Denver CO – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

ALPR at ACJS: More Crime and Punishment in Denver

by Olivia Discon

After months of compiling data, conducting interviews, and researching, Professor Yawn, Chrissy, and I finally had the opportunity to present our work at the ACJS Conference in Denver, CO. This experience was unlike anything I’d encountered before, and presenting research at an academic conference as an undergraduate was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

So, what is our research about? In short, our group is examining the implementation of police technology in home-rule cities across Texas. Contrary to common perception, innovation in cities isn’t driven by a single department, organization, or state entity. Instead, it emerges from a complex interplay of governance. Our primary focus is on Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), which rapidly scan license plates to aid in crime prevention. From a policy perspective, ALPRs are particularly interesting because they raise important questions about efficiency, privacy, and local governance.

Professor Yawn, who chaired the panel, led the presentation. As the primary researcher on this project, he has created an incredible opportunity for Chrissy and me to contribute meaningfully to the work.

While we still have a way to go before we “reach saturation” in our research, presenting at ACJS and receiving feedback from an engaged audience was invaluable.

Chrissy, who spearheaded our quantitative data collection, presented the methodology and preliminary findings. She did an excellent job of breaking down the statistical nuances and translating them into clear, digestible insights for us common folk.

Our session also featured a presentation from Tiffin University (TU), where undergraduates Zaria Moore…

…and Lauren Swartzlander…

…shared their public health study on mental health and alternative treatments.

They pursued this research voluntarily with strong mentorship support from TU faculty.

After both presentations, we engaged in a Q&A session with the audience…

…whose thoughtful questions and feedback left us excited to refine and expand our work further.

Safety, Crime, and Health in Urban Spaces

After our presentation, we attended another fascinating session on urban crime patterns and community development. One standout presentation came from Lauren Perron of Temple University, who examined agency collaboration in response to opioid use disorder.

She explored how organizational structure, leadership, and policy decisions impact the outcomes of the opioid crisis, particularly in the context of steering committees.

My favorite presentation of the session was Broken Windows in the Age of Big Data, which focused on Graffiti-Free NYC, a program led by the New York Sanitation Department. The study examined the correlation between quality-of-life indicators—such as graffiti removal and cleanliness—and crime rates.

While perceptions of crime can be subjective, this research provided compelling data-driven correlations that reinforced the impact of environmental factors on urban safety.

Chrissy’s favorite session was Policing the Opioid Crisis, which analyzed police-led deflection programs in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

This case study, conducted by Professor Sean Verano and student Niki Poutre, explored the effectiveness of these programs in helping individuals struggling with addiction and how police officers ranked the anticipated success of different approaches.

One particularly striking finding was that while deflection programs increased the odds of relapse, they did not significantly impact fatal overdoses.

This session was our favorite of the conference—not just because we could finally relax after our own presentation, but because the discussions were incredibly thought-provoking. The insights we gained from these panels will undoubtedly inform our research moving forward.

Presenting at ACJS was a milestone experience, giving us the chance to engage with experts in the field, refine our work, and gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of crime, policing, and policy implementation.

Dinner at Le French

by Chrissy Biello

Feeling the weight lifted off our shoulders, we headed to Le French for dinner. Founded by Senegalese-French sisters Aminata Dia and Rougui Dia, Le French is known for its combination of many worldwide influences and modern French cuisine. As semifinalists for the James Beard Best Chef in the Mountain Region in 2024, the Dia sisters have brought their culinary expertise to the forefront, making this dining experience even more exciting.

Through LEAP, my peers and I have had the unique opportunity to dine at James Beard-nominated and award-winning restaurants, and this was another highly anticipated experience for Olivia and me. Having not eaten much due to nerves, we were more than ready to indulge in what promised to be a great meal after a long day.

With little experience in French cuisine, Olivia and I found many menu items intriguing. To sample a variety of dishes, Olivia opted for the prix fixe menu. For her starter, she chose French Onion Soup, a dish she had never tried before.

When it arrived, she was thrilled with her choice. Not only did she enjoy a new experience, but she also discovered a dish she truly liked.

Professor Yawn and Stephanie ordered the escargot as their appetizer, and they were equally pleased with their selection.

For our main courses, I ordered the Saumon Fumé Savory Crepe, Olivia got the Suprême de Poulet Sauce Champagne (chicken breast with champagne sauce), Professor Yawn chose the Colorado Bass et Plantains, and Stephanie decided on the French Onion Soup.

When our meals arrived, we were all delighted with our choices. In true LEAP fashion, we made sure to sample each other’s dishes. Every selection turned out to be excellent, giving us a variety of flavors to experience.

For dessert, Olivia had the Panna Cotta, a dish featuring hibiscus, citrus, and marmalade berries. This was another first for her. Additionally, we shared a crème brûlée as a table.

It was a day full of firsts, from trying great new foods to presenting at our first academic conference. Nevertheless, we are especially grateful for the guidance of Professor Yawn and Stephanie. Their insights and encouragement, even their lighthearted stories to ease our nerves, were invaluable and something we could not have found elsewhere.

