Communications Team Blog : 8.10.22
A History of Connection, A Future of Collaboration
The Globeville neighborhood is full of rich and diverse history – originally incorporated as its own city, it was an epicenter of industry and American immigration in its early years. Throughout its history, Globeville has been characterized by a deep sense of community connection, which is still true today. We were grateful to be welcomed into that community on August 10 for a workday of teaming up with sixteen residents to accomplish household or garden projects – which was well-timed after the recent flash flooding that severely impacted many neighbors in the area.
While the residents are part of a relatively small tight-knit neighborhood, our volunteers from SonderMind were from all over the U.S. - all meeting (some for the first time in person) for a team retreat in Denver. During the workday we talked about our dreams for our neighborhoods – whether that neighborhood was the one we were working in or one located across the country. Being a company focused on connecting people to mental health professionals that fit their clients’ lives and needs, The SonderMind team brought up the hope for equitable access to mental health and housing on a national scale, as well as investment from the city towards making Denver as accessible and livable as possible during this time of extreme growth.
The SonderMind volunteers also talked about the importance of honoring the history of our neighborhoods and those who lived there before us as a way of fostering investment in its people and protection, something many of us hoped for more of in our own communities. It was special to have these conversations with the Globeville residents because, while they have big dreams for their neighborhood and still feel like there were physical improvements to be made, this existing investment in their community and its history was hard to miss.
“I’m excited for the increased investment my neighbors have in their homes. Many of us have had these houses in our families for many years and know each other, but it’s starting to seem like this generation has even more participation in our neighborhood and all want to make their homes and yards look nice.”
Together, this small neighborhood is fighting for more green space and tree cover and cleaner air. They do this by raising their voice to the local government, but also by using their own space to make Globeville a cleaner and greener place to live, despite the challenges of historically industrial soil and occasional flooding. Our volunteers helped this effort by cleaning up gardens, moving rocks and yard debris, sowing a new clover yard, mowing grass and pulling weeds, planting shrubs and painting.
One resident told the SonderMind volunteers who helped her trim trees, weed and mow grass in her home that has been in her family for many years the following:
“I can’t tell you how big of a help it is to have this done, after a recent surgery I’m not able to do the yard work I’ve needed to so I’m so grateful!”
During this Work Day, we spent the day helping community residents finish projects that are much easier with the many hands of our volunteers in order to push forward their goal of a greener and cleaner Globeville, and in return they (albeit unintentionally) set an example of what a deep investment in the history, people and place of our neighborhood can look like.
- Lizzy, Communications Team