A year ago, the CoorsTek facility at 4414 Table Mountain Drive was a simple warehouse.

Today, it’s a training center.

And, in the coming months and years, CoorsTek leaders hope it’ll become a regional epicenter for advanced manufacturing workforce development.

On July 16, the company celebrated opening its new CoorsTek Academy Advanced Manufacturing Training Center with its industry and education partners, as well as state and local government officials.

The CoorsTek Academy started in 2021 to train internal hires and employees.

However, this new training center in northeastern Golden was made to be used by outside entities.

According to CoorsTek Workforce Development Manager Elizabeth Pittman, workforce development centers, local school districts, community colleges and other companies will use it to train people in universally applied manufacturing skills.

“This is really what opportunity looks like,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pittman and other CoorsTek officials explained how the state-of-the-art facility will be ideal for advanced manufacturing personnel, covering everything from a half-day recertification course to a multiyear apprenticeship.

CoorsTek employees are also using the training center for apprenticeships, recertification and other endeavors.

In fact, Pittman said the first apprenticeship cohort — composed of six recent high school graduates from Jefferson and Denver counties — started on June 30 for an 18-month program.

The facility is composed of two training bays. One is specific to CoorsTek employees, with proprietary technology and machinery. The second is open to community colleges, workforce development centers and others, Pittman said.

Both feature innovative technologies, such as a forklift simulator, to help participants learn.

Opportunity Now Colorado

Last year, CoorsTek received a $4.5 million Opportunity Now Colorado grant to help establish the academy. From now until late 2026, the academy must serve at least 1,200 Coloradans as part of the grant requirements.

Polis said that overall, $55 million in Opportunity Now grants will help at least 20,000 Coloradans with job training and placement. The CoorsTek Academy’s training center specifically will be a major boost for the 6,000 companies that comprise Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector, he said.

CoorsTek leaders thanked the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade and the Governor’s Office for investing in the training center, saying it will become a model for public-private collaboration.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Coors also anticipated it’d be a major asset to Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector, and help boost local companies, employees and economic development.

Irma Lockridge, chief people & systems officer, encouraged Polis and other officials to check back on the training center in a year to see just how much it had grown and how significant of an impact it’s had.

Click through additional photos from the July 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony:

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Whether you are looking to start a new business or are continuing to build on the success of your current business, the Parker Chamber of Commerce is inviting small, locally owned businesses to join the inaugural Parker Chamber Symposium on July 10. 

“We wanted to dedicate the first Parker Chamber Symposium to the theme of small business survival,” said  T.J. Sullivan, Parker Chamber of Commerce CEO and president. 

While the chamber may not know the exact number of small and locally owned businesses within Parker, there are various businesses ranging from diners and coffee shops to home improvement companies and bookstores. 

Having recently reached 500 member businesses in late June, the Parker Chamber of Commerce aims to support and promote businesses to create a healthy and thriving community. 

Over time, the town has continued to grow, bringing significant residential and commercial growth with it. 

This includes the upcoming luxury apartment and retail development along Mainstreet in downtown Parker and the ongoing Looking Glass development in the southern portion of the town. 

There will also be new employment opportunities with the expansion of AdventHealth Parker hospital, the addition of Safran Defense & Space Inc. and Chicken N Pickle event space, and the upcoming data center development. 

With this growth, the chamber wanted to help smaller businesses and startups learn how they can compete for their share of the market. 

“We wanted to go on the offense to preserve the ability for residents to successfully start and own small businesses here,” Sullivan said. 

Current and prospective business owners will have the chance to hear from Ashvinal Patel, the executive director of the Aurora South-Metro Small Business Development Center, which is a nationally accredited program. 

The Aurora South-Metro Small Business Development Center focuses on assessing business strategy and developing skill sets to be able to stay competitive in an ever-changing market. 

The day will include breakout sessions that discuss numerous topics such as commercial space, HR compliance, financing for scale-up and succession planning. 

Additionally, a survey in April revealed that more than half of the chamber businesses that participated said they anticipate moderate or significant impacts from the nation’s economic state, trade tensions and tariffs, with 18% indicating a slight impact. 

The survey also revealed that some businesses were planning on reducing their staff, making cuts to marketing budgets, trimming overhead costs and improving client relationships. 

Marketing, cash flow, customer retention and finding and retaining employees will also be topics discussed during the symposium’s breakout sessions. 

The day will conclude with a town staff panel to answer questions and offer tips for successfully launching a new enterprise. 

“We want Parker to be a place where an entrepreneur’s dream can take root,” Sullivan said. 

The symposium, which is open to non-chamber members, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Parker Schoolhouse, located at 19650 Mainstreet. 

Register at tinyurl.com/Parker-Symposium-Registry 

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In Denver’s Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods — long shaped by industry, immigrant labor and environmental injustice — two grassroots organizations are joining forces to rewrite the narrative of economic survival.

El Centro de los Trabajadores and Tierra Colectiva, the community land trust of the GES Coalition, have partnered to launch a new worker center aimed at connecting local residents with job training, labor protections and long-term pathways to stability.

But leaders say this effort is about more than just employment. It’s about dignity, power and building a future that belongs to the people who have called this community home for generations.

“We don’t have to wait for someone else to come and save us,” said Nola Miguel, director of Tierra Colectiva. “We can build these solutions ourselves — with our neighbors, for our neighbors.”

