Diverse Fort Collins

September 2025 Community Events

Goodbye, summer. Hello, fall fun!

A variety of creative projects and community events (including free and low cost) await you in Fort Collins and the surrounding region.

Labor Day weekend activities

Curiosity Pass: Poudre Libraries offers passes to museums, galleries and cultural attractions. Free.

Poetry

Two Fort Collins poets recently hosted book launch parties at Wolverine Farm Letterpress & Publick House:

Advance, discounted sales of the debut chapbook Portrait Lands by Fort Collins Poet Laureate Melissa Mitchell ends on Sept. 12.

Kit Song’s debut chapbook where rain sleeps is on sale now.

Wolverine hosts regular poetry and storytelling events: read the events calendar.

Community Events

Aug. 29 The 53:14 Music Video Experiment, 6 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. at The Lyric Cinema Cafe. Free. Donations welcome.

From The Lyric: The filming of the 53:14 Music Videos is complete! All ten original videos were produced last weekend and now the audience participation is about to start. We’d love for you to be there to see them all for the first time! Brand new videos from ALL MY SENSES, ASH REDHORSE AND THE MIDNIGHT SUNS, AUTUMNAL, DUCKI, DVNEHPPY, EVE COFFMAN, FOREIGN SUNS, GRAVEYARD CHOIR, NEON THE BISHOP, and SLOW CAVES premiere this Friday, August 29 at The Lyric!

Get there at 6 PM for live music by EVA ROSE KING and DOGTAGS

This event is free, all ages, and open to the public. RSVP

Sept. 4 The final Thursday Night Live concert in Old Town Square: Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts, 7 p.m. Free.

*Storytelling coach Mary Roberts taught the free Sept. 7 class “Tell It Like It Was” at Old Town Library.*

Sept. 7 “Tell It Like It Was”: A personal storytelling class for the brave, not-so-brave, and everyone in between. 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Old Town Library. Registration now open. Free.

Sept. 10 Mayoral Forum. 6 p.m. at The Lyric. Free. Donations welcome.

*Fort Collins community joined local first responders during the inaugural stair climb on Sept. 11, 2024. Photo from video by The Coloradoan.*

Sept. 11 Public invited to join first responders in 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb at Canvas Stadium. Free.

Sept. 11 A Free Professional Development Workshop Series for Artists and Arts Organizations. Creative Foundation Workshops is a new, ongoing workshop series designed to support Northern Colorado artists and arts organizations in building strong, sustainable creative practices. Workshops will take place bimonthly beginning in September and will focus on essential skill development topics such as marketing, budgeting, grant writing, portfolio development, and more.

Each session is free to attend, features experienced facilitators, and is structured to provide both practical tools and opportunities for connection within the local arts community. Workshops are open to all and geared toward both individual artists and representatives of arts-focused nonprofits, with content that applies to a variety of disciplines and experience levels.

Join the first workshop in the series:
Shout it Out! Workshop for Making Effective Marketing Plans
Date: Thursday, Sept. 11
Time: 4 – 6 p.m.
Location: The Lincoln Center, Columbine Room

This free hands-on session will walk participants through the process of building a simple and effective marketing plan, with guidance on designing promotional materials, using social media and email tools, and identifying core marketing goals. Light refreshments. Provided by the City of Fort Collins in collaboration with the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District.

Sept. 12 For The Love of Strangers is an experiential variety show emceed by Dr. Cori Wong on 2nd Fridays through December. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Visit Fort Collins. $10 suggested donation.

Celebrate The Farm’s 40th Anniversary
Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Speaking remarks at 11:00 a.m.
Where: The Farm at Lee Martinez Park (600 N Sherwood St.)
Note – Parking may be limited during the event.

For 40 years, The Farm at Lee Martinez Park has been a beloved part of Fort Collins, offering hands-on connection to our agricultural heritage. Purchased by the City in 1985, this special place honors the land’s legacy – from its early days as a dairy farm to its transformation into a community treasure. Tucked along the banks of the Cache la Poudre River, The Farm is a celebration of resilience, education and the deep roots that shaped Fort Collins.

You’re invited to celebrate The Farm’s 40^th anniversary milestone with the City of Fort Collins this fall! Enjoy a special day of free admission featuring food trucks, farm games, live music, animal visits and line dancing. Explore the history of agriculture in Fort Collins through Art’s Toolshed, The Farm Museum and The Ross Proving-up House. Come help honor four decades of memories, learning and community at The Farm.

Sept. 13 HeroFest at Front Range Village, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.

JLF Colorado, Boulder Library, Sept. 13-14. Free. Donations welcome. Review the schedule.

Sept. 14 Fort Stories: True Stories. Brave Voices. Strong Communities emceed by Mary Roberts. Theme: “River.” At Visit Fort Collins. $10.

One unforgettable night in Fort Collins. Welcome to Fort Stories—a live storytelling event where community, courage, and connection come together for an unexpected evening. This isn’t a performance. It’s a gathering. A night to share and hear true, personal stories told live by everyday people—maybe even you.

Spanish Conversation

Fort Collins Spanish, Mondays at Bean Cycle Roasters

Let’s Talk In Spanish, 3rd Wednesdays at Old Town Library. Next meeting: Sept. 17

Sept. 27 La Familia / The Family Center Fiesta at The Lyric Cinema Cafe

The Family Center/La Familia has had the honor to serve our community for over 25 years. We celebrate our impact with supporters and guests at our annual Fiesta Party fundraising event!

