Hey DSST, my name is Alex and I am the 2019 Core Value winner for Courage. I worked in child welfare for almost nine years before I joined the DSST: Cole community. While child welfare is an extremely challenging system, I still hold it close to my heart. I believe that Denver Human Services’ #BeAGiver organization is emblematic of the Core Value of Courage because the child welfare system often receives negative media attention and severe critiques and is rarely recognized for their positive outcomes and success stories as they continue to do their best for their clients.

Regardless of opinion, this system desperately needs more resources to better serve families. Several families at Cole have been or are currently involved with human services and some of our students are living in foster care. Frequently, students in this system feel anxious about: where they are going to sleep at night, when they will eat their next meal, their parents and family members’ well-being while they’re at school, developing trusting relationships with adults and peers for fear of losing them, and harsh judgement from their peers. It takes an incredible amount of courage to show up to school every day and focus on being a student and teenager while experiencing instability.

#BeAGiver organization hosts annual drives including a hygiene drive, a school supply drive, and a holiday gift drive in addition to supporting the unique needs of families in Denver. We all play a role in building a healthy community and I’m grateful to DSST for #Be(ing)AGiver to Denver Human Services.

DSST will be donating $1,000 to Denver Human Services #BeAGiver. For more on Courage, check out this  where former Courage winners share what this Core Value means to them!