Rooted in organizing, focused on justice

The new worker center — set to open in the heart of GES — will focus initially on three high-demand industries: construction, hospitality and childcare. But Mayra Juarez-Denis, executive director of El Centro de los Trabajadores, emphasized that the vision goes beyond skills training.

“We see the whole worker — not just the job seeker,” Juarez-Denis said. “It’s about connecting them to the right resources, making sure they’re treated with dignity, and helping them dream bigger for themselves and their families.”

This is the third worker center El Centro has established in Denver, but it’s the first rooted deeply in a historically working-class neighborhood like GES — an area facing increasing pressures from development and displacement.

“This is about expanding the opportunities for working-class families to create generational wealth,” Juarez-Denis added. “Not just any job — but good jobs, with respect, stability and a future.”

Connecting labor justice with housing justice

For both organizations, the partnership was a natural fit.

Tierra Colectiva has spent years organizing to prevent displacement and secure community ownership of land and housing in GES. El Centro de los Trabajadores has fought to protect workers’ rights and provide pathways to economic advancement.

“Housing justice and labor justice are deeply connected,” Miguel said. “It’s about building power at the community level — so families can stay, work and thrive right here.”

That local focus, leaders say, is essential in a city where economic development often leaves longtime residents behind.

“We’ve seen too many investments come into neighborhoods and just pass through — never really benefiting the people living there,” Miguel said. “This partnership is about making sure that when resources come to GES, they stay here.”

A model for community-led solutions

The timing of this initiative feels especially urgent.

Across Colorado and the nation, working-class and immigrant communities continue to face rising costs, labor exploitation and housing insecurity. But this project — born from community organizing — offers a different approach: one centered on local voices, grassroots power and long-term vision.

“We want this center to be a place of belonging,” Juarez-Denis said. “A place where workers feel safe, respected, and connected to opportunities that will help their families thrive — not just today, but for generations to come.”

As construction gets underway, both organizations hope this model can inspire other neighborhoods — proving that investing in people, listening to residents and building collective solutions is not just possible, but essential.

“This is the power of organizing,” Juarez-Denis said. “When workers and neighbors come together, we can create the future we deserve.”

The post In Denver’s GES neighborhoods, new worker center aims to build power, not just jobs appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

En los vecindarios de Globeville y Elyria-Swansea en Denver — largamente marcados por la industria, el trabajo inmigrante y la injusticia ambiental — dos organizaciones comunitarias se han unido para reescribir la narrativa de la supervivencia económica.

El Centro de los Trabajadores y Tierra Colectiva, el fideicomiso de tierras comunitarias de la Coalición GES, se han asociado para lanzar un nuevo centro de trabajadores que busca conectar a residentes locales con capacitación laboral, protección de derechos laborales y caminos hacia la estabilidad a largo plazo.

Pero sus líderes aseguran que este esfuerzo va más allá del empleo. Se trata de dignidad, poder y de construir un futuro que pertenezca a las personas que han llamado hogar a esta comunidad por generaciones.

“No tenemos que esperar a que alguien venga a salvarnos”, dijo Nola Miguel, directora de Tierra Colectiva. “Podemos construir estas soluciones nosotras mismas, con nuestras vecinas y vecinos, para nuestras vecinas y vecinos.”

Con raíces en la organización comunitaria y enfoque en la justicia

El nuevo centro de trabajadores —que abrirá en el corazón de GES— se enfocará inicialmente en tres industrias con alta demanda: construcción, hospitalidad y cuidado infantil. Pero Mayra Juarez-Denis, directora ejecutiva de El Centro de los Trabajadores, destacó que la visión va más allá de la capacitación técnica.

“Vemos a la persona trabajadora completa, no solo a quien busca empleo”, dijo Juarez-Denis. “Se trata de conectarlas con los recursos adecuados, asegurarnos de que se les trate con dignidad y ayudarles a soñar en grande para ellas y sus familias.”

Este es el tercer centro de trabajadores que El Centro establece en Denver, pero el primero arraigado profundamente en un vecindario históricamente obrero como GES —una zona que enfrenta presiones crecientes por el desarrollo y el desplazamiento.

“Esto se trata de ampliar las oportunidades para que las familias trabajadoras generen riqueza generacional”, añadió Juarez-Denis. “No cualquier empleo, sino buenos empleos, con respeto, estabilidad y futuro.”

Conectando la justicia laboral con la justicia de vivienda

Para ambas organizaciones, la alianza fue una decisión natural.

Tierra Colectiva ha dedicado años a prevenir el desplazamiento y asegurar la propiedad comunitaria de tierras y viviendas en GES. El Centro de los Trabajadores ha luchado por proteger los derechos laborales y abrir caminos hacia el avance económico.

“La justicia de vivienda y la justicia laboral están profundamente conectadas”, dijo Miguel. “Se trata de construir poder a nivel comunitario, para que las familias puedan quedarse, trabajar y prosperar aquí mismo.”

Ese enfoque local, afirman las líderes, es esencial en una ciudad donde el desarrollo económico frecuentemente deja atrás a las y los residentes de siempre.

“Hemos visto demasiadas inversiones llegar a los vecindarios y simplemente pasar de largo, sin beneficiar realmente a quienes viven allí”, señaló Miguel. “Esta alianza trata de asegurarnos de que cuando lleguen recursos a GES, se queden en GES.”

Un modelo de soluciones lideradas por la comunidad

En Colorado y en todo el país, las comunidades trabajadoras e inmigrantes enfrentan altos costos, explotación laboral e inseguridad habitacional. Pero este proyecto —nacido de la organización comunitaria— ofrece un enfoque diferente: centrado en las voces locales, el poder colectivo y una visión a largo plazo.

