Back-to-School Issue
The COSLI newsletter is written and edited by students on the COSLI Student Advisory Board.
Enjoy student updates, perspectives, events, and opportunities.
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Letter from the Student Advisory Board President
Dear friends of COSLI,
My school opened its doors for the first time in four months to its students. With safety restrictions and CDC guidelines in place, returning to a school with the necessary precautions was necessary and developed a sense of normality. However, what did not seem normal was being unable to attend football practice after school and prepare for the Friday night lights that all schools cherish and enjoy. What surprised me most was not the postponement and reduction of fall sports, but rather the silencing of student input and the many voices going unheard.
As a result, the 2020 COSLI class responded and provided their diverse perspective on the decision made by the CHSAA leadership board. Last week, students from the 2020 class and I composed a letter of our perspectives and desired future steps of action for CHSAA when affecting so many across the state. It can be viewed here.
In a world seeking monumental, imperative change and battling unprecedented adversity, I urge you all to continue your efforts within your respective communities, whether it be online activism, voting registration, or assisting others, continue the fight and do not stop! Seek reform and improvement in your communities and understand all perspectives in such a polarized society. The 2020 Census is currently happening and you can respond here.
Thank you and all the best,
All the best,
Mohamed Ibrahim
COSLI 2019
Wiggins High School
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Letter from the Founding Executive Director
Friends of COSLI is proud to be a Project of the Rose Community Foundation
Happy September!
In normal years, this is the beginning of my favorite time of the year--it's the beginning of school, football season, seasons changing, crisp air, a lot of birthdays, an approaching series of holidays... but this year feels a little different.
Meet Seymour. My brother named him, thinking about the Venus Fly Trap from Little Shop of Horrors. Seymour started as a tiny little volunteer in our front window planter.
We had no idea what it was and resisted weeding it from the growing bright red butterfly plants. Instead, we nurtured Seymour. And waited. As we continued to water, guard, ask for guidance, and protection from wind, storm, cars, and an early freeze--Seymour continued to grow.
We still aren't quite sure what the green fruits buried in there are going to be--either cantaloupes or pumpkins--but it's getting close and we're pretty sure it's pumpkins from last year's Jack-O-Lantern.
Seymour is a little bit like COSLI kids--or any amazing student... or any person, really. A seed is planted, in this case it would seem by a squirrel. Then, depending on the care and the environment, the fruit is born. For Seymour, it meant a lot of water, covering when needed, staking when the winds blew, covering when the freeze came, and cutting the bad blooms or stalks when it was necessary.
There are still no assurances that the growing fruits will reach whatever their intended end product might be, but there has been joy in the process. The end game might just be anti-climatic at this point. Seymour has been full of lessons for my family--the analogies have been endless, the lessons clear. It's just a plant. But a plant with a message that it would seem we all might need.
Nurture yourselves and others. Water (feed) yourselves and others appropriately. Don't weed too quickly--wait to watch with high expectations. Enjoy the growth. Cover and protect when needed, add extra care when asked. Most importantly, wait. Be patient. Who knows what the "end" will bring--or if there is an end to expect. And remember, Seymour was a volunteer that blossomed into something amazing. We can all do the same.
Happy beginning of a new season--of life, humanity, growth, year...
Celeste
P.S.: That house with the blue accents in the background of Seymour’s photo is the former home of Hiawatha Davis. Don’t know him? Use Google--and get to know your neighbors.
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Lesson Learned: Katie Leonard
Authors: Timi Kola-Abiola and Bryce Li
With 2020 being filled with continued activism and growing cries for justice within local communities, Bryce and Timi decided to try to gain a greater insight into the Black Lives Matter movement and its implications through a conversation with Katie Leonard. Leonard, who spoke to the COSLI Class of 2020, is a Denver native and one of the lead organizers of the Anti-Racist Club of Colorado. This is an organization which works in conjunction with artists to visually protest systemic racism in Colorado. Leonard continues to push for social justice through her work with the University of Colorado Denver College of Arts and Media (CAM) faculty and staff to assist in tackling social justice within the campus community, listening to leading authorities, and expanding inclusivity within CAM’s curriculum.
In her discussion with the COSLI Class of 2020, Katie Leonard emphasized that she is “anti-violence” and “anti-human rights violations.” She revealed that this distinction has led her to not only organize collective action, but also to lobby for anti-racist bills within the Denver City Council.
Leonard described to us the two main principles of anti-racist movements, defining them as spreading awareness about the state of Black America, and fighting the set of laws that hinder or advance equity. Through these two principles, she highlighted the dilemma that can exist when trying to adhere to both principles simultaneously. To help visualize the dilemma, Leonard used a picture of the "Black Lives Matter" memorial created in downtown Denver, in which the picture contained not only the memorial, but a section of the massive homeless population near the memorial. As noticed by both the 2020 COSLI class and Leonard herself, it seems that the memorial’s message of lives mattering seemed to juxtapose the disparity that surrounded the memorial, with Leonard ultimately commented, “Are we matching our words with actions when there is 40% of the homeless population in Denver that is black? Who is being left out of the picture of black lives actually mattering?”
