Rising division and toxic polarization have weakened our social fabric, making it harder for communities to act on shared challenges and opportunities. When progress stalls, frustration and mistrust grow – deepening division and reinforcing perceptions of insufficient community engagement and ineffective governance.
We help communities come together across differences to understand local challenges and co-create solutions. By empowering residents as problem solvers, we break down barriers between perspectives, build shared ownership of outcomes, and increase understanding of the complexities of change. Through collaborative action, communities find common ground, rebuild civic trust, and strengthen the civic fabric needed to move forward.
Colorado communities are facing significant growth pressures, bringing demographic shifts and affordability challenges. Many communities lack a cohesive, values-driven vision for why, how, and where to grow, as well as the capacity and funding needed to implement their goals.
We help our partners develop a clear, shared vision for growth that strengthens, rather than erodes, community and belonging. Through our robust community engagement processes, we guide communities in navigating change, understanding tradeoffs, and identifying the right type of growth for their local context. We also support local leaders in shaping smart policy, enhancing organizational capacity, and securing funding to create more livable communities.
Across Colorado, housing has become increasingly unaffordable, leading to displacement and long commutes for the working-class folks who hold up our local economies. This affordability crisis is often exacerbated by a limited understanding of how land use and housing policies drive sprawl, strain infrastructure, and raise costs. Many communities also face financial and capacity constraints that make it difficult to implement solutions.
We help communities build knowledge, awareness, and support for a range of housing solutions, from residential infill and “Missing Middle” development to smart growth at the edges. And we provide the technical tools and support to make it happen.
Regional transportation systems are not only a symptom of sprawl, they create it. Across much of the Rocky Mountain West, transportation policies and investments continue to prioritize vehicular traffic over – and often at the expense of – other modes of transportation. This outdated model drives sprawl and undermines efforts to create healthy neighborhoods for all.
We help communities and regions design transportation systems that expand mobility choices, align with land use, housing, and economic development efforts, and create livable, connected communities.
Many rural and mountain communities rely on one or two industries for most jobs, wages, and tax revenues, leaving local workers and governments vulnerable to economic shifts. Even without job losses, escalating costs for housing, childcare, and other services can force working families to move away.
We help communities identify and leverage place-based assets to diversify industries, expand job opportunities, and increase community prosperity. Through our project partnerships, we help communities align resources to upgrade public infrastructure and invest in local businesses, workforce development, and entrepreneurship to build long-term economic resilience. These shifts set the stage for greater economic mobility, stability, and belonging.
