AURORA | The Community College of Aurora will hold a pair of events Thursday, June 16, in an effort to provide services and solidarity to those affected by the recent mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
Deemed “Solidarity with Orlando,” the events, which will be free and open to the public, will take place at both CCA’s CentreTech and Lowry campuses, according to Mary Meeks, spokeswoman for CCA.
“We want to reach out to our faculty, staff and the public who may need a safe and affirming place to express their thoughts and feelings,” Meeks said.
The first event will be held at CCA’s CentreTech campus, 16000 E. CentreTech Pkwy., beginning at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. A candlelight peace vigil will follow at 4:15 p.m.
An identical gathering will be held at CCA’s Lowry campus at 710 Alton Way in Denver from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The peace vigil is slated to begin there at 6:15 p.m.
There will be an expressive art station and on-hand grief counselors at both events, according to Meeks.
State Rep. Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora) and Chelsea Sobolik, a CCA alumnus who survived the Aurora theater shooting in 2012, are both expected to make remarks at the vigils.