Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships

10/30/2026

📣 Help Shape the Future of Denver’s American Indian Cultural Embassy: The advisory council for the Vibrant Denver Bond American Indian Cultural Embassy invites American Indian and Alaska Native community members, organizations, partners, and the broader Denver community to share their perspectives and ideas as we help shape the vision for this future space.

Join us for an upcoming community listening session and help ensure Native voices, experiences, and priorities remain at the center of this process.

📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026
🕚 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Kennedy Golf Course Cafe – East Building
10500 E. Hampden Ave., Denver

Community engagement is being facilitated by Ernest House Jr., director of Tribal and Indigenous Engagement at Keystone Policy Center, in partnership with the Vibrant Denver Bond and us at HRCP.

💬 Have ideas about what this space should look like, offer, and represent? We want to hear from you!

🔗 Learn more about the American Indian Cultural Embassy: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Human-Rights-Community-Partnerships/Commissions-Advisory-Board/American-Indian-Commission/American-Indian-Cultural-Embassy

📢 Please share this invitation with your networks and help us bring more voices into the conversation. Together, we can shape a vision that reflects the community it will serve.

10/28/2026

📢 Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships' Immigrant & Refugee Commission (DIRC) has issued a statement opposing Amendment 81 and affirming the importance of protecting the rights, dignity, and inclusion of Denver’s immigrant and refugee communities.

📃 Commission’s full statement:

"The Denver Immigrant & Refugee Commission joins Mayor Johnston in opposition to Amendment 81. Amendment 81 will expand ICE's footprint in Colorado, will sow distrust of law enforcement in our communities, and erode due process for U.S. citizens and noncitizens alike. In other words, we will be less safe if Amendment 81 passes. Please join us in voting NO on Amendment 81."

10/26/2026

🦁🌿 Building Stronger Connections, Serving a Stronger Denver!

This weekend, members of HRCP’s 10 mayoral advisory commissions gathered at the Denver Zoo for Commission Partnership Day, half a day of collaboration, information sharing, and meaningful conversations about how we can better represent, support, and serve Denver’s diverse communities.

Mayor Mike Johnston joined us to share updates on the city budget and connect with our newest commissioners: the Student Ambassadors! 🎓

These young leaders are joining each commission to bring an essential youth perspective to the conversations, decisions, and initiatives shaping our city. Their voices and experiences will help ensure that the needs and aspirations of Denver’s next generation are part of the work ahead.

And the learning didn’t stop when the meeting ended! Many commissioners stayed to explore the zoo, visit the animals, and learn more about conservation efforts. 🐾 We also had the opportunity to experience a special animal presentation featuring a native hawk, giving us an even greater appreciation for the wildlife that shares our environment.

One important takeaway from the day was a reminder that we all share this space with nature and with one another. Just as conservation calls on us to protect the ecosystems, we depend on, building a stronger Denver requires us to care for our shared spaces, respect different perspectives, and recognize how interconnected we are.

A big thank-you to the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance for hosting us and for the memorable native hawk presentation! And thank you to Mayor Johnston, our commissioners, and our Student Ambassadors for bringing their time, perspectives, and commitment to this important work. 💙

Together, we’re building connections that help make Denver a city where everyone belongs!

10/22/2026

🎉 150 Bags Packed, One Community Making a Difference: On October 10, our community came together for a successful Fill the Pantry event! With 35 community members and staff rolling up their sleeves, the Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships Women's Commission in partnership with First Lady Courtney Johnston's packed 150 bags of dried food for the Rose Andom Center’s pantry to help support families and survivors in our community.

A huge thank you to Give5, Mayor Mike Johnston, and the Rose Andom Center for making this day of service and community partnership possible. 💜

10/19/2026

🗣️ Your Voice Matters: Help Shape the Future American Indian Cultural Embassy!

The Advisory Council for the Vibrant Denver Bond American Indian Cultural Embassy wants to hear from YOU!

For the past six months, the council has been working to imagine what this new cultural space can become. Now, we’re inviting American Indian and Alaska Native community members, organizations, partners, and Denver community members to help finalize that vision by sharing your experiences, ideas, and hopes for this future home.

Denver Vibrant Bond and Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships (HRCP) are hosting in‑person listening sessions designed to put community voices at the center.

Join Us:

📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Stockyard Events Center — 5004 National Western Dr., Denver, CO

The conversation will be facilitated by Ernest House Jr., Director of Tribal and Indigenous Engagement at Keystone Policy Center to ensure Native voices continue to guide every step of this project.

👥 Please share this invitation widely. For more information and upcoming listening sessions: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Human-Rights-Community-Partnerships/Commissions-Advisory-Board/American-Indian-Commission/American-Indian-Cultural-Embassy

We look forward to hearing from you and building this vision together. 🌟

10/16/2026

👏🏽 What an unforgettable way to culminate ! Last Wednesday, October 7th, more than 200 guests gathered at the newly opened Latino Cultural Arts Center, many dressed in vibrant, festive outfits proudly celebrating their heritage and countries.

