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Working with residents and organizations in Denver, Black Lives Matter 5280 builds more loving and united Black communities while eliminating anti-Black violence and racism. To expose, address, and eradicate structural oppression in Denver, BLM5280 uses a holistic racial justice approach that strengthens health and wellness, community building, educational programming, economic sustainability, and direct action strategizing. This approach to racial equity is fortified by a commitment to economic justice—one that counters the ongoing effects of slavery and the continuous exploitation of Black labor, while challenging white supremacy. Our chapter is part of a national movement, aligned in Black love, power, and liberation, embodying the declaration that Black Lives Matter–regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, immigration status or location, gang affiliation, profession, ability, economic status, and religious beliefs or disbelief. Also keeping with the national movement, BLM5280 centers and celebrates the lives and leadership of Black women and girls. We firmly believe that communal visions of liberation are the way forward into a beloved society that affirms gender equality, racial equity, and social justice. Our work is to cultivate communities of abundant joy where all Black people are emboldened and empowered to lead, love, heal, and thrive.

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In 1977, Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA), the brain child of former State Senator Gloria Tanner, was founded by 13 women who wanted to encourage African-American participation in the political process and serve as a political advocate for the African-American community.

Today, the organization’s steadfast commitment to the vision of its founders is evident through its programs and services. Its members seek, daily, to infuse Colorado politics with the strength and perspective of the Black woman.

CCLP is a leader in the advocacy community. We provide policymakers, opinion leaders, nonprofit organizations and the general public with research and education about issues of import to lower-income Coloradans; we advocate in the legislature and before executive decision makers on behalf of those issues, and we litigate them when necessary.

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado.

The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being and stability of those it serves.

Since its founding in 1984, the organization has earned state and national recognition for its integrated health care, housing, and service programs.

The Coalition’s comprehensive approach addresses the causes of homelessness, as well as the consequences, offering critical assistance to over 15,000 families and individuals each year.

Founded in 1988, Urban Peak is the only non-profit organization in Denver that provides a full convergence of services for youth ages 15 through 24 experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Our goal is to help these youth overcome real life challenges and become self-sufficient adults.

We do this by providing five essential services at little or no cost to the youth (youth in housing do pay a minimal rent each month):

• an overnight shelter
• a daytime Drop-In Center
• Street Outreach
• Education & Employment programming
• Supportive housing

Driving educational excellence for all Colorado students by harnessing the power of grassroots activism and stimulating wise investment in Colorado’s public schools, colleges, and universities.

For over 50 years, we’ve worked with communities statewide to ensure that our quality of life and our environment are protected. We work to elect pro-conservation leaders to public office and then hold our decision makers accountable to move Colorado forward in protecting our environment.

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Colorado Open Lands is a 501(c)3 nonprofit land trust that exists to protect Colorado’s land and water resources. We work primarily with private landowners to place voluntary agreements called conservation easements on their property. Their ranch stays their ranch, their farm stays their farm. The process is driven by the wishes of the landowner with the goal of protecting open space, water, and wildlife habitat – forever.

We believe that the unmatched quality of life that Colorado offers is directly tied to our natural resources. With projected growth of over 1 million new residents in the next ten years,* we believe we can preserve that quality of life by protecting the most special places in Colorado while we still have the chance.

How does our work benefit you, if you don’t own land?
We value the same things you value. We love fresh water, healthy local food, places to play outside, breathtaking views, thriving wildlife, and the healthy economy that all these things bring to Colorado. Protecting land protects the things you value – forever.

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The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) is dedicated to the advancement of all forms of renewable energy (RE), energy efficiency (EE), and their synergy with sustainability and economic development. Our goal is to raise awareness and provide educational activities, through all CRES chapters, to increase the adoption of existing and emerging EE/RE technologies, techniques, and policies. CRES is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)3 membership organization.

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Environment Colorado is a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization and a project of Environment America. Our professional staff combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for Colorado's environment. Environment Colorado draws on 30 years of success in tackling our state's top environmental problems.

Whether it’s exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, hiking Dolores Canyon, or enjoying a special place closer to home, Colorado’s natural wonders—and amazing places across the country—enrich our lives in countless ways. Yet the places we love and the values we share are too often threatened.

