Edgewater Mayor Pro Tem Kali Janda (Photo by Lee Stiffler-Meyer, Let the Light In Studio)
Guest Post by Mayor Pro Tem Kali Janda
For many of us, this year has been overwhelming. Exhausting. Terrifying in a lot of ways. Maybe you are doom-scrolling in the middle of the night wondering what could possibly happen next, only to wake up and read about a fresh threat to democracy and the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans; not to mention the people impacted by atrocities across the globe. Maybe you have unplugged from social media and turned off the news altogether. Maybe neither of these apply to you, but you’re still left wondering what part you can play in your community in 2025.
If you’re feeling the tug to “get involved,” but you’re not quite sure how to do that, allow me to share some concrete ideas. This list is by no means exhaustive, but there are some immediate steps you can take in Edgewater starting today.
Apply for an opening on a Board or Commission. There are several important boards and commissions that you can participate in to help steer and support specific areas of city life – learn more about them at Boards and Commissions in Edgewater. Currently, we are working to establish a City Charter Review Task Force so if that piques your interest, apply for this one ASAP. This group will comprise up to 7 passionate volunteers who will review and propose amendments to the City Charter, ensuring it meets the needs of our growing community. Learn more and apply here: Edgewater Charter Review Task Force.
The City website reads, “The Edgewater Charter is the formal written document that establishes the structure of the City of Edgewater. The current Edgewater Home Rule Charter requires the City Council to review the Charter for possible amendments at least once every six (6) years. The City Council last reviewed the Charter in 2020.
City Council has created the Charter Review Task Force composed of community members to review and propose amendments. Utilizing community members to review the charter provides more community input and engagement in the review process. Amendments will be presented to City Council as the basis for possible ballot issues in 2026 or later.
Any changes would not occur unless there is a successful vote of the people in an upcoming election.”
Volunteer for a nonprofit organization in our community. There is a nonprofit out there that needs your time, your love and your skills. Not sure where to start? Check out the Colorado Gives website; there you can search based on your interests or passions and find the right fit for you. Visit their website and reach out!
Attend a community event. I may be biased, but I honestly think that the City of Edgewater throws the best events around. By showing up at some of the annual seasonal events like a Summer Concert in the Park, Hometown Fest, the Winter Warm Up or Ring in Spring, you have the opportunity to connect with others, enjoy good food, find resources you may be seeking, and just take a well-deserved break from the chaos to relax and have fun. And keep your eyes out for plenty of other awesome events throughout the year, as there are ample opportunities to show up in this way. (There are often calls for volunteers to support these events, which is a nice way to dip your toes into civic engagement).
Engage with City Council. Attend a meeting – virtually or in person. Make a public comment during a meeting – spend up to three minutes talking about something on the agenda or about anything you’d like to say to the community and to the folks who represent you and make decisions that affect you (Public Comment Info). Or email us – share what matters to you including your concerns, the things you love about our city or things you’d like to see improved. All seven council members, the mayor and the city manager will receive an email sent to CityCouncil@EdgewaterCO.com. AND, if this kind of communication still feels uncomfortable or too formal for you…
Join us at Council in the Community. Once a month, at a different time, location and day of the week, two council members are available to chat with you out in the community. We’ve hosted two outings thus far; council and community members met at Sati Coffee in March and at the Edgewater Public Market in April. This week, Councilwoman Mercedes Valdez and I will be at Rupert’s on the Edge at 10:00 AM on Thursday, May 15th. Maybe it’s hard to imagine yourself public speaking or showing up in person at council chambers. Maybe you have schedule conflicts on Tuesday nights or perhaps cannot leave your home during dinner and bedtime. This is a casual opportunity designed for you to engage. Please join us around town to learn more about council-happenings, share your ideas, or just enjoy meeting your neighbors. Future Council in the Community sessions will be June 23rd from 4:00-5:00 PM at the Edgewater Beer Garden and July 17th from 5:00-6:00 PM at Joyride Brewing.
Organize a small gathering to do something positive for our community. If you’re more of an introvert or you’re not ready to engage in any of the ways I’ve shared, there are always opportunities to support in other capacities. Enhance our urban forest plan by helping a neighbor plant a tree (Sustainable Living Education and Resources). Host a book club on the patio of one of our amazing local restaurants. Get a little crew together to clean up litter on your street. The possibilities are endless, and at the end of the day, it’s all incredibly important.
I hold a sincere hope that our community will continue to come together to actively participate in civic life – not just as observers, but as engaged residents who care deeply about the shared future we’re building. Zoom in with me and let us focus on tangible actions we can take at the local level. Every act of involvement strengthens the fabric of our precious Edgewater community.
The views expressed in this article represent Kali Janda’s personal experience and passion as an Edgewater resident, as a council member, and as a neighbor who cares deeply about this community. Kali Janda can be reached at kjanda@edgewaterco.com.
What a depressing way to start a conversation to your constituents . It would be nice for our representative to apparently be unbiased in her outlook. There are many residents that wake up every morning excited to see what’s being done to restore our country to its former glory, not a democracy being threatened. There are many of us relieved and not exhausted so please don’t forget the other half with your future actions.