Hosted by Mayor Mike Johnston and the Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships Latino Commission, in partnership with the Latino Cultural Arts Center, the celebration honored the heritage, creativity, and future possibilities of our Latino(a/é/x)/ Hispanic community. We heard from the community leaders who made this new cultural home possible, a space designed to welcome everyone as a living monument to tradition, imagination, and opportunity.

Mayor Mike Johnston reflected on the many trailblazers who shaped Denver, including Federico Peña, Denver’s first Hispanic mayor, and spoke about the profound impact of Latino/Hispanic leaders whose contributions have helped set a national standard for inclusion and opportunity. Councilwoman Jamie Torres welcomed guests to District 3 in a heartfelt speech, and Predident Pro-Tem Councilwoman At-large Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez shared the newly enacted proclamation honoring Hispanic and Latino(a/e/x) communities and heritage.

A huge thank you to all who made the evening even more special, Combi Cafe for the delicious spread (and for serving more than 900 meals a month in our shelters), DJ Yucasoul for keeping the vibe lively all night, and Fortaleza Familiar for connecting guests with valuable resources, including youth support and information on workshops for the entire family.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebration. Your presence, stories, and pride made this a night to remember. 🌎

10/14/2026

Federal changes are coming to Colorado’s Medicaid program, Health First Colorado. Starting Oct. 1, some immigrants who currently qualify may lose full coverage — but many people will not be affected. If you are, you’ll receive a letter from Health First Colorado before anything changes.

What to do now, before Oct. 1:
◽️ Update your information at Colorado PEAK (co.gov/PEAK), the Health First Colorado app, or your county human services office.
◽️ Use your coverage now — schedule medical, dental, and behavioral health appointments and refill prescriptions.
◽️ Watch for official letters and respond to any you receive.
◽️ Visit or contact Denver Human Services for help reviewing your case. And go to denvergov.org/immigrantsupport for additional community resources.

For official guidance visit HealthFirstColorado.gov/Changes.

10/12/2026

Happy !

Most City and County of Denver offices are closed today, Oct. 12 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Please note: today is a working holiday for waste pickup. Please set your cart(s) out as normal this week.

Denver Health and Denver International Airport will remain open. Denver Police Department, Denver Sheriff Department, Denver Fire Department, and First Responders will be reporting for duty as usual.

For information, please visit denvergov.org. If you have a question or issue, you can also text Sunny at HEY 311 (or 439311) or report them online at https://denvergov.org/Online-Services-Hub/Report-an-Issue

10/05/2026

📃 Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month at Denver City Council: Last week, Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships together with our Denver Latino Commission was proud to join the Denver community for this year's City Council’s official Hispanic, Latino/a/x, and Chicano/a Heritage Month Proclamation reading.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the sponsors, Council Pro Tem Serena Gonzales‑Gutierrez, Councilmembers Jamie Torres, Stacie Gilmore, and Flor Alvidrez, for bringing forward this powerful recognition.

The proclamation honors the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic, Latino/a/x, and Chicano/a communities, acknowledging both the beauty and the struggle woven throughout this history. It recognizes the resilience, advocacy, and leadership that have shaped Denver and continue to inspire generations. It also affirms our shared responsibility to stand for justice, uplift community voices, and remain committed to equity, not just during this month, but every month.

We were honored to witness this moment and celebrate the many contributions of our Hispanic and Latino communities, past, present, and future.

👀 Read the Proclamation: https://denver.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15936478&GUID=75D14460-D956-409F-A229-47E6BB898F66

10/01/2026

🌏 We were deeply honored to spend several days connecting with Denver Sister Cities International and the Delegation during their visit to Denver as we celebrate 40 years of partnership between our cities.

Over the course of the visit, various City and County of Denver agencies, including your truly, Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships
as well as our Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, and Denver Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, had the opportunity to present, exchange information, and learn from the delegation. In turn, our guests shared valuable insights about the City of Kunming, their government focus areas, and their vision for the future.

One of the highlights of the visit was welcoming the delegation to the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, where we gathered in front of the iconic bronze peacock sculpture, “Eternal Good Fortube,” a gift from Kunming nearly four decades ago. Together, we shared remarks, exchanged gifts, and thanks to our partners, enjoyed an exclusive behind‑the‑scenes tour led by Zoo conservation experts.

The delegation also noted that their tour of Denver Water was exceptionally informative, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue this exchange. Denver is ready to one day return the favor with a future visit to the beautiful “City of Eternal Spring,” Kunming, China.

Here’s to 40 years of friendship and many more to come. 💙