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For more than 50 years, The Nature Conservancy in Colorado has protected one million acres and improved 1,000 river miles across the state. With your help, we will continue to protect and restore Colorado’s lands, forests and waters for future generations. Thank you for supporting our work!

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With more than 73,000 members and supporters here in Colorado, we work together to protect our communities and the planet.

The Sierra Club Colorado Chapter works state-wide to focus our work at the municipal and county levels. We're involved in everything from hiking, to environmental education, to conservation - join in and help us protect the air, land, water and wildlife throughout this beautiful state!

Since our founding in 2002, the Colorado Health Institute has provided evidence-based data and information to inform policy, advance health, promote collaboration and support better access to care for all Coloradans.

That remains true today. But, times have changed, and so has CHI.

As a health policy research institute, research is our priority. But it is just the beginning of our work. We have branched out in response to profound innovations in health, health care and health policy. Today, we are trusted strategic advisors and sought-after facilitators. We are skilled evaluators. We are a valued partner with the individuals, groups and communities across the state working to make Colorado No. 1 in health.

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Our mission is to enhance healthcare services in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. Our vision is to improve healthcare services available in rural communities to ensure that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare.

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Our mission is to build communities of recovery and hope by educating, supporting, and advocating for individuals affected by mental illness and their families.

NAMI Colorado is dedicated to building better lives for the One Million plus Coloradans and their families who are affected by any number of mental illnesses - schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, panic disorder and others.

For resources and help, contact our Helpline at 303-321-3104.

NAMI Colorado is affiliated with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) national organization.
Additional information at www.nami.org

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The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (NFBCO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of blind people of all ages, their families and friends. Our members and leaders provide advocacy and support to blind and visually impaired Coloradans across the state. We work together to promote full participation and integration of blind people in all areas of life, and we serve as an advocate for change when equal access and treatment of the blind is denied.

Chapters and divisions across the state offer community based forums for the blind and visually impaired to interact and work together on issues at the local level. As a state-wide group, the NFBCO brings the collective experiences of our members together to identify problems or needs and work for change at the state and national levels.

The NFB of Colorado believes that the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the general misunderstanding and lack of information about blindness that exist. We believe that with the proper training, opportunity and positive attitudes, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical nuisance.

Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) is a Denver-based grassroots nonprofit that is both Latina-led and Latina-serving. COLOR provides a voice on reproductive rights, health and justice for Latinas, their families and allies. We lift the voices of Latinas and empower our community to lead successful, healthy lives.

COLOR’s work blends leadership development, organizing and advocacy. Our connection with our base through cultural resonance and through the strategic, braided approach of our programming is our pride and strength.

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Since our founding, Mi Familia Vota has integrated local organizing, leadership development, advocacy and building broad community partnerships with our voter engagement work; focusing on local,state and federal elections. Comprehensive immigration reform, education, healthcare, workers’ rights, climate change and the environment, and voter rights have been the core issues at the heart of our work, locally and nationally. The result has been a deep connection with the local Latino community and a strong sense of empowerment from the voters we have helped to create and mobilize.

Our voter engagement program has been extremely effective at expanding Latino voter participation through community organizing, citizenship, voter registration, voter education and Get-Out-the-Vote programs; leveraging our strong networks in the community and organizational voter engagement capacity. Program evaluations of our efforts have found a statistically significant positive impact on changing voter behavior.

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The ACLU of Colorado is the state’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. We’re a private institution funded exclusively by the generous donations of our supporters. Our mission is to protect, defend and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education and advocacy.

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Founded in 1999, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate the overuse of the criminal justice system and advance community health and safety. We are people convicted of crime, survivors of crime, and the families and allies of both. We advocate and organize for public safety strategies that are more holistic, effective and just.

The Colorado Juvenile Defender Center (“CJDC”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring excellence in juvenile defense and advocacy, and justice for all children and youth in Colorado.

CJDC believes all children and youth should experience adolescence free from over-criminalization in a just society that promotes their well-being and provides second chances. We Believe in Youth!

https://disabilitylawco.org/

Disability Law Colorado (formerly known as The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People) is an independent, public interest non-profit organization, specializing in civil rights and discrimination issues.

