Text
Our community inspires so much of our work at MCA Denver! We seek to create connections across Denver and champion the work of community members, leaders, local artists, creative businesses, and more.
Text
On the blog: Community Spotlight
Text
February is Black History Month! It is a time to honor and celebrate the contributions and achievements made by Black/African Americans in this country, past and present. In recognition of Black History Month, we spotlight those within our community that create, educate, motivate, and encourage exploration. I emailed Ariel Ruempolhamer, Denver East High School’s Community & Family Engagement Coordinator, who facilitates Ladies First: Black Women’s Unity Club, to learn more about Ladies First and its influence on Black female identifying students at East High School.
Text
Community Engagement
Text
MCA Denver staff's internal efforts to serve and care for our community!
Text
December 2020
In December of 2020, we collected boxes full of gently used clothing and filled bags with a little over $700 dollars worth of new bras, underwear, socks, coats, shoes, and more for Clothes To Kids of Denver, which provides new and quality used clothing in a boutique setting to Denver area students from low-income or in-crisis families, free of charge. Our vision is that all students will have the clothing they need to feel comfortable, confident and prepared to thrive.
Text
February 2021
In February of 2021, we put together move-in kits for youth from Urban Peak, which, “ignites the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined, fulfilled lives." We made 30 kits filled with home essentials like dish and hand soap, cleaning supplies, pantry staples, bathroom products, and home items.
Text
April 2021
In April of 2021, we partnered with Food Bank of the Rockies in order to raise food and funds for our Colorado community. During our in-person food drive we collected 124lbs of food which was donated to the Food Bank of the Rockies. In addition to our collected cans of food, we raised $1,020 in virtual donations! All of these donations make it possible for the Food Bank of the Rockies to provide roughly 4,180 meals to families in need.
Text
September 2021
In September of 2021, we raised $605.08 for the Metropolitan Denver North Islamic Center, Masjid Ikhlas, when they were collecting donations to provide to refugees fleeing Afghanistan and coming to Colorado.
Text
December 2021–January 2022
From December of 2021 to January of 2022, we put together care kits to give to people experiencing homeless within the Denver community. We filled the kits with food, toiletries, cold weather gear (like hats, gloves, socks, hand warmers), and personal hygiene products. We were able to make 80 care kits in total, then divided among staff and were distributed all around Denver within three weeks.
Text
May 2022
In May of 2022, we volunteered with Denver Community Fridges, "a mutual aid project aimed at combating food insecurity and reducing food waste in the Denver Metro area." We first went to the food bank to collect goods and broke into small teams to restock and clean all of the community fridges located all around the city.
We also worked with the Harm Reduction Action Center, an organization that, "promotes public health by ensuring that people who inject drugs are educated and equipped with the tools to reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C and to eliminate the proliferation of fatal overdoses.”
We participated in neighborhood cleanup and syringe disposal.
Text
September 2022
Text
In September of 2022, we volunteered with HUNI, the Highland United Neighbors Inc., and cleaned up trash alongside I-25 and 20th Street.
Text
Current & past collaborations
Text
Text
The Every Human Empathy Campaign by Artist Moe Gram
CURRENTLY AT FREE MARKET LOCATED AT 1801 BLAKE ST, DENVER, CO 80202
The Every Human Empathy Campaign is a series of installations, murals, and art works created by Denver-based artist Moe Gram to encourage viewers to explore the depth of one’s empathy. What does EVERY HUMAN need, feel, or do?