The Tienda Foundation, an education and community development organization, is launching a series of free Adult Community Enrichment Programs this summer with partners Colorado State University Pueblo and Pueblo School District 60.

Through the programs, Tienda Foundation co-founders Paul and Yvonne Tienda, both Pueblo D60 and CSU Pueblo alumni, look to address community concerns including crime prevention, college tuition assistance programs, disease prevention and addiction.

Other objectives include formation of neighborhood groups and creation community leaders on a "block-by-block basis," Paul said. Courses will be taught by local law enforcement, education and public health professionals.

"The public has to work together at the grassroots level," Paul said. "We can't ask a single organization to fix these problems ... It's an ambitious message and it's really going to boil down to people being inspired and encouraged to participate."

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Classes are open to those 18years and older living in Pueblo County. Classes will be offered at various times from July 23 to Aug. 20 and will be at three locations in Pueblo including Bessemer Elementary School at 1125 E. Routt Ave., Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School at 2727 W. 18th St., and Fountain International Magnet School at 925 N. Glendale Ave.

On Saturday, July 23, a Neighborhood Watch and Crime Prevention course will be offered at all three locations. An identical course will be offered again on July 30 at Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School and Fountain International Magnet School locations, and on Aug. 6 at Bessemer Elementary School.

"They start essentially working in cooperation with law enforcement and the Neighborhood Watch program," Paul said. "They are staking the sign and basically taking joint collective ownership over their block to become educated on crime prevention, things that can be done to deter crime, how to handle issues and try to prevent escalation of things that are happening within the block."

A course on career paths, apprenticeships, internships, and college tuition assistance programs also will be offered at Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School and Fountain International Magnet School locations on July 23 and again on July 30. Community members will have two more chances to attend the career paths course on Aug. 6 and Aug. 13.

A nutrition and disease prevention course will be offered at all three locations on Aug. 13. An addiction and mental health course will be offered at all three locations on Aug. 20.

"I think there's some people that will benefit from all the classes and there are some who might need to just participate in one, two or three of the classes," Paul said. "I think, relative to drug prevention and addiction, that's something that's affecting all socioeconomic levels. I think most families know of someone within their family or within the community that struggle with addiction and the havoc that it's wreaking on our communities."

Community members can register for courses by calling Christine Elich at 719-549-7191 or emailing her at christine.elich@pueblocityschools.us. Registration is free but community members are asked to register 72 hours in advance.

"If you're wanting to attend the Saturday class, registrations is really is due by Wednesday," Paul said. "If someone calls in on Thursday or Friday, we're going to add them in. We're just trying to ask people to make this reservation as soon as possible so that if we need more space, we have time to do it."