We work to promote systemic change to sustain or improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities and elders.

The Center opened in 1976 and over the years has grown to become the largest community center in the Rocky Mountain region, giving voice to Colorado’s LGBT community and playing a pivotal role in statewide initiatives to reduce harassment and discrimination. Today, we are focused on fulfilling our mission – To engage, empower, enrich, and advance the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Colorado – by ensuring that every member of the LGBT community has access to the programs and resources they need to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.

We effectively advocate for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families by lobbying the General Assembly, executive branch, and local governments on issues like safe schools, transgender equality, relationship recognition, and LGBTQ health and human services.

We also work to change the hearts and minds of everyday Coloradans on LGBTQ issues. Through our public education efforts where we tell the stories of the barriers LGBTQ Coloradans face every day, we have started to change public opinion about LGBTQ families in Colorado.

Out Front was founded in 1976 by Phil Price. Since then, no other gay media has served the LGBT community with such dedication.

Price outlined his mission in the first issue of Out Front: “Out Front will cater to the needs and desires of gays in the area and will feature articles, thought-provoking editorial, the latest news and exciting photography.”

Price passed away in 1993 and he left the company in the hands of Jay Klein and Greg Montoya who carried on his vision until 2012.

In late January, Colorado native Jerry Cunningham and his partner, JC McDonald, acquired Out Front and its parent company, Q Publishing.

We are honored to say that Out Front remains one of the nation’s oldest continuously running, independently owned and operated LGBT publications. And with that honor comes pride and gratitude, as well as responsibility.

Emerge Colorado is changing the face of Colorado politics by identifying, training and encouraging women to run for office, get elected and to seek higher office. Our intensive, cohort-based six-month training program is unique. As the number of elected Democratic women remains flat or even declines, the need for our work is growing.

In just three years, 600 Inspired Leaders -- predominantly junior or senior student volunteers -- from seven states (Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) have helped more than 15,000 high school students from 240 schools register to vote.

Regardless of political affiliation or points of view, our goal is encourage all eligible citizens to vote.

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Just Vote! Colorado Election Protection (Just Vote!) is not affiliated with or promoting any issue or candidate.

Established in 2004, Just Vote! Colorado Election Protection (formerly Fair Vote Colorado) is a collaborative, non-partisan election protection program to assist voters with election activities, expand access to information about the voting process, and monitor and document the electoral process across the state. Over the years, Just Vote! has reached hundreds of thousands of voters statewide with its voter education efforts, voter information materials, and its bilingual hotline answering voter questions. Thanks to the ongoing support of a bipartisan team of volunteer lawyers and others, Just Vote! is relied upon by both community organizations and the media as a resource for accurate election information.

Just Vote! is governed by a diverse steering committee. In addition to representatives from Colorado Common Cause, the steering committee includes representatives from Mi Familia Vota, Disability Law Colorado, the League of Women Voters of Colorado, and the Colorado Lawyers Committee.

Just Vote! partners with national election protection organizations, including the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) in connection with the Spanish hotline, and Election Protection, the nation's largest non-partisan voter protection coalition led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Through its English language 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, Election Protection helps all voters get access to the information and assistance they need in order to vote.

To learn more about Just Vote!, please call (303) 292-2163.

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The League of Women Voters of Colorado, a nonpartisan, political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The mission of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado is to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive health choices, including preventing unintended pregnancies, bearing healthy children and choosing legal abortion.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which includes Planned Parenthood of Colorado, Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada, Planned Parenthood of New Mexico, and Planned Parenthood of Wyoming, has been helping women, men and teens make responsible choices for over 100 years.

Since 1916, we have been committed to delivering the highest quality reproductive health care, teaching responsible and age-appropriate sexuality education and have been working diligently to protect a woman's right to choose.

Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado advocates for creating, improving and protecting reproductive health care access, effective comprehensive sex education, pregnancy and STI prevention policies, and a woman’s right to determine when and whether she becomes pregnant. In turn, PPVC challenges government interference in personal decisions that should be left to women and their families.