3280 North Downing Street
Denver, CO 80205
United States
Our Mission
Groundwork Denver partners with youth and community to build a healthy, equitable, and sustainable environment. Our goals include:
- To build bridges between residents, businesses and government to accomplish positive environmental change.
- To support the growth and development of environmental and community leaders from the neighborhoods where we work through youth employment, internships and community-based jobs.
- To promote the inclusion of the diversity of people in our communities in decision-making and in action.
- To ensure equal access to a clean and healthy environment for everyone, regardless of where they live, their economic status or their race or ethnicity.
How We Carry Out Our Mission
We are “doers”, not “talkers”. We plant trees, we improve parks, we clean up rivers, we grow food, we insulate houses, and we coordinate thousands of volunteers to help.
Our History
Groundwork Denver was incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 2002 as an independent non-profit in the Groundwork USA network. Groundwork Denver was created in response to a feasibility study that was conducted by a steering committee made up of residents, non-profit leaders, and City agencies. The study found that Groundwork Denver could fill a critical niche to engage residents in the planning process and work with residents to implement tangible neighborhood-based projects that improve the urban environment. Our expertise, program areas, and volunteer mobilization have expanded from the original feasibility study to meet the requests of the community in a wide range of urban environmental and community development issues.
Opportunity Examples
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING (GRIT) PROGRAM
Groundwork Denver's Green Infrastructure Training program, or "GRIT," is a paid opportunity for young adults between the ages of 18-29 years old to develop professional skills related to green jobs.
Over the course of two months, participants will begin to embody community leadership skills, deepen their relationship with the natural world, learn how to succeed in the workplace, practice green job skills, and launch their green careers.
GREEN TEAMS
The Youth Green Team is a summer employment program for youth approximately aged 14 to 18-years old. Participants will work on projects focused on improving the physical environment and health and well-being for the Denver metropolitan area, as well as our public lands, including national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges. Past projects have included planting community gardens, cleaning up area waterways, city parks and open spaces, community events, tree plantings, neighborhood beautification, connecting residents with resources, habitat restoration and more.
GREEN CORPS
The Groundwork Denver Green Corps is a summer employment program for young adults ages approximately 18 to 29-years old. Participants work on projects focused on improving the physical environment and health and well-being for our public lands and the urban environment. This year, the Green Corps will focus primarily on three projects: 1. Improving and maintaining The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Service. 2. Outreach, recruitment, and providing the following services to target neighborhoods: installing rain barrels, rain gardens and planting trees. 3. Assisting Denver Parks and Recreation department with park clean-ups and maintenance.
