Hope Communities has been directly involved in the creation of thousands of units of affordable housing in Denver for nearly four decades. We serve more than 1,100 individuals each year and currently operate four communities in the diverse Denver neighborhoods of East Colfax, Five Points and Northeast Park Hill. Our vision is a community in which everyone has a safe place to call home and the resources they need to thrive. To achieve this, we offer programs and services to foster economic mobility, enhance health and wellness, and build community.
Over the past few months, our programs have included a focus on girls’ empowerment and leadership, coping and leadership skills for boys, career programs, literacy and computer workshops for adults, and ensuring that children who live in our communities have the supplies they need to succeed in school. Read on for the details...
Young Women’s Leadership Conference
On Saturday, Oct. 6, Hope Communities hosted a Young Women's Leadership Conference. Participants explored leadership potential, career options, and understanding personal strengths.
The girls completed a personality test, which served as a platform for a discussion about their leadership and teamwork styles. They were also given the opportunity to "speed-date" with women from various professions, allowing them to explore unfamiliar careers and learn more about “the real world.” Participants left the conference with renewed confidence, self-awareness and reimagined ideas for their futures.
The conference kicked off the Young Women's Empowerment Group, which runs through the 2018-19 school year and will focus on social-emotional capacity, life skills, problem-solving strategies, personal expression and resiliency. Learn more about Hope Communities' youth development programs.
BOYZ 'N the Gardens
The Gardens, Hope Communities’ Northeast Park Hill complex, held a mini-block party for residents and the surrounding community on Sept. 1. In addition to a barbecue, fun and games, the party was a venue for recruiting young men into BOYZ 'N the Gardens, a club where members can talk about issues in a safe and supportive space and develop coping and leadership skills. Learn more about Hope Communities' community building programs.
Literacy Workshops for Parents ...
The Gardens and Hidden Brook communities each hosted a series of four weekly literacy workshops for parents in September. Presented by Stand for Children Colorado, the workshops presented parents with many skills, from reading strategies to partnering with their child’s teachers to promote student success. Congratulations to our first round of literacy workshop parent graduates, pictured above.
... and Adult Computer Literacy
Who says you can’t keep learning new things through life? Residents learned basic computer skills, including how to navigate the computer, the Internet and email. Senior participants were especially glad they are now able to help their grandchildren with schoolwork. What fun!
Many thanks to a wonderful volunteer, Steve Drucker, for so brilliantly teaching these skills – and to Hope’s Volunteer Manager Maddy Lawson for finding a way for Steve to share his time and talent in such a meaningful way. Learn more about Hope Communities' adult educations programs.
Kids Off to a Great Start Thanks to Supplies Drive
To help Hope's school-aged children get off on the right foot, we collected school supplies for over 160 children who live in our communities and distributed full backpacks at the beginning of the school year. Our thanks (and those of the kids) go to Palace Construction, FirstBank, Jewish Family Service, and the many individuals who bought supplies or donated money to the cause.
In the Works
Career Program
Hope has a newly formed Career Program to provide pathways to economic prosperity. We have been developing key partnerships with employers and finding jobs for hard-to-place residents. As with our other programs, assistance with job exploration, skill development and job placement are free of charge for community members who seek help in finding a better job to support themselves and their families. Learn more about Hope Communities' economic mobility programs.
Girl Scouts
At the suggestion of The Gardens' Community Council, we are signing up girls, ages 5 to 18, who would like to participate in Girl Scouts. An organization of over 2.6 million people (1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults) “who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world,” Girl Scouts fits perfectly with Hope's efforts to promote independence and self-sufficiency in our communities.
Support Hope Communities on Colorado Gives Day!
Colorado’s largest day of giving, Colorado Gives Day, is taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 4, this year. On this day, thousands of people come together to support Colorado nonprofits like ours.
When you donate to Hope Communities, you’re helping us fulfill our mission to strengthen communities and provide pathways to economic and personal opportunity through affordable housing, educational programs and support services.
This 24-hour movement is a chance to increase the value of your donation, thanks to the $1 Million Incentive Fund. Created by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, the fund increases the value of every dollar donated proportionally. Schedule your donation early (between now and December 3) or donate to Hope on Colorado Gives Day.
Families who live in Hope Communities' apartments often don't have the means to buy gifts when the holidays roll around. To make sure the kids aren't disappointed, Hope holds an annual “Treasure Store” and holiday party in December for each of our communities, providing residents with gifts and holiday cheer.
Thanks to the generosity of over a dozen companies and their employees, Hope parents and grandparents will be able to choose from a selection of new toys, winter clothing, books, gift cards and other items to give to the children in their lives without the worry of how they’re going to pay for it. A heartfelt thanks to the following businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations that to date have placed collection boxes in their offices on our behalf:
FirstBank
Palace Construction
Polsinelli
Shea Homes
Spark Policy
Benson Kerrane Storz & Nelson
Metco Landscape
EJ Architecture
MHCLF (Impact Development Fund)
Tallulah Jones
The Posner Center
Kenzi’s Causes
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Aria Co-Housing Community
Second Annual "Hope for the Future" Gala
On Thursday, Sept.6, Hope Communities celebrated our second annual "Hope for the Future" gala. More than 100 people gathered at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to hear stories from our residents, some of Denver’s most vulnerable people, and learn how their lives have been transformed by the work we do.
A father, who spent a decade in prison because he fought for democracy in his homeland, spoke about the life of freedom he hopes for his son in this country. He was joined by a woman who lost her home—and nearly all her hope—before getting a second chance, and a teenager, who lived most of her life in a refugee camp, and hopes to become a physician who one day will save lives in the country of her birth.
Inspired by these stories, party-goers mingled with one another, enjoyed sumptuous food and drink, and bid generously for treasures in a silent auction. In just its second year, the gala brought in over $50,000.
About Hope Communities:
We strengthen communities and provide pathways to economic and personal opportunity through affordable housing, educational programs and support services. Our vision is a community in which everyone has a safe place to call home and the resources they need to thrive. Learn more at hopecommunities.org.
Who says you can’t keep learning new things through life? Residents learned basic computer skills, including how to navigate the computer, the Internet and email. Senior participants were especially glad they are now able to help their grandchildren with schoolwork. What fun!
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to hear stories from our residents, some of Denver’s most vulnerable people, and learn how their lives have been transformed by the work we do.
He was joined by a woman who lost her home—and nearly all her hope—before getting a second chance, and a teenager, who lived most of her life in a refugee camp, and hopes to become a physician who one day will save lives in the country of her birth.
