2012 Accomplishments

In 2012, Citizens Project maintained our long-standing commitment to creating a community that values equality, diversity, religious freedom and civic engagement through our ongoing programs, and we even had a few special additional programs. Read on to learn about what makes us most proud this year:

Citizens Religious Freedom Institute
In 2012, more than 50 educators, citizens and school board members attended our CRFI symposium about legal boundaries and best practices to uphold religious freedom in the schools.

Getting Information to Schools
Citizens Project sent information to local schools about inclusive holiday practices and provided consultation and follow-up when religious freedom was threatened.

Working with Partners on Legislation and Policy
Citizens Project worked with a statewide coalition to challenge Focus on the Family’s deceptively-titled “Religious Liberty Amendment” at the Title Board,  resulting in its withdrawal. We also worked with a group of concerned citizens to improve municipal campaign finance code.

Coalition Building
Citizens Project collaborated with many groups in 2012, and helped lead the local Pikes Peak Equality Coalition,which conducted Get-Out-The-Vote activities and hosted an open house.

Awareness Campaign
With the help of Lunchbucket Creative, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, and our communications committee, this year’s awareness campaign appeared on billboards and print around town and promoted common ground for the common good.

Civil Unions
Citizens Project worked with statewide partners to organize rallies and raise voices in support of civil unions in the Colorado Legislature.

Informing & Mobilizing
Through our electronic Action Network & Freedom Watch Online, CP empowered more than 2,000 subscribers with information and opportunities to take action.

Creating Community
In February, Citizens Project honored Rosemary Harris Lytle, Sharon Berthrong, and the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado at our eighth annual Divine Award event. We also held our annual Creating Community Breakfast, which brought more than 500 people together and raised $60,000.

Voter Guide & Voter Forums
Citizens Project published a comprehensive Voter Guide for the general election, reaching 160,000. We also hosted election education forums for the general election and the special Memorial election, and hosted a special forum for people considering running for City Council.

 Promoting Good Election Policy
Citizens Project worked with  partners and the County Clerk’s office to increase the number of secular polling places in 2012, and attended meetings about council redistricting. We also reached out to 450 faith communities with information about how to avoid electioneering.

Celebrating 20 Years
In celebration of our 20th anniversary, Citizens Project staff and volunteers created s a special commemorative retrospective,  collaborated with The Story Project for a Divine Evening of Storytelling,  and hosted a special anniversary event at the Pikes Peak Library District which featured 20 years of donated archival materials. We also invested in systems upgrades to propel us into the next 20 years: a new office space downtown, a new database, new software, a new strategic plan, and we also had the great fortune of four summer interns!