All of us at NEWSED are so excited to celebrate 2023 because it’s our 50th anniversary! Can you believe it? It has been five decades since NEWSED took its first baby steps into the world of community-based redevelopment and organizing for the purposes of bringing business, opportunities, and resources back to the West Denver neighborhood of La Alma Lincoln Park, specifically the Santa Fe Drive corridor. These steps would end up opening the doors to direct service programs in housing, small business, lending, and affordable housing projects to support low/mod income individuals and families not only in Denver but the entire state of Colorado.
Who knew back then that NEWSED would end up developing thousands of square feet of retail commercial space, rehabbing over 100 single family homes, developing, partnering, and acquiring 240 affordable housing units, creating the state’s largest cultural event and that’s just a few of our accomplishments. None of this would have been accomplished without the commitment of our many board members, dedicated staff and former directors such as Veronica Barela who served for 40 years and Noël Congdon who served prior to Veronica. I have always felt that impact is too difficult to quantify with an organization as storied as NEWSED, instead I see it in the generations of families who have housing stability and generational wealth, the small businesses who are flourishing and in the smiles of our event attendees. This is what building community looks like. It’s exciting to be here at this point in history.
This year we will be launching a 50 for 50 fundraising campaign where we will stive to raise $50K in 2023. We are also celebrating another important milestone, the 10 year anniversary of our small business incubator program, the ZONE Marketplace. Mark your calendar for First Friday and Saturday April 7th and 8th for a celebration at the ZONE with special guests, cake, a special shopping event and more. More to come on both these events to come so stay tuned for that.
Finally, a special thank you to all of you! Those of you who attend our events, have received services, have referred your friends and family, have volunteered, have worked at NEWSED and those that keep on supporting through your time or donation. NEWSED wouldn’t be here without you.
Cheers to the next 50 years!
Andrea Barela,
President/CEO