Beginning this month, Pagosa Springs youth have increased options for after school programming, with a new space for The Pagosa Arts Initiative and The Forge.
While visual arts and martial arts are typically an unlikely pairing, these two non-profit organizations are coming together to share space in their new uptown location: Pagosa Peak Open School, the community’s only District-authorized public charter school.
“We’re excited to collaborate with the Pagosa Arts Initiative and Forge Martial Arts to overcome an identified enrollment barrier — by providing after school programming, as well as expand the reach of these two organizations,” said PPOS School Director Angeal Reali-Crossland.
The Forge Co-owner MorgAnne Foster is also excited about this partnership. “The school is supporting us in a huge way to help build up the youth of Pagosa,” she said. “We are starting an after school program with PPOS that allows us to grow as well as support PPOS kids to have the best available options not only just in Pagosa, but in my opinion the county and the state. This program is an avenue for underprivileged and privileged kids alike to have an opportunity to work on self defense, leadership, mentorship, teamwork, accountability, honor, and so much more in our classes. We are extremely grateful PPOS opened their doors to us along with the Arts Initiative.”
While PPOS students will benefit from the partnership because the charter school’s students will be eligible for scholarships and have easy access to programming; both programs will be open to the broader community.
“We have been incredibly blessed to receive so much community support,” Arts Initiative Director Jenna Gannon said. “We are continually trying to balance demand with space and adult supervision within the afterschool program. This space allows us to support more families within the community through not only our after school programs but also family support with our Family and Community Liaison, Chrystal Snow. We are so excited to be serving the students and families of the Pagosa Peak Open School without the barriers of transportation.”
Students attending other schools in the district are also participating in the after school programming at PPOS, thanks to collaboration with the school district. “A special thank you to Archuleta School District Transportation Director Lori Manzanares for working with us to provide bus transportation to the new space from the other schools within the district,” Gannon said.
The Pagosa Arts Initiative is a non-profit organization that runs classes and provides opportunities for all to access the arts and “stimulate and promote the arts.” Pagosa youth will have the opportunity to take classes after school Monday through Friday through the Arts Initiative. They are offering an after school program to 43 students K-12. Younger students participate in the play-centered STEAM learning curriculum that the program offers, while middle- and high-schoolers participate as mentors within the program. The Art Initiative is expanding their digital art and graphic design offerings to attract more older students into the programming while also giving them a safe space to be after school.
According to their website, The Forge Martial Arts Academy provides “youth and little ninja leadership programs, adult Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, adult boxing/kickboxing, private training programs, women’s self-defense, and now BUTI yoga. All programs are designed to create transformation and empowerment.”
The Forge will be offering after school classes twice a week to start, although both programs have signed a three-year lease and will expand programming when possible.
“Aside from our children development and leadership classes, we are aiming to kickstart our women’s self defense and empowerment classes again since COVID,” Foster said. “We hope to strengthen our relationship with Rise Above Violence to give freely to women that need independence, power, and confidence in their lives again. We are passionate about empowering women and young girls to stand up and find their power through community and self defense. We will be offering free seminars to women that I’ve already seen make a huge impact.
Programming with both organizations will continue throughout the summer, even as PPOS closes for a school renovation project.
“The PPOS school board is excited for the opportunity to further expand our learning community,” said PPOS School Board President Ursala Hudson. “The partnership between PPOS and these established, successful community youth organizations is reciprocal. We are offering them affordable space, and they offer us programming closely related to our school’s mission and vision. Our students and their families can take advantage of on-site after school activities inclusive of the greater community, extending relational connections and encouraging collaboration.”
Pagosa Peak Open School is a tuition-free public school open to all Archuleta County families. The educational model is built upon Project-Based Learning, a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which it is believed that students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. Students learn about a subject by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, challenge, or problem. PBL contrasts with paper-based, rote memorization, or teacher-led instruction that presents established facts or portrays a smooth path to knowledge by instead posing questions, problems or scenarios.
Emily Murphy serves as Assistant Director at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County, working with students and staff on curriculum, assessment, instructional strategies and restorative practices.