Overview Fundamental to CHUN's mission is working to strengthen the civic health of our neighborhoods. It seems like an intangible element, but when you're in a community with strong civic health, you know it. You see people out and about chatting with their neighbors. They build relationships and take care of one another. Folks get involved in community efforts to address tough challenges like public safety or development issues. Everbody participates and the diversity of the neighborhood is reflected in meetings and events. People engage in dialogue - that is, they don't just talk at eachother but they talk with and listen to one another. And maybe most important, people celebrate together. They have fun and appreciate the great place where they live.
But there are obstacles to mainitaing strong civic health in our neighborhoods. Having the time to spend and connect in the place where we live is often a challenge as many of us work long hours with long commutes. Or we have other communities in which we participate that are not in the place where we live such as sports groups, churches, hobbies, and extended family. And of course there are immediate family considerations with kids, soccer practice and making sure you spend good quality time with your family.
So at CHUN, we make it our job to help facilitate connecting in our neighborhoods by:
Engaging people in their neighborhood - CHUN convenes around important neighborhood issues that have an impact on your quality of life. We believe everyone should participate in shaping policy or projects that effect them, whether its removing graffiti on your block or weighing in on city transportation issues.
Facilitating good dialogue around issues - Too often, we engage in a form of communication that can be divisive and unproductive. CHUN brings people together around tough neighborhood problems in a way that builds understanding, knowledge and leads to a better solution.
Celebrating - In addition to the People's Fair, which is the biggest, hippest, most fun community celebration in the City of Denver, we have parties and social gatherings celebrating our neighborhoods all year long. As of July 2005, CHUN became the steward of the Tears-McFarlane House located at the corner of 13th and Williams. Its a wonderful space which we utilize to bring people together for many community activities.
Volunteer Activities - CHUN has various ways people can get involved and volunteer to partcipate in the neighborhood such as SHARE Colorado and the Dora Mora Tutor Program.
If you're interested in plugging into a CHUN activity and plugging into your neighborhood, give us a call.
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