The last section of Leonard’s discussion revolved around the next steps, or more specifically what the younger generation of Americans can do to help achieve an equitable society. In this regard, Leonard emphasized the importance of critical thinking about the narratives and biases in history when using it as source of inspiration in implementing change, with her remarking that “history is a narrative not the past.” Her last piece of advice she gives to the younger generation is to be imaginative and creative when attempting to act towards an equitable society, and also encouraging students to remain steadfast against claims that such a goal is too idealistic for it to be able to become reality.
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Alumni Feature: Isaac Carlos
Isaac Carlos was part of the very first COSLI class, and was involved with many of the foundational activities. He was part of the group that created the bill that eventually put COSLI into law, all of the first 4-day retreats that members of the first class experienced, the original Student Advisory Board, as well as being a Resident Assistant (RA) for the first summer class.
When asked about his COSLI experience, he said that COSLI helped open up his point of view to many other perspectives that he might have otherwise not seen, due to the diversity of the program and the number of kids from all around the state. He also noted that his experience of being part of the first class meant that he had the austere task of being part of the group that made so many decisions for the future of the program and the future of Colorado’s young leaders. He additionally commented on being a RA, stating, “just like being in COSLI, it let me see many other perspectives, and hear the stories of so many students that I otherwise wouldn’t have heard if I hadn’t had this opportunity.”
When also asked about his thoughts about the future of COSLI, when he was a first year student, he said that he had definitely thought that it would take off and form into a great program, due to Celeste’s dedication and everyone involved with COSLI caring so much about it and working so hard to insure that it happened.
After being a student at West High School, Isaac went to Community College of Denver to begin his post-secondary work. Now he is in a journeyman program and is well on his way to becoming a master plumber. And, as he did in high school, Isaac continues to pursue his dream career in music by starting a one man show on Santa Fe in Denver. He performs under the name “D33p S3qtor,” creating freestyle rap and frequently posting to his YouTube channel under the same name.
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Student Features
Note that all students who successfully complete COSLI are given automatic acceptance to the University of Colorado Denver.
Mohamed Ibrahim (2019) and Sophia Truex (2018) both received a $500 scholarship from the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Congrats guys!
Kaliah Yizar (2020) qualified for the Varsity Debate Team at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College--a natural fit for the podcaster.
Rowan Ehn (2020) was elected as Treasurer for Standley Lake High School’s Student Council. Way to go!
Daniella Fairley (2020) became a member of the PeaceJam Rocky Mountain Youth Council. What a way to have a voice.
Emma Davis (2019) is having her short story published in the October issue of the Sirens Call e-zine. Great job, Emma!
Samantha Townsley (2020) was elected the District 11 State Representative for Colorado DECA. Way to represent!
Victoria deLeon (2016) has earned a position at SE2, serving as a youth contributor for their Forward Together Campaign. Victoria also founded Woke Lit Womxn, all while she is studying at College of the Holy Cross. We know we’ll be seeing lots more of Victoria!
Happy Birthday to our COSLI Alumni! May your day be full of smiles!
Love, your COSLI Family.
Bennet Tesfa - 9/2
Edith Huizar - 9/2
Emmanuella Amankwaah - 9/3
Isaiah Calderon - 9/7
Esau Loya Cobos - 9/8
Annalysa Cordova - 9/10
Celeste Archer - 9/11
Kyia Grays - 9/12
Marina Ortega - 9/12
Alexander Yang - 9/12
Issac Carlos - 9/13
Sam Pausback - 9/14
Tye Brown-Wolf - 9/14
Jessica Kern - 9/15
Natalie Chavez - 9/17
Timi Kola-Abiola - 9/18
Christy Vo - 9/19
Timmy Ngo - 9/20
Jessica Dam - 9/24
Elora Smith - 9/24
Lilibeth Garcia - 9/25
Hayes Freeman - 9/27
Emily Post - 9/27
Christian Lindler - 9/28
Destiny Diaz - 9/30
Colorado History
What else happened in September?
Did you know these historical events occurred in July?
September 14, 1979 - The American sitcom Mork and Mindy made a debut on television, taking place in Boulder, Colorado.
September 16, 1991 - Solar Energy Research Institute located in Golden, Colorado becomes an official National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the United States.
We are so proud of our COSLI alumni! Contact Izzy McCarty (imccarty2021@esdk12.org) or Sheila Ta (sheilata93@gmail.com) with college acceptances as they start rolling in and any other cool projects or successes!
