A Message from our Board of Directors CHUN Board Letter Celebrating Brittni Joy West-Ware This portion of the Urban Dweller is usually where CHUN members get to hear from our wonderful Executive Director, Brittni Joy West-Ware, about CHUN’s achievements in the previous month and new events coming up in the current month. However, in this September Urban Dweller, the CHUN Board of Directors would like to celebrate Brittni Joy’s one-year anniversary as our organization’s Executive Director and share with you some of the amazing achievements during her tenure. When Brittni Joy joined CHUN a year ago, she brought a lifetime of experience of working with people of different backgrounds to achieve real change in the various organizations with which she has been involved. Her professional approach to problem-solving and her boundless enthusiasm have been of immense benefit for CHUN and our members. Brittni Joy has energized and engaged CHUN members to take part in a dizzying array of exciting new events and activities. CHUN happy hours in several new venues like Charlie Brown’s, Wild Taco, and Forte have brought out dozens of Capitol Hill residents to enjoy meeting and interacting with their neighbors. As part of Women’s History Month, CHUN’s Herstory Event held at the Tears-MacFarlane House honored the role Colorado’s women are playing in our community. Community clean ups, one in Cheesman Park and another based out of a local grocery store parking lot, provided CHUN members the opportunity to make a real difference in the health, safety and beauty of our neighborhoods. Brittni Joy has arranged partnerships with other non-profits to expand CHUN’s impact in the community. Last winter, CHUN partnered with a local sorority in a food drive for local school children. This July, CHUN cohosted a concert in Cheesman Park with Denver’s amazing Municipal Band for hundreds of happy music lovers. CHUN also joined Denver Parks & Recreation and other organizations to host a movie in Governors Park for dozens of local families. In the years before Brittni Joy’s arrival at CHUN, our organization had experienced a decline in new memberships and membership renewals. But in the past year, Brittni Joy has managed to grow CHUN membership numbers by more than 20% since this decline. And we are looking forward to continued upswing in memberships in the coming years. Moreover, she has modernized CHUN’s business and technology procedures. The CHUN Board of Directors has directly benefited from Brittni Joy’s managerial expertise. At the beginning of 2024, Brittni Joy created and managed a well-received half-day retreat for the CHUN Board members. This was a great opportunity for the CHUN Board members to interact with each other in an informal setting and to improve the functioning of the Board in general. Moreover, Brittni Joy’s professionalism and personal energy has attracted dynamic and engaged new members to the CHUN Board. The Board of Directors of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods [CHUN] are proud of the important milestones CHUN has experienced over the past year of Brittni Joy’s tenure with our organization. We look forward to continued growth and development for CHUN in the coming years with Brittni Joy as the CHUN Executive Director. The Board of Directors of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods CHUN Community Member of the MonthHarm Reduction Action Center
Welcome New CHUN MembersGabriel Camper Ben Daniels Justin Eldred Melanie Gann Betty Kuehner CHUN News and EventsThe Secret Garden Bar & Cafe is Open at the North Edge of Cheesman Park Located at the north end of Cheesman Park on the Tears McFarlane mansion property is the newly-opened Secret Garden all-day cafe. It is a new place for neighbors to dine, drink and enjoy the beautiful park views. Its menu will include coffees, smoothies, pastries and a daily soup and quiche. A wide array of salads and sandwiches will be offered and evening fare includes charcuterie boards and desserts. A selection of wines and beers will also be available. Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods owned the The Tears McFarlane House for decades. Recently, CHUN entered into a partnership with City Street Investors to revitalize the mansion and open this cafe. CHUN will host its September Happy Hour on Tuesday, September 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the patio. CHUN members will enjoy a 10% discount at the cafe. Not already a member - click here to join! CHUN Partnered with Denver Parks & Recreation for a Movie in the Park Night in August
CHUN Hosted Landmarks Chat Community Events
September 10: CHUN September Happy Hour
October [date tbd] - CHUN Ballot Initiative Event
History Matters MomentDenver’s fight to become Colorado’s Capital City It was a big-time battle between various cities to determine where the state capital would be located as Colorado approached statehood. In fact, three cities held the title of the territorial capital before Colorado became a state in 1876: Colorado City – 1861 to 1862; Golden City –1862 to 1867; and Denver – 1867 until statehood. The year after Denver was named the territorial capital in 1867, Henry Cordes Brown, a carpenter and real estate developer, donated 10 acres of land to the state for the express purpose of building a state capitol building. He offered land that was located on a hill offering dramatic views of the mountains to the west. Detractors complained that if the capitol was built on this donated land, it would greatly benefit Brown due to his nearby real estate holdings, which it, in fact eventually did. The area around the future capitol building became known as "Brown's Bluff" and included brownstone mansions but is now known as Capitol Hill. Brown also built his namesake hotel, the grand triangular Brown Palace. But even with this donated land, it was not a slam dunk that Brown would see his dream of the state capitol building come true. It was not until November 8, 1881, that a statewide popular vote was held to determine which of five towns vying for the honor of where the state capital would be located - Colorado Springs, Salida, Canon City, Del Norte or Denver. A total of 45,497 votes were counted and Denver won on the first ballot with 66.48 % of the vote, which avoided a runoff. Construction of the Colorado State Capitol began in 1886, and the building finally opened for use in November 1894, even as work continued on the grand staircase, rotunda and other elements. The building is located at 200 E. Colfax Ave. on the original ten acres that Henry Brown donated some 26 years before. Next month’s History Matters Moment will focus on the unique architectural and historical aspects of the grand Colorado capitol building. Submitted September 21, 2024, by Bruce Caughey Denver and Colorado News and UpdatesSeptember 27 to 29: Susan G. Komen 'Walk With Us to End Breast Cancer"
October 4: Good Shepherd Fall Carnival
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Shares its 2023 Annual Report
Affordable Denver Proposal Passes Out of Committee
Minimum Wage Increase Beginning in January
Denver Continues its Expansion of Citywide Compost Service
Permit times cut by 33%
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