This is a lively event filled with delicious Mexican food, margaritas, dancing, auctioned prizes, and more dancing! Our venue host, The Lyric, is the perfect setting, offering ideal open event space. Come dance with us!

This event is a way for our families, donors, board, and supporters to celebrate the impact we make in our community and the good work we do for our future: our youth.

Workshop

3rd Annual Creative Colorado Writers Retreat, Sept. 20-21 in Lakewood. Fort Collins Poet Laureate Melissa Mitchell will facilitate a workshop at the Twenty Bellows writers retreat. Two full days of creativity, craft and connection. This year’s retreat features: dedicated poetry, fiction and hybrid workshop tracks; plenty of open writing time in a welcoming, creative space; keynote address from poet Brice Maiurro; a vibrant book fair with regional indie presses; open mic opportunities and community networking. Register before Sept. 1 to receive complimentary lunches on the days for which you sign up.

Art Exhibit

Sept. 6 through Nov. 15

Opening reception: Sept. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Exhibition dates: Sept. 6 through Nov. 15
Cornerstone Gallery at The Masonic Events Center

“We Were Never Meant to Disappear” is a 21-year retrospective and deeply personal solo exhibition by Liz Ortiz, founder of Mad Hare Press.

Spanning two decades of previously unseen artwork, across graphite, ink, paint, photography, and printmaking. This exhibition becomes both archive and altar. It offers viewers an intimate journey through memory, resilience, and reclamation.

With quiet strength and fierce clarity, Ortiz’s work confronts cultural invisibility, generational disconnection, and the lived complexity of navigating a predominantly white community as an Indigenous Latina woman. Each piece, whether old or newly created, honors her heritage, affirms the worth of her existence, and disrupts the comfort of erasure with presence.

This exhibition becomes a living dialogue between time, identity, and place, drawing lines from survival to self-recognition, and from lineage to legacy. Through it, Ortiz invites viewers to witness what has long gone unseen: the joy, pain, and power of holding onto oneself in a world that too often turns away.

Artist bio: Liz Ortiz is a multidisciplinary artist, printmaker, and cultural strategist based in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is the founder of Mad Hare Press, a mobile micro-studio and community arts initiative centered on accessibility, education, and ancestral connection through printmaking.

Drawing from over two decades of creative work, Ortiz’s practice weaves together personal narrative, archival memory, and traditional techniques across media, including lino block and intaglio printmaking, drawing, painting, and analog photography. Her work is grounded in the exploration of identity, cultural survival, and reclaiming space as an Indigenous Latina woman raised on the front range of Colorado.

Ortiz holds a BFA in Printmaking and Photography and an MBA in Marketing Data Analytics, which she uses to inform her art practice, consulting work, and community engagement. Her exhibitions and workshops create spaces where tradition and experimentation meet, spaces rooted in story, reflection, and collective healing.

Follow Liz and the Cornerstone Gallery for more announcements:
@madharepress
@cornerstone.foco

Persimmon’s menu has something for everyone. Try this refreshing, fizzy raspberry beverage with one of many tasty bites.
Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

Business Spotlight

Bookstore On The Square, 113 Linden St., Old Town Square. 🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ & woman-owned indie bookstore hosting book groups, buy-back-used-book days, and more.

Persimmon, 251 Jefferson St., is a place for your morning coffee, lunch dates, evening dining, and all-day cocktails enjoyed with real food made by great people. Persimmon is the playful culmination of decades of hospitality hustling. Inspired to bring together his favorite things, founder Raffi Jergerian led the creation of the café and lounge. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Comedy Fort
Ali Sultan: Special Taping, Nov. 1, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., $20
Ali Sultan returns to film his special in Fort Collins! He saw his first stand up comedian when he moved to America from Yemen at the age of 15. He grew the desire to go on stage, but first he needed to learn English.

Ali is the first professional Yemeni American comedian to be featured on television when Kevin Hart hand picked him to perform on Comedy Central’s Hart of The City. He filmed his half-hour comedy special in Dubai for Comedy Central Arabia. He was named both Best Local Comic and artist of the year by City Pages. He represented Minnesota and won the Best in The Midwest competition at Gilda’s LaughFest. His album happy to be here debuted at #2 on iTunes and can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, Sirius Xm and has over 700k streams on Pandora.

DiverseFortCollins.com is a website connecting people with resources and each other.

Free Community Events Pack End-of-Summer Calendars

A crowd of people gathered in Old Town Square on July 31 Fort Collins-based roots reggae/dub band DubSkin.

A goat with a brown, black and white head says hello through the bars of its pen at the Larimer County Fair on Friday, Aug. 1 — A goat says hello through the bars of its pen at Larimer County Fair, which runs through Tuesday, Aug. 5
© 2025 All rights reserved. Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

Fairgoers walk the midway at dusk during the Larimer County Fair on Friday, Aug. 1 at The Ranch in Loveland.
© 2025 All rights reserved. Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

Diverse Fort Collins is a website connecting people with resources and each other.

Summer isn’t over yet! Fort Collins and surrounding communities offer many free and low-cost events and activities. Here are a few to check out.

*Poudre RiverFest is a free, family-friendly event on Saturday Aug. 9 at New Belgium Brewing*

LOCAL

Poudre RiverFest, Noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9 (Free)
The annual festival will take place at New Belgium Brewing and will celebrate the health and heritage of the Cache la Poudre River—through music, hands-on activities, educational opportunities, and family-friendly fun.

