Extreme Teams Volunteer of the Month - July 2025
Jean Johnston is the July “Extreme Teams Volunteer of the Month!” When Adriana nominated her, she said “She's been involved with ECM a while, she actually lives in one of our neighborhoods. I would love to nominate Jean.” Jean is a resident in Swansea and the team leader of the Neighborhood team, as well as being a Supper Club delivery driver. Her engagement and hard work are always appreciated on Work Days. On days when Jean is an Extreme Teams volunteer, she can be seen speaking with residents about their neighborhood and helping complete projects. Keep reading to hear more from Jean about her experience with Extreme Community Makeover.
Why did you decide to get involved in Extreme Community Makeover?
Jean had heard of ECM as a resident in the Swansea neighborhood, and first volunteered with a group from her home church in New Mexico. They got to work with several residents in the Swansea neighborhood, including at Jean’s house. “I loved the model of ECM and have been volunteering ever since. It was a natural next step to serve on (and later lead) the Neighborhood Team.” Jean has continued to be involved for over ten years. “Over the years, I have been blessed to be part of many work days in my community and others in greater Denver.”
“ECM is truly about building community, one block at a time!”
What is your favorite story about connecting with a resident?
“There have been several times I have seen residents literally crying and saying “thank you” while volunteers blessed them by working on projects. There have been stories of car accidents and heart breaking health conditions that rendered once active residents disabled. As teams would serve them by completing exterior projects, some residents have been just overcome with emotion. Jean loves seeing the impact of a day's work on the residents in the neighborhoods. “Something seemingly small and easy for a team to knock out can make a huge difference for one of our neighbors.”
Why do you think it is important to volunteer?
Jean points out that volunteering is shown to benefit both the volunteer and the one receiving the support. “It is empirically documented that those who volunteer to serve others are actually happier than those who do not. So it benefits the volunteers to come serve.” She also thinks that volunteering strengthens community, which is one of the long term goals that Extreme Community Makeover is working to achieve on every Work Day, and Jean has taken a front seat view of that happening in Denver.
How do you see your Extreme Team making an impact on Work Days?
Jean represents Swansea on the Neighborhood Team, and her perspective on the community partners is unique. “It’s those little acts of service multiplied over many days and years that yield big change. It matters! ECM does not work in a vacuum.” Extreme Community Makeover works with volunteers from churches, schools, and organizations, but also partners with community hosts in the target neighborhood. Jean works with community hosts and residents in Swansea to strengthen community relations. “There’s an African proverb that says “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, to together”. ECM goes together.”
“Short-term, you see the immediate impact of the before and after of a project (and beautiful interaction with the residents). Long-term, I have seen ECM build trust, build community, and help many neighborhoods in our community thrive and flourish more.”
Congratulations Jean!
Congratulations to Jean for being ECM’s Extreme Teams Volunteer of the Month! Learn more about how you can also get involved in the Extreme Teams. Check back in August to see who Jean nominated to be Volunteer of the Month!
