The Arapahope Community Team (“ACT”) was founded for one principal purpose - to give Coloradans an opportunity to serve and educate their communities and neighbors about issues that affect us all. These issues include healthcare, the economy, the environment, civil rights and education. Building off of that simple objective, ACT is fast becoming one of the most active voices for progressive change in Arapahoe County and Colorado.
The concept of ACT was formulated by former Obama Campaign for Change volunteers Todd Mata, Mike Clapman, Laurie Ritchie, Donna Galassi, Ed Chance and Sabrina Speight over Mike’s kitchen table.
Todd recalls, “At that first meeting back in December, we weren’t really sure what a community advocacy group was 'supposed' to look like. However, as we started talking, and building off of that stubborn belief that each one of us controls our own destiny, a structure started to form. We built ACT around the concept of Issue Groups. Within each Group, an Issue leader recruits a team of citizens around a specific issue they all believe needs to be addressed. The Issue leader then coordinates the efforts of the team members on community education, advocacy, legislative outreach and networking."
During the 2009 legislative session, ACT has worked with legislators and other community groups to take well-supported positions on healthcare reform, budgetary constraints, equal rights for women and common-sense regulations for pharmaceutical companies. While the outcomes of these initiatives were not always favorable, ACT gained invaluable experience in advocating for progressive change.
And our work doesn't stop just because it is summer. We are co-sponsoring a HealthCare Day of Action in Denver this Saturday and feeding the homeless in early July. With seasoned community advocates and the incredible support and guidance from outstanding state organizations like ProgressNow Colorado, ACT hopes to have an even greater influence on Colorado’s future. To learn more, visit us at
www.arapahope.org.