Poudre RiverFest is free and open to all community members. This year’s event is more inclusive and welcoming to Spanish-speaking communities across Northern Colorado: Exhibitor booths with Spanish-speaking team members identified with signage, event materials and signage translated into Spanish, and Spanish-speaking volunteers on site.

Thursday Night Live in Old Town Square. Band schedule. (Free)

The BIPOC Alliance (click on the Events tab)

2025 Fort Collins Farmers Markets (Sunday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

First Friday Art Walk (Free)

Food Truck Rally: City Park (Tuesdays through Sept. 16) and Fossil Creek Park (Thursdays)

Global Village Museum

Gregory Allicar Museum of Art (Free)

“For The Love of Strangers” interactive variety show emceed by Dr. Cori Wong at Visit Fort Collins, Friday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. and second Fridays in 2025. (Free. $10 suggested donation.)

Liberation Is Local. Sundays and Wednesdays. (Donations welcome)

Open Streets, Sunday Sept. 14 (Free)

Dime Stories: A Storytelling Open Mic, Gulo Gulo Writing Workshop, Poetry Curious, Queer Writes, and other events at Wolverine Farm Letterpress & Publick House (Free)

Poudre Libraries: events calendar (Free)

The Toy, Game, and Puzzle (TGP) Library at Foothills Mall, a non-profit lending library (Free)

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Museum of Art Fort Collins

Pianos About Town at Foothills Mall and other locations around FoCo.
©2025 All rights reserved. Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

Pianos About Town, various locations (Free)

REGIONAL

Larimer County Fair, through Tuesday, Aug. 5 at The Ranch in Loveland
(Free parking and entry)
The Coloradoan: “Take a look inside this year’s annual Larimer County Fair & PRCA Rodeo”

Heart & Sol of Loveland: Develop diversity awareness by supporting culture, community and education

Pastels on 5th chalk art festival, Saturday, Sept. 13

*Flowers in downtown Fort Collins © 2025 Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Colllins. All rights reserved.*

Spotlight on Local Businesses

Bean Cycle Roasters and Makerfolk: Modern and Handmade
Blue Moose Art Gallery: fine art, gifts, classes
Clothes Pony and Dandelion Toys
Matt Elias Piano: private piano lessons
Old Firehouse Books: author events and book clubs (Free)

*Quote by Cory Booker in front of Clothes Pony* & Dandelion Toys in downtown Fort Collins.
© 2025 All rights reserved. Katherine Valdez/Diverse Fort Collins

Event Calendars

https://bandwagmag.com/
https://downtownfortcollins.com/
https://focoma.org/directory/media-resources
https://www.fcgov.com/events/
https://www.larimer.gov/events
https://www.visitftcollins.com/
https://www.wolverinefarm.org/events/
https://poudrelibraries.librarycalendar.com/events/month

**
Check out our Resource Guide to contact nonprofits, groups, and local businesses.

Be among the first to read news and event announcements. Type your email in the Follow box at http://www.DiverseFortCollins.com

DiverseFortCollins.com Connecting people with resources and each other

FOR THE LOVE OF STRANGERS: A Variety Show To Meaningfully Connect with Others

Handmade posterboard sign and paper fliers on a table promoting For The Love of Strangers by Dr. Cori Wong

For The Love of Strangers flier event description

by Katherine Valdez (she/her)

I didn’t know what to expect when I attended Dr. Cori Wong’s Feb. 14 debut of the monthly show “For The Love of Strangers: Exploring the Best Worst Ideas for Meaningfully Connecting With Others” at Visit Fort Collins in Old Town Square.

Was it performance art and storytelling featuring diversity, equity, and inclusion stand-up comedy? A one-person variety show plus interactive workshop? A Valentine’s Day immersive dance party?

Turns out it was all of that and more.

Dr. Cori Wong told the Feb. 14 audience how to continue the dialogue and when we could meet again.

“…an eccentric, experimental, experiential variety show…” – Dr. Cori Wong

The format was roughly a humorous, personal anecdote by the emcee, followed by an interactive activity that helped you become acquainted with other folks in the room, but on a deeper level than you’d expect. These weren’t speed-dating questions.

Among the 40 or so attendees, we were young and not-so-young, introverted and extroverted, white and people of color, straight and queer, but we all had one thing in common.

We yearned for community.

In these Orwellian times, it’s what will save us. What will encourage us to keep going. What will inspire us to work toward changing our world for the better.

At one point, I had an engaging conversation with a young therapist. They’re so passionate about improving their skills and serving others that they’re taking a pay cut and moving to Denver to gain more experience serving a different population.

During another activity, we exchanged squares of paper on which we had scribbled something we wish we’d realized sooner.

I struggled to remember any recent epiphanies. I finally settled on, “You’re exactly where you need to be right now” before wandering among the crowd, exchanging smiles.

Cori invited volunteers to read the message they received if it resonated with them. Someone read mine. Connection!

The message I received said, “You’ll reach a place in life where you will feel fulfilled.” It’s now on my refrigerator. Comforting words from an individual whom I don’t know, whom I may never meet but who felt — at one time — what I’m feeling.

A message from a kind stranger exchanged during a group activity at “For The Love of Strangers” variety show
emceed by Dr. Cori Wong (she/her) on Feb. 14. Photo by Katherine Valdez

It made me feel less alone.

