EDGEWATER COUNCIL Addressing Challenges In Affordability And Aging Page 4
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Ready For A Quiz Of Jefferson County History? Page 5
NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS First Friday At 40 West: ‘Abstracts’ Page 7
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Gazette NEIGHBORHOOD
EDGEWATER
| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS | WEST HIGHLAND January 15 – February 11, 2020 • ngazette.com • FREE
WCCA Continues Advocacy For Historic West Colfax In 2020 n By
William P. Marino
I
t’s that time of year again – we’re all making fresh New Year’s resolutions. Is one of yours to get better connected to the West Colfax community? Do you want to get the latest inside scoop on local news? Want to interact with local civic leaders? Then West Colfax Community Association (WCCA) is the place for you. WCCA is a long-standing coalition of citizens, business owners, community leaders and local organizations working together to foster an engaged community and advance the economic vitality of West Colfax. WCCA exists to serve Lakewood’s West Colfax, its businesses, residents and partner organizations by providing reliable community information, a forum for community dialogue, and a unified voice for community advocacy to help support the quality of life and economic revitalization of this historic corridor. Continued on page 2
LUIS MARTINEZ AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER TONY HELP THEIR MOM shop at The Action Center’s food pantry. PHOTO BY LAURIE DUNKLEE
The Action Center To Expand Services With Shelter In 2020 n By
T
Laurie Dunklee
here’s no shame in asking for help,” says Laurie Walowitz, director of programs at The Action Center, a nonprofit that helps people facing hardships or homelessness. “We want everyone to know that we’re here and to feel comfortable coming over.” The Center, at 8755 W. 14th Ave. in Lakewood, serves Jefferson County residents and those experiencing homelessness. Their main services include groceries, clothing and rent assistance. “There’s no typical participant in our programs,” Walowitz said. “Maybe somebody’s car breaks down and they can’t afford to fix it, so they come for one-time help. On the other end are people with longterm issues who come here a lot. We’re here for whoever.” The nonprofit has 25 employees but relies heavily on its more than 4,000 volunteers. Chris Bentson, a volunteer who checks participants in for services, decided she wanted to help after taking a tour of the Center. “I enjoy talking with the people,” she said. “I like finding out their story and knowing that we are helping.” “Volunteers mostly just listen,” said Walowitz. “Our participants can feel invisible and unsupported, but here they are respected. One participant said, ‘When I come here, I feel whole again.’” The Action Center is a one-stop resource for services. Besides food and clothing, participants can make appointments with on-site partners including Jeffco Human Services, Jeffco Workforce Center, Benefits in Action (to help with applications for Medicaid and other programs), and Red Rocks Community College. Rent and utilities assistance is provided, when available, through Federal block grants.
New in 2020 will be a shelter for homeless students attending Red Rocks Community College. Walowitz said the shelter will begin housing single students early this year and build up to 21 beds, including families with children. “Helping to stabilize students while they finish their education is a cutting-edge program to prevent homelessness,” she said. A 2018 survey of more than 3,000 students at four Denver colleges found 18 % had experienced homelessness while in
school. At Red Rocks Community College, “this population is far greater than you would imagine,” says Stephanie Studebaker, a college employee and liaison between the school and The Action Center. The new shelter builds on a longstanding relationship between Red Rocks and The Action Center. A college representative meets participants at the Center to discuss education and career path options and help with applications and financial aid. The Action Center’s most-used service
is the food bank, which distributes more than two tons of food per day. On a recent Thursday the food pantry, which is set up like a grocery store, was well stocked with fresh produce, baked goods, frozen foods and non-perishables. Participant Jessica was shopping with her 14-year-old twin sons, Alex and Caleb. The Wheat Ridge resident also has a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old at home. “We have a bunch of hungry teenagers, so we need food,” said young Alex. Continued on page 11
PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
New Edgewater City Manager Wears Many Hats n By
Ken Lutes
I
love my leadership role,” said Dan Maples, City of Edgewater’s new city manager. Maples welcomes his elevated role with the city, bringing to it the same energy he shared as the city’s deputy city manager. “I like working with people and I love working with staff, trying to get them as efficient and energetic and goal driven as I can. “I have a lot of energy, and I like a lot of things coming at me at once. That’s how I’ve always been. That’s what gets me up in the morning – knowing that I have a lot of things to accomplish.” Maples said that much of what prepared him for stepping into this role must be credited to previous city manager H. J. Stalf, whom he thinks of as a mentor. “H. J. involved me in a lot of different aspects. Being in a small community, you see minute pieces of a lot of things, and you’ve got to wear a lot of hats.” Citing his time as deputy city manager, Maples said that experience helped him to become better able to tackle bigger projects more quickly. “There aren’t as many levels to get through. There’s less red tape than there might be DAN MAPLES, EDGEWATER’S NEWLY in a larger city, and you get to see projects from start to finish. That’s why I like working APPOINTED CITY MANAGER, is eager
to tackle many new city projects in 2020.
Continued on page 2 PHOTO BY KEN LUTES