The Yard Milkshake Bar

Later in the night, after doing some laundry, Olivia and I walked to The Yard Milkshake Bar for another sweet treat. I chose the Cookies and Cream Cheesecake milkshake, while Olivia went for the Cake Batter milkshake. Both were delicious and well worth the walk from our hotel.

With the stress behind us, we are excited to continue our trip, filled with fun, learning, and new experiences.

Mile-High Art

Following panels where we had a chance to see some SHSU professors and staff, we proceeded to explore the art scene in Denver. With four major art museums in the city, Denver is considered a high-profile art destination–a reputation we wanted to assess for ourselves.

Denver Museum of Art

After a quick lunch break, we decided to spend our afternoon stimulating our minds in a different fashion by visiting the Denver Museum of Art. Not knowing what to expect, besides a “scavenger hunt” list provided by Professor Yawn, we were eager to explore and curious to know what we would come across.

LEAP Ambassadors with a Claes Oldenburg Sculpture at the Denver Art Museum

To our great surprise, there were several incredible pieces from many of the great artists, especially in both contemporary and western art. The building, which is quite modern in and of itself, was filled with names such as Keith Haring, Louise Bourgeois, Victor Higgins, Donald Judd, and Birger Sandzén (more on Sandzen in upcoming blogs).

There were some important outliers to be noted in this collection. Chrissy especially enjoyed a wintery scene by Monet, which she fondly associated with the film, Citizen Kane.

She also enjoyed some modern pieces, and if you know Chrissy, that is a true surprise! Particularly, she preferred works by Roxie Paine in varying mediums.

It’s been a pleasure to see her immersion into becoming an art enthusiast, branching out into more types of art.

Sure, it did require a phase of Andy Warhol, but it was worth it!

It is too bad fellow LEAP Ambassador Michelle Cardenas was not with us; she is a big fan of the idealized paintings of Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, and Thomas Moran, and there were many of these to be seen!

As for me, I enjoyed tying in themes in this trip, and seeing some newfound favorites reinforced their name and style further. Allan Tupper True…

…Alexander Phimster Proctor…

… and Victor Higgins.

I also saw some of my all-time favorites! Among Deborah Butterfield’s herd of bronze-casted horses, we came across three, including the best one I’ve seen in person, which was a horse lying down.

Butterfield’s work is interesting. Not only does she create horses from broad solid objects not typically associated with horses, but the material is often disguised. The above piece, for example, appears to be pieces of wood put together to resemble a horse, but in fact, this piece was made of metal. The metal was cast from wood and then assembled to create the horse.

In the past, we’ve seen Butterfield pieces in DC (the Kennedy Center), NOLA (Besthoff Sculpture Garden), Lubbock (Texas Tech University), and Fort Worth (Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art), but we’ve never seen three in the same place!

Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art

by Chrissy Biello

When people think of art, they might not immediately picture chairs, tables, clocks, or other everyday objects. However, these ordinary objects become extraordinary when designed with unique styles that allow individuals to showcase their personalities and express what truly makes them who they are. The Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art in Denver, Colorado, highlights this idea by showcasing a diverse collection, offering visitors a unique museum experience.

One of the museum’s most distinctive features is its chronological layout. Rather than grouping pieces by type or artist, the collection is arranged by time period, starting in 1870 and continuing to the present. This approach allows visitors to see how artistic styles and design trends evolved over the decades.

Among the many artists featured, the museum showcases the work of Vance Kirkland. His early paintings focused on realism, as seen in Moonlight in Central City.

Later in life, his style shifted toward abstract expressionism, reflecting a dramatic change in his artistic approach.

For those curious about Kirkland’s creative process, his personal studio is preserved within the museum. It features a spacious area where he painted, and in front of this space stands a large bookshelf spanning the back wall. The books include artists such as Matisse, Cézanne, and Botero.

Beyond paintings, the museum features an impressive collection of furniture. One highlight is the Taliesin Dining Chair, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1955. The name comes from Wright’s home, which was destroyed in a fire in 1914 and rebuilt. The chair’s “Taliesin edges” are a signature element in his designs.

Many other Wright pieces can be found throughout the museum…

The museum also displays work by Philip Johnson. Johnson is known for designing the PPG Building in Pittsburgh and the AT&T building in Houston. His Floor Lamp, created with lighting designer Richard Kelly, offers visitors a look at different approaches to lighting and design.

Another highlight is the collection of works by Charles and Ray Eames, a husband-and-wife duo known for their work in architecture, graphic design, and filmmaking, though they are best recognized for their innovative chair designs. Their chairs, displayed throughout the Kirkland Museum, differ from modern furniture yet remain highly functional.

In terms of trinkets, you can find a Noguchi bird compact, a ceramic pitcher designed by Pablo Picasso, and small tea cups designed by Alexander Calder.

