and soliciting the support of key city, educational and community leaders. Upon completion of the campaign, self-sustaining groups will be formed at each of the Denver high schools.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP DENVER
Leadership Denver is a program of the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation, the 501 (c) (3) community development arm of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce that works to promote the development of civic leadership by members of the business community. Created in 1974, Leadership Denver classes consist of 55 government, business, nonprofit and other volunteers who learn about Denver's top issues and prepare themselves to be civic and community leaders and volunteering citizens dedicated to improving Denver's overall quality of life. The program also strives to enhance communications among leaders from diverse backgrounds and interests, and in doing so, builds and sustains the civic infrastructures of Metro Denver.
For more information, contact Tracy Aiello with Wall & Aiello Public Relations, 303-232-3870.