Blog
December 23, 2020
Councilwoman Jamie Torres is one of Extreme Community Makeover’s Community Partners. Jamie Torres took office as the Denver City Council Member representing District 3, Denver’s westside, […]
December 22, 2020
Recycling your Christmas tree is as easy as ever, thanks to Denver Recycles’ annual Treecycle program. For every tree recycled through Treecycle, Denver residents help keep […]
December 15, 2020
Extreme Community Makeover is so thankful for our Work Day Sponsors and Key Groups. Work Day sponsorship covers the cost of a dumpster rental and supplies […]
December 9, 2020
American households generate 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, adding one million tons of waste to landfills each week! Together, we can help change […]
November 27, 2020
This month concludes our journey of hearing volunteer stories from each of the ten Extreme Teams leaders. I hope you had a chance to learn more […]
November 24, 2020
The world is a different place than when I began my journey in 2015 with Extreme Community Makeovers (ECM). Lately, it seems I am bouncing back and forth between two dreams; one where we all seem to be living in an episode of Stanger Things….The Upside Down, and another where I am filled with more hope, fully awake and aware, excited to be here during this time, and steeped deeper in compassion, love, and service.
November 21, 2020
The team at Denver Recycles is very thankful to have such an amazing community of recyclers and composters in Denver. Did you know that nearly 15% […]
November 14, 2020
Students from Kent Denver have volunteered with Extreme Community Makeover (ECM) on multiple Work Days this year. Jacob Larimer, Max Elder, twin brothers Julian and Gavin […]
October 29, 2020
We are looking forward to Extreme Community Makeover’s annual Art Is in the Air Fundraiser on Thursday, November 12! Even though we won’t be meeting in […]
October 29, 2020
As we are nearing the end of the journey of having Extreme Teams leaders share their volunteer stories, this month we are going to hear from […]
October 28, 2020
The world is a different place than when I began my journey in 2015 with Extreme Community Makeovers (ECM). Lately, it seems I am bouncing back and forth between two dreams; one where we all seem to be living in an episode of Stanger Things….The Upside Down, and another where I am filled with more hope, fully awake and aware, excited to be here during this time, and steeped deeper in compassion, love, and service.
October 21, 2020
Summary of 10.17.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 60 Projects completed – 4 Alleys cleaned – 7 Volunteer hours invested – 285 Photos from […]
October 17, 2020
Denver Recycles is excited to share that the TrashBlitz event is coming to Denver! This self-guided volunteer event offers Denverites the chance to participate in a […]
October 2, 2020
Most of us don't think about waste management as being a critical service but it certainly is. It's probably a testament to the waste management industry that we don't think about this service every day, even though we interact with trash all the time. Waste management often goes under the radar because it has been efficiently managed and thus, it's easy to take it for granted.
October 2, 2020
Summary of 9.26.20 Go: Westwood Project: Volunteers who participated – 95 Projects completed – 4 Alleys cleaned – 5 Volunteer hours invested – 380 Photos from […]
September 23, 2020
I don't know about you, but it's been fun for me to hear more of the stories about how our Extreme Teams leaders got involved in Extreme Community Makeover through sharing their volunteer stories. This month we are going to hear from Jean, who is the team leader for the Neighborhood Team. The goal of this team is to connect neighbors and to build stronger communities and Jean embodies that spirit at each Work Day she attends.
September 21, 2020
Even though the Mulch Giveaway and Compost Sale didn’t happen this year, you can still buy compost made from the food scraps and yard debris collected by the Denver Composts program. Bags of Denver’s Own EcoGro™ Compost are available at your neighborhood Ace Hardware store. Plus, between September 25 and October 26, Ace Hardware is offering a buy 2, get 1 free promotion. You can get three bags for the price of two!
September 18, 2020
The Extreme Community Makeover crew and volunteers from multiple organizations teamed up on Saturday, September 12th, to clean alleys, paint a house, and pull weeds in the Swansea neighborhood of North Denver. It was my first time volunteering with ECM and a fellow member of the communications team, Anja, showed me the ropes.