“Queremos que este centro sea un lugar de pertenencia”, dijo Juarez-Denis. “Un espacio donde las personas trabajadoras se sientan seguras, respetadas y conectadas a oportunidades que les ayuden a prosperar —no solo hoy, sino por generaciones.”

A medida que avanza la construcción, ambas organizaciones esperan que este modelo inspire a otros vecindarios —demostrando que invertir en las personas, escuchar a la comunidad y construir soluciones colectivas no sólo es posible, sino fundamental.

“Este es el poder de la organización comunitaria”, concluyó Juarez-Denis. “Cuando las y los trabajadores se unen, podemos crear el futuro que merecemos.”

The post En los vecindarios GES de Denver, nuevo centro de trabajadores busca construir poder, no solo empleos appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

As Denver’s Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods continue to face the pressures of rapid development, two organizations are working together to create new opportunities for the community to stay, work and thrive.

El Centro de los Trabajadores, an organization focused on labor rights, has partnered with Tierra Colectiva, the community land trust of the GES Coalition, to bring a new worker center to the area. The center aims to provide job training, workforce resources, and support for local workers — while also expanding community-owned land in a neighborhood that has long fought for housing and economic justice.

To learn more about this new effort and what it could mean for the future of GES, La Ciudad spoke with Nola Miguel, director of Tierra Colectiva and GES Coalition, and Mayra Juarez-Denis, executive director of El Centro de los Trabajadores.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

🎙️La Ciudad: To begin — for people who may not know — what is this new partnership all about, and why is it important for the GES community right now?

Nola Miguel: Tierra Colectiva began as a grassroots movement to prevent the displacement of longtime residents in the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods. Our work has centered on creating permanently affordable housing, but over time, we’ve recognized the need for broader community ownership — including commercial spaces and workforce development.

El Centro de los Trabajadores has been a strong advocate for labor rights across the city. After working with Mayra Juarez-Denis, she approached us with the idea to bring a worker center into GES. It made perfect sense.

Rather than wait for someone else to bring job opportunities or start a new program, we realized we could build this together. This partnership is about standing in solidarity — combining housing and labor strategies — and creating real, lasting stability in the neighborhood by and for the people who live here.

🎙️La Ciudad: Mayra, what exactly will this new worker center offer to residents of GES? What kinds of training or resources will be available to them?

Mayra Juarez-Denis: This new location in GES will be El Centro de los Trabajadores’ third in the Denver area. We have one near downtown, another on Federal Boulevard, and now this new site in Globeville/Elyria-Swansea.

The new worker center will offer a range of workforce development programs focused on three key industries where there’s currently a high demand for workers: construction, hospitality, and childcare. As we grow and assess additional needs in the community, we hope to expand that list.

But what makes our worker center different is that we don’t just see the worker as someone needing a job — we see the whole person. Just like schools talk about supporting the whole child, we support the whole worker. Yes, we provide technical training and soft skills for today’s economy, but we also connect workers to resources that help their families thrive, like mental health services or legal aid, through trusted partners.

We also work directly with employers, training them on best practices for retention and supporting diverse workforces. And we provide workers with essential information about their labor rights, existing protections, and how to connect with unions or other advocacy partners.

This is why partnering with Tierra Colectiva and GES Coalition makes so much sense. They know this community deeply. We didn’t want to come in and assume we knew what was needed. Instead, we listened to the people who live here — because they are the true experts of their own community.

🎙️La Ciudad: Nola, this project is clearly about more than jobs. It connects labor justice with housing justice. Why is that connection so important?

Miguel: Absolutely. One thing Mayra touched on is that both of our organizations have deep roots in community organizing. And what that means is we both believe that the people most affected by injustice — whether it’s lack of housing or unfair labor practices — are the same people who should be leading the solutions.

We know that jobs and housing are both essential to stability and dignity. But it’s not just about having a job or a place to live — it’s about having power and ownership in shaping those conditions.

This partnership is about collective action. It’s about building shared priorities with residents and creating community-led solutions. It’s not passive. It’s about being actively involved in building a better future together — one that centers the voices of workers, tenants, and longtime residents.

Our vision for justice is rooted in that belief: that the solutions must come from the people living these experiences every day. That’s what unites our organizations and drives this partnership forward.

🎙️La Ciudad: Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of this new worker center? What impact do you hope it will have on workers and families in the GES community? Could you share an example to help people better understand your vision?

Juarez-Denis: For us at El Centro de los Trabajadores, the vision is very clear. When we began studying the needs of our working-class community, it became evident that we needed to create a pathway where workers could truly advance — not just survive.

We want to eliminate the barriers that have historically held workers back, like language discrimination or being limited to temporary jobs without benefits. Our goal is to create a structure where workers are respected, where they have access to stable, full-time jobs with benefits, and where employers recognize and honor their rights.

Ultimately, this center will provide opportunities for families who have the talent, skills and determination to thrive. It’s about building generational wealth and allowing workers to sustain their families with dignity and pride. Not just any job — but good jobs, jobs with respect and a future.

🎙️La Ciudad: Nola, would you like to add to that, especially around the importance of dignity and respect in this work?

Miguel: Absolutely. In Globeville and Elyria-Swansea, there’s a long and proud history of working-class people and industry. In fact, one thing we often hear from longtime residents is: “We built this city.” And it’s true. The steel produced here helped build Colorado.

