After spending the last two years building the foundation and structure, we finally opened our doors! On February 4, Western Colorado Alliance of Garfield County hosted a public kickoff to welcome our community and share who we are and what we hope to accomplish.

Our Alliance is no stranger to Garfield County, but our local organizing efforts have historically focused on environmental issues. Through our Deep Listening campaign, it became clear: there is an appetite to expand the issues we organize around locally. And that is where this new affiliate group fits in. Western Colorado of Garfield County is dedicated to engaging in community organizing to build respectful, thriving, and equitable communities in our County.

The kickoff was planned and carried out by our wonderful Organizing Committee, made up of nine dedicated and very community-oriented folks from Parachute, Rifle, Silt, and New Castle. They came from all walks of life and brought diverse experiences and perspectives to the table.

The committee met monthly through 2023 to develop everything from our mission and vision statements to our operating procedures, to issue identification. The result is a community organizing group that we feel will truly represent the residents of Garfield County and support all of us in working toward a better quality of life and more connected community. Western Colorado Alliance of Garfield County will always prioritize inclusivity and accessibility.

The work went on all year. When February 4 finally came, it only remained to be seen whether the community would respond.

Well, respond they did! Close to 40 community members from up and down Garfield County came together to learn about our Alliance, how community organizing can affect change locally and share their thoughts on our projected 2024 campaign efforts.

The highlight of the evening was community members coming together to weigh in on the direction of the first campaign. The question and answer session was robust, as were the small group discussions.

Ultimately, the folks who are impacted by local problems are the best people to devise solutions. Participants lifted up gaps in our current systems and possible solutions to improving transportation options for us.

Where are we going with this? Now, we move on to developing and launching a campaign. We need a coordinating committee and leaders to form a working group to drive the campaign forward and make decisions. Reach out to Hanna Arauza at hanna@westerncoloradoalliance.org for more information!