Another Neighborhood University Cohort Graduates
Article written by: Amy Miller
28 graduates. 23 Colorado Springs neighborhoods were represented. Residents of all 6 city districts in attendance.
These are the stats for the Spring 2026 Neighborhood University, which wrapped up with a rousing graduation celebration on Wednesday, May 20. Another engaged cohort spent 12 Wednesday evenings together, learning from experts and each other about what it means to be active civic members. From all over our city and county, these dedicated individuals came together to foster the Hey Neighbor mission of making connections, building relationships, and making change.
An important first came out of this cohort: a collaborative class project. Early on, after considering several focal point nominations, a majority voted to zoom in on Getting Out the Vote. With only about 23% of registered voters in El Paso County submitting a ballot in the last municipal election, this citizen group decided to do something to increase awareness of the importance of elections. Working in smaller groups, some decided to engage with other community groups to encourage more voter participation in upcoming elections, while others focused on clearer communication to voters via the Blue Book. Another group wanted to improve voter turnout in specific districts as well as encouraging more young people to get involved in the democratic process. Even if a final, measurable product was not practical at the conclusion of the semester, many cohort members left the class carrying forward an awareness of civic engagement to spread to their fellow Colorado Springs citizens.
During these last 12 weeks, NU students learned about Colorado Springs history and the workings of city government, Colorado Springs Utilities, planning, development, transportation, public safety, and more. Culminating with guest speakers with experience in civic engagement and creative problem-solving approaches, NU graduates left the program more confident and appreciative of the community around us. One graduate, Renee Gonzalez stated that NU gave her “a much better understanding of how our City functions, how decisions are made, and how everyday residents…can make a difference when they choose to stay engaged.” Renee went on to say that she learned that “civic engagement is not just about showing up when something is wrong it’s about building relationships, asking questions, listening, and staying involved even when we may not always agree with or fully understand decisions being made by the City.” Neighborhood University taught her “the importance of listening first, seeking understanding, and approaching issues with civility and professionalism…. Lessons [that] apply not only when working with the City, but also within our neighborhoods and community as a whole.”
As an important sidenote, this NU cohort enjoyed some incredible dinner experiences thanks to Hey Neighbor’s receipt of a SPICE grant. This generous community grant allowed NU to feast on delicious foods from several area restaurants: Shri Ganesh, Cerberus, Homa Cafe, and Cacao Chemistry. These local businesses provided much appreciated fare for over half of the NU meals. Additionally, Double Dave’s Pizza, Salad or Bust, Joey’s Pizza, and The Board Gatherings prepared even more dinners to feed our hungry students. NU can’t thank these Colorado Springs’ businesses enough for their help in building NU success this semester.
All told, another amazing Neighborhood University has concluded, and now we look forward to next semester, beginning in September. Registration is now open for the fall, so be sure to spread the word about the benefits of NU. Sign up today at Fall 2026 NU Registration to begin your own NU journey.
