“We approach our community-building in the spirit of Clara Brown the pioneer,” observes Cha’Rel Wright, Lead Community Advocate at Clara Brown Commons. “We’re always exploring new ways to foster community here. The journey is full of surprises!”

Cha’Rel affectionately refers to our apartment residence as our “New York Community.” (We’re at 3701 York Street in Denver.) Though we’ve celebrated the two-year anniversary of our Grand Opening, things are always new—requiring flexibility and innovation.

For instance, we’re surprised that so many new residents have arrived in the past year—approximately a third of our 61 units. We always imagined CBC would be a “forever home” for people who come from housing instability. For many, it is. But affordability comes with income restrictions, and when residents significantly increase their economic capacity, they move on to market-rate housing. We cheer their journeys!

That said, some move-outs represent difficulties and disappointments. We wish each family the best in necessary transitions, and trust that CBC’s beauty added meaningful elements to their life experiences.

So we are always welcoming and including. As Cha’Rel puts it, “I’m always learning our residents’ choreography of community and connection. I remember my own childhood as the family entertainer. I always had dance moves bouncing in my head. At a barbeque, I’d gather my cousins together to teach them. But they also had ideas, and we had to work together.

“In my role at CBC I’m always learning when to step in, when to step back, when to step up, when to step down. Following the rhythms of the community itself. It’s humbling and rewarding.” We welcome the wide variety of assets of our residents bring, and we lift them up as the primary community-builders. We offer our advocacy in support.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AT CBC

Youth

CBC is a great place to be a kid!

Kids Corner Room, Pizza Nights, Reading Club, Zoo and other trips, Bethlehem Shop (During Christmas Store), Arts, New Cottage Arts, KTone Cares Musiq SoulChild, summer program referrals, Back-to-school backpacks. Coming soon: Whiz Kids, Young Life.

Adults and Families

A Place to Belong

Welcome baskets, birthday gift cards, community nights, peer recovery group, spiritual formation group, summer concert, neighbor names tic-tac-toe magnets, Clara Brown shirts, snack times, interest surveys.