September 17, 2020
Summary of 9.12.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 50 Blocks adopted – 2 Projects completed – 4 Alleys cleaned – 4 Volunteer hours invested […]
September 15, 2020
It's a tough time for a lot of local businesses. So, it's important to support your favorite local restaurants and shops. Here's a list of some unique and fun restaurants and shops in the West Denver. Check them out!
September 4, 2020
Extreme Community Makeover is different this year, as are most things. Volunteers can only come in groups of 10, there are staggered arrival times and lunch, and everyone wears masks and stays 6 feet apart. At a time where we are limiting our social interactions, how do you keep up community, especially for an organization with community in the name?
August 26, 2020
This month's volunteer story from our Extreme Teams leaders features Alicia. Alicia got her start volunteering with Extreme Community Makeover through participating in Work Days with the Mile High Young Professionals group and then eventually became the leader of the Supplies Team, which makes sure everyone has what they need to get the job done during Work Days.
August 26, 2020
My name is Alicia and I have been a volunteer with Extreme Community Makeover (ECM) for a couple of years. I learned about the organization through […]
August 14, 2020
Extreme Community Makeover recently launched a kindness campaign, asking our network to spread kindness and share those stories so we can spread more positive words and […]
August 13, 2020
Summary of 8.8.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 30 Alleys cleaned – 3 Volunteer hours invested – 112.5 Photos from this Work Day – […]
July 28, 2020
Summary of 7.23.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 40 Projects completed – 1 Alleys cleaned – 6 Volunteer hours invested – 192.5 Photos from […]
July 25, 2020
Summary of 7.18.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 40 Projects completed – 1 Alleys cleaned – 4 Volunteer hours invested – 127.5 Photos from […]
July 22, 2020
We are back into a routine of running Work Days again this summer and are thankful for all the people who have joined us to have a safe volunteer experience, while giving back to their community. We haven't seen the out of town groups that often join us each summer, but hopefully they will be back next summer and appreciate our local volunteers more than ever.
July 11, 2020
Summary of 7.7.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 30 Projects completed – 4 Alleys cleaned – 1 Volunteer hours invested – 127.5 Photos from […]
July 10, 2020
Extreme Community Makeover is known for helping our volunteers enjoy their experience by making sure all the details of the volunteer days are organized and efficient. […]
July 3, 2020
Participating in the Denver Composts program is great, but using the compost made from the materials collected in Denver’s green compost cart is how we’re able to close the compost loop and really start seeing the full benefits of our actions.
July 2, 2020
Summary of 6.25.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 10 Projects completed – 2 Volunteer hours invested – 40 Photos from this Work Day – […]
June 27, 2020
Summary of 6.20.20 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 20 Projects completed – 1 Alleys cleaned – 5 Volunteer hours invested – 100 Photos from […]
June 25, 2020
A number of the neighbors that we help are older people who have lived in their homes for a long time and want to keep up with the outside appearance of their house but are unable to do so. Many of them express their gratitude for being helped with something that they could never have accomplished on their own because of health issues or because they don’t have anyone to help them. They say that their belief in the goodness of others has been renewed.
June 24, 2020
Hi, my name is Ginger. Let me tell you about my experience with Extreme Community Makeover. I first got involved with ECM about seven years ago […]
June 19, 2020
All of our Extreme Teams are built from our overall vision to be a good neighbor. However, one team in particular really stands out in regards to getting neighbors involved in the community; that is the Neighborhood Team.
June 10, 2020
This summer is going to look a little different than normal, so instead of getting bored this summer, here are some ideas to keep you occupied, while giving your home and yard some extra attention.
May 29, 2020
Ted was drawn to the idea of working for a social enterprise because he loves the idea of providing a service that both serves the public, while teaming up with Extreme Community Makeover's vision to strengthen Denver neighborhoods.
May 27, 2020
Along with everything else right now, ECM is pivoting our program model for the year. Read on to learn more about what volunteer projects will look like this year. But before we get to that, this month's volunteer story comes from Dusty, who is the leader of the Video Team. Find the full story on the blog and watch one of the amazing videos Dusty put together.
