Blog | Team Up

Connectedness

May 15, 2017 by Ashley Merchant

What I can say is that our community cares, and even just that act of showing up, speaking about it and offering support is a giant leap forward. So how do we take momentum and move it forward? I want to count down the number of lives lost from 10 to zero suicides " I want each and every person to sit by my side.

Community Treasure Map

May 10, 2017 by Ashley Merchant

The 10 lives in La Plata County buried in the ground, lost suicide treasures. Who will you search for today? This is a two way stream, a collective team. How will you wake up, in what color or behind what mask. Will you take it off to be seen, so someone can find you? And for those who think this doesn"t apply to you; who didn"t go looking for you?

be heard. POETRY Slam Competition -The Why

May 19, 2016 by Ashley Merchant

This is where the poetry slam takes place. I write poetry, and I enjoy sharing this medium with other people so when I thought about starting an event - I knew my passion would keep me motivated. It's more than that, because poetry is power. Poetry is our thoughts, voices, and solutions to how we feel, think, and act in the world. Even if you do not write poetry or perform, listening holds just as much power. When we listen we validate our fellow friends and community members; we feel heard.

Creating Community

Mar 24, 2016 by Lynn Urban

If we all work to help those in our own neighborhoods and towns, then we collectively make the world a better place. How do we solve problems in the "little piece of world" where we live? This is where local giving, advocating, and volunteering are important. All of us in this community are experts, in a sense, because we see, firsthand, the ways that people struggle and thrive.

Giraffes, Social Workers, Education & Youth

Feb 2, 2016 by Ashley Merchant

Jock and Betty understood passing information on conservation to the youth was vital as they were to become the future leaders. They needed to be well versed with environmental issues. The founders of the centre decided to open the facility free of charge to all local school children visiting the centre on weekdays from morning to midday.

How to Champion Kenya to Durango

Jan 14, 2016 by Ashley Merchant

"The Animal Welfare concept - ideally if we want animal welfare; the more we are kind to animals the more we can be kind to other people, and if we want a generation that is loving, kind and caring in the future we need to promote that, and also less criminal, because there is a connection from animals to people. We promote animal welfare because if you have happy animals, you will have happy people, because they will do more for the people. It's a great relationship between the two."

Durango to Kenya Social Work & Elephants

Jan 5, 2016 by Ashley Merchant

Fortunately, passion creates a desire to change things. From one family's passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was created. It is the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world to date and one of the pioneering conservation organizations for habitat and wildlife protection in East Africa. Because of this family, orphan elephants are now not only surviving - but thriving - in the care of this sanctuary.

University of Denver Four Corners Masters in Social Work

Dec 30, 2015 by Ashley Merchant

We are deeply engrained in the community, and we are a cohort so we also have important connections through one another. We're like a family, a network of people discussing our community's most critical issues behind the scenes, but we're also in it, doing the work.s

What is United Way of Southwest Colorado?

Oct 21, 2015 by Ashley Merchant

We are like a chain, our partners the pieces, and everyone in the community the links. Together we are unbreakable, we are United.