Time for reflection and discussion followed each segment. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other.

One more surprise awaited us near the end of the evening: a sing-a-long dance party to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

It was as fun and inspiring as you can imagine. We boogied, we sang (off-key, on-key…doesn’t matter), we laughed.

My mood lifted and my faith in humanity restored, I headed home, vowing to participate again.

Epilogue

I checked in with Cori a few weeks later, before publishing this post, and she reiterated her goal of building community:

“My dream is to build this out so that we have an even more visible network of spaces that feel rich, safe, supportive, and meaningful for building this local culture of connection.” – Dr. Cori Wong

Considering that one of the main questions she asks in many of her workshops and gatherings is “What does liberation look and feel like?” her dream is in perfect alignment with this question and this work.

About 40 community members attended the Feb. 14 debut of “For The Love of Strangers” variety show
emceed by Dr.Cori Wong at Visit Fort Collins in Old Town Square.

“For The Love of Strangers” is on second Fridays. The next one is March 14!

$10 suggested donation at BuyMeACoffee.com/CoriWong

Happy Lucky’s Teahouse provided refreshments and prizes during the Feb. 14 show.
Full Expression! A Dance Collective and The Museum of Art | Fort Collins provided giveaways during the March 14 show.

Sponsorships and other opportunities are available. Read details in the flier below.

**
DETAILS AND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

For those who need a bit more information about what to expect, here’s how Dr. Wong described it to her followers on BuyMeACoffee.com/CoriWong, where you can download free PDFs about the monthly For The Love of Strangers event series and the weekly Liberation Is Local in-person (Sunday) and online (Wednesday) meetings:

“At the surface, “For the Love of Strangers: Exploring the Best Worst Ideas for Meaningfully Connecting with Others” looks like an eccentric, experimental, experiential variety show that closely resembles the most exciting facilitated workshop for like-minded people in our community you’ve never (yet) seen.“But it’s soooo much more than that.

“It’s a uniquely fun and highly engaging way to meet and interact with other inclusive adults in Northern Colorado through humorous story sharing, thoughtful dialogue, and practical activities.

“It’s intriguing AND inspiring.”

Read more blog posts by Diverse Fort Collins.

Juneteenth Community Celebration This Weekend!

Hey, Diverse FoCo friends,

Fort Collins’ Juneteenth celebrations begin today, Friday, June 14!

Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States that has been celebrated by the Black and African American community since the late 1800s.

This year’s community-wide celebration, co-sponsored by the City of Fort Collins and local partners, takes place at Foothills Mall all weekend, June 14-16, with live music, dance, art, theater, health & wellness, cultural performances, educational exhibits, vendor market, food trucks, and more.

Check out the schedule at FoCoJuneteenth.com and options for free transportation to the mall. Transfort will run regular service to and from the Foothills Mall. Share this link with anyone who would like alternatives to driving: https://ridetransfort.com/rider-info-event-transportation/

City offices will be closed for the holiday on Wednesday, June 19.

June is Pride Month!

Pride Month, celebrated each June, recognizes the past, current and future fight for equity and liberation for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Resources and Events:
CSU Pride Resource Center
Northern Colorado Equality
Splash Youth of Northern Colorado
NoCo Eclectic (transgender and nonbinary support)
Denver Pride June 22-23

Diversify Whitewater Community River Float – Northern Colorado

Also, Diversify Whitewater is back this year on June 29! This is the fifth annual Community River Float on the Cache la Poudre River. The event is sold out, but volunteers are welcome if you’d like to serve as a raft/inflatable kayak guide, safety boater, photographer, or as on-shore support.

Independence Day Community Celebration on Thursday, July 4

The July 4 holiday is a full day of family-friendly activities. View the schedule and make plans to attend.

People walking up the stairs of the Carnegie Center for Creativity. Photo courtesy of City of Fort Collins.

Share your favorite Faces and Places of Fort Collins, July 27-August 22

The City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department invites the Fort Collins creative community to submit their artwork to be included in the opening art gallery exhibit at the newly renovated Center for Creativity at 200 Mathews St.

Read the guidelines and how to participate.

Community Celebration: July 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
First Friday Reception: August 2, 6 – 9 p.m.
Exhibit Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 12 – 6 p.m.

Community Members Post Events on Facebook Group and Page

Community members are posting information on the Diverse Fort Collins Events Facebook group about news and events in Fort Collins and surrounding communities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Share information about your event today!

We’re also posting about local happenings on the Diverse Fort Collins Facebook page and Diverse FoCo page.

DiverseFortCollins.com and DiverseFoCo.com
Connecting People with Resources and Each Other

2023 Winter Solstice

Photo: Riverbend Ponds Natural Area on Jan. 1, 2024 by @KatValdezWriter

“I made you this bright so that others would see in the darkness.”
– God to Eric, “Sex Education” Season 4

I love this quote. I love that God is a Black woman and Eric is a glitter makeup-wearing, proud gay man. To me, the meaning is simple: Don’t dim your light. Others are counting on you to lead the way. Become who you’re meant to be. Be bold.

How do you shine for yourself, your family, friends, colleagues, and community?

