2011 Vincent de Paul Award

Mary Frances and Bill Jaster

Vincent DePaul lived in 17th century France during a time of great turmoil, constant warfare and an ever-widening gap between the small wealthy class and those in poverty. Vincent was a bridge person with a gift for bringing people together. During his lifetime he transformed the face of the country. The sheer number of works he accomplished seems physically impossible unless his core strategy of effecting change through the power of relationships is understood.

The Center for Spirituality at Work is animated by the spirit and strategy of Vincent DePaul which:

The Center for Spirituality at Work gratefully acknowledges members of the community who exemplify these operating values. We are honored this year to recognize MARY FRANCES AND BILL JASTER, the co-founders of the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers (CVV), a local nonprofit providing young adults with the opportunity to give a year to full-time volunteer service of people on the margins. During their volunteer commitment, the young adults live together in community, adopt a simple lifestyle and explore the value of the Vincentian Strategy.

Mary Frances and Bill are living examples of the Spirit of Vincent, as they model simplicity in their approach, create opportunities for others to enter into relationship with persons on the margins, offer education and reflection opportunities that develop deep roots for compassionate living, and empower people in poverty and people of privilege to discover their giftedness. The community is enriched by their presence in our midst.

 


2011 Working Spirit Award

Brother Jeff Fard

This award is given by the Center for Spirituality at Work to an individual who exemplifies a spirituality of work valuing the contribution of everyone's work, honoring the full dignity of the human person and understanding work as an individual’s participation in creative and healing activity in the world. A spirituality of work strengthens and enhances the social fabric. It builds connections that enhance the quality of life for all people. By its very essence a spirituality of work is about right relationship.

This year the Center for Spirituality at Work is proud to celebrate the Working Spirit of BROTHER JEFF FARD. A native of Northeast Denver, Jeff S. Fard, better known as Brother Jeff, is a writer, poet, cultural and community organizer, and entrepreneur. He frequents the national lecture circuit speaking to youth, students, social organizations, and professionals about issues including cultural identity and history, diversity, self-empowerment, community building, economic development, and the uniting power of art. A committed grassroots organizer, Brother Jeff has been a key coordinator for a wide array of national events and movements that seek to uplift and heal, including the national Stop the Killing Tour, the Million Man March, and more.

In 1994 he founded Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center & Café — located in the historic Five Points District — a space committed to fostering growth, strength, and voice in the community. These ends are achieved through the exploration of visual and performing arts, celebrations, and programs that inform and enrich people’s lives. Brother Jeff has also been successful in bringing organizations and service providers into Five Points. This work has been most clearly epitomized in the 1999 establishment of the Fard Building, currently providing programming addressing HIV/AIDS, prisons, youth services, mental health, drug and alcohol counseling, etc. in the neighborhood and beyond. In 2000, Brother Jeff began organizing nationally to help reduce the disproportionate HIV and AIDS rate in the African-American Community through his Community Health Initiative.

 


2011 Bridge Builders Award

Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition

The Bridge Builders Award recognizes those who unite people in poverty and people of privilege for the sake of the common good. This year we are proud to congratulate the efforts of the COLORADO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM COALITION for its bridge-building work fostering systemic change in public policies surrounding sentencing, incarceration and reintegration. We also applaud their initiative in bringing coherence to diverse community efforts.

The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), a nonprofit founded in 1999, works to halt the exponential growth of the state prison population. CCJRC believes that incarceration is presently overused and that a reevaluation of current criminal justice policy is necessary. CCJRC advocates for expanded funding for treatment, alternatives to incarceration, and reintegration services for people leaving prison.

CCJRC currently consists of over 100 diverse organizations and faith communities and over 4,800 individuals from across the state. The coalition built by CCJRC is bi-partisan and includes criminal justice reform organizations, educators and students, people in prison and their family members, attorneys, mental health advocates, substance abuse treatment providers, racial justice advocates, victims advocates, child welfare professionals, various faith communities, business owners, and women's organizations.

 


2011 Valdez Award

Anne Knorr

The Valdez Award is named in honor of Captain (Retired) Tom Valdez, former Programs Supervisor at DWCF. Tom Valdez was known for his service orientation. We deeply appreciate everything we learned from him and the way in which he fostered the growth of Making Choices at DWCF. When Captain Valdez retired, the Center for Spirituality at Work instituted the Valdez Award for Outstanding Service.