Additionally, visitors can view a piece by Dale Chihuly…

…and a set of Roy Lichtenstein dinner plates!

In all, the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art offers a unique experience for those accustomed to traditional art museums. With its diverse collection of paintings, furniture, glassware, and more, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

Things to Do in Denver When You’re a Day Ahead

Two LEAP Ambassadors, Chrissy Biello and Olivia Discon, are presenting at their first conference, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference in Denver, CO. There is a certain amount of dread associated with your first formal academic conference, and Biello and Discon are not immune from such anxieties. Fortunately, having arrived a day early to the conference–LEAP Ambassadors are punctual–they had a day to prepare and to explore the mile-high city, having as much food and fun as they could bear.

Coffee:

Being coffee fiends, we explored two coffee shops on our first day in Denver. The first, “Dandy Lion Coffee,” is a coffee and boutique plant shop. While we admit that we are not exactly world travelers, we suspect that this is not a common combination. But it works in this charming cafe, which is located in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver.

The shop’s plants are warm and colorful, and they add a vibrant, down-home quality that is reinforced by the friendly and professional staff.

The warm and welcoming ambiance had its desired effect. The store was filled with customers, some speaking with each other, some mixing in small groups, and others doing their own thing, but they all exuded a comfort borne of an environment that was cozy without being crowded.

While the shop was pleasing, we were there for the coffee. And it, too, delivered. With an enormously helpful and friendly barista named Taylor leading the way, we tried an “everything croissant,” which was excellent, and we sampled a chocolate croissant–which was excellent and chocolate.

The drip coffee was very good, and the iced vanilla latte, which is what the store is famous for, was very, very good.

This was the perfect pick-me-up spot for what would prove to be a long day. Also, please note that while the pronunciation of the cafe suggests a weed, the name of the coffee-plant shop is referring to a well-dressed king of the jungle–monocle and all.

Needing an afternoon burst of energy and a place to work, we also visited Novo Coffee, a third-wave coffee shop indigenous to Denver. We each enjoyed a vanilla latte and settled into a cozy and productive atmosphere, where the hum of conversations and the scent of freshly brewed coffee fueled our focus. Novo offered just the right balance—bustling enough to be lively but quiet enough to get some work done.

Food

After being on the road for a couple of days and eating like scavengers in a desert, we made the most of a city filled with restaurants. For lunch, we had Giordano’s Pizza, an Italian eatery on the famous 16th-Street (pedestrian) Mall in Denver.

With garlic bread and a “meat and more meat” pizza, we may have overdone it.

This did not, however, get in the way of us finishing the pizza and the bread sticks. And, in our defense, it did not get in the way of us also getting some work done and, several hours later, searching for a hearty dinner to bookend our day of culinary adventures.

Dinner took us to the world of Asian cuisine in the form of Chopstickers, where we sampled chicken potstickers, soup dumplings, and edamame. The food was excellent, though one of us (who shall remain nameless) had a slight mishap that led to an unfortunate spill. Let’s just say soup dumplings live up to their name. Still, no mess could ruin the experience, and we left satisfied, if slightly damp.

Exploration

With a conference presentation approaching (have we mentioned that?) and with us impersonating foodies, we didn’t have a whole lot of time for exploration. But we did manage to walk almost half-a-mile of the 16th-Street Mall, venture down many other streets, and see a bit of what Denver has to offer.

It is a very walkable city. Indeed, it’s downtown and capitol hill area have a 94 walkability score, and at least one publication ranks Denver second in walkability, trailing only New York City. Interestingly, this means we have walked the two most walkable cities in the United States in the past two months!

We also saw our share of critters. With a lot of food establishments and many pedestrians, there are also a lot of pigeons. Generally speaking, they are not scared of humans. We were also visited by some aggressive squirrels. One squirrel actually ran a circle around us, as if he was determined to singlehandedly surround us and demand food–despite already having a nut in his mouth!

By far the most interesting animal we encountered, however, was a blue bear.

As fearsome as he looks from below, he is rather tame and endearing. He simply wants to see what the humans are doing in the Colorado Convention Center.

The bear, a creation of the late artist (and art professor) Lawrence Argent, is titled “I See What You Mean” and was installed in Denver in 2005. Over the past two decades, he has become a symbol of Denver.

He certainly brought a smile to our faces, and with his whimsical blue color, curiosity, and potential for ferocity, he provided just the attitude we were looking for to approach our first-ever conference.

Favorites from a Trip out West

It’s not easy traveling more than 2,000 miles by car, even if you have eleven days to complete the trip, but that’s what LEAP students did over their Spring Break. In the process, they explored three states, two Capitol buildings, nine art museums, many conference sessions, and countless restaurants. Below is their favorites from their experiences.