Upcoming Community Events and Volunteer Opportunities

You have just 12 more days to submit your application for City of Fort Collins Boards and Commissions. The deadline is Jan. 15. We need more diverse voices! The city needs your expertise. It has many vacancies to fill but has received very few applications for the following: Air Quality Advisory Board, Land Use Review Commission, Senior Advisory Board, Water Commission, Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board, and Youth Advisory Board. Read details here: https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/
“It Starts With Us” is the theme of this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Celebration on Monday, Jan. 15. Visit the website for details and volunteer opportunities: https://lsc.colostate.edu/involvement/campus-activities/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-march-celebration/

2023 Year in Review

Special thanks to volunteer extraordinaire MK for checking every link and re-organizing our Resources into categories on an attractive new landing page! Check it out and let us know what you think. We’re always open to improving the user experience and adding more local resources. Email diversefoco@gmail.com with “Resources” in the subject line.
It’s worth noting again that we partnered with Writing Heights Writers Association (formerly Northern Colorado Writers) on Community Voices. If you live, work, or play in Fort Collins, we’d love to hear from you. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?
We heard from folks around the country who contributed information and links to our Resources page, and others who were planning to move to Fort Collins and wanted to know what it’s like for people of color to live here.
Community members connected and posted news, events, links to local businesses owned by people of color, and volunteer opportunities in our Facebook Events group.
We updated our Vote page with resources and links to articles about the November election.
From the “long overdue” files: we finally deleted our X account (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter).
Congratulations to former DFC Advisory Committee Co-Chair Teresa Funke and her daughter Lydia Funke for writing and producing their first play! My sister and I were fortunate to travel to New York City in October to see the premiere ofWave Me Goodbye at The Kraine Theatre in the East Village. Uplifting and moving; really impressive. It’s inspired by a true story, adapted from Teresa’s novel of the same name, and will be available for community theaters and high schools to produce. They will publish the play this year and sell rights to perform it through her website TeresaFunke.com. Contact her at teresa@teresafunke.com if interested.
During that same New York City trip, we were thrilled to experience Here Lies Love, the Broadway musical conceived by David Byrne and with music by Byrne and Fatboy Slim. The cast was 100% Filipino and many of the audience members were Filipino. Kind of a dream come true for two theater enthusiasts whose mother is from Tacloban, Leyte. It was a joyful, historically accurate production that also did not flinch at addressing the atrocities of the Marcos dictatorship.

*Riverbend Ponds Natural Area looking northwest on Jan. 1, 2024 by @KatValdezWriter*

Looking Ahead at 2024

The 2024 presidential election. Keep an eye on our Vote page for information and resources on Colorado’s upcoming presidential primary: https://diversefortcollins.com/vote/
More website improvements to come!
Would you like to help explore the possibility of producing a limited-series Diverse Fort Collins podcast in late 2024? We seek volunteers with podcast production experience or the time and energy to learn. We’re eager to meet this spring to discuss guest speakers and format ideas. Email diversefoco@gmail.com with “Podcast” in the subject line.

Isolation and Exposure Calculator. A coworker tested positive for COVID-19 in December. I wore my mask everywhere for the designated time period and got tested a few days later per the CDC exposure calculator, a tool to help you determine whether to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html

*Frost on leaves and grass, Dec. 15, 2023 by @KatValdezWriter*

Nonprofit Spotlight

“From Krispy Kreme to another In-N-Out, here are Fort Collins food highlights for 2024” by Erin Udell/Fort Collins Coloradoan (Dec. 28, 2023)

(Read this article free using your library card)

Excerpt:

Arboretum Coffee is on a mission in 2024.

The nonprofit coffee shop plans to open at 221 W. Prospect Road under the Prospect Station Apartments on Jan. 22, bringing its coffee and, more importantly, an apprenticeship program for Fort Collins’ refugee and immigrant youth to the area.

The nonprofit coffee shop plans to offer a 12-month program for refugees and immigrants ages 18 to 24

Participants will learn barista and customer service skills through on-the-job training and receive one-on-one mentoring and classes in financial literacy and career preparation, according to Arboretum Coffee Executive Director Hannah Norris.

Norris, who previously worked as a caseworker at the Matthews House in Fort Collins, said she wanted to start Arboretum Coffee after seeing an influx in refugees and immigrants coming to Fort Collins in recent years.

“A lot of refugees and immigrants have to start in unsafe and undignified working environments when they get to the U.S. in order to pay the bills,” Norris said.

To combat this and build community for these groups, Arboretum Coffee hopes to open with two cohorts of five participants in early and mid-2024. To learn more or volunteer for Arboretum Coffee, visit arboretumcoffee.org.

Pop Culture Recommendations (with “happily ever after” guaranteed)

Now that you’ve confirmed your new year’s resolutions, sit back and relax with any of the following.

Sis Flicks Podcast: “The podcast where we won’t judge you for talking through the movie.” Sisters Nadhya and Paola geek out over rom-coms and blockbusters like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
If You Were The Last is a quirky romantic comedy starring Zoë Chao and Anthony Mackie. Groundbreaking! When was the last time we watched a rom-com with Asian American and Black actors in the lead roles? Screenwriter Angela Bourassa is one to watch. Available on Peacock.

Logline: Adrift in their broken-down space shuttle with little hope of rescue, two astronauts argue over whether they’re better off spending their remaining days as friends or something more.
God’s Own Country is a gritty, beautiful film about two Yorkshire farmers who fall in love, and in which — spoiler alert — neither of them dies or marries a woman in the end. An LGBTQIA+ drama ending in happily ever after? Sign us up! Kudos to writer-director Francis Lee. Free to view on Tubi.

