The Youth Action Team was created by a group of high school students invested in centering the voices of youth in decision making within the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea communities. The mission of the Youth Action Team is to connect youth to the CSU Spur campus and to work alongside CSU Spur staff and partners to complete projects of their choosing. Youth are compensated for their time and have worked on projects building career pathways, highlighting small businesses, addressing homelessness, improving food access, and more.
2023-24 Youth Action Team
The 2023-24 CSU Spur Youth Action Team focused their project on animal health by interviewing veterinarians, taking behind-the-scenes tours of veterinary hospitals, and reflecting on their own experiences with adoption. YAT members assembled take-home kits for new pet owners that include resources like toys and toothpaste and handed out these kits during 2nd Saturday at CSU Spur.
In addition to creating the kits, YAT members compiled a list of helpful links for new pet owners.
General resources
Finding a veterinarian
- Humane Colorado Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur
- Finding a veterinarian (American Veterinary Medical Association)
Vaccines
- Community vaccine clinic (Humane Colorado)
- Vaccinations for your pet (ASPCA)
Financial resources
Resources for dogs
Cost of caring for a dog
Dog food
- Safe vs. toxic foods for dogs (Sploot Veterinary Care)
- How to choose the best dog food (American Kennel Club)
Potty training
- How to potty train your dog (The Humane Society)
Grooming & bathing
- How to bathe a dog: step-by-step tips from a professional groomer (Chewy)
- How to trim a dog’s nails (VCA Animal Hospitals)
Health care
- How to brush your dog’s teeth and why it’s so important (American Kennel Club)
- Instructions for ear cleaning and administering ear medication in dogs (VCA Animal Hospitals)
How to make your dog comfortable
Resources for cats
Cost of caring for a cat
Cat food
- Safe vs. toxic foods for cats (Sploot Veterinary Care)
- Feeding your cat (Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine)
Potty training
- How do I litter train my cat? (BCSPCA)
Grooming & bathing
- How to bathe a cat: step-by-step tips from a professional groomer (Chewy)
- How to trim cat claws (The Humane Society)
Health care
- Brushing your cat’s teeth (VCA Animal Hospitals)
- Instructions for ear cleaning and administering ear medication in cats (VCA Animal Hospitals)
How to make your cat comfortable
- How to make your cat feel at home (Purina)
Are you interested in joining the Youth Action Team?
Email [email protected] to learn more.
Since 2017
2017
CSU & BRS become partners
CSU System and Bruce Randolph School signed a MOU in 2017, after several years of working together. The commitment to the partnership has created a pipeline of each grade level engaging with the university in a different way – ranging from campus visits to in-school programs to college readiness work.
2019
Youth Memory Project
CSU and History Colorado collaborated with Bruce Randolph School freshmen and sophomores throughout a semester to create a Youth Memory Project, where students interviewed a close friend or family member and shared their stories of growing up in north Denver. The project now lives within the history archives at History Colorado.
2020
Youth Action Team created
Eleven youth were selected to be part of the first Youth Action Team cohort and developed an internship program — a community project that benefited the GES community, connected neighborhood youth to the National Western Center and CSU Spur, and set the framework for future Youth Action Team cohorts to continue engaging with the campuses.
2021
Cohort 2: Small business flyer
The Youth Action Team focused on understanding community needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their project for the year included a small business brochure flyer that they passed out at community events and the grand opening of the CSU Spur Vida building.
2022
Cohort 3: Clothing drive
The Youth Action Team focused on understanding homelessness in their community and how to help their neighbors experiencing homelessness. Their project for the year included a clothing donation drive benefiting Denver Rescue Mission, an organization of their choosing.
2023
Cohort 4: Food access
The Youth Action Team focused on food insecurity and help with food access. Their projects included creating a Food Access Directory, organizing their own community food drive, and planting crops in partnership with The Growhaus in the Community Food Justice Garden at CSU Spur.
Youth Action Team partners
The YAT was created with the support from organizations at the National Western Center.
Questions? Email [email protected] to learn more.
Hours
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
2nd Saturday of every month: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (closed all other Saturdays)
Closed Sundays
Location
4777 National Western Dr.,
Denver, CO 80216
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TONY FRANK
Chancellor, CSU System
Dr. Tony Frank is the Chancellor of the CSU System. He previously served for 11 years as the 14th president of CSU in Fort Collins. Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residencies in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president in 2008, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was appointed to a dual role as Chancellor in 2015 and became full-time System chancellor in July 2019.
Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards, has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, and has been honored with state and national awards for his leadership in higher education.
Dr. Frank and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters.
It’s our anniversary!
It’s our anniversary! CSU Spur has been fully open to the public, sharing hands-on, family-friendly activities around food, water, and health for two years. Join us on Saturday, Jan. 11, for 2nd Saturday activities, including desserts, a mariachi performance, face painters, horses on treadmills, veterinarians in surgery, scientists in labs, and more. The celebration is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and CSU Spur will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no registration required, all public activities are free.
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is presented by Canvas Credit Union.
JOCELYN HITTLE
Associate Vice President for CSU Spur, Colorado State University
Jocelyn Hittle is primarily focused on the CSU Spur campus at the National Western Center, and on supporting sustainability goals across CSU’s campuses. She sits on the Denver Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Council, on the Advisory Committee for the Coors Western Art Show, and is a technical advisor for the AASHE STARS program.
Prior to joining CSU, Jocelyn was the Associate Director of PlaceMatters, a national urban planning think tank, and worked for the Orton Family Foundation. She has a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton, and a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Jocelyn grew up in Colorado and spends her free time in the mountains or exploring Denver.
We’ll see you Saturday!
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (July 12), and we’re hosting River Fest with all kinds of family-friendly activities, including fish-themed arts and crafts, the Hydro stream table, and information about rain gardens and rain barrels with Groundwork Denver. Plus, the Market at the Center, a monthly community market hosted at the National Western Center Riverfront in collaboration with 2nd Saturdays!