Our Government/Nuestro Gente

White House

Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the administration’s National Tourism and Travel Strategy – delivering on President Obama’s call in January for a national strategy to promote domestic and international travel opportunities throughout the United States. The National Strategy is a blueprint for expanding travel to and within the U.S., laying out concrete steps to be taken in five key areas. It sets out a goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors annually by the end of 2021, more than a 50 percent increase over the number expected this year.

Casa Blanca

El secretario de Comercio John Bryson y el secretario del Interior Ken Salazar anunciaron la Estrategia Nacional de Turismo y Viajes de la administración- escuchando la llamada del presidente Obama en enero para una estrategia nacional para promover las oportunidades de viaje nacionales e internacionales en los Estados Unidos. La Estrategia Nacional es un modelo para la expansión de los viajes hacia y dentro de los EE.UU., poniendo las medidas concretas que deben adoptarse en cinco áreas clave. Se establece un objetivo de aumentar empleos en Estados Unidos por atraer y dar la bienvenida a 100 millones de visitantes internacionales al año a finales del 2021, un aumento superior al 50 por ciento en el número esperado de este año.

Colorado’s Governor

Gov. John Hickenlooper called the General Assembly to meet in special session beginning this past Monday to consider seven legislative issues the Colorado House of Representatives failed to act on earlier this week. The governor’s Executive Order, by law, does not prescribe the specific form that the legislation should take; rather, it defines the appropriate subject matter for legislative consideration.

Gobernador de Colorado

El gobernador, John Hickenlooper, pidió la Asamblea General a reunirse en período extraordinario de sesiones a partir de este lunes pasado a considerar siete asuntos legislativos de la Cámara de Representantes de Colorado que no pudo actuar en esta pasada semana. La Orden Ejecutiva del gobernador, por ley, no establece la forma específica que la legislación debe tomar, sino que define el objeto apropiado para la consideración legislativa.

Denver’s Mayor

Mayor Michael B. Hancock led a delegation of Colorado business and community leaders to Iceland last week to explore the economic development opportunities that lie ahead with Icelandair’s new non-stop flight to Denver. “Today is an exciting day as we open Denver’s doors to new, international relationships with great partners like Iceland,” Mayor Hancock said. “Growing our international air service will not only expand the list of destinations available to travelers, but will also play an important role in boosting the local economy and expanding our tourism reach.”

Alcalde de Denver

El alcalde Michael B. Hancock encabezó una delegación de líderes empresariales de Colorado y de la comunidad a Islandia la semana pasada para explorar las oportunidades de desarrollo económico que se avecinan con la nueva Icelandair vuelo sin escalas a Denver. “Hoy es un día emocionante, ya que abrimos las puertas de Denver a las relaciones internacionales nuevas y con grandes socios como Islandia”, dijo el alcalde Hancock. “El aumento de nuestro servicio aéreo internacional no sólo se ampliará la lista de destinos disponibles para los viajeros, sino que también juegan un papel importante en el impulso de la economía local y expandir nuestro alcance del turismo”.

Colorado Politics

Campaign begins for Rep. Labuda

Rep. Labuda ramped up her efforts to talk with voters immediately after the session is over. Labuda kicked off her campaign at the VFW Post 5061 this past Saturday. “We are excited about the campaign kickoff,” Rep. Labuda said when asked about her campaign taking shape. “Judging by the excitement I have seen around my campaign, we expect a good turnout.”

Ordained to priesthood

On Saturday, May 12, Bishop Conley ordained four men to serve as priests in the Denver Archdiocese.

The men who were ordained are: Juan Manuel Bonilla, 29, of Ambato, Ecuador; Wojciech Mariusz Gierasimczyk, 31, of Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland; Sam Morehead, 28, of Berthoud, Colo.; and Ryan O’Neill, 28, of Ft. Collins, Colo.

The ordination was held in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception located at 1530 Logan St. in downtown Denver. Most Rev. James D. Conley, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Denver, presided.

2012 Summit Award

On April 26, 2012, IEC Rocky Mountain celebrated their 6th Annual Summit Awards gala and recognized Mi Casa Resource Center with The Community Award as a key leader in helping to advance the empowerment and career advancement of the Denver community, including Mi Casa’s role in the Denver Green Jobs Initiative. “We are deeply honored at Mi Casa to have received IEC Rock Mountain’s 2012 community award and accept it proudly on behalf of the hard work of Mi Casa’s program staff and participants,” says Mi Casa Executive Director, Christine Márquez-Hudson.

DPS turnaround schools

Several Denver Public Schools that have undergone school turnaround reform efforts have posted double-digit gains on third-grade reading exams, according to preliminary data released by the Colorado Department of Education, meaning more third-graders at these schools are reading at grade level than prior to school reform efforts.

Overall, the percentage of Denver Public Schools’ third-graders who are proficient or advanced in reading climbed by 3 points this year, from 56 percent to 59 percent. This is the highest level yet recorded for Denver since the introduction of the assessment. The state’s performance improved by 1 percent. Over the past two years, DPS’ overall third-grade proficiency score has jumped by 8 points.

President taps De León for NALAC

President Obama nominated Maria López De León, executive director for the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), to become a member of the National Council on the Arts.
The National Council on the Arts advises the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, who also chairs the council, on agency policies and programs.

The 14-member council reviews and makes recommendations to the chair on applications for grants, funding guidelines and leadership initiatives. Presidential appointments to the council, by law, are selected for their widely recognized knowledge of the arts or their expertise or profound interest in the arts. They have records of distinguished service or achieved eminence in the arts and are appointed so as to represent equitably all geographical areas of the country.

Pending confirmation by the Senate, De León will serve a six-year term on the council.

Record DSF scholarships recipients

Denver Public Schools 2012 high school graduations kicked off on Monday, May 14, and a record number of graduates have been awarded scholarships from the Denver Scholarship Foundation this year.

Thanks in part to help from the Denver Scholarship Foundation, 100 percent of Bruce Randolph School seniors have been accepted to college, and they have been awarded with $500,000 in scholarships, not including the DSF Scholarship. Close to 100 percent of the student body at Bruce Randolph School qualifies for free and reduced lunch.