Logline: Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path. (IMDb)
Same for Boys…another serving of joy that also portrays the complexities of coming of age (“Shall we stay here forever?”)

Logline: A sexually awakening gay teen athlete finds himself in a budding relationship with his mutually attracted relay race teammate.
Any books by the imprint Joy Revolution, led by best-selling authors Nicola Yoon and David Yoon.
Watch a movie or attend an event at The Lyric, Fort Collins’ only independent cinema that’s also an inclusive community center. Hosting an event? Check out their rental information. They’ve got you covered.

2023 was challenging in many ways, and some of those challenges continue. May you find comfort and joy in community in 2024.

Katherine Valdez
Founder, Diverse Fort Collins

2023 Autumn Equinox

DFC Friends,

We hope you’re enjoying autumn!

Two quick and important messages:

1. We need more diversity on City of Fort Collins Boards and Commissions.

Please considering registering and attending the first Boards and Commissions Open House on Monday, Nov. 6, and applying!

2. Your vote matters. Vote on Nov. 7 by mailing your ballot today or dropping it off at one of the many ballot box drop locations around the city.

Check out our voter guide and resources.

And for those who love arts and culture, stay tuned for a rare opportunity to attend an amazing immersive performance by Control Group Productions right here in Fort Collins, Dec. 14-17! Read more about “Bitter Moon.”

Remember, we’re always interested in hearing your story. Write a Community Voices guest commentary and share your story with the world.

By the way, we’re fortunate to have a brilliant new volunteer, MK, a software engineer (whom we met through Dr. Cori Wong’s Feminist Friendship workshop this summer) to help us organize and develop the website. Stay tuned for improvements in 2024.

Finally, we know the world is hurting right now with what’s happening in the Middle East.

“even now, between us” by adrienne maree brown

Do what you must to take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Take action if you’re moved to do so:

Statement from Othering & Belonging Institute:

“We belong to each other: a call to end the violence”

Statement from Open Society Foundations

https://www.mpowerchange.org/

https://diasporaalliance.co/

https://www.raceforward.org/

Stay warm and healthy,
Diverse Fort Collins

Photo credit: View of Poudre River from bridge near Greyrock trailhead in Poudre Canyon, Oct. 21, 2023 by @katvaldezwriter

2023 Summer Solstice

Flowers in downtown Fort Collins on June 14. All photos by @katvaldezwriter

If you’ve lived in FoCo for any amount of time, you know summer is the season of festivals, outdoor concerts, and good times with friends and family.

Here are a few events and places to get you in the mood for summer. And a bit of history, to put things in perspective.

Summer Solstice Festival at The Lyric, June 23-24
20+ local bands! 2 stages! Vendors!

The summer solstice: when is it and what causes it? “The summer solstice [June 21, 2023] and subsequent longest day of the year are celebrated by many cultures around the world with numerous traditions, holidays and festivals. From sunrise gatherings to midsummer festivals, summer solstice celebrations certainly blow the winter cobwebs away.”

Interested in deepening your knowledge about the planets? Chani is “a queer, feminist-led tech and media company on a mission to make astrology and its wisdom accessible to everyone as a tool for self-discovery, mindfulness, and healing.”

FoCo Juneteenth Celebration, June 16-18

“Join FoCo Juneteenth for a fun-filled weekend jam packed with events geared towards all community members. Celebrate liberation & freedom with live music and performance, youth activities, local vendors and artists, & more.”

Juneteenth: “On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with news of freedom. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day. With the principles of self-determination, citizenship, and democracy magnifying their hopes and dreams, those Texans held fast to the promise of true liberty for all.”

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth: “Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth,” by the newly freed people in Texas.”

A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance: “Juneteenth is a day to reflect on both bondage and freedom — a day of both pain and purpose. It is, in equal measure, a remembrance of both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, as well as a celebration of the promise of a brighter morning to come. On Juneteenth, we remember our extraordinary capacity to heal, to hope, and to emerge from our worst moments as a stronger, freer, and more just Nation. It is also a day to celebrate the power and resilience of Black Americans, who have endured generations of oppression in the ongoing journey toward equal justice, equal dignity, equal rights, and equal opportunity in America.”

Feminist Friendship Workshop on July 22

I asked Dr Cori Wong to teach a workshop on Feminist Friendship because I’m personally interested in this topic and thought friends like you would be interested, too.

This workshop is geared toward women and non-binary individuals who are committed to critical self-reflection, connection, authenticity, and solidarity across our differences within our own community.

Read details and register here.

Dr. Wong’s registration form and TedX video provide powerful questions, observations, and truths to consider even if you can’t attend the workshop.

Let’s learn how to be better friends to each other. Seating is limited to 20 people. Register today!

Rainbow flags fly above Larimer Square in Denver. Photo by @katvaldezwriter

Pride Month Events and Information

If you missed the NoCo Pride March, there are still plenty of local and regional events to look forward to:

PRIDE: History of LGBTQ+ People in Fort Collins

Pride Events at The Lyric
2023 Denver PrideFest
Boulder County Pride Month
Longmont Pride 2023
PrideGuide Colorado

Independence Day Community Celebration

The City of Fort Collins, in partnership with Elevations Credit Union, will host the 2023 Independence Day Community Celebration on Tuesday, July 4 with a full day of family-friendly events and activities.

FoCo Food Truck Rally at City Park with music presented by The Mishawaka Amphitheatre.