But while there is pride in that legacy, there has also been a long history of worker exploitation. Until now, there hasn’t been a dedicated worker center in this community — a place where dignity is expected, and where workers can access training and resources to advance.

This partnership with El Centro gives us that starting point. It’s not just about job training; it’s about creating a space rooted in respect and empowerment.

Looking ahead, we hope this center can expand to include other opportunities, like cooperative business development or a childcare cooperative, which we already have a model for in this neighborhood. But it all begins with the foundation we’re building now — a place where workers feel valued, connected, and supported in shaping a better future for themselves and their families.

That’s what we hope to grow with this Workforce Center; not just jobs, but community, pride and power.

🎙️La Ciudad: Finally, what message would you like to share directly with the community about the power of organizing, solidarity and investing in local solutions?

Juarez-Denis: Even though Nola and I hold titles as executive directors, at our core, we are organizers. And what that means is that we believe — deeply — that the true experts are the people in the community. They know what they need. They know what’s best for their families.

When we respect and honor that knowledge, we strengthen democracy. And right now, more than ever, we need to expand the message that working-class people must have the power to speak up and demand what they need.

Here in GES, and across the city, our working-class communities need institutional support — not just words, but real investment. And to get there, we have to build not only capital but also power within our neighborhoods. Regular people, ordinary folks — they know best what they need for themselves and their families. This worker center is a reflection of that — it’s about creating institutions that exist for the people, not for outside interests.

Our partners, like GES Coalition and Tierra Colectiva, know this community well. They have earned trust. Together, we are putting workers at the center of every effort, building something rooted in their needs and dreams.

Miguel: I completely agree with Mayra. What we’re building together — both in housing and workforce development — is really about community readiness. When opportunities or funding come to a neighborhood, too often it doesn’t reach the people it was intended to help. Sometimes money gets invested, but it doesn’t stay in the community — it passes through without lasting impact.

That’s why it’s so important that this partnership is built on shared priorities identified by neighbors themselves. When investment arrives, we’ll be ready. We know how to manage it, how to keep it rooted here, and how to make sure it benefits families directly.

Especially when we’re talking about long-term community assets, like housing or workforce development, it’s essential to create structures that hold and sustain that investment within the community — not just for now, but for future generations.

🎙️La Ciudad: Finally, Mayra, I want to come back to you for a closing thought. What is your vision for the future of this new worker center? How do you see it evolving in the next few years?

Juarez-Denis: For me, the vision is very clear. We want this center to be a place where workers feel safe — truly safe — and where they feel a sense of belonging.

And when I say safe, I don’t just mean being able to speak freely. I mean a deeper kind of safety — the kind that comes from knowing that this is a place you can trust. A place where workers will be connected to employers who respect their rights. Where they know their dignity as workers will be protected.

I see this center as a space where working-class families can dream big together. Not just about getting a good job, but about building a future — about entrepreneurship, about new opportunities, about breaking barriers for the first generation and those to come.

This center will be rooted in community. It will connect people to resources that truly benefit them — not just for today, but for their children and future generations.

That’s what we’re building here. We’re dreaming big because we know our working-class families deserve it. And I believe that once people see the impact — once they see the dignity, the talent, the hunger to thrive within our community — more and more resources and support will follow.

We have the right partners. We have the right timing. And most importantly, we have the right people — our neighbors, our workers, our community. And that’s what makes me so hopeful about what’s ahead.

The post ‘We could build this together’: Leaders talk about new GES worker center appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Mientras los vecindarios de Globeville y Elyria-Swansea en Denver siguen enfrentando las presiones del desarrollo acelerado, dos organizaciones están trabajando juntas para crear nuevas oportunidades que permitan a la comunidad quedarse, trabajar y prosperar.

El Centro de los Trabajadores, una organización enfocada en los derechos laborales, se ha asociado con Tierra Colectiva, el fideicomiso comunitario de tierras de la Coalición GES, para establecer un nuevo centro laboral en la zona. El centro ofrecerá capacitación laboral, recursos para el desarrollo profesional y apoyo a trabajadores locales, al mismo tiempo que expande la propiedad comunitaria de tierras en un vecindario que ha luchado por la justicia de vivienda y económica durante años.

Para conocer más sobre este esfuerzo y lo que podría significar para el futuro de GES, La Ciudad conversó con Nola Miguel, directora de Tierra Colectiva y la Coalición GES, y con Mayra Juarez-Denis, directora ejecutiva de El Centro de los Trabajadores.

Esta entrevista ha sido editada para mayor extensión y claridad.

🎙️La Ciudad: Para comenzar — para quienes no conocen la iniciativa — ¿de qué trata esta nueva alianza y por qué es importante para la comunidad de GES en este momento?

Nola Miguel: Tierra Colectiva nació como un movimiento de base para evitar el desplazamiento de residentes de toda la vida en Globeville y Elyria-Swansea. Nuestro enfoque ha sido crear vivienda permanentemente asequible, pero con el tiempo reconocimos la necesidad de ampliar la propiedad comunitaria — incluyendo espacios comerciales y desarrollo laboral.

El Centro de los Trabajadores ha sido un defensor firme de los derechos laborales en toda la ciudad. Después de colaborar con Mayra Juarez-Denis, ella nos propuso la idea de traer un centro laboral a GES. Y tenía todo el sentido.

En lugar de esperar a que alguien más brindara oportunidades laborales o comenzara un nuevo programa, nos dimos cuenta de que podíamos construir esto juntos. Esta asociación se trata de ser solidarios, combinando estrategias de vivienda y trabajo, y creando una estabilidad real y duradera en el vecindario por y para las personas que viven aquí.