Favorite City:

Santa Fe: This won one handily, with five of the seven travelers selecting it. The town’s charm, shopping, art, and history were among the reasons this ranked high, not to mention it’s access to skiing.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Santa Fe NM, New Mexico Capitol, Roundhouse

Denver came in second, beating out, well, Amarillo and Canyon.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Luis Jimenez

Favorite Restaurants:

The top three restaurants were an eclectic bunch and reflect the diverse foods sought by LEAP Ambassadors on trips.

Bistro Vendome in Denver was probably the favorite experience of the bunch. It was our first experience with French food as a LEAP group, but just one of many different cultures we have explored.
Also among the top restaurants was Los Potrillos, which offers “Santa Fe New Mexican.” While it may have advertised itself as “New Mexcian,” we enjoyed some favorites of Old Mexico such as chicharrones and nopalitos.
Finally, we also enjoyed the African fare at Jambo Cafe.

Favorite Museums:

The LEAP Ambassadors visited the following museums on their trip: (1) Panhandle Plains Museum, Amarillo Art Center, Cadillac Ranch, Denver Art Museum, Clifford Styll Museum, Kirkland Museum for Fine Arts, American Museum of Western Arts, New Mexico Museum of Art, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden.

The three favorite were…

New Mexico Museum of Art, in Santa Fe. While there were artists we knew (O’Keeffe, Diego Rivera, Jesus Moroles), there were also more artists from the southwest that we were less familiar with. Examples include Alfred Morang, Gerald Cassidy, Andrew Dasburg, and Victor Huggins. A big bonus was the tour, which was well done by our guide, and the many educational opportunities in the museum.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Santa Fe NM, New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts

Georgia O’Keeffe: A smallish Museum dedicated to just the works of O’Keeffe, the Museum nonetheless does a wonderful job of providing a timeline of her works and exploring the different styles she worked in. While most are familiar with her flowers and skulls, they may be less familiar with her abstracts or urban-scapes.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Santa Fe, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

The Denver Art Museum had the Degas exhibit, and photos were allowed! Without this exhibit, it’s not clear that this museum would have ranked among our top, inasmuch as much of the permanent collection was in storage. But you cannot go wrong with Degas!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Edgar Degas

Also of note was the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden. This may have been the favorite of the group. With some eighty sculptures on approximately 20 acres, it’s a great way to see Allan Houser’s work.

SHSU, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Santa Fe, Allan Houser

Favorite Hike

Although we did numerous hikes, the Ambassadors’ favorite was the Rocky Mountain National Park, which offered sledding…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Rocky Mountain National Park, Bear Lake

…hiking…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Rocky Mountain National Park, Long's Peak

…views of wildlife…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Rocky Mountain National Park

…and frozen lakes!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sprague Lake

Two honorable mentions include the Lighthouse Trail in Palo Duro Canyon…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Palo Duro Canyon, Lighthouse Trail

…and the Bandelier Monument outside of Santa Fe…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Santa Fe, Bandelier Monument, Christina Perez

But of course if you are going to the western mountains early March, then skiing will be in a category of its own! The students loved the skiing, with several of the students becoming skilled beginners!

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Wrapping Up:

Personality studies show that “the big five” traits–(1) openness to new experiences, (2) conscientiousness, (3) extroversion, (4) agreeableness, and (5) neuroticism–are key shapers of personality and, by extension, shape our life happiness. While everyone’s personality differs, almost all LEAP Ambassadors score high in conscientiousness, and most score high in openness to new experiences. And it’s a good thing, because trips like this are designed to offer new experiences to those who can get the most from them.

Are You Art Majors?

It was the last day that we would spend in Denver, Colorado. After four days attending the American Society of Public Administration, exciting hikes, and various art museums, today, would be our last opportunity to fit in as many activities as possible and we definitely took the opportunity!

In preparation for the day, we wore our trip shirts, making us identifiable as SHSU students. Almost every day we do this on a trip, we are asked, “Are you art majors?” Our answer is no, but based on our activities, it is a reasonable question.

The American Museum of Western Art by Christina Perez (11)

As many of you know, LEAP began to expand their adventures to the wild west for the first time in January of this year, and with travel come new cultures, foods, and sometimes art. We arrived at our first destination for the day, the American Museum of Western Art. The AMWA officially became a nonprofit art museum in 2010 but the collection had been moved into the Navarre building in the 1990’s.

Earlier on out trip we have had the opportunity to learn about some of the most famous western artist, such as Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Birger Sandzen, and Otis Dozier.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, American Museum of Western Art, Birger Sandzen

Each time we visit a new museum, our goal is to learn three new artists and their style of art, so we were looking forward to seeing our favorites as well as expanding our knowledge of names. As we walked in the art museum, the greeter explained that the AMWA is made up of more than 600 pieces of art from about 180 artists. She added that the museum was salon style, so the art was not in complete chronological order.

