What does Public Service Leadership mean to you?  

Democratic systems require participation. Results are more representative of our communities when community members are engaged and involved in decision making. At Colorado State University, we believe that our students are both current and future civic leaders, and that the State of Colorado, and Country, are well served when students from across the political spectrum choose to engage, listen, and participate in our democracy. There are many ways to get involved. Some of those examples are outlined below. Most importantly, we ask that you stay informed and vote.  

Local Involvement in Your Community:  

Getting involved locally is a great way to have an immediate impact on your community.  

Consider volunteering for a non-profit organization. Not sure where to find out relevant information? Often, your local Chamber of Commerce or civic and service organizations (like United Way, Rotary, or Lions) are a good broker of information and place to start.  

Local Governments are a fundamental component of American Democracy. Local Governments have many key roles: they make sure the lights turn on and that water comes out of the faucet. They oversee local building development, public safety, and maintain our parks and open spaces.  Want to find a way to get involved here in Fort Collins? See below for options.  

• City Council meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6pm to discuss community items of importance. Interested in a specific discussion item? Please check past and present agenda items and past Council meetings here. Contact information for the City Council can be found here: https://fcgov.com/council/contact-us, along with a livestream of City Council meetings on Tuesday evenings. 
• Boards and Commissions. With close to 30 Boards and Commissions, serving on one is a great way to learn more about your local community and provide your input to decisions being made. https://fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards 
• Volunteer. The City of Fort Collins has over 1,000 volunteers who help with City operations, events, and more. Some of those volunteers are students who have worked with a CSU Department to turn their volunteer position into a for-credit internship. Current opportunities can be found here: https://fcgov.com/volunteer/directory. The City uses a digital portal called ENGAGE to manage volunteer opportunities and public engagement efforts. To create an account or sign-in, please visit: https://engage.fcgov.com/Login.  
• Intern. For decades, CSU students have completed internships with the City of Fort Collins in a variety of fields: City Management, Budgeting, Human Resources, Engineering, Adaptive Recreation, and more. Please consult with your College Career Advisor about opportunities in your field of study, and don’t forget to visit the Career Center and the Straayer Center for Public Service Leadership internship page.
• County Governments play a critical role in our civic systems, often overseeing Public Health, Social Service delivery, and Criminal Justice at the local level. The Board of County Commissioners meets throughout the week, and that schedule can be found here: https://www.larimer.org/bocc. The County also has around 30 Boards and Commissions, which can be found here: https://www.larimer.org/boards 

 

State & Federal Opportunities:  

Opportunities exist with both State and Federal Government to stay informed, work with elected officials, and work with agencies and departments.  

• State Government: Visit https://leg.colorado.gov/ to find your legislator, watch or listen to a hearing, or explore the budget. The Colorado General Assembly meets every January through May for the Legislative Session. Interested in learning more about the legislative process or interning at the State Capitol? The CSU Legislative Internship has connected students to internships in Denver for over 40 years.

 

• Federal Government: Washington D.C. might be 1,500 miles away, but there are still ways to get involved locally. Congressman Joe Neguse (https://neguse.house.gov), Senator John Hickenlooper (https://hickenlooper.senate.gov), and Senator Michael Bennet (https://bennet.senate.gov) all have local offices in Fort Collins, and regularly hire CSU interns. In addition, the CSU in D.C. Program allows undergraduate students to register for 15 credits through CSU while working and interning in the nation’s capitol.

For more information about that program, visit: https://polisci.colostate.edu/straayer-center-for-public-service-leadership/.

Not sure who your Congressional Representative is? Visit: https://house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative