Our organization’s mission isn’t just about infrastructure like sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus lanes, but ultimately it’s about the people who use our streets and bring life to them every day. One of our core values is grassroots engagement: “We build relationships with, are responsive to, and work in direct and personal partnership with members of our community to understand the issues, explore what’s desired, develop plans, and implement actions.” When we contemplate what it means to be empowered and to empower communities, we think about the neighborhood champions who are at the forefront of the movement for people-friendly streets. These individuals give agency to the community and influence others to do the same. In our new blog series, Empowered, we focus on people in the Denver area who have made substantial impacts in their community.
We’d like to introduce our Empowered series’ 2023 participants and the projects that anchor their work:
Brooke Goudy is the operational manager and owner of Rowdy Goudy, LLC, a health and wellness cycling organization. She redefines what it means to participate in active living in the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community, talks about black joy existing through and over trauma, and the wonders of going to remote places during her mountain bike adventures to hear the whispers of all of the things that she is and becoming.
Stephanie Puello talks about the work she does with Black Girls Do Bike: Denver, an organization supporting primarily Black Women who have a passion for cycling. Stephanie also speaks about what it means to get into cycling in adulthood, and how cycling has served an emancipatory role in her life.
Mayra Gonzales is no stranger to organizing! She is the Director of Community Development for the Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC), a community development corporation that establishes a vision for food access, equitable economic development, cultural arts, and affordable housing in the Montbello Neighborhood. Look out for her feature in this series as we talk about the fire she has for her community and her work focused on the FreshLo Initiative in Montbello.
Mimi Luong is the co-owner of Truong An Gifts, and her family founded and owns the Far East Center, a longstanding anchor institution within the Little Saigon District on South Federal Boulevard. She is a pillar in her community and takes the time to cultivate, showcase, and honor cultural traditions, placemaking, and placekeeping. She has become a leader not only for the Far East Center, but for the larger Little Saigon District, the Southwest Denver business community, and the Asian community at large.
We’re excited to delve deep into conversation with each neighborhood champion, and to highlight the stories that continue to keep Denver moving in the right direction. Stay tuned for each feature story in this new blog series throughout the year!