The artwork in the first floor was the beginning of western art which started in the early 19^th century with artists like George Catlin, Alfred Jacob Miller, and John Mix Stanley. The most well-known landscape artists were also on this floor. We were particularly excited when we saw paintings by Thomas Moran, and Albert Bierstadt.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, American Museum of Western Art, Albert Bierstadt

Some of the Leapsters had not been exposed to the Hudson River School artist, Alfred Bierstadt, before. One of our favorite paintings was a prime example of the many risks he took in creating his remarkable landscape paintings which was the “Wind, River, Wyoming”. Of course, Thomas Moran was also among our favorites. One of the largest paintings was Moran’s called “Children of the Mountains” which appealed to your senses by just looking at it.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, American Museum of Western Art, Thomas Moran

We ventured through the second floor and discovered even more of the next era of western art. The walls were filed with California-inspired art that started in 1948 when the gold rush lured thousands to America. The artists included German immigrant, Christian Nahl, who had little luck with gold but ended up finding his own treasure in art. The third floor also included Thomas Eakins, who is known for his realist paintings and Victoria’s favorite artist: Blumenstein. The fourth floor was everyone’s favorite since it had many different modern artist, Expressionist, American Regionalism, New Deal Art, Cubism, and Abstract Expressionism. At one point in the gallery, we were happily surprised to find an Edward Hopper painting portraying Moran Mountain. We were used to him creating urban settings. It sure was a treat for the art lovers! As we left the museum, everyone had found a new favorite among the new and old artists. But our learning adventure did not end there!

Lunch- Denver Central Market by Karla Rosales

After a lengthy morning, we were hungry and ready to eat. Beatriz had been charged with finding the right restaurant for our last meal in Denver. She decided it would be fun to try Denver Central Market, a restored old building in the RiNo District. The market offered many different local vendors which gave us a variety of options to choose from such as seafood, Italian, barbeque, and even vegan. I decided to indulge in something different and tried the seafood roll from Tammen’s Fish Market. It was a delicious roll with a combination of lobster, shrimp, and crab.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Central Market

Bianca went for a pastrami while Beatriz tried the pulled pork sandwich. Overall, it was a great place of us to have lunch with a large variety of options. I personally voted my lunch today among my top 3 while in Denver. Our next art museum would also be among our top favorite art museums. It was the Kirkland Museum!

Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art by Bianca Saldierna

Our last art museum in Denver, Colorado was the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. The museum exhibits more than 30,000 pieces created by more than 1,500 artists and has an extensive collection of Vance Kirkland, Colorado’s distinguished painter and educator of the 20^th century. Kirkland’s art gallery was divided into five periods: Designed Realism, Surrealism, Dard Edge Abstract/Abstraction of Nature, Abstract Expressionism…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

…and the Dot Painting period (not to be confused with Pointillism).

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

Each period represented a different style of art and the five periods encompassed the evolution of his innovative art through time. Actually, we learned that the first half of his career was marked predominantly by his watercolor art in which he portrayed realistic landscapes of the grand Rocky Mountains.

The museum is also home to an international decorative art collection from different eras including: Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern, and Post Modern.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

An interesting point to make is that the museum coordinated the art paintings with the décor of the time period. One of the artists whose decorative furniture and glassware were present throughout different periods of art was Frank Lloyd Wright. The Ambassadors came to know about Wright’s prolific career through the architectural designs of his iconic houses.

As part of the modern design period were pieces of some of the most legendary artist such as: Dale Chihuly, Isamu Noguchi, Salvador Dalí, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

…and Pablo Picasso, whose lengthy name we learned to be: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso. We certainly prefer to only call him Pablo Picasso! Some of our other favorites is George Ohr’s “burnt babies” and as well Frank Gehry, both of whom we saw during the Southern Legislative Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

Our museum tour started and ended with Vance Kirkland. The final exhibit in the museum was his work studio where he created most of his dot abstract art. Interestingly, his artwork was all created in this gallery and in his studio.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

Hanging above his worktable were the straps where he spent approximately ten hours a day layering his canvases. We also learned that his extensive art collection has been exhibited in thirteenth countries across the world. Overall, we left satisfied to have admired the art work of numerous well-known artist and to have learned about the work of Vance Kirkland, who we will know remember for having ventured into new styles.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

It was finally time to leave, so we traveled overnight in order to reach Santa Fe, New Mexico where we would be able to go skiing… and go to art museums… and explore the beautiful adobe architecture!

ASPA in the Aspens

Our Monday was a full day, one filled mostly with conference panels. But we managed to fit in a capitol tour and dinner at a French restaurant!

Denver State Capitol Tour, by Victoria McClendon-Leggett

Approaching the Colorado State Capitol, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the breathtaking architecture…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Capitol Building, Elijah Myers

…and as we entered and our eyes adjusted to the light, we could see that the interior was also just as beautiful. Our large group of seven was unable to join the guided tour group. Luckily, we found an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide in Professor Yawn, who had done his research on the State of Colorado. We learned that the name Colorado means “colored red” in Spanish, and that this is the reason for many of the red designs painted into the ceilings throughout the building.