🎙️La Ciudad: Mayra, ¿qué ofrecerá exactamente este nuevo centro de trabajadores a los residentes de GES? ¿Qué tipos de capacitación o recursos estarán disponibles para ellos?

Mayra Juarez-Denis: Esta será la tercera sede de El Centro de los Trabajadores en el área metropolitana de Denver. Tenemos una cerca del centro, otra en Federal Boulevard, y ahora esta nueva en Globeville-Elyria-Swansea.

El nuevo centro ofrecerá programas de desarrollo laboral en tres industrias con alta demanda: construcción, hospitalidad y cuidado infantil. Esperamos ampliar esa lista a medida que identifiquemos más necesidades en la comunidad.

Pero lo que hace diferente a nuestro centro laboral es que no vemos al trabajador solo como alguien que busca empleo — vemos a la persona en su totalidad. Así como en las escuelas se habla del “niño integral”, nosotros hablamos del “trabajador integral”. Sí, ofrecemos formación técnica y habilidades blandas para la economía actual, pero también conectamos a los trabajadores con recursos que beneficien a sus familias — como servicios de salud mental o asistencia legal — a través de socios confiables.

También capacitamos a los empleadores en buenas prácticas para retener y apoyar a una fuerza laboral diversa. Y proporcionamos a los trabajadores información clave sobre sus derechos, protecciones laborales existentes y cómo conectarse con sindicatos u otras organizaciones de apoyo.

Por eso tiene tanto sentido asociarnos con Tierra Colectiva y la Coalición GES. Conocen profundamente a esta comunidad. No queríamos llegar e imponer lo que pensábamos que se necesitaba. Escuchamos a quienes viven aquí — porque ellos son los verdaderos expertos de su comunidad.

🎙️La Ciudad: Nola, este proyecto claramente va más allá de empleos. Conecta la justicia laboral con la justicia habitacional. ¿Por qué es tan importante esa conexión?

Miguel: Totalmente. Una cosa que mencionó Mayra es que ambas organizaciones tenemos raíces profundas en el trabajo organizativo comunitario. Eso significa que creemos firmemente que las personas más afectadas por la injusticia — ya sea por la falta de vivienda o las condiciones laborales injustas — deben liderar las soluciones.

Sabemos que el empleo y la vivienda son esenciales para la estabilidad y la dignidad. Pero no se trata solo de tener un trabajo o un techo — se trata de tener poder y control sobre esas condiciones.

Esta alianza es acción colectiva. Se trata de construir prioridades compartidas con los residentes y generar soluciones dirigidas por la comunidad. No es algo pasivo. Se trata de participar activamente en la construcción de un mejor futuro — uno que ponga al centro a trabajadores, inquilinos y residentes de toda la vida.

Nuestra visión de justicia parte de esa creencia: que las soluciones deben surgir de las personas que viven estas realidades cada día. Eso es lo que une a nuestras organizaciones y lo que impulsa esta colaboración.

🎙️La Ciudad: Pensando en el futuro, ¿cuál es su visión para este nuevo centro laboral? ¿Qué impacto esperan que tenga en los trabajadores y las familias de GES? ¿Podrían dar un ejemplo que ayude a visualizarlo?

Juarez-Denis: Para nosotras en El Centro de los Trabajadores, la visión es clara. Cuando comenzamos a estudiar las necesidades de nuestra comunidad trabajadora, vimos que era necesario crear un camino real hacia el avance — no solo hacia la supervivencia.

Queremos eliminar las barreras que históricamente han frenado a los trabajadores, como la discriminación por idioma o los trabajos temporales sin beneficios. Nuestro objetivo es construir una estructura donde los trabajadores sean respetados, donde accedan a empleos estables y de tiempo completo con beneficios, y donde los empleadores reconozcan sus derechos

En última instancia, este centro generará oportunidades para familias con el talento, las habilidades y las ganas de salir adelante. Se trata de construir riqueza generacional y permitir que las familias se sostengan con dignidad y orgullo. No cualquier empleo — sino empleos dignos, con respeto y futuro.

🎙️La Ciudad: Nola, ¿te gustaría agregar algo más? ¿especialmente en torno a la importancia de la dignidad y el respeto en este trabajo?

Miguel: Claro. En Globeville y Elyria-Swansea hay una historia larga y orgullosa de clase trabajadora e industria. De hecho, algo que oímos con frecuencia de los residentes de toda la vida es: “Nosotros construimos esta ciudad”. Y es cierto. El acero producido aquí ayudó a construir Colorado.

Pero además del orgullo, hay una historia de explotación laboral. Hasta ahora, no había un centro laboral dedicado en esta comunidad — un lugar donde la dignidad sea la norma y donde los trabajadores puedan acceder a capacitación y recursos para avanzar.

Esta colaboración con El Centro nos permite comenzar a cambiar eso. No se trata solo de formación profesional; se trata de crear un espacio basado en el respeto y el empoderamiento.

Esperamos que este centro crezca e incluya otras oportunidades, como el desarrollo de cooperativas de trabajo o cuidado infantil — algo que ya hemos comenzado a explorar. Pero todo empieza con esta base: un lugar donde los trabajadores se sientan valorados, conectados y apoyados en la construcción de un mejor futuro para sus familias.

Eso es lo que esperamos construir con este Centro Laboral: no solo empleos, sino comunidad, orgullo y poder.

