COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
At DSST Public Schools we aim to foster true partnerships with our families and communities to better appreciate, value and support the social, emotional and wellness needs of our students, build collaborative and authentic regional connections and support the neighborhoods surrounding our schools. We know that to run the best schools possible for our students and families, we must authentically engage with our communities.
MEET OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
- Denver Families for Public Schools works to reimagine an equitable public education system in Denver by increasing civic engagement, shaping education policy, and developing the next generation of grassroots and civic leaders.
- Transform Education Now (TEN) champions the right to self-determination for all families and believes a high-quality education is fundamental for every child.
- RISE Colorado seeks to educate, engage, and empower low-income, families of color to RISE as change agents for educational equity in the public school system.
- The Colorado League of Charter Schools improves student achievement by supporting Colorado's charter schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expand high-quality public school choice.
- Colorado Youth Congress cultivates the healing and leadership of young people to guide us all into a future grounded in justice and wellbeing.
- Servicios de la Raza
- Behavioral Health
- HIV & STI Services
- Support Team Assisted Response - provides person-centric mobile crisis response to community members who are experiencing problems related to mental health, depression, poverty, homelessness, and/or substance misuse as an alternative to police
- Victims in Safe Transition & Self-Sufficiency - offers comprehensive support to victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and general crime, catering to both English and Spanish speakers.
- Colorado Crisis Services
- MIEL - empower all community members by providing equitable mental health, immigration, education and language services.
- GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality:
If you have specific questions please feel free to reach out to DSST’s Senior Manager of Advocacy and External Affairs, Aisury Vasquez at aisury.vasquez@scienceandtech.org.
- Juntos2Community
- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Events
- TheDream.US Scholarship - full tuition and fees scholarship for undocumented students.
- FWD.US K-12 Advising Guide: Supporting Undocumented Students
- Home is Here - Toolkit for PreK- 12 educators, leaders and policy makers.
- United We Dream National immigrant youth-led network advocating for justice and dignity for all immigrants.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center - DACA National nonprofit resource center that provides training and technical assistance in immigration law and policy.
- My Undocumented Life - DACA Website providing up-to-date information and resources to undocumented students.
- Immigrants Rising - Beyond DACA Organization providing resources and educational materials to empower undocumented young people.
- Center for Health Progress - DACA Resource Guide (English/ Spanish)
- Juntos2Community hosts DACAWorks which helps DACA recipients learn how to accurately renew and submit their work permit.
- Legal Night at Centro San Juan Diego is a Denver-based nonprofit organization offering free phone legal consultations. Appointments are required.
- Colorado Legal Services is a state-wide nonprofit organization offering legal services to Colorado residents and specialized immigration legal services.
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver - Immigration Services is a Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited organization offering free immigration consultations and low-cost immigration legal services.
- Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic (JAMLAC) is a nonprofit organization providing legal services, legal workshops and monthly legal clinics throughout Denver.
- Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) is a nonprofit organization offering immigration legal services.
- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is a Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited organization offering immigration legal services.
- Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains is a Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited organization providing immigration legal services.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPOTLIGHTS
Check out our community engagement work in action.
Partnership with CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, our Aurora Science & Tech campus offers students the opportunity to interact with excellent medical facilities, professionals, and universities at our doorstep. Over the course of their middle school and high school careers, students will experience many engaging opportunities through this unique partnership.
Vaccine Clinics
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DSST made major shifts to support our students' education and our families. DSST partnered with local organizations and health officials to host vaccine clinics at all our campuses to provide free COVID-19 vaccines for all community members.
Family and Community Resources
A small idea started in the fall of 2020 to help serve families struggling at the height of the pandemic has blossomed into something that has impacted the lives of hundreds of families. Our Cole campus Cole is proud to partner with Food for Thought and Food Bank of the Rockies on a food pantry that provides food, diapers and hygiene products to our community weekly.