On
Wednesday, January 21, the Jubilee Center held a community meeting for residents
living in North Denver to discuss our past year of Asset Based Community
Development (ABCD) work and to pose some reflecting questions to them about
their own contributions to the neighborhood. Although we ended up meeting on a
very snowy, cold night, about 40 community members joined in on the meal
provided by Rosa Linda’s and Patsy’s Inn and the following conversation. We
measure our success on this meeting by the lively, passionate, and engaged
conversation that was generated and self-sustained by the people in attendance.
Once we began sharing our story about our experience working on this project
and being members of North Denver, others began sharing their thoughts and
feelings about their time in North Denver too. As we have found time and again
with this endeavor, simply asking questions about people’s experiences, hopes,
and passions is a transformative process. The person who asked the question
begins to see something they may have never thought of before, while the person
answering can take a critical, but positive look at their life and the
circumstances around them.
There was
much preparation for this event by everyone in our office. We worked together
to advertise the event, continue making connections in the community, complete
catering orders, and put together the presentation. Every moment of our presentation
did not go as planned; rather something better happened. The energy of the
people in the meeting took over to create conversation on topics such as
gentrification, making connections with new neighbors, appreciating arts and
cultures of others, and finding ways to articulate thoughts and feelings. With
the exceedingly fast array of changes in the neighborhood (architecturally,
socio-economically, culturally, etc.), many residents are finding it hard to
keep up with what’s happening with neighbors on their own streets. This meeting
was said to be a strong first step for identifying some of the challenges
facing all the people of North Denver right now, but also for showing all the
strengths and resources that North Denver has had in the past and will continue
to build on for generations to come.
Our next
step in ABCD:
Through our
ABCD work, we determined this community meeting was something residents
desperately desired so they would have a welcoming venue for people to discuss
their experiences in North Denver in a larger group setting. As mentioned in the
meeting, it was the first step in creating new community connections and developing
self-empowerment. One of our hoped for outcomes for the ABCD project is to
learn how the Jubilee Center can be a better neighborhood and service provider
to residents in the neighborhood. One way we hope to do this is by continuing
positive, thoughtful community discussions. As of the end of January we will
begin writing our final report of our ABCD work. We will always be listening to
the voices in the neighborhood and do our best to contribute to the community
as a respectful and caring neighbor.
Thank you to
Rosa Linda’s, Patsy’s Inn, Menchie’s, and Rosales Bakery for contributing a
delicious and hearty meal.
Thank you to
Our Merciful Savior for hosting us in the church basement.
Thank you to
Lelanda Lee for helping facilitate the conversation.
And thank
you to everyone who attended the meeting and have supported the ABCD project.
