The GrowHaus

We are SO proud to share The GrowHaus’ 2023 impact report! With our community at the helm, we had our most profound impact to date. We expanded our footprint beyond our home communities of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea to over 20 access points throughout Denver, reaching well over 5,000 people weekly via partnerships with Denver Public Library, Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver, and other community partners. We are especially proud to highlight that over 88% of the team who achieved this unprecedented impact are residents of the communities we serve, including 63% of our management team. We are deeply grateful for our community of supporters and partners for being part of this transformative work and support of The GrowHaus! Visit https://lnkd.in/gnJv8cdu to read more.

Today, some of our most devoted También monthly members, along with our partners at EatDenver, teamed up with The GrowHaus for our Day of Action. Together we re-activated and established new veggie gardens for community members participating in our food access and wellness education programs. We look forward to hearing the stories of the special moments and creative meals that these small gardens will provide for our neighbors and their loved ones! Such an amazing day of community and connection with each other. FOOD IS THE WAY.

I am so excited and proud to announce the appointment of the newest member of The GrowHaus’ executive leadership team. Meet Joel Duran, who will be joining our team as our new Director of Operations. An excerpt from his bio: “Joel recently served in the legal administration team at Denver’s Attorney’s Office. He is a committed and knowledgeable administrative professional currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a Concentration in Social Equity at CU Denver. His dedication to public service and commitment to fostering inclusive environments drive his work every day. As a queer person of color, Joel has gained valuable insights and perspectives which shape his approach to leadership and community engagement. Personally, he finds joy in all things related to food, sewing, pottery and participating in QTPOC (Queer & Trans People of Color) ballroom events! Passionate about creating equitable opportunities for all, he is eager to contribute to the impactful work of The GrowHaus.” Welcome to the team, Joel!

🌻 We are thrilled to welcome Tepeyac Community Health Center into our fresh food access program! 🌻 Through this innovative collaboration, households in Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea, with someone experiencing a chronic condition, can access fresh, nutritious food to support their overall health and well-being. Thank you to Tepeyac Community Health Center for joining us in advancing fresh food access in our home communities of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea! A special thank you to DaVita Kidney Care for championing this partnership!

Today is Earth Day, and we’re feeling extra grateful for a beautiful planet that grows nourishing foods and is a place for community connection. In the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, local peppers, tomatoes, and peaches delight us as they arrive at our food access headquarters. We carefully pack and distribute these Colorado favorites to over 5,000 neighbors across the city so they can set their tables with the freshest ingredients. We are humbled by Colorado’s bounty and grateful to the land that grows our food. Our land is also a place for community gatherings that promote wellness, mindfulness, and movement. In these spaces, we deepen our familial and community connections during outdoor therapy programs and multigenerational programs for children and their caregivers to come together and explore the natural world. We express our gratitude by the way we care for the earth and teach our children to do the same. Our youngest neighbors and teens join us during Abejitas and Seed2Seed, to learn about composting, gardening, and the benefits of eating local food. What are you doing to celebrate and show care to our earth?

Today The GrowHaus signed Hunger Free Colorado’s petition in support of a referred ballot measure to raise additional funds to ensure that Healthy School Meals for All can continue feeding kids across Colorado and can be fully implemented to invest in more nutritious and locally-produced food for our kids and higher wages for front-line school nutrition professionals. Join us as individuals or organizations to support the referrred ballot and secure the future of HSMA. Organizations can complete this form https://lnkd.in/gNzWQAHQ and individuals can call or email your legislators: https://lnkd.in/gEAb8mUU. Have an HSMA story of impact? Share it here; https://lnkd.in/gwfWTQX6

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So honored I was included at the Community Women of Distinction event for #womenshistorymonth at Garden Place Elementary in Globeville!! Loved spending time with this great community of students, educators and parents. After the panel I got to share one of my favorite children’s books, Butterflies Belong Here, with kindergartners and first graders - SO FUN. Excited to see the flowers they grow with The GrowHaus welcome pollinators kit!

Just another fun Thursday at The GrowHaus’ food access warehouse - Team Zumba class🤩dance break! Love my job.

Colorado children need your help to protect funding for school meals! More children need nourishment at school! Due to higher than anticipated participation rates and the rising cost of food, Healthy School Meals for All funding needs are higher than expected. Without significant additional funding, all of HSMA’s important program components are at risk. Add your name to Hunger Free Colorado’s campaign to send a direct message to your legislators urging them to support our students, parents, agricultural producers, and cafeteria workers by investing in HSMA!