Posts tagged girls
Boulder Attention Homes is our only Youth Shelter
Nov 11th
Did you know that at least 1,500 youth and young adults ages 12 to 25 are homeless in Colorado right now? A Point in Time Study in January 2012 found 165 unaccompanied youth homeless on just one night in Boulder County.
Attention Homes – a 47 year-old Boulder non-profit organization – is the only youth shelter in Boulder County. In 2012, the organization will serve more than 500 boys and girls in day and overnight shelter. November is Homeless and Runaway Youth Awareness Month.
On Thursday, November 15, Attention Homes will bring together 40 community and business leaders for the inaugural Sleep Out for Homeless Youth presented in partnership with First United Methodist Church of Boulder.
Participants will be spending the night sleeping outside on the lawn in downtown Boulder between Attention Homes’ office and the First United Methodist Church, near 15th and Spruce Street. They have pledged to each raise $1,000 for Attention Homes from friends, family and colleagues through their own online fundraising page. Sleep Out is expected to raise more than $40,000 to support Attention Homes’ homeless and runaway youth services.
Claire Clurman, Attention Homes
Phone: 303.447.1206 x125 cclurman@attentionhomes.org
Community Leaders Sleep Out To Raise Awareness for Homeless Youth
BOULDER, Colo. – On Thursday, November 15, Attention Homes will bring together 40 community and business
leaders for the inaugural Sleep Out for Homeless Youth presented in partnership with First United Methodist Church
of Boulder. Attention Homes – a 47 year-old Boulder non-profit organization – is the only youth shelter in Boulder
County. In 2012, the organization will serve more than 500 boys and girls in day and overnight shelter. November is
Homeless and Runaway Youth Awareness Month.
Participants will be spending the night sleeping outside on the lawn in downtown Boulder between Attention Homes’
office and the First United Methodist Church, near 15
th
and Spruce Street. They have pledged to each raise $1,000
for Attention Homes from friends, family and colleagues through their own online fundraising page. Sleep Out is
expected to raise more than $40,000 to support Attention Homes’ homeless and runaway youth services.
“The number of homeless youth in our community has increased by 166% over the past three years,” says Jim
Rianoshek, Executive Director of Attention Homes. “Sleep Out is an opportunity to raise awareness about and
funds for this critically important issue. By taking part in this event, these community and business leaders will
glimpse what life is like as a homeless youth by exposing themselves to weather and the uncertainties that come
from living on the streets. Our hope is that as they return the next morning to safe and warm homes, their jobs and
families, they will share a message of awareness and support for these local kids that need our attention and help.”
Sleep Out participants will arrive the evening of November 15
th
at First United Methodist Church and take part in a
simple meal donated by Pasta Jay’s before preparing to sleep out. Early the next morning, a light breakfast donated
by Illegal Pete’s and Moe’s Bagels will be served before departing back to work and home where participants are
encouraged to not shower or change in order to further heighten their connection to the experience of being
homeless. Award-winning photographer and multimedia/video producer Dana Romanoff will be recording the event.
Participants include:
Amanda Boyle, Marketing Team Lead, Google
Rev. Pat Bruns, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Boulder
Mary Estill Buchanan, Former Secretary of State of Colorado
Andrew Clurman, Chief Operating Officer, Active Interest Media
Larry Dennis, Founder, Dennis Printing Service and President of the Board, Attention Homes
Tina Di Scipio, Broker Associate, Prudential Real Estate of the Rockies
Steve Disbrow, Golf & Baseball Coach, PE Teacher, Boulder High School
Neil Di Muccio, Shift Supervisor, Starbucks
Jon Dorn, Senior VP, Outdoor Group, Active Interest Media, Editor-in-Chief Backpacker Magazine
Clay Evans, Contributor, Daily Camera
Fairview The Royal Banner Newspaper
Jeff Foltz, Attorney, Hensley and Kennedy PCAttention Homes I 3080 Broadway, Suite C I Boulder, CO I 80304 I P:303.447.1206 I F:303.447.0623 I www.attentionh omes.org
Deb Gardner, Boulder County Commissioner
Ann Goldman, Co-Founder, Front Range Source
Katie Green, Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Manager, Attention Homes
Jim Hayes, Senior Vice President, Van Gilder Insurance
Kevin Kelley, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo Advisors
Rusty McCoy, Broker, RE/Max of Boulder
Jim McMaster, Software Engineer, Google
Chris Nelson, Executive Program Manager, Attention Homes
Rachel Overton, Residential Program Supervisor, Attention Homes
Jim Rianoshek, Executive Director, Attention Homes
Tara Sheahan, Co-Founder, Conscious Global Leadership
John Sheldon, Community Leader
Mark Spiegel, Co-Owner and Project Manager, Bowes Spiegel Architects
Paul Smith, Partner, Bryan Cave, LLP
Don Stensrud, Principal, Fairview High School
John Tayer, President, Public Affairs Center, LLC
Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner
Ryan Van Duzer, TV Host, Adventurer, Filmmaker
A few Sleep Out spots are still available. To learn more about how you can participate go to
www.attentionhomes.org for information on how to sign up.
About Attention Homes:
Since 1966 Attention Homes has provided abused, neglected, homeless, runaway and at-risk youth comprehensive
shelter care and structured, community-based living while teaching them guiding life principles for a successful and
self-sufficient future. Attention Homes operates the only shelter for youth in Boulder County.
Brooks: Deep, Talented CU Women’s Team Awaits Opener
Nov 10th
Release: 11/10/2012 Courtesy: B.G. Brooks, Contributing Editor
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BOULDER – It might be a stretch for a college junior to be reflecting on how it was “back in the day,” but Brittany Wilson vividly recalls how things were in Colorado women’s basketball a mere three seasons ago. “In my freshman year,” “B-Wil” remembered the other day, “we got down to six players when we played Iowa State.” Technically, the Buffs were down to eight players, but first-year coach Linda Lappe‘s primary rotation that day was six – with the five starters playing at least 33 minutes each in a game that pushed into overtime. But here’s Wilson’s point: Her first CU team didn’t have a deep end; most of the time it flailed away in shallow water. Things have changed. Big-time. The CU team that opens its 2012-13 season Sunday afternoon against Idaho (2 p.m., Coors Events Center) has plenty of bodies that play plenty well. What’s more, the daily competition goes from whistle to whistle and isn’t for the gentle and meek. “Coaches have to stop practice sometimes to get people off the floor,” Wilson said. “We haven’t had the competition on the floor like this. You have to come out and compete for your spot every single day, because there’s 13 girls that can play. If you don’t come out ready to defend your position – if you are a starter – or to earn your playing time, either you’re not going to start or you’re not going to get that playing time.” That’s exactly the way Lappe and her staff want it, although her priority as Sunday’s opener approached was identifying enough consistency among those talented 13 players to pencil in a starting lineup. As of Tuesday, she had “no idea,” but she will by Sunday morning. It’s a good problem to have, one that will sort itself out as Lappe’s very balanced bunch advances. If her number of better players this season creates a different kind of dilemma, it’s still one she relishes. She and her staff “take a lot of stock in who brings it every day in practice” and use that as a guide in determining how 40 minutes on game day is split. “But day to day that changes with our team,” Lappe said. “That’s been the most unsettling thing as a coach – the consistency of our players and who we think can provide us major minutes during this first game. It’s something that as the year goes along will change and fluctuate. That’s probably been the hardest thing for me. But there’s good in that because now you do have 10-12 players that all could start on any given day.” Lappe has a pretty good handle on two members of Sunday’s starting five. That pair would be senior wingMeagan Malcolm-Peck and “B-Wil,” who sees herself in the next layer of leadership below Malcolm-Peck and senior point guard Chucky Jeffery. Here’s how Wilson perceives her game and her role: “Things have slowed down for me. I’m a junior now, I get the game. Although I played in two different conferences, now for me it’s like I don’t have to think so much. I can just go out and play . . . And now, I see myself as leader in helping (teammates) to follow. As Meagan and Chucky are leaders, I help others follow those two. If Meagan or Chucky is saying things that somebody might not be getting, then it’s usually me or the next person to tweak it a little so it is understood.” That’s a good position for now, but it probably will evolve into a full-blown take-charge role. And if not this season, then surely next, when she is a senior. Whichever of those scenarios occur, Lappe feels fortunate to be able to watch it happen. Her first two CU teams have a combined 39-30 record and a pair of WNIT appearances. Showing further progress in year three is paramount, and Lappe believes it can happen because of leadership that hadn’t fully developed in years one and two. “This is the first year to have some junior-senior leadership that has played a lot for our first two or three years,” Lappe said. “That’s definitely a bonus; it allows us to take that next step. We’ve never had that (and) it differentiates this team from some of the others. We also have some good talented young players who are maybe further ahead than some of the other freshmen we’ve had at different times.” How far ahead? Last season, CU played Idaho at the CEC on Dec. 4, winning 68-59. Tape of that game, said Lappe, shows this team – young as it is – to be further along in early November than her 2011-12 squad was in early December. “We look better now than at that point,” said Lappe, adding that the loss of senior post Julie Seabrook and her court communication on screens and setting the defense might be a temporary setback. “But overall we’re further ahead and much, much deeper.” Wilson agreed, noting that in this season’s pair of exhibition games, the Buffs “got it going early . . . last year we struggled (early) to get it going. There were stretches where we didn’t score for five or six minutes at a time, but this year the freshmen are catching onto the offense and we have a lot of upperclassmen now.” Although forward Jen Reese is entering her sophomore season, Lappe considers Reese well-seasoned. Reese does, too. She’s been waiting for Sunday’s opener longer than most; she missed last season’s last six games with an orbital eye