As we wandered through the halls, we couldn’t help but notice many architectural similarities between the building and our own Texas state capitol, and Professor Yawn pointed out that they were both constructed within a few years of each other by the same architect, Elijah E. Myers. We also learned that the Colorado State Capitol, in spite of being in The Mile High City, is actually only the third highest capitol in the United States in regards to elevation above sea level. Holding first place is Sante Fe, New Mexico, at 7,199 feet, and second is Cheyenne, Wyoming, at 6,062 feet above sea level. We were excited, though, when we realized we’d be able to see two of those three during this one trip!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Elijah Myers, Capitol Building

The dome itself is actually “only” 272 feet high, which is smaller than the TX Capitol’s and the US Capitol’s, but impressive nonetheless.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Capitol Building, Elijah Myers

We also had the opportunity to visit both the House and the Senate, both of which were impressive chambers….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Capitol Building, Elijah Myers

…and we even heard a real or, possibly, tongue-in-cheek on the floor, in which one member may have misheard (depending on the source) the final vote on a bill.

Not all was seriousness, however. We had a chance, for example, to see if we could “stuff” a phone booth.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

And, we dropped in on a tour…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

…and learned that many visitors had, through much imagination, seen various images in the fabulous patterns in the Capitol’s rose onyx stone. In one case, for example, visitors see General George Washington in his common three-point hat.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Elijah Myers

Also, tying some things together, we were able to see art from Allen Tupper True, whose art we’ve seen in previous museums. In the Capitol building, he did large murals showing the history of the state.

ASPA Panel: Smart Cities, by Karla Rosales

After our self-guided tour of the capitol led by Professor Yawn, we headed to our first panel of the day at ASPA. We arrived just in time for the Presidential Panel “Smart Cities: A Comparative Examination.” The panel was presented by Julia Richman, Chief Innovation and Analytics Officer and Interim Chief Information Officer for the City of Boulder, Emily Silverman, Technical Program Manager for the City and County of Denver, and John Tolva, Principal of CityFi in Chicago.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Smart Cities

They discussed developments and difficulties that smart cities are facing. There has been a tremendous acceleration of technology in our country and as a result, smart cities are rising. Some cities are implementing technology into their policy decisions. But even though technology is advancing extremely fast, many cities are not advancing at pace. Cities must understand how to evolve to keep up with the advances: addressing slow processes, making decisions and implementing more quickly, cutting red tape, and incorporating transparency.

Some cities have hired innovation officers to assist with implementation of innovative tools for policymaking. As we learned in a previous panel, data is crucial when it comes to policymaking and luckily technology resources are advancing to improve data gathering systems. The panel pointed out that it is time for cities to evolve and begin using advanced data systems to improve data already in place. “Data is our new oil,” one of the panelists pointed out.

Data, performance management, and intelligence are the great tools to advance and grow as a smart city. Interpreting data is one of the key components to transforming city policies by analyzing what problems the particular city is facing. Some of the problems could be traffic fatalities or air quality. For example, air quality data could help us determine if there is an issue. Then, as a solution air quality sites could be implemented to keep track of the quality of air. This is especially important when determining recess time for students, especially for students suffering from asthma, among other considerations. If the sensors determine poor air quality on a particular day, there might be cause (data-based) to reduce the recess time on that day.

However, as technology evolves cities face additional, systematic problems. Security is one component that could be at risk. We must find new ways to protect data. Cities should have complete control over their data by using a secure cloud that allows for privacy and control. This is only one of the potential risks facing technology advancement. Even though data and technology advancement is very important, community involvement is also a component needed to make a difference in a city. The city needs to come together to figure out the ultimate mission and what they are hoping to accomplish.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

ASPA Session: Career Fair, by Christina Perez

The four LEAP Ambassadors headed for graduation in a few short months decided to sharpen our networking skills. We headed towards the ASPA Career Fair to learn about job opportunities in the Denver area. We spoke with potential employers from The City and County of Denver, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Adams County, Colorado, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. We handed out resumes, business cards, and shared LinkedIn information.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

ASPA Session: Salary Negotiation, Christina Perez

After the Career Fair we headed to a workshop on how to be successful in salary negotiations. The presenter’s advice included a few steps to help get what you want out of the negotiation. First, he offered that the applicant should always put the ball in the hiring manager’s court—let the employer make the initial offer and negotiate from that point. Second, do your research ahead of time, which includes searching through career websites such as Glassdoor.com, obtaining information from the company’s human resources department, speaking to others with similar positions, and even looking at the cost of living in the city that you may have to relocate to.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

Third, have a required and preferred salary in mind so you can have an idea of how much you want to earn. The fourth and most important tip he gave us was to never answer the following question, “What are your salary requirements?” He elaborated on his statement and explained that answering this question would limit any negotiation. After receiving an offer it is important to take time to think about it. Overall, his tips were helpful and meaningful to the Ambassadors who will be joining the workforce in the coming months. (editor’s note: One of the LEAP Ambassadors who attended this program had a salary negotiation meeting the next day, making the workshop particularly timely).

