photo courtesy of Maurice Murray
TJ’s new Community Partner Program is a mutually rewarding collaboration for success.
September 18th marked the kickoff of the new Community Partner Program at TJ. Headed by alumni and parents, the program seeks to enhance interactions between the school, neighborhood businesses, and non-profit organizations in order to provide more opportunities for positive change.
The Community Partner Program was established to provide more influential opportunities for students and staff. “The community partnership is really important because not only does it give people in the community a glimpse into what TJ students are doing, but helps our students to see what real life is like,” said principal Suzanne Morris-Sherer. The program strives to create a stronger sense of comradery in the Denver area while also benefitting students and staff. “We want to make TJ a place where community is knitted together across generations,” explained Spring Hericks, founder of the program, TJ parent, and alumnus.
Thanks to the support of over 20 businesses and organizations, students will have resources in the form of tutoring, guest speakers for classes, internships, sponsorship for clubs, and community service throughout Denver. “There are a lot of organizations and businesses near TJ that already have been lending a lot of great support, and this program allows them to be more visible,” said Hericks. “We are giving them more credit for what they’re already doing and encouraging them to get involved with us on a deeper and more meaningful level. We hope other organizations will be inspired to do the same thing.” Through this collaboration, both businesses and students will benefit from a stronger sense of community.
The organizations involved in the Community Partner Program benefit from collaborative opportunities as well. The program will provide a ripple effect for the community, where positive opportunities are shared between students and organizations. TJ will recognize the partners through program promotion including the Spartan Edition (TJ’s daily news show) and social media, display announcements and signs at various school events, and provide certificates or window clings to display in businesses. The partners who have already become part of the program are enthusiastic about the difference this will make in the community, and are eager to help the students at TJ.
“The best leaders collaborate with others, so building stronger, more purposeful relationships between organizations and schools will directly benefit the community,” said Nicole Mahobian, president of Colorado Young Leaders, one of the non-profits supporting TJ. “The TJ community is built upon hundreds of students with their own unique skills, passions, and talents, and this program allows students to connect with organizations that align with those skills, passions, and talents.”
The Community Partners Program is a new and influential addition to the TJ community, and the opportunities are bound to be great ones. Organizations that are interested in getting involved can look for more information on the TJ Journal later this month, and can email Spring Hericks at springhericks@gmail.com or TJ’s resource specialist Danny Showers at Edward_Showers@dpsk12.org.
Below is a full list of businesses and organizations involved:
Westerra Credit Union
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management DTC
Whole Foods Tamarac
Colorado Young Leaders
Challenge Denver
My Music Skool
Lone Tree Arts Center
Elvis Cinemas Tiffany Plaza
Target on Tamarac
Embassy Suites Hampden
Firehouse Subs Hampden
LiveBasil Pizza Hampden
Jim n Nick’s Hampden
Milk n Cake
Papa Murphy’s on Leyden
Orange Theory Fitness on Happy Canyon
Starbucks Happy Canyon
Triangle Print Media
KS Interiors
FilmPharm
Rotary Club
