Growing up in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, Greg spent a lot of time on his bike.
“A bike was a kid’s transport from here to the store, from here to your friend’s house. We were always on bikes,” recalls Greg. For Greg, biking was a way for him to be outside more and avoid distractions. But in the summer, biking was unbearable. “It gets really, really hot,” said Greg. “Over here in Westwood, it’s mostly concrete.”
Greg became aware of the climate challenges faced by his neighborhood through his work at a local bike library initiative. At first, Greg got involved because he saw biking as a healthy outlet for kids like himself, and a practical transportation option for people in his community. However, over time, he learned more about issues like the urban heat island effect and health risks related to extreme heat.
This led him to become more involved in community efforts and further explore sustainable solutions, eventually leading him to Groundwork Denver.
“I learned a lot about the history of my own community by doing environmental justice work, and going to trainings with Aracely,” said Greg. Aracely Navarro is the director of climate justice at Groundwork Denver.
Groundwork Denver is a nonprofit that partners with youth and community members to build a healthy, equitable, and sustainable environment. It engages residents in the planning process and works with them to implement neighborhood-based projects that improve the urban environment.
Groundwork Denver offers various youth programs, including Green Teams, Green Corps, and Green Infrastructure Training, which focus on environmental education and job training. These programs provide young people with practical skills and paid opportunities to work on community projects, and to become leaders in environmental stewardship.
Groundwork Denver not only educates residents about environmental justice, but also engages them in hands-on projects. Greg began his engagement with Groundwork Denver through the Green Teams program. Many of the projects he participated in focused on climate change resiliency initiatives like tree planting, community gardening, and park cleanups.
Additionally, Greg was involved in water education efforts, canvassing neighborhoods to educate residents about the dangers of lead pipes, and providing water filters to affected households. Greg later transitioned from being a Green Teams participant to taking on a leadership role, supervising and mentoring other youth.
“Groundwork helped me change a lot of my habits and a lot of things in my life. It also really helped me see that people see me as a role model,” Greg reflects. This journey helped change Greg’s perspective and equipped him with the skills and confidence to advocate for his community.
These challenges Greg was seeing and learning about in his community are not unique to Westwood; they mirror those faced by low-income communities and communities of color across Denver, which often bear the brunt of environmental inequities. Greg’s story reflects Groundwork Denver’s broader efforts across Sheridan, Commerce City, Aurora, and multiple neighborhoods in the Denver area, including Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Montbello, and Northeast Park Hill.
“Our work is very tangible; you can see the solutions and be part of them. That's how we obtain environmental and climate justice—by involving everyone in some way or another.”
- Cindy Chang, Groundwork Denver's former executive director
Groundwork Denver recognizes the critical role offered by community leaders who are already deeply invested in their neighborhoods. By equipping these leaders with more tools to advocate at the local and state levels, the organization aims to create a more inclusive decision-making process around green spaces and environmental change.
With the support of The Denver Foundation and its donors, Groundwork Denver can expand its programs, engage more youth and community members, and deepen the impact of its community-driven projects.
The Denver Foundation has been supporting Groundwork Denver for fifteen years through funds such as the Community Grants Program, the Technical Assistance Fund, and the Environmental Affinity Group — a group of donors who pool resources to collectively identify, promote, and support environmental causes. Groundwork Denver has also received support from several independent fundholders at The Denver Foundation.
Photo courtesy: Armando Geneyro