ASPA Panel: Evidence-Based Policy Making, by Bianca Saldierna

Our last session for the day was in fact the last Presidential Panel, and, in our opinion, ASPA saved the best for last. Speaking at the Evidence-Based Policymaking session was Bipartisan Policy Center Director of Evidence-Based Policymaking Initiative Nick Hart, who had an extensive career working for the federal government.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

The heart of the panel was centered around what the bill H.R. 4174 is and its benefits. The Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking (CEP) was the result of a bipartisan agreement between Congress and the Obama administration, with the sole purpose of incorporating evidence into government operations to effectively create public policies. The piece of legislation understands that better use of data may improve the way government programs operate. Eight months were invested in the fact-finding process and were followed by a series of meetings and surveys. The results were distilled into twenty-two recommendations, in fact, all unanimously endorsed by all fifteen commissions (which does not happen quite often). Nick Hart cited the five principles of the Evidence-Based Policy which include: Privacy, Rigor, Transparency, Humility, and Capacity. Moreover, the themes of the commission’s final report had a large focus on improving access to data, implementing stronger privacy protections, and expanding its capacity to fill in the existing gaps. Because of the emphasis on privacy protections of data, the Nacional Secure Data Service (NSDS) was established to facilitate access to data by bringing it together in a secure and transparent way to utilize across entities. However, there was a large and well-founded concern around the idea of building a data clearing house as it had not worked in the past (1960s DataBank). Among the recommendations of the commission were modernizing privacy protections and strengthening the federal capacity for evidence building. The recommendations had over one hundred endorsements. In fact, back in January of this year, the thirty-six former heads of the U.S. Statistical Agencies endorsed the recommendations and called for a quick action. Although the legislation is currently under congressional action, it has already gone a long way as it has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and pending approval by the U.S. Senate.

Dinner at Bistro Vendome, Christina Perez

Today, we had French food for dinner at Bistro Vendome, a restaurant suggested by Victoria. We headed down 16th street mall and made our way to the smell of wonderful food.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, 16th Street Mall

The restaurant is named after Place Vendôme a favorite for locals in Paris. The name was picked to reflect a similar restaurant but this time in the heart of Denver. The owners desired it to be a local favorite in a historical downtown. We began our meal by trying new foods. Most of us had never had Escargot, but today was our lucky day. Karla enjoyed it and even had two! We each enjoyed trying different entrée options such as Lapin á la Moutarde that included rabbit and Venaison Sous Vide that included venison. We also had the opportunity to try duck liver, and other interesting foods. We finished our long day with some tasty dessert. Each of us tried their famous Crème Brûlée , and Bianca, Karla, and Christina shared the Grapefruit Bavarian!

Union Station, By Karla Rosales

After leaving dinner on our way to the car…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

…Bianca and I noticed a bus that read “Free Mall Ride” and drove down 16^th street mall. As Stephanie pointed out, it read two of our favorite words “free” and “Mall” so without giving it second thought, we ran as fast as we could (despite the heels) to the bus stop before it departed. The ride ended at Union Station where Professor Yawn and the rest joined us for a fun walk exploration of the station.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Union Station

We have been to Washington, DC’s Union Station and to Kansas City’s Union Station (our favorite), and this was smaller, but also beautiful.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

We bought a few souvenirs, reflected on a good day, and headed back to our hotel, awaiting another day of learning and fun.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

Public Administration and Public Art in Denver

On our second day in Denver, we were greeted by a nice, chilly morning breeze that woke us right up as we headed to our 8 am panel sessions. Today, the Leapsters would separate and attend two different sessions: “Public Policy Changes” and Local Government and Engagement.”

Public Policy Changes by Karla Rosales

Christina, Bianca, and I began our day with the first panel of the day, “Public Policy Challenges,” presented by three doctoral students and one graduate student.

The first presenter, and our favorite, was Neomi Frisch Aviram, a Doctoral Student from the University of Haifa, Israel. She discussed the topic of Policy Entrepreneurship Behavior and focused on the fact that bureaucrats do not employ uniform strategies to push policy as politicians do. In addition, she explained the Multiple Stream Approach (MSA) framework and how the combination of three separate streams of MSA (political, policy, and problem) opens a policy window for policy entrepreneurs. However, it was found that there is a need for an increase in civic engagement and media coverage in the private sector for public policy to succeed.

The next three presenters presented on the topic of the relation of human behavior to public policy and focused on the importance of exploring human behavior to understand its effects on public policy. Humans tend to make satisfying decisions to solve problems short term, but the problem will ultimately arise in the long run. Logical reasoning is slower, our decisions are biased and guided by emotions, our first instinct. Understandably, the conclusion was that our human nature is to hold on to existing beliefs to remain in societal groupings and retain social status which is a challenge when it comes to policy making.

