The Board of Directors of The Center on Colfax adopted a new strategic plan on November 14, 2023. The plan was produced with input by The Center's Board, staff, and focus groups representing the voices of youth, young adults, older adults, transgender individuals, community members with disabilities, and other participants in The Center's programs. The Center collaborated with the Denver LGBTQ Commission to assess the needs of the community through a city-wide survey. The Center also collaborated with Visit Denver to survey attendees at Denver Pride.
Through this process, The Center reaffirmed its mission, vision, and values and identified six strategic goals. The Board and staff of The Center commits to keeping our community informed and involved as this plan unfolds over the coming years.
Our Mission
The mission of The Center on Colfax is to engage, enrich, empower, and advance the LGBTQ+ community of Colorado.
Our Vision
The Center on Colfax will be a collaborative leader that positively impacts the lived experience of LGBTQ+ people in Denver and Colorado by creating inclusive programs and events, fostering connections, and leveraging the individual and collective strengths of the community.
Our Values
Welcoming & Inclusive
The Center on Colfax is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. We celebrate diversity and recognize everyone comes from different perspectives and experiences. The Center does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of any protected class status in any of its activities or operations.
Community Focused
The Center on Colfax strives to serve the needs of all LGBTQ+ people and give our community a voice. We believe that we can learn from and empower each other, and we seek to create programs and events that help build connections.
Intersectional
The Center on Colfax recognizes that individuals have multiple identities, beliefs, and experiences, and that these often intersect to increase one’s likelihood of being marginalized. We stand with all people of marginalized identities and work towards a more equitable community for everyone.
Collaborative
The Center on Colfax encourages collaboration, internally and externally, to better engage, enrich, empower, and advance the LGBTQ+ community of Colorado. We are stronger together.
Empowering
The Center on Colfax encourages all individuals in expressing their unique voices and authentic selves to create positive change and safer spaces in our communities.
Courageous & Honest
The Center on Colfax, founded on the idea that every individual has the right to be their authentic self, honors those who are true to themselves. We commit to transparency in our operations and strive to provide spaces where all LGBTQ+ Coloradans feel empowered.
We acknowledge with respect that The Center on Colfax stands on the unceded traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pueblo and Shoshone Nations. Further, we acknowledge the 48 contemporary tribal nations historically tied to the lands that comprise what is now called Colorado. We recognize Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of this land and honor their sacrifices and hardships. We recognize that colonialism continues to affect modern Indigenous people. Learn more at https://native-land.ca/
Collaborative, Community-Minded Organizational Culture
The Center on Colfax will improve communication and collaboration internally and externally to build relationships, demonstrate transparency, and continue to effectively serve LGBTQ+ people in Denver and Colorado.
Our Board and staff commit to achieving deeper engagement with our community. The Center will improve internal and external communication to better listen to the diverse voices of the LGBTQ+ community, identify community needs, and drive participation in inclusive programming. The Center will work to build relationships and partnerships with other community groups and organizations to mutually serve our constituencies and use our strengths to help strengthen Denver’s community as a whole.
One-Stop LGBTQ+ Resource Hub
The Center on Colfax will serve as a one-stop resource for the LGBTQ+ community, taking a holistic approach to provide education, training, support, and expert referrals for all LGBTQ+ community members.
The Center will implement a holistic approach to creating resources and educational opportunities for the community, maximizing our impact through partnerships and collaborations. In addition to creating new community resources, we will leverage our existing resources, such as our online resource guide and community calendar, to create one-stop source of information about our community.
Inclusive, Innovative Programs and Events
The Center on Colfax will focus on inclusion and innovation to enhance its programs, annual Denver Pride celebration, and other events in order to support all LGBTQ+ community members and provide opportunities to build connections.
The Center commits to serving our community through our existing programs serving youth, young adults, gender-diverse individuals, those seeking mental health support, and older adults, as well as continuing to promote inclusive workplaces. We will continue to listen and respond to the needs of our communities to expand participation and celebrate LGBTQ+ history and culture.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Focus
The Center on Colfax will be a leader and role model for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) efforts internally and externally in order to support and empower all LGBTQ+ people.
The Center will continue to use an equity lens for internal processes affecting staff and Board members. We will continue to pursue diverse candidates in staff and Board recruitment efforts and build relationships with QTBIPOC communities to incorporate a non-white perspective in leadership and decision making, as well as providing youth with opportunities for leadership. We will develop IDEA learning opportunities for Board, staff, and volunteers to address issues of white and cisgender supremacy. We will engage in dialogue about white fragility and embrace feedback from communities of color. We will invest in events for QTBIPOC communities and collaborations with other organizations to expand our reach.
Enhanced Marketing, Branding, and Partnerships
The Center on Colfax will grow its reach, enhance its brand, and increase audience engagement via targeted marketing efforts and an innovative digital content strategy.
The Center strives to become the premier source of information about the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado. Through our website, social media channels, resource lists, and community calendar, we will build community and celebrate the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ people as well as engage our community with The Center’s programs and services.
Stability and Growth in Funding and Staff Resources
The Center on Colfax will sustain and grow the necessary financial and staff resources to be a forward-thinking organization that successfully promotes and implements programs and events which align with our mission and core values.
The Center will continue to engage individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners to support our work. We will produce engaging fundraising and social events. The Center will invest in the necessary infrastructure to ensure Denver Pride continues to grow and thrive as one of the nation’s top pride celebrations. Through careful financial planning, The Center will continue to build community engagement and support expanded programming and community services.