Garrett Weekley- 

Thomas Atwood- I’m writing to express interest in being elected as a District Delegate for the Stapleton Master Community Association. We have lived in Stapleton since 2007 and live in District 6, Filling 18.

I am married, with two young children—my wife is a DPS Assistant Principal; my son attends Westerly Creek Elementary School.

We love it here—I have a vested and strong interest in the continued vitality and future growth of the neighborhood, especially with regards to the Arts and Development (Capital Improvements). I think it’s an exciting time to be living in Stapleton with so many development projects occurring here or nearby—the new swimming pool, the new school, the I-70 / Central Park Interchange, the recreation center, the library, the MLK extension to Peoria, the RTD Fast Tracks East Corridor Line (station on Smith Road, DIA Calatrava-designed station/hotel/bridge, Union Station redevelopment), Rocky Mountain Arsenal cleanup… the list goes on and on. I hope the Smith Road station can become one of RTDs TOC pilot projects and I would like to be active in future discussions for development of the next Town Center.

With a young family, I am also interested in maintaining/improving our parks, future park proposals, education issues as well as transit issues (including bikes and mass transit).

I have a varied background that includes the Arts as well as Business/Finance and Information Technology. I currently serve as Treasurer (since 2004) and Arts Committee Chair (since 2003) for the Nash Foundation as I have a strong interest in the arts, especially the Visual Arts. The Nash Foundation makes grants to 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations in Minnesota (primarily the Twin Cities), usually to organizations with operating budgets under $5 million that focus on: the arts, the environment, children and youth, and programs and organizations for women in crisis. During my time as a Board Member, we’ve created an online grant application system to simplify and quicken the application process; formalized many processes and improved our website: http://nashfoundation.org.

Previously served as Board Member of former Denver neighborhood—SUNI (Sunnyside United Neighbors Inc.) (2004-2005) and was actively involved in revitalization efforts (since 1999), including Sunnyside Revitalization Committee Member (2001-2005):

• Created and maintained a community revitalization website.

• Drafted a corridor improvement plan for 44th Avenue and Tejon Avenue.

• Helped secure future light-rail station at 39th and Lipan—written into Blueprint Denver.

• Obtained grant for, and installed, neighborhood welcome signage.

Obtained $100,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant for Underground Storage Tanks (UST) and Brownfields Sites in Sunnyside/North Park Hill—money was used to assess and/or cleanup four sites.

I think I would represent my district well and am excited about having the opportunity to do so.