Our Government/Nuestro Gobierno

White House

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Sustainability Working Group, from Boulder, Colo., has been selected by the White House as a Champion of Change for Corporate Environmental Sustainability. The OIA Sustainability Working Group (OIA SWG) is a volunteer collaboration among more than 250 outdoor industry brands, retailers and suppliers working to identify and improve the environmental and social impacts of their shared global supply chains.

Casa Blanca

La Outdoor Industry Association (OIA por sus siglas en inglés) Sustainability Working Group, de Boulder, Colorado, ha-sido seleccionado por la Casa Blanca como un Campeón del Cambio para la Sostenibilidad Corporativa del Medio Ambiente. El OIA Sustainability Working Group (OIA SWG por sus siglas en inglés) es una colaboraciónvoluntaria entre los más de 250 marcas de la industria al aire libre, los minoristas y proveedores que trabajan para identificar y mejorar los impactos ambientales y sociales de sus cadenas de suministro globales compartidos.

Colorado’s Governor

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1125 sponsored by Sen. Pat Steadman (D-Denver) and Rep. Robert Ramirez (R-Westminster). HB 1125 seeks to return animals to the innocent and protect them from abusers by clarifying court procedures when an animal has been impounded due to cruelty or neglect.

Gobernador de Colorado

El gobernador John Hickenlooper firmó el Proyecto de Ley 1125 presentado por el senador Pat Steadman (D-Denver) y el diputado Roberto Ramírez (R-Westminster). HB 1125 busca devolver los animales a lo inocente y protegerlos de los abusadores acclarando los procedimientos judiciales en el momento queun animal ha sido incautado a la crueldad o la negligencia.

Denver’s Mayor

Mayor Michael B. Hancock issued a community challenge to residents and businesses to take additional steps this April to help create a more sustainable Denver in observance of Earth Month. In February, Mayor Hancock accepted President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge, committing the City and County of Denver to reduce energy use 20 percent by 2020. He recently signed onto the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, a nationwide competition between cities to see who can be the most “water wise.” Denver’s Department of Environmental Health, Greenprint Denver and its community partners will be hosting a series of Earth Month events including the Earth Day Denver 2012 in Civic Center Park on April 18.

Alcalde de Denver

El alcalde Michael B.Hancock lanzó un reta a los residentes de la comunidad y las empresas a tomar medidas adicionales para ayudar a crear un Denver más sostenible en celebración del Mes de la Tierra. En febrero, el alcalde Hancock acepto el reto del presidente Obama de Better Buildings Challenge, cometiendo a la Ciudad y Condado de Denver para reducir el consumo de energía un 20 por ciento para el año 2020. Recientemente firmo el Desafío Nacional del los Alcalde’s para la Conservación del Agua,un concurso nacional entre las ciudades para ver quién puede ser el más “racional del agua”. El Departamento de Denver de Salud Ambiental, Greenprint Denver y sus socios de la comunidad serán el anfitrión de una serie de eventos el Mes de la Tierra incluyendo el Día de la Tierra del 2012 en Denver Civic Center Park el 18 de abril.

Colorado’s State Parks: Celebrate Earth Day

Colorado’s State Parks have celebrated Earth Day since the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 and will offer a series of events this year on Saturday, April 21, and Sunday. April 22, to commemorate the international environmental awareness day. The state parks throughout Colorado are a great place to celebrate Earth Day and get outdoors to enjoy nature. Earth Day was created to inspire the public to take better care of the environment and take pride in clean water, air, land and other natural resources.

Vehicles entering the park must purchase a $7 daily pass or display a $70 annual pass. For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.parks.state.co.us.

Denver Energy Star buildings

Denver ranked 11th on the annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings for 2011 released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The list of 25 cities is headed by Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Houston, Dallas, Riverside, Calif. and Boston. In 2011, the nearly 16,500 Energy Star certified buildings across America have helped save nearly $2.3 billion in annual utility bills and have prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to emissions from the annual energy use of more than 1.5 million homes.

National Park Week

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, invite people everywhere to enjoy, explore, learn, share and give back to America’s nearly 400 national parks during National Park Week 2012.

National parks will mark the annual celebration with special events and activities including Volunteer Day on April 21, Earth Day on April 22, and Junior Ranger Day on April 28. From ranger-led hikes and kayak trips to camping and exploring, park visitors can plan their National Park Week at www.nationalparkweek.org. Discover information about events, special activities for visitors of all ages, how to share your park adventure with other travelers and how to support the parks.

Scholarships for teachers

The Colorado Department of Education’s Office of Professional Services and Educator Licensing announced the limited availability of a new round of scholarships to support teachers applying for National Board Certification with the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

Application forms are available at www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/NBCT.htm. For additional information visit www.nbpts.org. To apply for scholarships, fax information to 303-866-6866 or contact Anne Marie Roberts at roberts_a@cde.state.co.us.

LCFC Awards grants

The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC), in partnership with the national organization Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), has awarded grants totaling $145,000. The grants were awarded to strengthen 12 nonprofit organizations across the state that are led by and serve Latinos. In addition to funding, grantees will receive technical assistance, leadership training and networking opportunities. A reception to announce the grant awards was held Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

Grants were awarded to: El Centro Humanitario (Denver), Chicano Humanities & Arts Council (Denver), Circle of Latina Leadership (Denver), Clínica Tepeyac (Denver), Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (Denver), Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center (Durango), Early Excellence Program of Denver (Denver), La Gente Youth Sports (Pueblo), Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County (Boulder), La Raza Youth Leadership Institute (Denver), Padres & Jovenes Unidos (Denver), and Valle de Sol Community Center (Capulin).
Hispanic Chamber honors Sandoval, announces award nominees
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver announced that Paul Sandoval will receive the Chamber’s annual Ronald E. Montoya Lifetime Achievement Award. The Chamber also named finalists for eight awards reflecting leadership in the Hispanic business community. Sandoval will be honored and winners will be announced at the Hispanic Chamber’s 26th Annual Business Awards Luncheon on Thursday, April 26 at the Hyatt Regency Denver from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The finalists for the Business Awards are as follows: Business Man of the Year – Mike Shaw (Mike Shaw Automotive Group) Mike Tafoya (Estrada Strategies), Jaime Cueva (Mi Pueblo Market). Business Woman of the Year – Diedra Garcia (DRG Construction), Victoria Aguilar (The AR Group), Maria Garcia Berry (CRL Associates). Chamber Advocate – Matt Kaspari (Kaspo Inc.), Glen Dilworth (Walker-Dilworth), Casilda Gorozpe (Waddell & Reid).Corporate Advocate – Pinnacol Assurance, Comcast, United Healthcare. Non-Profit – Goodwill Industries, Environmental Learning for Kids, American Diabetes Association. Public Official – Sen. Lucia Guzman, Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, Rep. Crisanta Duran. Hispanic Small Business –Summit Maintenance, La Voz. Young Professional – Johanna Mendoza (Pinnacol Assurance), Monica Perez (Your Castle Real Estate), Joe Amato-Baril (FirstBank).

To learn more visit www.hispanicchamberdenver.org.