HISTORY

Shift to Anti-Displacement Organizing

Pressure from the neighborhood urges us to pivot our focus from food/economic projects to housing justice.
Formed as the “Anti-Displacement Coalition” and later adopted the name GES Coalition
Organizing for Health and Housing Justice.

Collective Research & Housing Advocacy

Conducted door-to-door survey (1,500 homes, 500 respondents) showing 88% of households were at risk of involuntary displacement.
Linked health outcomes to housing stability, influencing local foundations to support housing as a health equity issue.
Learned about community land trusts (CLTs) with support from Grounded Solutions and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative.

First Major Win: CDOT Housing Fund

Organized with allies to pressure CDOT for a replacement housing fund connected to the I-70 expansion.
Helped shape an RFP that prioritized community-led groups.
Formed the GES Affordable Housing Collaborative with Brothers Redevelopment and Colorado Community Land Trust.

$2 Million Seed Grant

Won $2 million from CDOT for affordable housing — seed funding for starting the community land trust.

City of Denver Commitment

Secured an additional $2 million from the Denver City Council, doubling the land trust’s seed resources to $4 million.

First Land Trust Homes

After years of groundwork, the first GES Community Land Trust homes were acquired.

National Western / Triangle Campaign

Staff expanded from 3 to 7 members.
Organized around land at the National Western Center (“Triangle”), calling for reparations and community ownership.
Mobilized neighborhood campaigns that helped defeat the proposed $400 million arena bond in November 2021 (first failed bond in Denver in 40 years).

Expansion & Partnerships

Leveraged a $6 million grant from Colorado Health Foundation for the development at 4965 Washington; including Tierra Colectiva ownership of the commercial space.
Organized cultural and community events (e.g., 2022 pop-up plaza and mural at 47th & Brighton).

Triangle Vision Published

Released the Triangle Vision Plan with architectural renderings and housing strategies designed by and for neighbors.

Independence & New Land

Growing Base & Staff

Formalized membership and governance structure, with board elected directly by neighborhood members.
Nearly 30 board leaders and ~50 additional active members form the decision-making base.
Continued organizing tenants (apartment and mobile home park unions) and advancing the Triangle campaign, reaching a much bigger base of neighbors.
Today – GES Coalition remains a neighbor-led, power-building organization, dedicated to anti-displacement, community ownership, and collective leadership across Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.

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