Here’s a growing list of events focusing on the anniversary of the July 20 Aurora theater massacre. Send additions to events@aurorasentinel.com or call 303-750-7555.
Survivors of the Aurora theater shooting and the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, will gather to read the names of shooting victims beginning July 19 at noon until 12:38 a.m. July 20 at Cherry Creek State Park’s east entrance, 4201 S. Parker Road in Aurora, the time when the Aurora theater shooting occurred. The remembrance ceremony is being organized by “No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence,” part of Mayors Against Illegal Guns’ education effort to raise awareness about gun violence in America.
The city of Aurora is planning a 7/20 Day of Remembrance event which will begin with a community gathering and ceremony to honor and remember those whose lives were lost, survivors and their loved ones at 7:30 a.m. at the Aurora Municipal Center’s great lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. The ceremony will be followed by a variety of healing activities and community service projects that will take place throughout Aurora. For more information visit 720recovery.org or aurorastrong.bluesunsupport.com.
Schedule of events:
7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Community Gathering and Ceremony, Aurora Municipal Center on the Great Lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Healing Activities, Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway: Activities include spiritual counseling, mental health counseling, art therapy projects, yoga, a nature walk and a poetry reading.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Aurora Strong Resilience Center, 1298 Peoria Street: Free counseling services will be available and other activities will be scheduled for July 20. The center will open to the public in mid-July to all Aurora residents who have been affected by trauma, or who simply want to learn resilience and coping skills to prepare themselves for unexpected trauma. For more information, visit www.720recovery.org.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Community Service Projects: A variety of community service projects have been organized at non-profit organizations throughout Aurora, including Project C.U.R. E., Food Bank of the Rockies, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado, Aurora Mental Health Center, Boys & Girls Club, Aurora North Middle School and others.
City-sponsored projects include:
9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m. 7/20 Cultivation Commemoration: The project involves removal and relocation of existing landscaping rock, installation of weed barrier cloth, soil preparation and planting. 11149 E 14th Ave.
9 a.m. Aurora Strong Beautification: The project includes xeriscaping the garden level, painting mural rocks, and folding cranes filled with messages of hope to decorate the inside. 1298 Peoria Street
9 a.m. Portable Labryrinth: The project will involve laying out and painting a portable labyrinth on canvas. 1298 Peoria Street
9 a.m. Xeriscape Gardening: Activities may include, weeding, mulching, and picking up trash. 15151 E. Alameda Parkway
9 a.m. Painting and Decorating Project: Volunteers will prepare and paint walls. Photos of Colfax Kids will be framed and hung. 1585 Kingston Street
9 a.m. Aurora Chamber and Freedom Memorial: Activities may include power-washing sidewalks, picking weeds and washing and cleaning the memorial. 756 Telluride St.
9:30 a.m. Food Bank of the Rockies: Sort and pack food. 10700 E 45th Avenue Denver,
9:30 a.m. Project C.U.R.E.: Sort medical supplies for shipment to hospitals and clinics in developing nations. 10377 E. Geddes Avenue Centennial
9:30 a.m. Parenting Time Rooms Clean-up: Deep clean living room style rooms at Arapahoe County Children, Youth and Families. 14980 E Alameda Dr Aurora
12 p.m. Art Therapy & Healing Wall Assistance: Volunteers will assist with tracing, cutting, hole punching and hanging of wishes on a display board. May also assist with other art projects on site. 15151 E Alameda Pkwy
Groups and individuals can pre-register for the community service projects scheduled. Complete project descriptions and registration information are available at www.AuroraGov.org/720Volunteer or call 303-739-7000.
Activities around the Aurora Metro area:
9 a.m.-11 a.m. Walk with a naturalist at the Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Avenue: On this walk, naturalist guide Art Else will discuss the healing qualities of both the solitude and the plentitude of the prairie. Art is also a published poet and will read several of his poems at various times on the walk to share how nature has helped heal his grief and pain. For information, call 303-693-3621.
9 a.m.-1 p.m, Bonfils Blood Center blood drive, Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway: Make a blood donation as an act of remembrance. Register for a time slot by calling 303-363-2300.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. The nonprofit victims’ assistance group Aurora Rise is hosting a one-year anniversary event at True Blue Tattoo in Lakewood. People can get memorial tattoos for $20 and bid on artwork, gift certificates and other items during a silent auction. The tattoo parlor opens at 10 a.m. and the silent auction will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 20 at 305 S. Kipling Street, Lakewood.
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