🎙️La Ciudad: Finalmente, ¿qué mensaje les gustaría compartir directamente con la comunidad sobre el poder de la organización, la solidaridad y la inversión en soluciones locales?

Juarez-Denis: Aunque Nola y yo tengamos títulos como directoras ejecutivas, en el fondo somos organizadoras. Y eso significa que creemos — profundamente — que los verdaderos expertos son las personas de la comunidad. Ellos saben lo que necesitan. Ellos saben qué es lo mejor para sus familias.

Cuando honramos y respetamos ese conocimiento, fortalecemos la democracia. Y hoy, más que nunca, debemos ampliar el mensaje de que las personas trabajadoras deben tener el poder de alzar la voz y exigir lo que necesitan.

Aquí en GES, y en toda la ciudad, nuestras comunidades trabajadoras necesitan apoyo institucional — no solo palabras, sino inversión real. Y para lograrlo, tenemos que construir no solo capital económico, sino poder comunitario. La gente común sabe mejor que nadie lo que necesita. Este centro es reflejo de eso — una institución que existe para el pueblo, no para intereses ajenos.

Nuestros socios, como la Coalición GES y Tierra Colectiva, conocen esta comunidad. Se han ganado la confianza. Juntos, estamos poniendo a los trabajadores al centro de cada esfuerzo, construyendo algo desde sus sueños y necesidades.

Miguel: Estoy completamente de acuerdo con Mayra. Lo que estamos construyendo juntas — tanto en vivienda como en desarrollo laboral — es preparación comunitaria. Cuando llegan oportunidades o fondos a un vecindario, muchas veces no alcanzan a quienes realmente los necesitan. A veces se invierte dinero, pero no permanece — solo pasa por la comunidad sin dejar impacto.

Por eso es tan importante que esta alianza se base en prioridades compartidas y surgidas de los propios vecinos. Cuando llegue la inversión, estaremos listas. Sabremos cómo manejarla, cómo mantenerla aquí, y cómo asegurar que beneficie directamente a las familias.

Sobre todo cuando hablamos de activos comunitarios a largo plazo — como vivienda o capacitación laboral — es esencial crear estructuras que retengan y sostengan esa inversión en la comunidad, no solo hoy, sino para las generaciones futuras.

🎙️La Ciudad: Finalmente, Mayra, quisiera volver a usted para una reflexión final. ¿Cuál es su visión para el futuro de este nuevo centro laboral? ¿Cómo ve su evolución en los próximos años?

Juarez-Denis: Para mí, la visión es clara. Queremos que este centro sea un lugar donde los trabajadores se sientan seguros — realmente seguros — y donde encuentren un sentido de pertenencia.

Y cuando digo seguros, no me refiero solo a poder hablar con libertad. Me refiero a esa seguridad profunda que viene de saber que este es un lugar en el que puedes confiar. Un lugar donde te conectas con empleadores que respetan tus derechos. Donde sabes que tu dignidad será protegida.

Veo este centro como un espacio donde las familias de clase trabajadora pueden soñar juntas en grande. No sólo de conseguir un buen trabajo, sino de construir un futuro: de espíritu empresarial, de nuevas oportunidades, de romper barreras para la primera generación y las venideras.

Este centro estará arraigado en la comunidad. Conectará a las personas con recursos que realmente las benefician, no sólo para hoy, sino para sus hijos y las generaciones futuras.

Eso es lo que estamos construyendo aquí. Soñamos en grande porque sabemos que nuestras familias de clase trabajadora lo merecen. Y creo que una vez que la gente vea el impacto (una vez que vean la dignidad, el talento y el hambre de prosperar dentro de nuestra comunidad), habrá más y más recursos y apoyo.

Tenemos los socios adecuados. Tenemos el momento adecuado. Y lo más importante es que tenemos a las personas adecuadas: nuestros vecinos, nuestros trabajadores, nuestra comunidad. Y eso es lo que me da tanta esperanza sobre lo que está por venir.

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Southwest Airlines held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with officials from Colorado Aerotropolis, Adams County, the City and County of Denver, Jag Logistics, and Denver International Airport to inaugurate Southwest Airlines University on April 2. 

“Equipping our employees to do their jobs safely while delivering world-class hospitality is our top priority,” said Bobby Loeb, Vice President, Southwest Airlines University at Southwest Airlines. “We appreciate this partnership and our new training center, which allows us to invest in our people by offering the latest tools, enhanced training environments, and functional spaces to maintain a focus on safety as we continue growing and serving the Denver community.”

The ribbon cutting was held at 23,000 square-foot new learning centers at 6611 N. Powhatan Rd. in Aurora within the JAG Logistics Center adjoining Denver International Airport.

According to officials, there is additional room to expand 12,000 square feet. 

It’s part of the expansion around Denver International Aiport.

The Colorado Aerotropolis was developed as a vision in collaboration with industry leaders between Adams County; the cities of Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, and Thornton; the City and County of Denver; and Denver International Airport (DEN), according to officials.

Denver International Airport, North America’s third-busiest airport, brings economic growth to the region, according to Adams County officials.

“The Colorado Aerotropolis was born from the philosophy that when partners come together to collaborate, we are greater than the sum of our parts. When we work together, we can accomplish great things for the future of our region,” said Commissioner Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners and Airport Coordinating Committee. “Celebrating Southwest Airlines’ training facility in Adams County is a commitment to regional collaboration to drive and sustain economic growth in the region.”

