West Denver Community Connector Program
Unite, Empower, Thrive: One Connection at a Time
The West Denver Community Connector (WDCC) Program collaboratively works to reduce involuntary displacement, strengthen community relationships, highlight community assets, and advocate for more equitable access to resources for the west Denver community.
About the WDCC program
The WDCC program originated to provide a service to community members and further support the development of navigators’ skills. The first project focused on housing navigation as a result of the community's needs. Today, the program is made up of a cohort of bilingual (English/Spanish) Community Connectors who provide multidisciplinary advocacy, outreach, and engagement services for the west Denver community.
Vision
The West Denver Community Connector program believes in the power of networks, community, and culture. With our dedicated team and networks, we advocate for positive change, fostering a thriving community that embraces diversity and empowers individuals to achieve their goals.
Purpose
Community Connectors are trusted members of their communities who advocate for equitable outcomes. They have combined decades of experience serving the community and conducting outreach through door-to-door canvassing, participating in community events, and attending public meetings. Positioned between government agencies, community organizations, and residents/businesses, the WDCC program ensures some of the hardest to reach residents access the resources and services they need.
How Community Connectors support west Denver
By directly working with the community and being connected with policy makers and government aids, we are uniquely positioned to actively advocate for lasting solutions that impact residents and the overall community in west Denver.
We actively engage the community by participating in events, hosting regular meetings, and providing support to other community members who are eager to initiate their own projects within the area.
We directly support residents and businesses facing the threat of displacement with grant applications, shelters, food banks, and emergency housing, utility, or legal assistance programs.
We support small businesses with direct technical assistance and access to information and resources through our networks. The connection between community members and locally owned businesses is strong. Small businesses foster social cohesion and promote economic opportunities for residents by helping them stay in their original neighborhoods.
We advocate for permanent solutions to the housing crisis, and Connectors play a crucial role in helping us identify priorities that they hear from the community. We advocate and support greater economic mobility in the community by empowering residents to become homeowners or stay in the current residence as renters.
Meet the West Denver Community Connectors
Gaby Medina
Community Connector (Rental Support Specialist) Gaby is an experienced community navigator and a fierce community advocate. Gaby’s passion is to ensure that children live safe, healthy, and fruitful lives through access to healthy school meals, after school programing, and practical education.
Abigail Garcia
Business Support Specialist With a bachelor’s degree in business administration/international business and a minor in Finance from the University of Colorado, Abigail is a key member of BuCu West’s business support team. At BuCu West, Abigail is establishes and develops connections with local businesses and entrepreneurs and providing direct services to individual businesses that enable them to maintain and stabilize their business.
Esther Rivera
Community Connector (Homeowner Support Specialist) Esther brings more than 34 years of experience to community support, with particular success providing outreach, promotion, and advertisement for small, BIPOC businesses both in Chicago and in Denver. As a graduate of the American Real Estate College, she also is a valued resource around real estate, mortgages, and other housing-related topics.
Maricendi Jaimes
Community Connector Coordinator A deeply entrenched community member and advocate committed to improving her southwest Denver neighborhood. Maricendi oversees all aspects of the West Denver Community Connectors (WDCC) program helping established community navigators to refine their skill sets, connect with resource providers, and achieve long-term financial stability.
Reyna Zarate
Community Connector (Rental Support Specialist) Reyna has been a leader for west Denver’s Spanish-speaking community for over two decades. She began as an advocate for domestic abuse victims and recently has been working with new immigrants to navigate resources ranging from legal advice to food banks.
Oracio Guardado
Marketing Specialist Oracio provides outreach and engagement to small, local, BIPOC business in southwest Denver. This work includes ongoing communication, support, and connection to resources for businesses; managing business support events; planning implementing and evaluating programs and activities; and working with community partners to leverage resources and programming.
Connect with a Community Connector to identify and access resources for you, your business, or your community.
Call WDCC Hotline: 720-541-9324
Email: wdcconnector@gmail.com