Since we began our work in Edgewater back in 2013, our mission has been cultivating partnerships for thriving Edgewater neighborhoods, schools and businesses. Since the pandemic hit in early 2020, gaps in our community have been magnified that impact our neighborhoods, schools and businesses. Those that own their homes have seen the values of their homes increase, while those that rent have struggled as landlords raise their rates. Many in our community were able to work from home through the pandemic, while others lost their jobs and struggled to find new jobs that paid enough so they could remain in the Edgewater area. The pandemic also impacted education and our local schools in big ways. Remote learning, slow internet and a range of hurdles to learning meant that our local teachers, staff and students are still struggling to rebound from the educational impacts of the pandemic.
At Edgewater Collective, we have a laser focus on implementing programs that will bring equity to Edgewater in our neighborhoods, schools and businesses. The pandemic has magnified this inequity, especially for our Latino students and families, and we can’t wait around for someone else to bridge these gaps. We must act now.
Here’s a look at the programs we are focused on for 2022:
Local Leadership Tables
In Edgewater, we have realized that there are specific groups that have been left out of decision-making processes that have a big impact on them. Latino students and their families have not had a voice in the education of their children and community programs. This fall we launched a Family Council and a Youth Council to create leadership tables where students and families can lead the development of programs and advocate for a great education. We’ve partnered with Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition to implement Family Leadership Teams at each of the Jefferson Area schools.
In 2022, we will launch resident-led leadership tables at specific apartment complexes in Edgewater where residents can connect and lead projects that will help their communities thrive. For too long, residents at apartment complexes in Edgewater have been disconnected from civic life in our community. We are so thankful to Community First Foundation for investing in these family and resident-led initiatives.
Jefferson Success Academy
Last summer we had great success working with teachers to help students make academic and holistic gains in our six-week Jefferson Success Academy at Edgewater Elementary School. This Monday, we are starting an after school version of Jefferson Success Academy at Edgewater Elementary to offer math, literacy and enrichment programming for free to students. We’ll soon launch the program at Molholm Elementary and Lumberg Elementary in early 2022. In addition, we are already planning for a six-week Jefferson Success Academy this summer.
Jefferson Success Academy shows great promise in providing additional math and literacy learning opportunities for students as well as fun and engaging enrichment activities.
Worker Cooperatives
As we’ve connected with parents in our area, it is becoming evident that we need another avenue to help families gain wealth, especially families that haven’t had access to pathways to moving up the economic ladder. Too often parents work in industries where they haven’t been able to advance their careers. This means that with rising rents, they are having to make hard choices and can’t continue to live in the Edgewater area.
We are working to create worker cooperatives in specific industries so that families can control their own economic futures and take home more of the money they earn. According to the Democracy Collaborative, “Worker-owned cooperatives are business enterprises that are owned and governed by their employees. All worker cooperatives have two common characteristics: 1) member-owners invest in and own the business together, and share the enterprise’s profits, and 2) decision-making is democratic, with each member having one vote.”
Here’s a great example of what worker cooperatives can look like:
How You Can Help
- Support this work financially: This Tuesday is Colorado Gives Day. Community First Foundation has created a $1.6 million dollar Incentive Fund that boosts donations made through Colorado Gives Day. Click here to donate to Edgewater Collective and support this important work to create equity in Edgewater.
- Cooking for a Cause: Join us to celebrate Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 7 as we learn how to prepare a delicious meal and cocktail! Click here to learn more.
- Volunteer: We are looking for volunteers to help with Jefferson Success Academy and provide coaching as we launch the worker cooperatives and leadership councils. Contact Joel Newton (joel@edgewatercollective.org) if you are interested in volunteer opportunities.
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
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