Welcome to the latest edition of the Local Progress Colorado State Download! As weâve started to adjust to our new reality under the Trump Administration, I have been continually returning to a quote from Dr. Angela Davis:
“Sometimes we have to do the work even though we don’t yet see a glimmer on the horizon that it’s actually going to be possible.”
Our LPCO Members have been fighting tirelessly in this dark era to lead, listen to, and advocate for their communities, towards what we know is possible. From working together with immigration experts at the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition to protect our immigrant communities to standing in solidarity with striking King Soopers workers, Local Progress Colorado members are leading the fight for racial and economic justice in their communities.
As we head into 2025, we’re gearing up for a transformative legislative session to take this fight to the state âand we need your engagement to make it a success. Read on to learn how you can take action on priority bills, join us for Advocacy Day, and bring your local perspective to the Colorado State Legislature this session.
Legislative Engagement
As we work together to advance statewide priorities in coordination with our partners in a number of legislative coalitions, LPCO needs our members to bring local elected voices to the state legislature! Your insights and advocacy ensure that statewide policies reflect the needs of all our community members and takes power back from the state to allow for local electeds like you to exercise your autonomy and best serve your constituents.
đšÂ Immediate Advocacy Needed: LPCO has a number of priority bills that are being seen in committees *this month*. If you are available to advocate on any of our upcoming priority bills, you can fill out this form – this lets our partners and coalitions know who to expect so please donât skip this step!
đ Read More About LPCOâs Current Priority Bills: In addition to our priority bills requiring immediate action, we have several more bills that we are engaged in, and are adding more frequently!
Join Us For Advocacy Day!
We are so excited to announce that we have set the date for our inaugural LPCO Advocacy Day at the Colorado State Capital for April 10 from 9AM – 3PM!
Join Local Progress Colorado for a day of legislative advocacy and coalition-building to advance policies that put people first! This event will equip local elected officials with the tools to effectively advocate for key issues, connect with legislators, and align their work with broader legislative efforts.
Weâll be joined by partner organizations like SiX, labor allies, and immigration advocates to deepen our collective impact. Participants will also strengthen press engagement skills and build relationships with media allies to amplify the critical work happening at the local level.
Donât miss this chance to connect, strategize, and take action with local electeds from across the state!
Supporting Striking Workers
Across the Front Range, Local Progress members are standing in solidarity with King Soopers UFCW 7 workers fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the dignity all workers deserve amidst their two week strike. Colorado Organizing Committee leader, labor champion, and Boulder City Council Member Nicole Speer describes the conditions that led to the strike and the importance of supporting the striking workers now in a post she recently authored, that you all can read here!
Our LPCO members understand their responsibility as local electeds to ensure that working people have structural power in government and the right to organize on the job, and this has been reflected every day of the strike so far, where members have stood in solidarity on the picket lines.
Member SpotlightÂ
Our first Member Spotlight of 2025 features Arapahoe County Commissioner Jessica Campbell. Jessica – a founding member of Colorado Organizing Committee since its establishment last fall.
Jessica has dedicated her life to serving her community as an educator, elections attorney and political consultant, and now represents the people of District 2 in Arapahoe County. Upon winning her election in November 2022, Jessica dove head first into the hard work of co-governance, meeting with constituents, organizational partners, and other elected officials to follow through on her process to make Arapahoe County a healthy, thriving, and sustainable community for all. She led the fight to establish the countyâs first strategic plan, which is rooted in economic mobility, equity, and the four pillars of sustainability, and has continued to lead in ensuring policies passed at the county level align to tenants of this strategic plan.
Carrying out the strategic plan she set in motion, Jessica championed Arapahoe Countyâs fight to introduce new oil and gas regulations that increase setbacks from occupied structures and other areas – fighting Coloradoâs preemption to make them the strictest setbacks in the state. Additionally, this policy included inspection programs for water and air quality monitoring requirements – ensuring sustainability and accountability for years to come. Jessica also was a key contributor to making Arapahoe Coutnyâs Centennial Airport Coloradoâs first general aviation airport to offer unleaded AvGas, and critically, she helped pass legislation so more airports can pass and implement that same policy.
Jessica has also been a leader on policy increasing affordability across the county. In September 2023, Jessica worked with her colleagues to unanimously approve Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Unincorporated Arapahoe County. Using feedback from communities, Jessica included provisions in the policy that require ADUs to maintain structural design that does not detract from neighborhood character, while giving residents a new tool to increase affordability and housing supply.
Jessica is skilled at navigating complex issues – she is an expert in translating policy issues that require deep subject matter and legal knowledge to always ensure everyone gets a seat at the table – we are honored to have her as a leader at LPCO.