ANNE KNORR is the seventh person to receive the Valdez Award. She is an architect by profession, a member of Community UCC in Boulder and a graduate of the Center for Spirituality at Work’s Formation Program for Spiritual Directors.

We recognize Anne tonight for her outstanding service as a volunteer and as an ambassador for our work with female offenders. Anne volunteers as a spiritual director for women incarcerated at DWCF through our Spiritual Direction program. She also serves as a Making Choices Re-entry mentor for women returning to community after incarceration. A regular member of our Women’s Voices speaker’s bureau, Anne has been an active networker for Making Choices, facilitating media interviews and speaking engagements. Anne has also been actively involved in advocacy for female offenders at the state capital.

Anne brings professionalism, steadiness, depth and warmth to her guidance of the women that she serves. She is a living example of SERVICE that empowers individuals and builds bridges for spiritual transformation and social justice.

 


Exceptional Instruction Award

Dr. Kent Ira Groff

DR. KENT IRA GROFF is a spiritual companion for journeyers and leaders, a writer, author and retreat leader living in Denver, Colorado. He describes his work as “one beggar showing other beggars where to find bread.” Kent is the author of Active Spirituality: A Guide for Seekers and Ministers, Journeymen: A Spiritual Guide for Men, The Soul of Tomorrow’s Church, What Would I Believe if I Didn’t Believe Anything?: A Handbook for Spiritual Orphans and Writing Tides: Finding Grace and Growth through Writing. He serves as founding mentor of Oasis Ministries, Camp Hill, Pa., and leads seminars at retreat centers, campuses, theological seminaries, and faith communities in the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Kent, as he is known by the women he has taught at DWCF, is being recognized for his Exceptional Instruction in the class “Writing Your Way into Life.” Kent helped to kick off our DWCF Writing Program this year with two rounds as a volunteer instructor for interested writers in Unit 1. Some of the comments from his students include the following:

“I was stretched beyond my usual patterns of thinking and expression. I learned that I can do a great deal more than I thought.”

“The class opened my mind to how vast perspectives are; that there is no one way to see anything. I learned about some of my personal hurts and need for healing. I was spiritually opened to some areas that have been previously closed in me.”

We are grateful to Kent for the way he helps his students to find the “soul” in their daily experience and to discover their voice through writing.

 


2011 Walk of Fame Awards


Heather O’Brien and Shannon Randels – Writing Designed to Empower Others

Heather O’Brien and Shannon Randels are professional educators in the Douglas County School System. They have been volunteer teachers with Making Choices for two years. Shannon serves as the volunteer coordinator of the Making Choices teaching team. Shannon and Heather are recognized with a High 5 Walk of Fame Award for their written contribution to the Making Choices curriculum.


Carol O’Dwyer and Lynn Sauve – Contributions to Insightful Interviewing

Carol O’Dwyer and Lynn Sauve are organizational coaches facilitating leadership development and other skills for individuals in corporate settings. Carol and Lynn have been volunteer mentors and teachers in the Making Choices program for many years. They were able to bring their insights from their years of involvement with the interview team to an even greater professionalizing of the Making Choices application and interview process and for this contribution we recognize them with a High 5 Walk of Fame award.


Susan Walker – Empowering Leadership and Supervision of Others

Susan Walker is a licensed family therapist and a longtime volunteer mentor with Making Choices. She has been leading the supervision team of Making Choices as a volunteer coordinator for three years. Susan lends her talents to ensuring the confidence of other mentors in their own abilities. The affection and appreciation that the other mentors have in her abilities is exemplified by the number of peer nominations she received for a commendation. For these contributions, we recognize Susan with a High 5 Walk of Fame award.


Michael Bowers – Effective Organizational Supervision

Michael Bowers joined the Colorado Department of Corrections as an officer in June 1996. Since coming to DOC, Michael has served in many supervisory positions first as Lieutenant and then promoted to the rank of Captain serving as the Swing Shift Commander, then to his present position as Programs Supervisor at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility. He has also served as a part-time Basic Training Academy Instructor for new Officers entering the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Michael holds a degree in Business Management, graduating from Regis University in 1998. He has been married for 30 years and is the father of two children and grandfather of four.

The Center for Spirituality at Work recognizes Michael with a High 5 Walk of Fame award for his skillful supervision of diverse programs and volunteers all while maintaining a gracious demeanor. He brings out the best in people.



Top of Page