By Shannon Lukens.
Graduate students from the CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning have been spending time in Steamboat Springs this summer. They have been working with focus groups within the City of Steamboat Springs to help create a new Steamboat Springs Area Community Plan.
The students made their presentations and got more input from community members at the Steamboat Springs Community Center Thursday night.
Adison Petti has been facilitator for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion since 2008 so that was his focus in the Planning Studio. He specializes in anti-racism for institutional policy.
“In a nutshell, we learned that one of the biggest challenges is the disparity in income between white households and Latino households. Latino households, on average, are making $25-$30,000 less, even when they are working in professional positions, management positions, outside of things like food service or housekeeping, for example, where of course there are still disparities as well.”
Petti says the group heard that better access to childcare would help because it would improve people’s ability to pursue higher education and to improve other workforce development skills.
Others presented ideas and options on transportation, housing, sustainability, climate, historic preservation, and economic development. All booths were interactive so you could give your opinion on what you think is most important.
The group will be back in Steamboat Springs in late July. They’ll present their findings on what they see is Steamboat Springs’ vision for the future.