[Colorado-Talk] Fwd: Wade Blank Memorial Station

[Gary Van Dorn]

I received the below email from my long-time friend Joe Beaver.  Joe retired as bookkeeper for many years for the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition.  I hope you are able to attend Tuesday’s RTD Board Meeting in person or via Zoom.  Wade Blank worked to make RTD accessible for all of us.  Reading about Wade is very inspirational.

In a nutshell, the Rev. Wade Blank worked in a nursing home in the 1970s.  He became inspired to work with people with disabilities.  One of the best complements I saw researching him is the Colorado Sun calling Wade a “Disability Rights Radical”.  Wade organized the Original Gang of 19 who blocked two RTD buses<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5VslKFoPyM> at Broadway and Colfax.  Wade drowned off Baja California attempting to save his son who was drowning.  There is far more.

The NFBCO has no official position concerning the renaming of Civic Center.  I still encourage you to attend to support our friends at CCDC who support this effort.

Gary

Begin forwarded message:

From: Joe Beaver <j_beaver at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Wade Blank Memorial Station
Date: January 26, 2024 at 15:09:30 MST
To: "Bouquet, Julien" <Julien.Bouquet at rtd-denver.com>, "Broom, Bob" <bob.broom at rtd-denver.com>, "Buzek, Vince" <vince.buzek at rtd-denver.com>, "Catlin, Peggy" <peggy.catlin at rtd-denver.com>, "Davidson, Eric" <Erik.Davidson at rtd-denver.com>, "Guissinger, Lynn" <lynn.guissinger at rtd-denver.com>, "Guzman, Michael" <michael.guzman at rtd-denver.com>, "Harwick, Ian" <ian.harwick at rtd-denver.com>, "Rosenthal, Paul" <Paul.Rosenthal at rtd-denver.com>, "Ruscha, Joy Ann" <joyann.ruscha at rtd-denver.com>, "Sloan, Marjorie" <Marjorie.Sloan at rtd-denver.com>, "Tisdale, Doug" <doug.tisdale at rtd-denver.com>, "Whitmore, Troy" <troy.whitmore at rtd-denver.com>
Cc: Gabe Christie <Gabe.Christie at rtd-denver.com>, Julie Reiskin <jreiskin at ccdconline.net>, Dawn Russell <cdawnrussell1965 at gmail.com>

Next Tuesday, January 30th, at 5:30 PM, RTD Directors will be having a meeting, and renaming the Civic Center Station to Wade Blank Memorial Station at Civic Center is on the agenda. We have made great progress with your email support, including 26 State legislators.😀 Thank you!

As I understand it, the first part of the meeting is open for public comment. Fortunately, for me, at least, we do not have to attend in person. With the miracles of modern technology, we can participate online for up to 3 minutes. I suspect you will also have an opportunity to leave a message in the chat box if you don't care to voice your support. You do have to register, however. Here is the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OMqDCWPpQDC-221LV9uXrg#/registration

I sincerely appreciate your support for this project. It's a low-cost effort to bond with the disability community and bring recognition to the efforts RTD has made to make Denver one of the most accessible cities in the U.S. This could be a national celebration if promoted properly and to inspire the use of public transportation for everyone.

Ideally, we could put this on the calendar for July 5, 2024 - the anniversary of the Gang of Nineteen sit-in.

Joe Beaver
On 11/20/2023 12:50 PM MST Joe Beaver <j_beaver at comcast.net> wrote:


Dear RTD Director:

As an ex-officio member of the Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (ACPD) representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), I proposed renaming the Civic Center Station to the Wade Bank Memorial Station. For those unfamiliar with Wade Blank, please read the attachment and the significance of the location of this particular station. Actions taken here under his leadership changed the world for those of us with disabilities. RTD should show its pride in being the first city to have an all-accessible public transportation system by renaming the station in Wade Blank's honor. It would be a significant gesture of fellowship from RTD to the disability community.

In our ACPD meeting last week, Stuart Summers, Chief Communication and Engagement Officer, spoke on this issue and told us that bus stations are named after their location - thus Civic Center Station. This particular location bears much more importance than its location - it is a historic site that changed the world and needs to be recognized as such by renaming it Wade Blank Memorial Station. Please do all you can to make this happen.



Joe Beaver

Ex Officio Member

Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities


"Happiness can only exist when it is shared."

                                                       - Into the Wild

"Grief is just love with no place to go."

                                                      - Jamie Anderson

"Nothing About Us Without Us - Ever!"

Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC)

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