Outdoor Concerts

The Mish
Lagoon Concert Series
Thursday Night Live, Old Town Square Stage

FoCo Food Truck Rally

An Equitable & Inclusive Space in Fort Collins

If you haven’t seen a movie, attended a Story Swap, or enjoyed the tasty meals at The Lyric recently, it’s time for a visit.

Consider becoming a member to enjoy unlimited movies each month and discounts on concessions and events while supporting this unique, independent theater that is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive space.

What’s on our watch list? The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster, a modern take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Read more about it on CherryPicks, “the best place to find out what women think about film and television.”

Tour de Fat is Back!

Dig out your favorite outfit and wig from your costume trunk (doesn’t everyone in FoCo have one?) and save the date: Aug. 26, 2023. Watch New Belgium’s website and social media for updates.

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What are you looking forward to this summer? Drop a comment in the box below or on our Facebook events group and page.

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Local Equity & Inclusion Resources

City of Fort Collins Equity & Inclusion Office

City of Fort Collins Boards & Commissions
– Apply to serve on a board or commission

Larimer County Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Board
– Now accepting applications for board membership. Deadline: June 14.

As always, we welcome your stories (see Community Voices) and suggestions for Local Resources and BIPOC-Owned Businesses.

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Thank you for following Diverse FoCo. See you around town!

Katherine
Founder, Diverse Fort Collins

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Be among the first to read news and event announcements. Type your email in the Follow box at www.DiverseFortCollins.com

Flowers in Maxwell Natural Area, June 11, 2023. Photo by @katvaldezwriter

Looking east toward Fort Collins from Maxwell Natural Area, June 11, 2023. Photo by @katvaldezwriter

2023 Spring Equinox

Hello, Diverse Fort Collins friends!

Rebirth, renewal, awakening…whatever you think of spring and however you choose to celebrate it (or not), March 20, 2023 marks the start of something new.

What did you lose during the winter months? What did you gain? How have you changed?

Many people are grieving the loss of loved ones. Others are celebrating the birth of new family members. Whatever you and your loved ones are going through, be gentle with yourselves and each other.

A friend and I spoke recently about her nine-month-old nephew (the first grandchild) and my niece’s baby (nearly six months old and the first great-grandchild). Their smiles, their curiosity, their strong emotions…we’re obsessed, in a good way. This new generation symbolizes hope.

On the flip side, coworkers and friends are struggling with colds, Influenza A, and COVID. A cousin is adjusting to caring for his father, who was diagnosed with dementia. Two friends unexpectedly lost their sons, one to a medical event and the other to suicide.

Did you see these interesting clouds over Fort Collins on February 17? Photo by Katherine Valdez

Growing is a process. Healing is a process. What do you need to support you through this time? How do you take care of yourself?

For me, a balance of solitude and my favorite activities provide a sense of peace and well-being.

Some of the things I’m doing (or plan to do): keeping in touch with my family in California, hiking, singing, writing, reading, dancing, connecting with friends over coffee, a walk, or Zoom; watching the Oscar-nominated live action shorts and other movies (Cocaine Bear sold out shows at The Lyric; should I add this to my must-see list?), and laughing…

…Not to mention watching favorite TV shows (Shadow & Bone, The Last of Us, Sort Of, Feel Good, The Mandalorian, Andor, Young Royals, Heartstopper, and others), reviewing friends’ screenplays, soaking in the tub with lavender Epsom salts, visiting art exhibits here and in Denver, and creating playlists of music to match my moods (Feeling footloose? Check out the costumed Valentine’s Day ball scene in Young Royals season 2, episode 4).

Something new for me is investing in my well-being, such as seeking a counselor better suited to my identity and lived experience, and attending online classes, events and in-person retreats with people of color who possess many identities.

Also: supporting people who gift the world with their creative endeavors (Tanaya Winder, Cori Wong, Siobhan O’Loughlin, and the creators of Abuelita Guille’s Hotsauce, to name a few).

Something wonderful happens when you share space with people of similar lived experiences.

Diverse Fort Collins continues to be a source of information and resources to connect with each other. We post news and events on Facebook and have fielded requests from individuals searching for consultants and classes, or who want to volunteer their time to good causes (see updated Local Resources on the website).

We’ve also heard from families who have moved or plan to move soon to our community, who want to know what kind of support exists here for people of color.

Keep up with local and national racial equity news:

City of Fort Collins Equity & Inclusion Office
– Equity Grant Fund applications deadline: March 27

City of Fort Collins Boards & Commissions
– Apply to serve on a board or commission

Local History Projects (Native, Asian American, Black, Latino, LGBTQIA+ and others)

Race Forward

As always, we welcome your stories (see Community Voices) and suggestions for Local Resources and BIPOC-Owned Businesses.

Thank you for following Diverse FoCo. Wishing you a productive and joyous spring!

Katherine
Founder, Diverse Fort Collins

Magenta orchids in a terra cotta pot next to green plants on a kitchen counter — This orchid blooms annually in January or February. What are you cultivating? Photo by Katherine Valdez

Upcoming Events in Fort Collins!

Re-posted from City of Fort Collins Equity & Inclusion Office:

https://www.fcgov.com/equity/

Dear Fort Collins Community,

There is too much grief across the nation to stay silent on these matters. Communities and families are deeply suffering and collectively we are all scarred from the recent horrific acts of violence, particularly those directed toward communities of color.

