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Nonprofit pursues consensus on big issues

Build a Better Colorado to visit 30-40 cities to hold community forums

A new nonprofit group will hold meetings in 30 to 40 cities across Colorado to brainstorm ideas on how to solve some of the state’s most pressing issues, and on Monday, it was Durango’s turn.

Building a Better Colorado is a small coalition that brings together members of the business community, nonprofits, as well as current and former elected officials.

“We are very careful to be nonpartisan in what we’re doing and try to find people from both sides of the aisle,” Curtis Hubbard, a partner, said. “We are not advocating any individual solutions. Instead, we’re putting forward challenges and a variety of solutions – including doing nothing – to spur discussion and hopefully identify a broad agreement.”

Hubbard said the group operates on the notion that “Colorado can do better,” and the goal is to engage residents in a statewide discussion and find a consensus to help move the state forward.

For the next 2½ months, organizers will travel across the state to bring members of the community together to hash out ideas on a variety of issues, including constitutional spending mandates, the state’s changing demographic and increasing costs of health care.

On Monday, Building a Better Colorado members hosted a meeting at the Durango Community Recreation Center, drawing more than 30 people, who divided into groups and talked through specific issues.

One thing missing at the meeting was representatives from younger generations.

“We’re trying to draw constituents that represent the diversity of the towns we’re in, and we know some areas are going to require additional attention,” Hubbard said. “The great part about this effort is we are going to learn as we go along. Maybe we need to hold a meeting just for millenials, or just for Latinos. As we find ideas, we’re going to offer those up.”

Hubbard added the group’s purpose is not to undo Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), but instead work within what the measure allows, specifically revenue options to put to voters.

The end goal of all this conversation is to eventually take an agreed consensus and use it as a path to forward ballot initiatives, but Hubbard said that would be done by another group.

Build a Better Colorado aims to have a website launched the first week of October for participants to offer feedback. By December or January, organizers hope to post their findings.

jromeo@durangoherald.com



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