From The Ground Up
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Please Donate!
 Do you support our community action for environmental results? Please consider a financial donation today!  Bikes, Bikes Bikes at Better Block! In partnership with DPS AmeriCorps, 3t Ministry and Deloitte, 50 bikes were donated and fixed up for youth who had applied for our bike giveaway at Better Block. On June 23rd, a steady stream of happy kids and their parents left the "Strive to Not Drive Shop" with refurbished bikes, plus a new helmet and lock donated by Campus Cycles. New People on the Ground 
Dele Johnson, Green Team Leader  Kristy King, Events Coordinator  Kaeyla Taylor, Administrative Intern 
Rachel Hansgen, Air Quality Coordinator Free Home Energy Assessments! If you live in Denver, contact Elysa for a free energy assessment! Rebates from Xcel Energy and the City of Denver can reduce the cost of insulation by up to 60%. Now is a great time to insulate because it will make your house much cooler and more comfortable in summer. Thank you to our recent donors and sponsors! The Colorado Health Foundation Starbucks Foundation PCL Construction Vodafone Americas Foundation Anschutz Family Foundation Xcel Energy Foundation Group14 Engineering the Better Block Sponsors including: Zocalo Community Development First Bank Sprung Construction AmuseMints Atlas Realty Group Fido's Cookies the Better Block Partners: Walk Denver Jefferson Park United Neighbors Federal Boulevard Partnership Kirsten Brundage, The Interior Brooke Bailey, Kentwood Cherry Creek Streetscapes Creative Roost Terry A. Willis, Architect The Music Train    |
We Made a Better Block!
On Saturday, June 23rd, over 1,500 people came to enjoy a thriving urban neighborhood at 25th Avenue and Eliot Street in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. They ate at an outdoor cafe, watched street performers, and made purchases at the new art gallery, flower shop, transportation shop and pet shop. Thanks to over 150 volunteers, we demonstrated how to make a thriving business district by installing pedestrian and public infrastructure elements, mixed with art, culture, local businesses and street life. Our goal is that the effort will lead to permanent solutions for this one business district and that pedestrian- and bike-friendly infrastructure components, combined with support for local business, becomes the solution for many other districts around the city. Thank you to all of the partners, volunteers, sponsors and visitors who made Better Block a success! Solving an Air Quality Problem in Globeville 
Over a year ago, members of Globeville Civic Association #1 asked us if we could help them solve an air quality problem in the neighborhood. People were waking up in the middle of the night choking on odors that people described as "burning tar." With funding from an EPA Environmental Justice grant, we are working with the University of Colorado at Boulder and local residents to try to identify the source of the problem and determine whether the odors could lead to health impacts. Next week, we will be training a few residents to collect air samples. When the residents experience the bad air quality (often in the middle of the night), they will open a “Summa canister” that will pull in some air. The canister will then be sealed and sent off to a laboratory for analysis to determine whether there are toxic substances in the air. This information will then be used to seek assistance from the EPA, the health departments of the City and State, and the involved businesses to solve the problem. Groundwork's Green Team Goes Wild  The Green Team started their internships at Rocky Mountain National Park last week. For four weeks, our team of 10 young adults will be working alongside National Park Service staff maintaining hiking trails, removing invasive weeds and planting natural vegetation to help replenish and beautify Rocky Mountain National Park. Team members are camping in the park for four days each week and working with Rocky Mountain National Park staff for 10-hour days. At the end of the work day, the Green Teamers enjoy the company of their peers and discover the joys and benefits of the National Park. The internships provide them the opportunity for first-hand experience in various careers offered by the National Park Service. Play at the Platte 
It may have been cloudy on Saturday, May 19th, but that didn't stop almost 75 Globeville residents from having a great time out at Northside Park with Groundwork Denver. Fun activities included a bicycle-powered smoothie machine (thanks to Girls Inc.), a nature walk to Heron Pond, face painting, a fix-a-flat bicycle station, and oven-loads of pizza baked on-site in a wood-fired stove. The primary goal of "Play at the Platte" was to connect Globeville residents to the South Platte River walking/biking path and the underutilized Northside Park. Once residents are more familiar with these recreational spaces, we will work with them to identify potential improvements to the built environment that will make it easier and safer to access them. Lack of sidewalks and bike lanes, the busy Washington Street crossing, and poorly maintained industrial properties have all been identified as barriers to access. Over the next year, we'll be working with the community and our partners at the City to address these barriers.
Bear Creek Tree Planting, Trash Pickup and Outreach 
Our concerted efforts to clean up the urban section of Bear Creek began this April in honor of Earth Day: - 10 volunteers from Coram Specialty Infusion Services cleaned up 300 pounds of trash choking the waterway. - 13 AmeriCorps NCCC members planted 3,000 coyote willows to help stabilize the river banks and provide a habitat for native birds. - 60 high school students with Peace Jam and the Boys and Girls Club knocked on almost 1,000 doors in the Bear Valley neighborhood to provide information about how to keep the river clean. Over the next two years, we will be continuing efforts like these, as well as a watershed planning effort to holistically look at how to achieve clean water. Please contact us if you would like to get involved in helping to clean up Bear Creek. Five Years of Impact with Deloitte 
Thanks to Deloitte's Denver employees for spending their Impact Day with us for the fifth year in a row. Almost 120 volunteers worked on three different projects. Fifteen volunteers repaired 31 bikes for the Better Block giveaway; 35 volunteers brought energy efficiency resources to 1,461 doors in the Platt Park neighborhood; and 62 volunteers built an outdoor staircase and restored natural areas at Red Rocks Park in collaboration with Denver Mountain Parks. As always, Deloitte volunteers were motivated and hard working in their service to the community.
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and promote health and well-being through community-based partnerships and action. Mailing address: 2740 W. 28th Avenue | Denver, CO 80211 | Phone: 303.455.5600 | Fax: 720.306.8026 |
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