These incidents are a stark reminder of the issues we need to address as a nation – racism, mental health, and gun violence. None have a one-size-fits-all answer. They are complex, emotional political matters. However, what we all know is that the safety and well-being of our community is of the utmost importance.

The City of Fort Collins works diligently with community members and organizations to find solutions that best meet the needs of the community. We have work to do, and we each have a role to play.

The Office of Equity & Inclusion connects and partners with Black, Indigenous, Latino/ Hispanic, Asian-American, LGBTQIA+, faith-based groups, people living with disabilities and other identities to bring visibility and recognition.

We stand firmly in support of equity, belonging, dignity, and justice for all and celebrate the diversity in our community.

Celebrate, learn and support our diverse communities at the following events:

• Day of Racial Healing and Pride Month Proclamations (June 7): https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/agendas.php

• LGBTQIA+ history in Fort Collins: https://www.fcgov.com/historicpreservation/pride

• Asian American history in early Fort Collins: https://www.fcgov.com/historicpreservation/aapi

• Fort Collins Juneteenth Events (June 17-19): https://www.focojuneteenth.com/

• Native American Re-Emergence Encampment (June 12-19) – former Hughes Stadium site: https://www.tiyospayewinyanmaka.com/events

• Equity Indicators Community Conversation Series (coming in July): www.fcgov.com/equity

• Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff at Northside Aztlan Center (September 18): www.fcgov.com/equity

In solidarity,

Claudia Menéndez
Equity & Inclusion Officer
City of Fort Collins

From City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, an event sponsor:

Join Diversify Whitewater for the third annual Community River Float on the Cache la Poudre River near Fort Collins, Colorado. Participants will ride in rafts with experienced river guides down an exciting stretch of whitewater. All equipment and instruction will be provided for you at no cost!

The link to register is below. Spots are limited, so sign up today! The recommended minimum age for rafting is 7 years old. We are also looking for event volunteers to guide rafts, set safety, and help with on-shore tasks. Volunteers can sign up at the same link.

Who: The BIPOC & ally communities of Northern Colorado (ages 7+)

What: The 3rd Annual Diversify Whitewater Community River Float

When: Saturday, June 25, from 8:00am-1:00pm

Where: Picnic Rock, Bellvue, CO (click here for a pin)

Registration: Click Here

— Español —

Únase a Diversify Whitewater para el tercer Descenso de Río Anual Comunitario en el Río Cache la Poudre cerca de Fort Collins, Colorado. Los participantes navegarán un emocionante tramo de aguas bravas en balsas con guías de río expertos. ¡Todo el equipo y la instrucción se proveerán sin costo alguno!

El enlace para registrarse está abajo. ¡Espacio limitado, inscríbase hoy! La edad mínima recomendada es de 7 años. Este evento es 100% GRATIS para todos los participantes. Esperamos verle en el río.

Quién: BIPOC y aliadas del norte de Colorado (7 años y mayores)

Qué: 3^er Descenso de Río Anual Comunitario de Diversify Whitewater – Norte de Colorado

Cuándo: Sábado, 25 de junio, de 8:00 a. m. a 2:00 p. m.

Dónde: Picnic Rock, Bellvue, CO (haga clic aquí)

Registro: Haga clic aquí

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Follow Diverse Fort Collins on social media to stay updated on resources, and events posted by community members:

Facebook page

Facebook group

Instagram @diversefortcollins @diversefoco

Twitter @diversefoco

Announcement: Share Your Story

Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory.
Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.
Mary Roach

Diverse Fort Collins elevates the voices of people who live, work, and play in our community.

In partnership with Diverse Fort Collins, Northern Colorado Writers will continue our work in sharing diverse voices.

Want to share your story? We’d love to hear from you! We focus on those who are from historically underrepresented communities and identities.

Read Community Voices by your friends and neighbors, and consider submitting your own story. Review guidelines.

Read guest commentaries by:

Diane Jones “Transitioned”

Karen Wong-Brown “The Evolution of An Immigrant’s Dream”

Bridgett Neff-Hickman “The Colors of Our Rainbow”

Judge Juan G. Villaseñor “Larimer County’s First Latino District Court Judge”

Teresa R. Funke “Reclaiming My Heritage”

Thank you to DFC Advisory Committee Co-Chair Teresa Funke and NCW Director Amy Rivers for facilitating this collaboration!

Spanish Conversation Groups

Join free Spanish Conversation Groups coordinated by community members at 5:30 p.m. on 1st Wednesdays via Zoom and 3rd Wednesdays in person.

To learn more, email DiverseFoCo@gmail.com with “Spanish Group” in the subject line.

Contribute to Our Resource Lists for BIPOC-owned Businesses and Nonprofits

Know of a local BIPOC-owned business, nonprofit, or resource? Email DiverseFoCo@gmail.com to offer suggestions for the following pages:

Local Resources

BIPOC-Owned Businesses

Fort Collins History

What People Say About Diverse Fort Collins

Every community needs a Diverse Fort Collins so we can learn, educate, and empower one another with open hearts, and be compassionate to everything around us.

– Karen Wong-Brown

Diverse Fort Collins History

Read about how it all began:

Founder’s Welcome Message

About Fort Collins

Follow Us On Social Media

Facebook: Diverse Fort Collins and Diverse FoCo

Instagram

Twitter

Continue the conversation with the tags #DiverseFortCollins and #DiverseFoCo

Diverse Fort Collins is a volunteer-driven community project. We connect people with resources and each other.