Belonging Starts Here: Across Colorado

When Papa Dia brought leaders from communities of the African diaspora and Black Americans together for a Belonging Colorado event, tensions ran high. One participant challenged him directly, questioning his experiences and perspective. Instead of reacting, Papa paused. “I asked, ‘What do you mean by that?’” he said. “I wanted to understand where they were coming from.” That simple step shifted the conversation. What could have reinforced division became an opening for connection, highlighting that while people may share an identity, their lived experiences can be very different. Papa, originally from Senegal, came to the U.S. in 1998 and spent 18 years in banking before founding the African Leadership Group (ALG) in 2006. ALG unites African immigrants and Black Americans in Colorado, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and shared opportunities through community-led programs. Their latest initiative and Belonging Colorado partner project, the ALG Community Passport, helps participants engage across neighborhoods and generations,

How Youth Participation Is Strengthening Communities Across Colorado Across Colorado, Belonging Colorado partners are demonstrating the powerful role young people play in strengthening communities. More than half of this year’s 15 grantees engage youth, either as the primary focus of their work or as active participants alongside adults. This work highlights how belonging can take root early and ripple outward across generations. Several organizations center youth directly in their programming, including Homies Unidos Denver and TEENS, Inc. in Nederland. Through mentorship, outdoor experiences, storytelling, and leadership development, youth participants build confidence, strengthen relationships, and deepen their connection to their communities. Along the way, they develop skills to reach across differences, listen and learn from others, and help foster stronger belonging in the places they live. Programs that empower youth to shape or lead the work consistently report stronger engagement and lasting impact. “Participants grew skills in connecting with people different

Few issues are as important to fostering a sense of belonging as having a place to live. Stable, affordable housing provides the foundation people need to work, attend school, care for their families, and achieve financial security. In Colorado, communities across the state are working to address housing challenges, each with the same goal in mind: ensuring every person has both a place to live and a voice in shaping their future. Montrose: Supporting Young Adults and Seniors Through Intergenerational Housing In Montrose, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the 7th Judicial District is taking innovative steps with its supportive housing community, The Village on San Juan. The Village provides stable housing for young adults ages 18–24 who have experienced childhood trauma, are emancipating from foster care, and lack a strong family support system. Alongside housing, these young people receive wraparound support as they work toward employment, education, and independence.

Belonging is more than having an address. It’s about connecting with neighbors, sharing traditions, and shaping a community where everyone feels welcome. It means building relationships, creating shared experiences, and recognizing that every person has a role in shaping the future. When these connections grow, neighborhoods become stronger, more resilient, and places where everyone feels seen and valued. In Southwest Denver, this vision is coming to life through Commún and its Bridging Cultures, Building Belonging initiative. Rooted in a community-led approach, the effort brings together residents of Athmar Park, Mar Lee, Overland, Ruby Hill, and Westwood, spanning cultural, linguistic, and generational divides. Instead of imposing outside solutions, Commún elevates community voices, ensuring that change is driven by those who know their neighborhood best. Thanks to a recent grant from Belonging Colorado—a statewide effort supported by The Denver Foundation—Commún is set to deepen this impact even further. Neighbors Supporting Each Other