By Nahila Bonfiglio

“When young people thrive, communities become safer and more vibrant.”

That’s the concept that brought two vital Denver agencies together during the Denver City Council’s weekly Health and Safety Committee meeting. United by a goal of supporting the city’s youth, Denver’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation and the Office of Children's Affairs are collaborating to address challenges faced by young people across the city.

The two organizations are partnering to invest in Denver’s youth, with a tiered plan that guides young people from “cradle to career.” Each age group receives access to different services intended to aid development, strengthen community bonds, and prepare young people for the challenges of adulthood.

Jess Ridgway, executive director of the OCA, appeared alongside Dr. Ben Sanders, chief equity officer at the OSEI, to explain the multifaceted approach to “address the root causes of violence and disconnection” among Denver’s youth.

Programming provided through the OCA and OSEI partnership supports both children and caregivers, targeting key areas vital to youth development. Included in the programs are early learning experiences that promote school readiness, mentorship opportunities, leadership training, and trauma-informed support. By partnering not just between city agencies, but also within specific Denver communities, the programs strive to “ensure that youth — particularly in those communities that face historic inequities — have access to the tools and support they need to grow, lead, and contribute to their neighborhoods,” according to Sanders.

The long-term impact of the work being done by OCA and OSEI would ideally lead to city programs and policies that are “authentically shaped by the community they serve.” The agencies acknowledge that every community is different, and only by addressing the diverse needs of various communities can progress be made.

For Sanders, that responsiveness is inseparable from the work itself. The partnership, according to Sanders, is "grounded in the belief that the complex challenges facing young people…cannot be solved by one agency alone." The shared work undertaken by OCA and OSEI connects young people to better opportunities, partners with communities to understand "lived experience, priorities, and barriers," and works to reduce young people's "potential involvement in gun violence and other criminogenic behaviors."

“When we invest in our youth,” Sanders said, “we’re investing in prevention, we’re investing in equity, and we’re ultimately investing in a stronger Denver for all of us.”

Denver Agencies Collaborate to Create a Safer, More Equitable Denver for City's Youth