The Corporate Campus training facility in Dallas will still remain as a training center for airline pilots, according to officials. The new Southwest Airlines University is designed to be a hub to train employees in other types of airport jobs.

According to officials, JAG Logistics is a privately owned industrial expansion close to Denver International Airport. Its 260 acres are still under development under Industrial Zoned, Opportunity Zoned, and Enterprises Zoned with opportunities to expand into a commercial economic mecca. 

With the partnership of JAG, DEN, and the City of Aurora, the plans of development in this area would stimulate the communities, tenants, and businesses and create jobs within the neighborhoods that surround it.

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With wide-scale layoffs, budget cuts and more, the past three months haven’t been easy for federal government employees and contractors.

However, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright looked to provide some encouragement April 3 as he visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Golden campus.

In addressing NREL’s 4,000 employees — whether in Golden, at another campus or in the field — Wright told them how much he enjoyed his visit, saying, “Not all my days have been as awesome as today.”

Wright, who’s from the Denver area, has a background in oil and natural gas as well as solar, geothermal and nuclear energy. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 3 and sworn in later that day.

Wright told NREL employees how they’re doing critical work, saying he wants to help them however he can so that NREL and other U.S. Department of Energy employees can “unleash all of your energies and talents” and “focus on science and technology, and not on bureaucracy.”

To that end, he said he signed secretarial orders to ensure work could get done faster and cheaper.

As an example, Wright and NREL Director Martin Keller explained how, after Wright assumed office, Keller asked Wright to help accelerate construction of the Golden campus’ Energy Materials and Processing at Scale, or EMAPS, facility. NREL broke ground on it last year and it’s expected to be completed in 2027.

As Keller and other NREL officials later explained, Wright did help accelerate the project by reducing permit processing and approval times for contracting and executing the construction work.

After addressing the NREL employees, Wright and Keller hosted a small press conference in the Energy Systems Integration Facility.

When asked about federal employee layoffs and whether the public should expect any more, Wright didn’t give a definitive answer.

President Donald Trump’s administration has previously stated it wants to eliminate government employee positions through reductions in force. Then, on April 1, the DOE announced it was preparing for a “restructuring” but didn’t say more, according to Politico.

Wright said the DOE’s headcount has grown about 20% over the last four years, but he felt that Americans only got “a little bit more restrictions in energy production” in return. He continued by comparing it to how he ran his business, saying he wants to make “government services as good as they are today, or better, but at lower cost.”

He then said the U.S. Department of Energy is evaluating how to “get better and smarter at what we’re doing” within the overall department and each subdivision.

“So, that is an ongoing process; we are midstream on that,” Wright said. “But frankly, it would be downright irresponsible if we weren’t doing this (evaluation).”

‘We have to move fast’

During both his meeting with NREL employees and the press conference, Wright announced a DOE plan to lease land to AI data centers in a public-private partnership. One possible site is NREL’s Flatirons campus.

This plan builds on a Jan. 14 order issued by then-President Joe Biden’s administration.

Wright said he believes this public-private partnership would help both sides, as the data centers would have land to build on and the DOE would get money and maybe additional computing power for its national labs. It would also help the United States stay competitive in the international AI race, Wright added.

Keller agreed that integrating data centers into the community is a very important discussion for the country, and he said he believes there’s great potential for collaboration between national labs and data centers, particularly regarding energy efficiency.

Overall, Keller said, he and his NREL colleagues are excited at the prospect of partnering with a data center.

“Thank you for pushing us, to ask us, ‘How can we go faster?’” Keller said to Wright about how his work has affected NREL thus far. “Because, here at NREL, we love to go fast, because we want to create a better planet, so we have to move fast.”

During the April 3 press conference, Wright also fielded questions about his stance on climate change and “climate alarmism,” as he described it, as well as Trump’s tariffs that were announced the previous day.

In addressing both NREL employees and the media, Wright championed advancing the United States’ electric grid by “increasing supply without impacting costs.” He said the country’s demand for electricity has been relatively flat for at least 20 years while costs have gone up, making consumers angry.

“We need to produce more electricity and stop the price rises that are making life tougher for consumers and making it harder for businesses to locate in the United States,” he said.

Wright said he believes NREL employees and others across the DOE would be critical components in reaching that goal.

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José “Pepe” Garayoa has been driving his food truck around the Denver area for seven years. Given that it’s a larger truck and an older model, he said navigating traffic was challenging.

Now, though, he’s found the perfect permanent spot for the Ricas Tortas Calientes truck along South Golden Road.

“I’m very happy to be here in Golden,” he said. “What a great opportunity.”

The spot near Native Nursery, which is accessible via 17025 South Golden Road, may be familiar to locals as the former home of Bonfire Burritos and/or La Huacha.

Garayoa said his friend who runs La Huacha recently opened a brick-and-mortar location a few blocks away, leaving the food truck spot open. So, Garayoa moved Ricas Tortas Calientes there in December.

He said the spot is ideal, because “Golden knows someone is selling food here.”

Garayoa has been in the food industry for 30 years, working in both restaurants and his own food trucks.

He’s now bringing that experience and his own unique twist to the Ricas Tortas Calientes menu, which features tortas, burgers, tacos, quesadillas and specialty items.

While the winter has been slow, Garayoa expected things to pick up with the warmer weather. He’s preparing to expand his hours and start serving premade breakfast burritos in the summer.

Garayoa emphasized how Ricas Tortas Calientes is a family business. His wife and three daughters have helped him with various aspects of the business over the years.

