About PPCD

The Pikes Peak Community Development Initiative is designed to continue the lessons learned at El Pomar Foundation from over 20 years experience developing and operating programs and outreach efforts that effectively assist in identifying local issues of concern to direct funding and resources. 

Mission
Develop a comprehensive set of grantmaking, technical assistance and capacity-building activities to address shared concerns and quality of life issues in the southeast area of El Paso County

Purpose

Build on El Pomar Foundation's active and visible role creating opportunitites through proactive philanthopy and innovative partnerships with a broad representation of leaders from civic and community-based organizations that serve the southeast area of El Paso County

2011-12 CRSP Workshop Sessions

• Program Description
• Student and Parent Registration Packet
• Student Recruitment Coordinators Contact Sheet
• Student Nomination Form
• Volunteer Contact Form

CRSP Student/Family Ambassadors

The CRSP Student/Family Ambassadors are assigned to a Student Learning Community for the duration of the 2011-2012 workshop year.  The program is designed for Ambassadors to provide guidance, insight, and mentorship to students. Ambassadors fulfill this role by performing activities such as:

• Attending the Outreach & Materials Prep meeting and Host Site Training prior each workshop
• Discussing “Pathways” incentives with students and encouraging attendance and accountability through outreach phone calls prior to each session
• Actively participating in workshop sessions and host site resource fairs with students
• Facilitating discussion around post secondary education goals and aspirations of students
• Presenting themselves in a way that models professionalism to the students
• Sharing positive personal education/career experience and best practices you learned 

PPCD Advisory Group

El Pomar Foundation convened a group of civic-minded professionals to provide expertise, resources, information and strategies to assist in identifying and addressing quality of life issues that impact southeast El Paso County.

The advisory group includes:

• B. J. Scott – Executive Director, Peak Vista Community Health Centers Foundation
• Pastor James H. McMearn – President, Southern Colorado Ministerial Union
• Cheryl Serrano – Superintendent, Fountain - Fort Carson School District #8
• Steve McCoy – Deputy Garrison Commander, Fort Carson
• Dr. Luis Velez - Chief of Police, Pueblo Police Department
• James Sullivan – Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region
• Fletcher Howard - Commander, Colorado Springs Police Department
• Derrick Padilla - College Access Coordinator, Colorado Department of Higher Education 

• Tom Anderson – Colorado Springs Community Business Leader

  Advisory Group Bios

PPCD Advisory Group Objective

The PPCD Advisory Group's focus is youth and educational opportunities in southeast El Paso County. The group's interest is to identify and support ways to connect students and families to post-secondary educational opportunities. The group has developed a comprehensive approach to help high school students, counselors and families learn more about scholarships, financial aid and student support services in order to successfully attend and remain enrolled in post-secondary education.

PPCD Advisory Group Goals

• Connect students and families in southeast El Paso County to post-secondary education opportunities.
• Prepare students to understand post-secondary education opportunities including financial literacy, self-assessment, family involvement, scholarship fairs, college admissions and student support.
• Provide students transitional support from high school and facilitate self-advocacy to promote their success at the post-secondary level.

Outcome

The Advisory Group developed and designed a college readiness and success program that will connect kids in southeast El Paso County to post-secondary educational opportunities. The action plan consists of the following elements:

• Create a Resource Guide to identify program, organizations and events that connect youth to post-secondary educational opportunities.
• Support the Educating Children of Color Summit and encourage all workshop participants to attend the annual Summit. The Summit seeks to dismantle the cradle to prison pipeline for children of color and children in poverty through education.
• Four workshops for parents, students and student recruitment coordinators (principals/teachers/counselros) to address a wide range of issues including: college success, self-advocay, financial literacy, pre-collegiate resources and retention. The workshop series is free for students and families in order to expose students to resources and opportunities for post-secondary education.

The first workshop series will be held at Pikes Peak Community College on October 16, 2010 and will address self-advocay, financial literacy and college prep advising.

Emerging Leaders Development Program

• ELD Home
• Mission, Goals, and Priorities
• Master Calendar
• ELD Colorado Springs
• ELD Pueblo
• Milton E. Proby Room
• Meet El Pomar VP Theo Gregory