Public Safety Messaging Guidance UpdateÂ
Our incredible Programs Team has updated our public safety messaging guide: âLetâs Talk Real Safetyâ! Particularly relevant to some of our expected upcoming fights at the state level, the updates include new messaging guidance for âAddressing Public Suffering and Ending Harmâ, highlighting the need to move away from solutions that rely on arrests and incarceration, and towards real investments into policy that addresses root causes, offer both long-term and short-term solutions, and keeps drug users and our unhoused community members alive. If you would like to talk through how to incorporate these new updates, or any other pieces of the messaging document, into your work, our Programs Team and I would love to meet with you – please donât hesitate to reach out to schedule a time with us.
â¤ď¸ Fund our Communities. Protect our Neighbors.
Congress is soon expected to consider H.R. 32 â the âNo Bailout for Sanctuary Citiesâ Act â a bill that would force localities and states to choose between facilitating mass deportations or losing otherwise unrelated health, education, transportation, and other local funding. This bill is a blatant attempt to scapegoat immigrant communities and punish localities that stand up for them. We need local electeds to take bold actionâthis means speaking out, rallying your communities, and holding your members of Congress accountable. Check out our Fund Our Communities Digital Toolkit and accompanying talking points.
Please also add your name to our sign-on letter for state and local officials to demand Congress reject this harmful and divisive bill.
đŞđž Public School Strong Training Series
Our partners at HEAL Together have kicked off Solidarity 2025 â an eight-week training series designed to equip activist parents, educators, school board members, students, and allies to unite against the attacks on public education outlined in Project 2025. The training series is part of the Public School Strong campaign and is designed to empower participants to advocate for students, schools, and communities at local school boards and beyond. Participants will gain critical insights into federal policy proposals, actionable strategies for mobilizing around shared values, and tools like model policies, school board resolutions, and organizing lessons. Register here.
đŁ Communications Resources for YOU
Need a quick brush up on interviewing best practices before an interview? Want to engage with your community on social media, but not sure what platform is best for you? Check out LPâs new Communications Tools & Guides!Â
From the full-time city council member to the part-time school board member, every local elected official uses communication tools. But not all members and staff have the same resources and knowledge at their disposal to take advantage of news cycles, viral moments, or respond to bad faith attacks. The above resources are now live, so you can build confidence and skill using communications tools at your own pace!
Have additional questions or need 1:1 comms support? Reach out to helpdesk@localprogress.org to get in touch with the comms team!
đĄ Your New Caucus Home
Introducing our one stop shop for caucus events! Trying to remember when that next Womenâs Caucus meeting is? Looking for the link to complete your Pride Caucus Survey? Look no further! This link will continuously be updated with all upcoming Caucus events and asks so that you can constantly refer to it and make sure youâre up to date on when your next caucus meetings are.
On the calendar for March
- đ Pride Caucus Listening Session – Tuesday, March 4 at 12pm ET/9am PT
- đ Black Caucus general membership meeting: Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
- đ Nuestro Caucus general membership meeting: Monday, March 24 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
- đ Womenâs Caucus general membership meeting: Thursday, March 27 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
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âĄď¸ National Convening Registration OPEN for Members & Alumni!
Join us in Chicago on July 10-12! Weâre bringing together Local Progress members, partners, and movement allies from across the country for a weekend of strategy building, peer learning, and leadership development â complete with dozens of workshops, sharing sessions, community spaces, and site visits! As local elected leaders in this moment, we must continue organizing in our communities and across the country. And in the face of hostile state and federal actors that have shown us they will only govern for the wealthy few, it is our moral responsibility and democratic duty to govern for everyone. Thatâs why we are proud to share the theme for this yearâs convening: Organize Together. Govern for All. Members, check your email for your invite and register by March 3 for an Early Bird Discount!
We are organizing a partners pipeline briefing to connect the existing movement pipeline to support the transition from candidate to elected as they step in these new roles to lead and govern. During this briefing, partners will:
- Learn about LP and the Impact Lab’s network and our strategic framework.
- Learn about the impact of LP and the Impact Labâs work.Â
- Gain an understanding of how they can support the movement pipeline from candidate to governance.
Despite the challenges we are experiencing, weâre energized by the power of collective action that we are seeing members engage in across the state. The fight ahead will be long and arduous, but I am continually inspired by the dedication of our LPCO members to ensure that the fight for justice includes all of us – not just the privileged few. As we so often say in organizing spaces: this is a marathon, not a sprint. I hope you all are finding time for rest, connection with loved ones, and glimmers of hope. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage in our LPCO work in the months ahead – and as always, feel free to reach out to me at any time if Local Progress can support your work in any way.
