On December 5, the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs hosted a timely First Friday event examining how Colorado is addressing the growing challenges of climate‑driven disasters and the complex road to housing recovery.

As wildfires and extreme events become more frequent, local and state governments are working to apply lessons learned from the 2013 floods, the Marshall Fire, and recent national disasters to build more resilient systems and support communities more effectively.

We were honored to welcome a distinguished panel of practitioners and researchers:

• Dave Bowman, Division of Local Government, State of Colorado
• Katherine Dickinson, PhD, Colorado School of Public Health
• Patrick Howell, Division of Housing, State of Colorado
• Lisa Ritchie, Lyons Town Planner

Next First Friday: Education Finance at a Crossroads in Colorado

The upcoming First Fridays event, Education Finance at a Crossroads in Colorado, will explore the state’s complex education funding landscape. Although Colorado is a relatively wealthy state, it continues to invest comparatively little in its K–12 system, resulting in the lowest teacher pay in the nation when compared to professionals with similar levels of education. The discussion will highlight how structural constraints such as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) contribute to these funding challenges. The event will take place on Friday, February 6, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., and is free to attend.

Register today.

Katherine Dickinson, PhD, Colorado School of Public Health

Dave Bowman, Division of Local Government, Department of Local Affairs, State of Colorado

Lisa Ritchie, Lyons Town Planner

Patrick Howell, Division of Housing, State of Colorado