Community Initiatives
Manitou Springs Students Initiative & Manni Neighborhood Connection Parties
The Manitou Springs Community Foundation is delighted to announce a new initiative to help ensure that all Manitou Springs students feel safe, prepared, and supported. Through our partnerships with the MS School District, Kidpower and Peak Education we are raising funds to help the School District expand these programs in the Manitou Springs and Ute Pass Elementary Schools and Manitou Springs High School. Click here for more information.
We are excited about a new initiative designed to strengthen the bonds within our vibrant community. To do so, we have started the Manni Neighborhood Connection parties which offer residents a chance to connect with neighbors, and foster a spirit of community. For more information contact Shanti Toll, shantitoll@hotmail.com or (719) 321-5354.
A sampling of our grant projects…
manni neighborhood parties
MSCF is funding neighborhood block parties to encourage connections and collaborations on the street where you live. The goals of these Manni Neighborhood Connection parties are: Have fun and enjoy the day, get to know your neighbors and exchange contact information, talk about things that would improve your neighborhood and our town. Click here for more info.
Flying Pig Yurt Project
The Yurt at Flying Pig Farm provides a year round classroom for students to learn about land stewardship, fresh food cultivation, and the long human tradition of caring for our planet. During the summer, the yurt provides shade and shelter for art projects, seed sorting, and creative conversations, while in the winter, it serves as our kitchen, tea room, craft studio, and quiet reflection space. During seasonal festivals, it becomes a great music hall.
MANITOU MUSIC FOUNDATION
The Manitou Springs Community Foundation believes that bolstering the offering of live music in Manitou Springs will enhance the social vitality and strengthen community connections. In the words of Leonard Bernstein, "Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable".
Poetry Heals Summer Program
Poetry Heals provides therapeutic writing classes to many vulnerable populations, including institutionalized, LGBTQIA2+, and homeless youth, adults in addiction recovery and/or exiting homelessness, and low-income children. Every Wednesday afternoon in the summer, Poetry and Pottery appears in Soda Springs Park in Manitou Springs. Potters and writing mentors set up pottery wheels, a kiln, and tables full of writing materials for all to express themselves in art.
MANITOU SPRINGS POLLINATOR FESTIVAL
Manitou Springs desired to be among those forward thinking cities that wanted to act locally to effect globally. By enhancing our natural environment, the belief was we could make Manitou Springs a more “Pollinator friendly” city. The creation of Manitou Springs Pollinator district was an outgrowth of work begun in 2018 by the Manitou Springs Pollinator Project.
Manni Awards
The Manni Awards were started by the Manitou Spring Community Foundation members over 11 years ago to honor and acknowledge all the good community work done by our citizens. But more, the Manni Awards celebration is a gathering of Manitoids to yearly re-connection and share. It keeps alive the tradition of great community potluck dinners. The 2025 Manni Awards will be held in March 2025. Check out the 2024 awards at - https://www.youtube.com/@manniawards