The first CALC Coalition meeting of 2024 was hosted at Athmar Recreation Center in Southwest Denver on January 31st. Community Connector Chiquita Sanders planned a fun and connective meeting featuring an interactive design exercise and lion dancers!
After introductions from CALC Team members, including our new Community Streets Program Administrator Tanniqua-Kay Buchanan and Coalition members, we moved into planning alternative forms of transportation for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration at the Far East Center. It is the year of the Dragon!
According to Chinahighlights.com, "In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success. 2024 is forecasted to bring about opportunities, changes, and challenges." CALC is excited to support the Southwest Denver community and the Far East Center during Lunar New Year.
During the coalition meeting, we discussed how to help with traffic control near Federal and Alameda, the major intersection near the Far East Center. Additionally, we discussed alternative transportation like taking the bus, and creating meet up locations at local parks and recreation centers for people to walk and roll to the event together. Stay tuned on our social media or reach out to Chiquita at chiquita.sanders@denvergov.org for more plans from CALC!
Part of participating in Lunar New Year is by helping during the event in the game area where we will have life size games and a fun culturally relevant game to introduce everyone to. Additionally, as a result of the coalition meeting, we are working with the local police department to learn how we could help with traffic control for this event and for future events at the Far East Center.
We wrapped up the meeting with an awesome performance from Ascent Lion Dance!! It was so much fun and put everyone in the mindset for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration!
Photo of CALC Coalition with Ascent Lion Dancers
Ascent Lion Dancers