Local Government and Engagements by Victoria McClendon- Leggett

The topic of policy making continued to the other groups panel as well.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO

Beatriz and I attended the panel titled “Local Governments and Engagement”. The first presentation was about “Public Engagement by Local Governments,” and it went over the many different ways that local governments keep citizens engaged such as online engagement platforms, 311 systems, and turning over more authority to neighborhood associations. This study found that governments that placed higher importance on meeting public engagement goals ultimately had higher participations in engagement practices. The second presentation was “Citizens’ Academies: Motivations and Meaning for Public Administrators,” and it found that citizens’ academy programs have a strong correlation with public engagement and organizational adaptability in government. The third presentation was “The Impact of Collaborative Leadership on Encouraging Citizen Engagement,” and it found that citizens are more likely to be engaged when they are presented with strong responsive leadership, specifically on social media. We thought it was interesting how both the first and third presentations mentioned social media and how it can be a useful tool for local government engagement from citizens.

Both panels were very interesting to all of the LEAP Ambassadors, especially since most of us want to work or have worked in the government system. All of the policy making made us even more conscious about the importance of being a decision maker. So, we made the important decision to go eat.

Lunch in Mexico City by Karla Rosales

To spice up our morning, we opted for a Mexican food. After driving through Denver downtown, we found “Mexico City Restaurant and Lounge.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, ASPA, American Society of Public Administration, Denver CO, Mexico City Restaurant

The restaurant’s extensive menu offered us some of the most traditional Mexican dishes, from menudo (a spicy tripe soup) to fried tacos. Some of us, in fact, many of us, ordered a plate that included a little bit of everything: one enchilada, one fried taco, one tostada, and some beans and rice. Others adventured into tasting their hot and spicy menudo. The Mexico City Restaurant has, for 51 years, been serving citizens of the Larimer district in downtown Denver. On a side note, Larimer district was named in honor of General William Larimer, who was a pioneer and one of the founders of the City of Denver. Our lunch was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and the perfect fuel to begin our art exploration!

Clyfford Still Art Museum by Beatriz Martinez

The Clyfford Art Museum was our first stop on our art tour as we got out of our panel sessions. Even before Rothko and Pollock, whose art we have seen many times on our travels, Clyfford Still was among the first generation of Abstract Impressionists after World War II. However, he did not start out that way.

Still first began with representational painting that showcased the Depression Era with one of his first themes: the human experience.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Clyfford Still

Slowly, he lost the definitive form of his earlier paintings to evolve into what he is now known for: Abstract Expressionism.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Clyfford Still

Interestingly enough, Still did not believe in titles. In fact, he stopped titling his paintings after 1947 so instead they were labeled by the year that they were created. Part of the reason that Still did this was because he believed that the person that looked at his art should not restrain their interpretation of the piece because of his title. His bright colors and jagged lines allowed him to become one of the first artists to set the tone for the future generation of artists.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Clyfford Still

It was a great experience to be able to see the timeline of his art especially since he severed ties with all the galleries in the early 1950s and his art was not displayed until 2011 when the Clyfford Art Museum opened.

Denver Museum of Art by Christina Perez

The moment we have all been waiting for… The Denver Art Museum! The sun was shining and we were thriving. As we headed down 14th avenue we could see the “Big Sweep” by Clause Oldenburg in the distance. Some of us had waited weeks for the opportunity to visit the museum.

As we walked in, we couldn’t help but admire the fun architecture of the building. Our special treat, their special exhibit show casing French artist Edgar Degas’ work from 1855 to 1906.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Edgar Degas

Degas is known for his fascination with movement, whether it be pretty little dancers or horses.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art

The exhibit took us through his early work with horses through his work with his ballerinas.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Degas

We definitely enjoyed learning about his art work and life as an artist, and the exhibit not only had some of his atypical works, such as “David and Goliath”….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Edgar Degas

…as well as artists he influenced and artists who influenced him.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Camille Corot — A landscape by Camille-Corot that influenced some of Degas’s work

Following the Degas exhibit, we headed upstairs to the “Animals in Art” exhibit that included pieces by Georgia O’ Keeffe, John James Audubon, Norman Rockwell, Deborah Butterfield and many others.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Deborah Butterfield

We also had an opportunity to explore some western and Regional art, where Bianca found her favorite piece, one by William Sanderson…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, William Sanderson

…and we found a very atypical piece by Jackson Pollock…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Jackson Pollock

…and a more typical piece by Thomas Hart Benton.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Thomas Hart Benton

After touring the museum, we couldn’t head back to the hotel without accomplishing one of the most important components of a tourist’s experience: buying souvenirs! As we drove back to the hotel, we made a quick pit stop to the Denver airport where we were able to see the Blue Mustang created by Luis Jimenez.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Luis Jimenez

After a quick picture, we hopped into the van and shared our favorite art, new artists, and our perspectives on their art.

We were very excited to have made multiple new memories! And finally, it was time to go home to grab a late pizza dinner and rest for another busy day ahead.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Denver CO, Denver Museum of Art, Deborah Butterfield

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