The organization’s newest initiative, established post-covid to enable and empower artists and communities, is a fifth operational pillar. Health & Wellbeing builds upon years of civic engagement, investment in career development, and direct physical and mental health service programs.
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Paid Internship Program
CPRD’s Mental Health is Wealth (MHIW) paid internship program is an eight-week experience connecting high school students with more than a dozen creative industry organizations for on-job-access within diverse career fields. Students participate in a weekly workshop designed to provide foundational knowledge of mental health, wellness, and the arts with our behavioral health professionals and arts facilitation team members. MHIW is intentional in helping to expand the circle of support for each youth while providing opportunities for our future leaders to learn and exercise their power, nurture curious career and post-high school options, and discover the multiple intersections between creativity, behavioral health, business, culture, and community. This program began in 2023 with 6 DPS students and has grown to 12 students for the summer of 2024.
Direct Service
Touching more than 3,000 people statewide and partnering with 7 In-State Higher Education Institutions (MSU, Trinidad State College, Fort Lewis College, Colorado College, CSU, Adams State College, CSU Pueblo) with the idea of mentorship and access at the forefront, CPRD brought Denver-area high school students to CO higher education institutions through career fairs learning trades within the arts, multimedia communications, public health, and advocacy related to regional and national policies.
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Direct service programs have included:
4 CDPHE Equity Vaccination Clinics 2021 | 10 Panel Discussions | 4 Music Concerts | 3 Dance Masterclasses | 3 High School Theater Performances | Let’s Move – A Celebration of Community & Health 2021 | The Momentum Tour 2022, 2023 | 13 Community Meetings CO Arts Alliance for Health Equity | 5 Points Jazz Activation Grant School Workshop w/ MSU 2022 | Putting Back Into The Community w/ Charity’s House (Thanksgiving Food Drive) 2023
Advocacy
Through CPRD’s statewide listening and engagement tour, we’ve been intentional in gathering all aspects of city governance and operation to learn and better advance the cultural, social, economic, and political needs of the community. Connecting with over 60 state agencies through the Momentum Tour. This has included healthcare agencies, public and broadcast journalism, city council members, office of elected officials, arts organizations, city tourism and economic development committees, college and university staff, public education employees, community members, college students, performance arts venue owners, and community artists.
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Efforts have also included:
6 Medical Abstracts submitted over 3 years (2021 – 2023)
Politics 101 in collaboration with Colorado Black Women for Political Action