At the Foundation, our community engagement approach thrives through our locally focused initiatives. We dedicate substantial time and effort to understanding individual communities. Pueblo County is one of nine communities where we are deeply committed.
We aim to cultivate profound and meaningful relationships, connect with local residents and support long-term efforts that prioritize community-informed, collaborative solutions to health challenges.
Why local focus? We firmly believe that solutions generated at the local level are more likely to address the unique needs of the community and drive lasting change.
Pueblo has unique assets and barriers when it comes to health. Our approach to local work begins with attentive listening and a sincere commitment to learning from the people of Pueblo.
Chris Smith, the initial program officer in this community, played a central role in this effort but has since transitioned out of the Foundation. Program Officer Charles Reese Jr. now supports this locally focused work in Pueblo.
The starting point of our work in Pueblo involved getting to know the community. That included identifying opportunities to support local efforts to improve health, build the capacity of local institutions, work to improve policies and systems, champion local leadership and help stimulate broad civic engagement.
Charles continues to partner with the community to harness this energy so that Pueblo is a place where everyone who calls the city home has access to health. His work takes shape through meaningful conversations, partnerships and collaborative endeavors with a diverse range of community members.
Over the past few years, the Foundation has partnered with institutions like the Center for Creative Leadership, which specializes in helping individuals customize and develop their unique leadership styles and collaborate effectively. Additionally, we’ve partnered with KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to balanced and active play. Through these collaborations, local leaders are honing their skills for greater impact, and the community is creating safe spaces for children to play.
We also work with Civic Canopy to harness the power that already exists in the community by providing a range of services to organizations in Pueblo. These include coaching, advising, coordination, facilitation, resource sharing and other types of capacity building.
During a series of events in 2018, we had the privilege of hearing directly from community members. The information and feedback shared during these events have helped us collaborate more effectively while strategizing toward a healthier Pueblo. You can read about Chris’s experiences during these events on our website.
If you have ideas about creating a healthier community or want to learn more about the Foundation, please email Charles Reese Jr., program officer, or call him directly at 303-953-3657.
The Foundation has cultivated partnerships with various organizations in Pueblo and provided financial support for several key initiatives, including:
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Pueblo: Funding supports resiliency services and support for at least 80 youth ages 14-18 in Pueblo’s foster care and juvenile justice systems. We intend to increase resiliency to reduce youth depression, suicide, substance use and violence
- Friendly Harbor’s Community Outreach Program: Funding supports increased quality peer specialist support services to those with mental health and substance use conditions and their families, including an outreach program that serves individuals who are difficult to reach
- Posada’s Housing Development Work: Funding supports the acquisition and rehabilitation of an existing building in South Pueblo into Sunset Senior Holistic Housing. Housing will include 17 age-restricted units affordable to low-income seniors
- Pueblo Art Alliance’s Impact Youth Initiative: A youth council of high school students is working with support from the Pueblo Arts Alliance to activate and engage young people, visitors, business owners and others in the Pueblo Creative Corridor through creative art installations and art-focused placemaking activities
- KaBOOM! Playground Builds:
- On Oct. 13, 2018, Donley Park, in the city’s Westside Neighborhood, was transformed by volunteers into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground in a matter of hours. Read more about the project
- On Nov. 3, 2018, Leidigh Park in southwest Pueblo was similarly transformed by volunteers into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground in a single day. The new park provides a safe, accessible place to play for more than 1,500 kids in the surrounding communities
- Pueblo City Health Data Infographic: In English | en Español
- Sign up for our mailing list: Stay updated on upcoming publications, funding opportunities and events