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COSLI Book Club
The first Book Club book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and Youby Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, was a success. Conversations were had regarding the history of racism, how history has impacted modern racism, our Constitution, and much more. We are getting ready to start our next book, and if you would like a say in what book that will be, please fill out this Google Form by tomorrow, Tuesday September 15, at midnight.
We will be selecting the book with the most votes and begin again on Sunday (9/20/20) held at 4:00. We will be discussing an overview of what the book is about with pre-reading information. If you are interested in joining the book club and receiving information/zoom links about it, please email Celeste Archer (celeste.archer@ucdenver.edu).
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COSLI Student Advisory Board
Last month members from the Class of 2020 were elected to the Student Advisory Board. This board is selected by the COSLI students voting for their peers to fill the vacant slots on the board. The Board meets annually to discuss past and upcoming COSLI camps, among other things. Congratulations new members of the class of 2020!
2020-2021 COSLI Student Advisory Board
Mohamed Ibrahim, President
Izzy McCarty, Vice President
Fareed Ahamad, Financial Officer
Hagan Archer
Riley Cooper
Iris Courtney
Kaya Crawford
Emma Davis
Moriah Dominguez
Danie Fairley
Kiki Gutierrez
Laith Ibrahim
Timi Kola-Abiola
Bryce Li
Luke McAdams
Valeria Miramontes-Alonzo
Ariana Morales
Sam Pausback
Brin Riley
Ayush Shekhar
Sartaj Singh
Drew Smith
Sheila Ta
Samantha Townsley
Sophia Truex
Ava Warren
Tobin Wheeler
McKenzie Woodhead
Kaliah Yizar
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Opportunities and Events: September 2020
The Boettcher Scholarship opens up soon! Check out their website for more information on the application and important dates.
WorldDenver is a non-profit organization which organizes exchange programs with the US State Department to bring international visitors to Denver. These programs are currently on hold as a result of the pandemic, but they are seeking individuals interested in hosting visitors in their homes when these exchanges restart in 2021. This program allows hosts to engage as citizen diplomats and participate in a unique cultural exchange from the comfort of their home. Visit WorldDenver’s website to learn more about these programs and others, or sign up as a potential homestay host here!
Youth Service America is holding many different programs this year. Their Anti-Racist Service Project is working to spread anti-racism and spark conversations across the country. You can find more information on that program here. They are also providing resources and promoting a ServiceVote Challenge to get out the vote and get teens more involved in our democratic processes. More information on that here. The organization also has many other programs, which you can explore on their website.
National History Day hosted their annual showcase breakfast via zoom on September 11. It’s time to get working on that project! The theme for this year is “Communication in History.” Find out more here.
TED Translators is a program from TED Talks which offers anyone with experience in multiple languages to help translate and subtitle TED Talks online. Find out more about the program and applying here.
The Amazon Future Engineer Program is a series of free online courses being offered for kids and teens interested in computer science. There are different challenges and opportunities for anyone, and you can get involved very easily. These are all being offered for free until the fall!
More info here.
TeensGive is a program made entirely to promote teens volunteering. It is a huge database of volunteer opportunities for youth across the country, including many online positions. Check this out if you are interested in getting involved in some way, but aren’t sure how. More info here.
The United Nations has a program for anyone to get involved and volunteer digitally. This is open to anyone who wants to help out, including teens, and is full of many different opportunities. There is work for people interested in translation, research, COVID-19 Response and many other areas. More info found here.
The Smithsonian has an online transcription volunteer program. Teens can become part of the effort to transcribe huge parts of the Smithsonian archives, getting to interact with many different historical documents and work to transcribe them for digital access. This is open to both teens and adults! More info here.
The COSLI Book Club is a new program created by COSLI alums Sophia Truex, Sheila Ta, and Drew Smith. It meets every two weeks, starting again 9/20, on Sundays at 4 pm. If you are interested, just email Celeste ( celeste.archer@ucdenver.com) for more info!
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COSLI Reads
Need book recommendations? Well here’s a list of what the COSLI alumni are reading- take a look, you might find one you like! Enjoy!
See what your COSLI alumni have been reading!
Stamped by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Fire in the Mind: Science, Faith, and the Search for Order by George Johnson
Brave New World by Aldus Huxley
Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Children of the Dune by Frank Herbert
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Balkans by Misha Glenny
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Meme of the Month
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COSLI Newsletter Contributors
Sophia Truex, Editor (Crested Butte, CO)
Drew Smith, Editor (Monte Vista, CO)
Hagan Archer (Denver, CO)
Iris Courtney (Thornton, CO)
Emma Davis (Aurora, CO)
Mohamed Ibrahim (Wiggins, CO)
Timi Kola-Abiola (Denver, CO)
Bryce Li (Broomfield, CO)
Emma Logan (Denver, CO)
Izzy McCarty (Elizabeth, CO)
Valeria Miramontes (Denver, CO)
Sheila Ta (Pueblo, CO)
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