Article Written By: Amy Miller
Have you ever wondered:
How can I actually make a difference in city government?
Who decides which businesses come to Colorado Springs, and where they land?
How do I report a non-urgent concern to the police? And when should I replace my fire extinguisher and smoke detectors?
What’s the difference between Affordable and affordable housing, and how does our community’s need compare to the supply?
How are traffic concerns handled, and what are my options for getting around without a car?
Our fall Neighborhood University cohort got answers to all of these and so much more, straight from the people who do this work every day.
Sergeant Esparza from CSPD
A semester full of “aha” moments
As September wrapped up, Sam Friedman, City Council Constituent and Outreach Coordinator, and Thomas Thompson from the Mayor’s Office shared their best tips for reaching city government and being heard.
The next week, Bonnie Goff from the Colorado Springs Chamber and Jason Alwine from the Housing & Building Association pulled back the curtain on how economic and land development stay in balance across our region.
Then things got hands-on. Sergeant Alex Esparza from CSPD and firefighter Kalee Nappo from CSFD walked us through public safety, from our own homes to the streets we share. Yes, that included practicing with a real fire extinguisher!
NU students got to try out a fire extinguisher with firefighter Kalee Nappo
Catherine Duarte from Catholic Charities helped us understand the housing needs in our community, a session many NUers called eye opening.
NU students dig into a hands-on housing exercise
We closed out October with a transportation trifecta: Tara McCarthy from PikeRide, Kerry Childress with City of Colorado Springs Traffic, and Lan Rao from Mountain Metropolitan Transit showed us all the ways neighbors get around our city.
The tip everyone kept repeating
If there’s one thing our speakers agreed on, it’s this: download the GoCOS app! Nearly every guest this semester recommended it for reporting just about any concern. Consider this your friendly nudge.
Learning, eating, and giving back
NU isn’t just about learning. It’s about connecting. Each week our NUers shared delicious meals from local favorites like Don Turi’s, Hafa Adai, and Front Range BBQ. And while they were filling their plates, they were filling bins too, bringing nonperishable food donations every week for Care and Share.
What’s next
This cohort is now dreaming up creative ways to take what they’ve learned back to their neighborhoods and beyond. We can’t wait to celebrate them at graduation in mid-November!
Your turn!
Want to understand how our city really works and how you can help shape it? Join us for Spring 2027 Neighborhood University! Registration opens in December. Keep an eye on the Hey Neighbor newsletter or our website for details.
