ULC May Partner Spotlight of the Month
The Urban Land Conservancy celebrates the achievements of its partnerships that generate opportunities to create and preserve real estate to benefit communities in metro Denver. ULC’s Monthly Partner Spotlight is awarded to partners who recognize and demonstrate the value of collaboration, furthering ULC’s mission and improving lives of Denver area residents through community assets.
Congratulations to our May Partner Spotlight of the Month, the Tramway Nonprofit Community.
ULC acquired the Tramway building (formerly known as the Phillips Center) in 2007, and we have been planning its redevelopment through a community lens ever since. After years of working with the nonprofit community, Denver Shared Spaces, the Denver Office of Economic Development (OED), and the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program, the vision continues to be realized and now Tramway benefits from nearly $2.4 million in improvements.
“The City of Denver has been investing into the Tramway Nonprofit Center for many years, we continue to invest in order to support the nonprofit tenants that are here serving the community and creating local jobs. The Tramway shared space is a gem in this wonderful residential neighborhood, the synergy that comes from this model is impressive,” stated Jodi Adkins, Community Development Representative with OED.
Throughout this time the organizations within the building have also grown and flourished. Currently, 14 community-focused organizations are located in this building that takes up an entire city block. The organizations share common amenities – including a newly redesigned HUB space. All of the mission driven organizations work towards bettering the Denver area in a variety of ways. Approximately two thirds of the organizations have a youth or education focus, while others take on challenges such as job placement and nonprofit real estate development. The Tramway center’s communal meeting and mingling spaces allow for impromptu meetings and collaborations.
How do the Tramway Nonprofit Center organizations play an important role in the community?
“This is a great neighborhood for Tramway, the work being done here is becoming increasingly more dynamic because of the collaboration and interactive partnerships forming. It is a fun place to work, it’s affordable, and has a great vibe that compliments the work we are doing,” said Bill Fulton, Co-Founder and President, Civic Canopy.
Michael Higgins, Director of Programs for Colorado Construction Institute explained, “It is important for us to be in this neighborhood as we are working with youth in north Denver, this has us right in the middle of the community we are serving through youth education, job training and life skills. Tramway provides a fantastic opportunity to partner with nonprofits who are also serving this region and gives us a chance to come together for bigger impact through collaboration.”
ULC would like to spotlight all of the incredible organizations that bring life to the Tramway Nonprofit Center including:
The Partnership for Families and Children identifies, creates, and supports the best programs, policies and practices to improve the health, education, and well-being of children and their families.
The Denver Early Childhood Council is a coalition of leaders across Denver representing families, businesses, early education, health, mental health, and family support services who are committed to working together on behalf of our youngest children.
The Civic Canopy promotes a deeper understanding of civic challenges and more effective ways to solve them together through community dialogues, collaborative projects, and communication among network partners.
The Colorado Construction Institute at its highest intention is a viable post-secondary education option that brings a much needed career readiness training opportunity to a large portion of the undeserved workforce.
High Plains Food Coop fosters a local food community and promotes a culture of stewardship by cultivating farmer-consumer relationships, promoting the enjoyment of healthful food, increasing food security through diversity, and enhancing overall rural sustainability.
STEPTOE Initiative (Solving The Earth’s Problems Through Organic Energy) is an umbrella non-profit real estate development company. Since 1980, we have been developing affordable housing with great emphasis on “green” technology and design.
WorkLife Partnership provides direct services and training to employees to help them overcome the barriers that keep them from getting to work, staying at work, and being productive at work.
As a GOAL Academy student, students can obtain a quality education and a high school diploma. GOAL’s program uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver an engaging curriculum.
Early Excellence Preschool Program (EEP) provides students with high quality educational experiences that prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.
cityWILD provides low income and culturally diverse youth with outdoor and environmental learning opportunities, while promoting personal empowerment, leadership and community involvement. cityWILD has been a tenant at Tramway since before we acquired the building!
Colorado Disability Benefits Support Program (Colorado DBS) assists individuals with disabilities, including those with chronic conditions/illnesses, to acquire income, health insurance and other basic needs to stabilize their lives, health and living situations.
Denver Urban Scholars is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students graduate high school. Their goal is to help each Denver Urban Scholar earn a high school diploma from a top-performing Denver-area private or charter high school.
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization committed to providing cost-effective, community-based alternatives to institutional placement through direct service, advocacy, and policy change since 1975.
Open Door Ministries exists to provide practical help and hope to people in Denver’s inner city who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Their mission is to show mercy, build community, and make disciples for Christ in urban Denver.
Thank you to all who attended this week’s Open House showcasing recent improvements made to the building, and educating stakeholders about the organizations housed within the Center that make such a positive impact in the community. The event was an opportunity for the various groups to chat over food and beverages, while also welcoming the public into the space with took tours led by ULC staff.
ULC’s very own Facilities Manager, Christine Ortega, shared, “This is like home to me. I was born and raised in this neighborhood, I love giving back to my community by supporting the nonprofits working here at Tramway.”