Running his own business has always been his dream, Garayoa continued, saying, “You have to put yourself to work (to achieve your dream), and it’s easier when you have your family behind you.”

Ricas Tortas Calientes is currently open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, call 303-881-8376 or visit pepestortasandburgers.org.

Click through additional photos of Ricas Tortas Calientes:

Mobile sauna brings warmth, relaxation to local businesses and events

When she lived in Chicago, Rachel Swanson used to swim in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan, and the best way to warm up afterward was her friend’s mobile sauna.

While mobile saunas are more common in Nordic countries and the United States’ Upper Midwest, Swanson thought Colorado would benefit from the idea too. So, when she moved to the Denver area last year, she launched the Nomadic Fire Mobile Sauna.

What looks like a simple trailer on the outside is a warm, welcoming haven on the inside that can easily reach 190 degrees. Swanson and her family summarized the concept as: “Heat on wheels, relaxation that heals.”

Swanson has been taking the mobile sauna to community events and local businesses, including Golden’s Mountain Toad Brewing and Arvada’s Colorado Tap House.

People can book a 30-minute session in the sauna, which sits six people comfortably. Swanson also offers a cold plunge outside, so people can alternate.

Along with community events, Nomadic Fire is also available for private events, such as holiday parties or team-building events, or private rentals at people’s homes.

Swanson, who’s been a therapist for 15 years, emphasized the physical, mental and social benefits of saunas. She encouraged people to listen to their bodies and hydrate beforehand, saying, “It’s a place of gathering, not a competition.”

While saunas are great for athletic recovery, Swanson hoped everyone would try Nomadic Fire. People can bring their friends, play music and have fun while visiting a local brewery, she described.

A regular 30-minute session is $25 per person, but multi-packs and group rates are available.

Nomadic Fire is at Colorado Tap House every other Thursday evening, starting April 3, and at Mountain Toad every other Tuesday evening, starting April 8.

For more information, including pricing, schedule and private booking availability, visit nomadicfiremobilesauna.com.

Click through additional photos of Nomadic Fire Mobile Sauna:

Cheesecake Factory opening May 13 at Colorado Mills

Those who’ve walked around Colorado Mills lately may have seen the “Cheesecake Factory, coming soon” signs.

The restaurant recently announced a May 13 opening date for its new location at the Lakewood mall.

The new Cheesecake Factory will be at Entry No. 1, on the mall’s northwest corner. It will be accessible from both the mall’s exterior and interior.

The restaurant features more than 250 items on its menu, each freshly prepared from scratch at every location, including more than 30 “legendary cheesecakes,” the Cheesecake Factory described in a recent press release.

Additionally, the restaurant stated it will be hiring more than 300 employees for the Colorado Mills location. This includes bartenders, bussers, cashiers, baristas, line cooks, servers and more.

Anyone interested in applying should visit cakecareers.com/coloradomills.

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A celebrity endorsed alternative meat producer making a name in the alternative food market is vowing to keep its huge Thornton production plant open after giving notice it may have to lay off its 150-employees and shutter the facility.

Meati Foods – which is headquartered in Boulder  – stated Friday the drastic fiscal measures are being forced on the company, which produces high-protein, high-fiber and nutrient-dense meats using mycelium – a muscular root structure of fungi – as its single main ingredient, according to BizWest.

“We are taking this action because our lender unexpectedly removed cash from our accounts and took control of the remaining cash reserves on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, and the action was not reasonably foreseeable,” the company stated in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice filed Friday with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “Based on this action we do not have sufficient funding to continue operating. The result of the lender’s unexpected action is that we have to shut down our manufacturing facility.”

The company said the “first termination” at the Thornton site will occur on May 6.

“We would have liked to have given you more advanced notice of this action but were unable to do so because out lender’s actions were wholly unanticipated and unforeseeable,” the company states.

Seeking new financing

Meati was legally forced to issue the WARN notice to employees last Friday.

Company officials said Tuesday Meati Foods is not finished producing its highly regarded protein alternatives and that financing will materialize. Meati is actively in discussion with investors, they said.

“We firmly believe in our mission and that mycelium will change the protein paradigm. While we’re unclear on the future, we hope for the sake of consumers and the planet that Meati’s mission will endure,” – a Meati spokesperson said Tuesday.

“Let us be clear: we are not sitting idle,” CEO Phil Graves states in an email to staff. “We are actively pursuing multiple funding opportunities with our board and both existing and potential new investors.”

Meati, which is trade name used by Emergy Inc., is unlike traditional meat alternatives, which typically attempt to mimic products such as chicken nuggets or ground beef, BizWest states.  Meati’s products replicate whole cuts of meat such as chicken breasts, steak, jerky and pork tenderloin, according to BizWest.

Graves told AgFunderNews in January that Meati Foods almost doubled revenues in 2024 vs 2023 and is on course to achieve positive gross margins by the end of the year.

Meati – which has attracted $356 million in funding – worked through four “painful” rounds of layoffs over the past two years in a bid to streamline operations and accelerate a path to profitability, Graves stated.

Meati also launched a new line of breakfast patties into 280 Sprouts stores nationwide and secured new listings in 118 Raleys stores and 250 Harris Teeter. In all, Meati found its way to around 7,000 doors, Graves told AgFunderNews.

“Thanks for our team and the product itself, we have increased our distribution by 130% year over year, from 23 to 24,” Graves stated.

Meati has attracted some high-profile investors including Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, celebrity chef Rachael Ray and former White House senior policy advisor for nutrition Sam Kass, according to BizWest.

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