Economic & Social Justice
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A future Music & Art House?

May 17th, 2013 | Posted by Occupy The Roads in Pueblo | Pueblo House - (Comments Off)
Front of house

Both Glen and I have been quite busy trying to secure a building so we can bring music and art to the East Side of Pueblo.  There’s a tired, old house two doors to the east that’s been boarded up way too long.  We’d like to take the boards off, fix it up and make a happy place that kids and adults can go to make music and art.  We feel there’s much too little of the “feel good” stuff in life.   When budgets are being crunched, those are the first things to go.  We want to bring back the things that make life’s stressed a little less stressful.  If we can teach kids how to play guitar, piano, trumpet or any instrument we can get donated (because we don’t have any right now) it’s going to make the East Side a little brighter.  Kids love art and there’s quite a bit of land where kids can paint and create.  We’ll be able to show the art and find our future talent.  If all things work out this might be in the future for Occupy the Roads in addition to our little Red House, called Pueblo House.  (more…)

Two new windows and 2 trees for Mother’s Day!

May 12th, 2013 | Posted by Occupy The Roads in Pueblo | Pueblo House - (Comments Off)
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Today we got a couple more boards off and light now shines on the stairs.  Thank you to Ed and a little help from Rob to make this happen.  A dresser got painted and then later in the day Kayla & I got to go to the doggie park to make some new friends.  Gus tells us his cousin is a dry waller and gave me his #.  He has some talent too.

Then the Arbor Foundation (Randall & Jenny) came by and offered to plant to trees in our yard as a donation. They were so nice to even plant them with us. (more…)

Paint brushes, scrapers and sandpaper!

May 11th, 2013 | Posted by Occupy The Roads in Pueblo | Pueblo House - (Comments Off)
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The house is busy with volunteers as we inch our way closer to finalizing the “lil red house”.   Our walls are being painted, kitchen cabinets, some furnishings and windows being put in place of nasty old boards that have hidden this little treasure for some time.  Between James & Darla, Ed, Tom, Jack, Cory, Rob & I we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  We’ll have more professional help this coming week to finish drywall, plaster and shower so we can get this little gem “occupied”.  Been a long stretch and it will be a great anniversary present to be done by June 12th with glorious gardens in the back. (more…)

new fence in the making
Best Cinco de Mayo…..
Alais Clay & Wandering Monks celebrated with us @ Pueblo House and performed live in a concert that was rock’n the neighborhood. Thank you for making this day very special. You inspire us to be the change! Your lyrics are so profound.
The kids had a great time and we thank everyone who came out.   We now have a picket fence ready to put across the front of our very special house for art & music and all the things that make us feel good in a world that has so much wrong….we are the change we want to see. (more…)
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Join us friday night May 3rd (7:00 pm) at PCC @  outdoor amphitheater for live entertainment by Alais Clay (from Boulder) brought to you by Occupy the Roads, Pueblo House.
The event is to create awareness on the importance of keeping the Arts & Music programs alive.  If you miss us at Pueblo Community College you can join us on May 4th at the corner of 5th & Hudson.  We hope everyone will join us as we honor those who have helped by volunteering or providing services or goods and to celebrate our grand opening for “Pueblo House”.   (more…)

Meeting with Senators Aguilar & Giron

April 20th, 2013 | Posted by Occupy The Roads in Meetings | Pueblo - (Comments Off)
Janet Wilson & Senator Irene Aguilar

Went to the Health Care Colorado meeting this morning and met Senator Irene Aguilar and Senator Angela Giron. Glen Burke & Dr. Anne Courtright attended as did many others. Senator Aguilar gave a very profound presentation on a co-operative healthcare plan that would encourage preventative as opposed to treating illness when it’s too late, because people put off going to the Dr. because of costs. It was a great presentation and I’ve asked the Senator to visit Pueblo House so we can give this same presentation to the East Side Community. (more…)

Face lift for li’l red- Pueblo House

April 19th, 2013 | Posted by Occupy The Roads in Pueblo | Pueblo House - (Comments Off)
Cory, Janet and Jack on completed new deck.

Whoa…a tense day watching Pueblo House get new front posts. Wilbur (SW Post) showed up early with two freshly made posts that he’s donated to us. He had some time and asked if we wanted them put in and the rest is history. I called around to try and get some help for Cory, who I think was hyperventilating at this point, thinking about the enormous task ahead. Jack (setting is own work aside) came to our rescue all the way from CO Springs. For a while it was just the four of us and I guarantee that I was not much help but rather having anxiety attacks of my own by now, envisioning our porch on the sidewalk. Taking the posts out was a daunting task, but Wilbur, Cory & Jack came through doing an amazing job! Mike next door lent us his hydraulic lift and I managed to get another from a very nice man at a gas station on the corner of Grand & 4th. Without knowing who I was, and having me approach him at random looking desperate, a perfect stranger lent me (yes, just (more…)

tree hugging hippie dude!

Had a knock on the “V” around 9:30 and opened the door to two officers asking about “activity” going on in the alley.  I told them the only activity I see is me taking Kayla for a doggie walk before bed.  It’s been relatively quiet, or I’m a very heavy sleeper.  Lots of questions were asked and normally I wouldn’t feel a need to answer them, but I liked these two guys and I want to think they get what we’re doing.  They mentioned having a meeting with Luis Velez (Chief of Police) about doing some work together, especially with the kids. The more we support one another the better off we’ll be.  We should try to figure out what the needs of the community are, or what needs to be done and work on it together.  There’s no doubt we’re in an area that needs something.  But we think it’s something different, something around music, art and things that make everyone feel they’re a part of the community.  We also think it should be engaging and inclusive of the (more…)

Affordable brings expertise!

Yesterday Jack helped with filling cracked walls and Cory put up framework in the kitchen.   We’re getting ready to finalize this room and get our utilities signed off.   Pueblo Electrics are working on a quote to finish the electric.

Today was a busy one. Jack Sample (SW Pride Inc.)is going to take Aria under his mentorship so she can learn the ins and outs of providing education and counseling to young teens in the area. Pueblo has a very high rate of teen pregnancy and we want to be part of the solution.

Then we had Affordable Services (Plumbing) out this morning to run the test and they’re back on Thursday to do some final things before getting the sign off.   Around noon we got some great news about a project we’ve been interested in for some time.  Things might be starting to come together and that means… we may have a “Music and Art House, along with a “New School”, in addition to Pueblo House. (more…)

Occupying the East Side

April 7th, 2013 | Posted by Occupy The Roads in Education | Pueblo - (0 Comments)
Potential NEW school

Back from Denver and kick’n back with Kayla who’s conked out beside me.  We had great weather and networked with lots of cool people at the “National Media Reform Conference”.

Now, I’m back in Pueblo where we’re working on a concert with artists who are performing for us for free on May 3rd.  Then a few of us are going to take Cory up on the challenge of making some tree hugging hippies (heading to Goodwill for some serious bellbottoms & flowered shirts) to put on trees down the street.  Then, we’re going to make signs…one to hang on the fence of the empty lot (2 lots over) to say “Future home of new doggie park”.  Then, another to hang on the fence of the beautiful old stone house (2 lots the other way) to say “Future home of Art & Music”.  Then we’re going to check out a building a couple blocks over, for our new school thanks to a very generous couple.  Ah, the joys of being in a depressed area….you get to do fun stuff and no one complains!  Next…Polka dots on the street?  Art in the park?  MayDay Parade through town?  All of the above…check! (more…)