OCBN Newsroom

For Immediate Release
Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Plans Programming for 2023
Dateline July 23, 2022, Denver/Aurora CO: The newly created Annual Content Advisory Committee of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation (DMCLF) met for the first time on July 22, 2022 at the Denver Metro Chamber offices. The purpose of the meeting was to help refine programming for 2023 by identifying potential speakers, related spaces and content composition for the Leadership Foundation programs. Dennis Stretar, creator and producer of Our Community Broadcasting Network (OCBN) is a charter member of the Annual Content Advisory Committee and is contributing to the Virtual Voices series and other Leadership Foundation programs in the areas of Health & Wellness, Housing, and Basic Needs as Group 1. Other programming areas are; Group 2 Economic Development, Small Business, and Policy - Group 3 Education, Inclusivity, Arts, and Criminal Justice - Group 4 Environment, Water, Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure - Group 5 Leadership Development, Civic DNA Framework. Virtual Voices was created in partnership with TIED Leadership Roundtable to engage the business community in conversations around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The two organizations are committed to growing a community of inclusive leaders that are equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to enact meaningful change. DMCLF describes the Virtual Voices initiative; "The series takes you on a journey as we look at history, individual and systemic change and collective impact. We will host sessions that provide context on the local and national history of race and racism, space to reflect on your role as an individual leader, the context for how racism shows up in our organizations and the tools to advance anti-racism and equity in your organization.” Virtual Voices meets the third Thursday of the month via Zoom with the plan to do on-site visits in 2023 as well. The four objectives accomplished by the Advisory Committee's initial meeting are; (1) Provided feedback on current programming, speakers, and space networking in conjunction with the Program Directors of the Foundation. (2) Discussed timely issues to incorporate on issue days and exercises. (3) Helped identify speakers with diverse perspectives on subject matters. (4) Supported outreach to new speakers, content experts, and locations. The work Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation is doing in the community is consistent with the mission of the Our Community Broadcasting Network initiative to promote best practices for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as provide Health and Wellness information and resources to our multicultural community.
For more information about the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation initiatives, click on the logo to visit their website. For a downloadable PDF of this press release click here.
# # #
For Immediate Release
DU and OCBN Collaborate to Produce Programming on Targeted Violence & Domestic Terrorism Prevention
Dateline March 30, 2022, Denver/Aurora, CO: The University of Denver (DU) and Our Community Broadcasting Network (OCBN) have formed a collaboration to produce an internet based video series featuring the Colorado Resilience Collaborative (CRC) initiative to identify and counter Targeted Identity Violence and support those impacted by it. The series is being produced by Dennis Stretar and hosted on OCBN and will consist of an overview presentation for background and context, followed by modules explainging cause and effect of this type of behavior. These presentations along with resource information will be available to groups, organizations, agencies, and the public. The Colorado Resilience Collaborative was founded in 2017 to examine the issue of identity-based violence in Colorado. In 2019, with funding from the National Governor’s Association, the CRC and other stakeholders held the Summit on Preventing Targeted Violence to identify State resources, needs, and gaps in addressing various forms of targeted violence. The CRC is currently funded by the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention, through 2022, to expand comprehensive training, deliver expert consultation services for professionals and agencies across Colorado, and develop an online resource library to promote sustainable training and technical assistance materials for the prevention of targeted violence. The CRC is housed at the DU Graduate School of Professional Psychology and the Training and Outreach Team define the program as: “… an inter-disciplinary initiative that supports those impacted by targeted violence, including identity-based violence, hate crimes, violent extremism, and domestic terrorism. Through trauma-informed, culturally responsive and inclusive approaches, we promote understanding, healing, and help for individuals, agencies, and communities affected by targeted violence. We work to increase community capacity to identify, prevent and disrupt targeted violence.” Our Community Broadcasting Network is self-funding the production and hosting of the programming to supply a crucial tool to help maintain the safety of the community-at-large. This programming is consistent with the mission of the OCBN initiative to promote best practices for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as well as provide Health & Wellness resources to our multicultural community. As modules are completed, they will be posted on the CRC Programs page. The programs will also be available, at no cost, to embed on websites and e-newsletters for groups and organizations. For more information about the Colorado Resilience Collaborative contact the University of Denver and/or view an informational downloadable PDF click here. For information about the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention visit https://dhs.gov/.
University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology 303.871.3042 - Email gsppcrc@edu Website https://psychology.du.edu/CRC
# # #

Geriatric Mental Health Clinic

The University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center has created the Geriatric Mental Health Clinic as part of UC Health Hospital system and details it in the UC Health Today article Geriatric Mental Health Clinic is a Resource for Those with Neurologic Mental Health Disorders, by Tyler Smith. The article discribes the practice of using coordinated care when dealing with mental health issues for older adults. I was interviewed for the story to discribe the care my wife Sue, who was diagnosed with dementi in 2019, is recieving at the clinic. "These physical brain battles may, in turn, intertwine with psychiatric problems, like depression, anxiety, psychosis, and emotional demands posed by aging. It’s unwise to treat them separately." states Dr Samantha Holden, Medical Director at the Memory Disorders Clinic at UC Health. Dr Holden and Dr Drake, a Geriatric Psychiatrist, are part of the team treating Sue that practices at UC Health specializing in movement, psychiatric and cognition disorders. Click on the picture for a downloadable pdf of the article.