On Aug. 23, Colorado State University’s Off-Campus Life and Neighborhood Services at the City of Fort Collins are hosting the 23rd annual Community Welcome, an event designed to help foster a sense of community and connection between students and long-term Fort Collins residents.
Each year, teams of volunteers that include CSU and city staff, students and community members talk with more than 1,500 residents around campus and inform neighbors about various topics. Community Welcome serves to raise the community’s awareness of new and existing ordinances, and the many resources available to them in Fort Collins.
The event will be held from 4:30–8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, when teams will canvas neighborhoods near the main campus and provide information on noise, trash, occupancy and snow ordinances, as well as off-campus parties, the riot law, and the importance of forming strong, positive relationships with neighbors.
Volunteer registration is now open, and those who attend are treated to dinner and dessert as well as opening remarks from key leadership from the University and the City. This year’s event will be opened by CSU President Amy Parsons and Fort Collins City Manager Kelly DiMartino.
“Community Welcome is a beloved Fort Collins tradition,” said Greg Over, community liaison with CSU and the City of Fort Collins. “When I moved into off-campus housing my second year at CSU, I remember being warmly greeted by a team of Community Welcome volunteers. This event doesn’t just provide a knock-on-a-door and a ‘welcome to the neighborhood,’ but also important information and tips to foster what we call a positive ‘town-gown’ relationship — one where students, long-term residents, and everyone between can live harmoniously.”
He added: “Before Community Welcome, I didn’t know I could register my party and receive a warning if a gathering became too loud, or that I had to shovel my walkway after a snowfall. Now that I’m graduated and a long-term resident myself, I’m grateful for the chance to meet my neighbors and celebrate the start of a new academic year.”
Sign up is available at ocl.colostate.edu/community-welcome. The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 18. For any questions about the program, email greg.over@colostate.edu.
Police presence
Volunteers for Community Welcome include many CSUPD and Fort Collins Police Services officers. This means that there will be a significant number of police vehicles parked near the Lory Student Center during the orientation meeting, which is held before teams spread out across the area. Their presence is not an indication of an emergency on campus or in the building.
