Summit Colorado Interfaith Council

Background Statement

Organization History:

The Summit Colorado Interfaith Council began in the summer of 2015 when a few members of two

churches met for coffee because they realized the possibilities that could flow from sharing ideas and

promoting common interests. Soon other faith organizations took notice and informal monthly

meetings for sharing of ideas and events continued until the group’s first public event, a Vigil to

Remember the Victims of Gun Violence, co-sponsored with the LOTM Task Force to Reduce Gun

Violence, was held in December of 2015. The Vigil was held annually through 2018.

Summer of 2016 began the Summer Sundays Film Series

Thanksgiving To Go Bags were first distributed in 2016 to fill the gap for people who were no longer able

to access a community dinner or who simply would benefit from a Thanksgiving meal.

In April of 2017, the Council, together with Building Hope and Mind Springs Health, sponsored a day of

Mental Health First Aid Training for an overflow crowd at the Community/Senior Center.

During the summer of 2017, the Summer Sundays Film Series continued, but having grown again, that

year it moved to Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge, with one exception. Films included:

“Beyond Our Differences”, in which major religious leaders tackled the most difficult issues today and

shared what inspires them to affect positive change; “Entre Nos”, the story of an abandoned immigrant

family who learns self reliance; “Chasing the Dragon”, detailing the trials of opiate addiction; and “Truth

to Power”, a climate change blockbuster which was presented in cooperation with the Skyline Theater in

Dillon to a sold-out crowd.

In November of 2017, following the shooting deaths of 26 people in a Sutherland Springs, Texas, church,

the Council sponsored a Service of Prayer and Unity attended by approximately 75 people from 9

different Summit County Faith Organizations. While we hoped there would not be a need for anything

similar in the future, we believe that it is part of our mission to help bring the community together in

such times of crisis.

An Interfaith Council Committee on Immigration began in March 2017 and by July, in partnership with

FIRC, it began a program of Community Navigator training. Community Navigators were available to

assist undocumented immigrants secure appointments to test for a lawful Colorado drivers license,

thereby enabling them to have car insurance, to drive to work and school and help maintain safe

Colorado roads. This effort is now in the hands of the Mountain Dreamers, a local nonprofit that we

continue to support.

A new project in April 11, 2017 was Social Media 101, a workshop for any Faith Organization or Nonprofit

Organization who is interested. The short workshop was designed to help congregations and

nonprofits develop a social media program to engage the wider community and increase their visibility.

Another new program initiative, “Hate Has No Home Here,” began in 2018 which to date has sponsored

two events for the general public and the launch of “The People’s Supper”, a series of events designed

to bring participants from all segments of Summit County’s diverse population together to share a meal

and get to know one another, discussing topics such as “Who are your people?”, and “Where do you

find community?”

In 2018-19 the Summer Sundays Film Series dealt with some familiar topics and some new ones, such as

bullying, ecology, water issues, Summit County’s health care efforts, homelessness, and white right.

Also, in 2019, the Council made a decision to partner with Good Bridge, a grass roots effort to address

the issues faced by Summit County’s economically challenged and homeless population. Currently we

are working to establish safe overnight parking for working homeless people who sleep in their cars, and

the future development of a basic needs facility. We recently have partnered with Summit County

Government to seek ways to enlarge the program.

Summit Colorado Interfaith Council was granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status in the spring of 2018. As a result,

we look forward to enhanced ability to engage with the community, and to seek funding to fuel programing

to fulfill our mission.

The Council is an independent non-profit organization and welcomes any faith community or community The Council is an independent non-profit organization and welcomes any faith community or community

service organization in Summit County or the surrounding area that would like to join us.