socket injury and is wearing protective goggles now, although “it’s a hassle,” she said. Her vision slowly is returning to normal, but still can be a little fuzzy now when she gazes upward when under the rim. So she uses her neck more and tilts her head. But Reese clearly sees this: “These players have more confidence and that brings out more confidence in the team. We have leaders in Meagan and Chucky, when she’s the point guard. And I feel like we’ve been communicating better. The freshmen have been doing really well listening to us and improving every day in practice . . . I think we’re just more prepared.” More focused on a daily basis, too. Every team has reaching the NCAA Tournament as a goal, and that includes the Buffs, who could wind up playing in NCAA first- and second-round games in their building. But the approach this season is different, said Reese: “Last year we had a main goal of going to the NCAAs, but we weren’t more concerned with how to get there . . . this year we’re setting goals that we can reach (daily) to get to that level. That’s what I like about this year.” Reese says she’s among the Buffs whose confidence has skyrocketed, plus she’s stronger and better conditioned. And here’s something else – aside from the depth, the talent and the confidence – that Wilson says sets this team apart from others: “We’ve got 13 girls with heart, 13 girls that will punch you back if you punch them . . . we’re all competitors, that’s what different and special about this team.” Lappe is hoping it all translates into a special year. It gets underway on Sunday afternoon. [includeme src=”http://c1n.tv/boulder/media/bouldersponsors.html” frameborder=”0″ width=”670″ height=”300″] |
CU Boulder’s video game design research catches fire with students
Feb 15th
to continue video game design research
The University of Colorado Boulder exceeded its own researchers’ expectations with its iDREAMS Scalable Game Design Summer Institute, and that success has been rewarded with a new $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. CU-Boulder researchers are tracking how video game design engages students in computational thinking and STEM simulation design.
STEM simulations are computer programs that model natural and social phenomena, such as how a forest fire spreads from tree to tree. Students design these simulations to learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.
The new NSF-funded Computational Thinking for Teaching Computing grant to computer science Professor Alexander Repenning and co-investigators Kris Gutiérrez and David Webb from the School of Education, will build on previous work the team did on video game design as a motivational tool for computer science education.
That project, called iDREAMS, involved more than 100 teachers and over 8,000 students producing more than 10,000 games and STEM simulations. The project started in Colorado but quickly expanded to Alaska, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming where it gave teachers the tools and support needed to take the video game design curriculum into their classrooms. Participation far exceeded initial projections for the iDREAMS research project of about 40 teachers and 1,200 students over three years.
The curriculum, as taught through the Scalable Game Design Summer Institute on the CU-Boulder campus during the past three summers, was found to be highly effective across a wide spectrum of communities, including technology hubs, urban/inner city, rural and remote Native American communities.
The research team was encouraged by the extraordinarily high levels of participation and motivation, especially for girls and underrepresented students: 45 percent of participants were girls and 56 percent were underrepresented minorities. Motivation, expressed by a willingness to take more game design classes, was determined to be 74 percent for boys, 64 percent for girls, 71 percent for white participants and 69 percent for minority students.
In the new project, student performance data using measures of computational thinking will be integrated to further analyze how video game design helps students reason and learn STEM content. The performance data will be used to enhance the Scalable Game Design curriculum and professional development opportunities for teachers.
“I am extremely excited to see the enormous energy of students and teachers involved in the Scalable Game Design project,” said Repenning. “They have shown that it really is possible to bring computer science education to public schools and integrate it into the curriculum. The Scalable Game Design curriculum includes problem solving, logical thinking skills and sophisticated math and science concepts highly relevant to STEM and computer science education.”
CU-Boulder will again host its popular Scalable Game Design Summer Institute for K-12 teachers this summer, June 4-10, as part of its long-term efforts to improve and broaden participation in computer science education.
“We now want to analyze the impact of the research on students’ motivation and what they are learning, continuing the success of the iDREAMS project,” said Webb. “With the new grant, we can build up more robust research instruments that can be used for computer science education. We will continue to be very intentional regarding our research of particular populations and will be broadening the scope of groups studied.”
Project partners include AgentSheets Inc., the Computer Science Teachers Association, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the Shodor Foundation and SRI International.
For more information visit http://scalablegamedesign.cs.colorado.edu.