May 27, 2020
I’ve always had a longing to tell stories, so when I stumbled across an organization searching for a video producer, I volunteered. I joined Extreme Community Makeover […]
May 15, 2020
One of the local gems in north Denver is Comal. This social enterprise, run by Focus Points, is located the Globeville neighborhood. Comal is a lunch restaurant and training program. The Comal program provides skills in culinary arts and business as a platform for economic development to immigrants and refugees—who originate from countries like Mexico, El Salvador, Syria, Iraq, and Ethiopia. The program gives participants a venue to celebrate their culinary traditions while learning about entrepreneurship and professional food services.
May 6, 2020
Started by a group of Denver residents and community organizations, the Denver Compost Challenge is a collaborative and community-driven effort to get more people composting in Denver.
April 29, 2020
There are times when someone really steps up to help other people. No matter what the challenges are, they are committed to helping their neighbors and their community. You could say they have risen to the occasion. This is exactly what Bre Patterson did during the coronavirus challenge.
April 23, 2020
It should come as no surprise that with many Denverites working and schooling from home, purchasing supplies online, and ordering takeout instead of dining out, there is a lot more waste being generated at home. Because of this, we’ve compiled a boredom-busting list of activities and recommendations that can help reduce waste at home while providing some much-needed entertainment too!
April 22, 2020
It's been a long month, hasn't it? It seems like a lot has happened since last month's newsletter, yet not much as happened. I guess that's the paradox of the times we're currently living through that we will all remember for years to come. For now, let's focus on some of the positive experiences that come from volunteering. This month's story comes from Carol, who is the leader of the Logistics Team.
April 21, 2020
Even though I have always enjoyed volunteering for various community service projects I was still a little anxious about my first volunteer event with Extreme Community […]
April 15, 2020
The West Colfax neighborhood gets its name from West Colfax Avenue, which is the busiest street running east and west through the neighborhood. More than 100 years ago, West Colfax developed as the residential and commercial home of Denver’s original Jewish population. Nowadays the streets of West Colfax are filled with shopping centers, healthcare facilities and commercial offices that blend with residences in this multi-ethnic neighborhood.
April 8, 2020
We are thankful to be able to make a difference in our Denver communities with the Extreme Teams we have put together. The Survey Team, along with the other teams, are a great opportunity to get more involved and make a greater impact in Denver.
March 26, 2020
This is an unprecedented time right now. It can lead to a lot of concern about what tomorrow will bring. Amongst all the uncertainty, it is important to consider our neighbors around us. What greater time to show others we care, but in tough times. Let's create a random acts of kindness ripple effect for those around us. After all, it's wisdom to be kind, especially in challenging times.
March 25, 2020
In this time when hugs and high-fives are not proper social distancing recommendations, let's find ways to care for others and stay connected, in order to avoid social isolation. This message will give you a few ideas during these challenging times.
March 25, 2020
My name is Madison Kissel, and I initially got involved with ECM 4 years ago when I volunteered for the annual Real Estate Work Day with my brokerage.
February 27, 2020
One of the unique things about Extreme Community Makeover is that each person who is involved has their own story about ECM which is tied to their unique experience. Thus, we would like to share some of these stories with you throughout the year. The first story comes from Eric, who is the leader of the Projects Team and has been volunteering with ECM since 2010.
February 14, 2020
With Valentine’s Day here, we’re wondering… will you be our customer? More than 22,000 Denverite’s have shared the love and signed up, but we’re hoping for even more love in 2020.
February 4, 2020
When meeting Noe Bermudez, owner of Kahlo's Mexican Restaurant, you are immediately struck by his kind demeanor. The kind, authentic, and vibrant vibe in his restaurant reflects Noe's persona. The popular authentic Mexican restaurant has been in the Westwood Neighborhood for about four years now.
January 29, 2020
Thank you for reading our first edition of Extreme Endeavors for 2020! If you are a planner, you will appreciate this message, since it includes the full schedule of how you can do good through Extreme Community Makeover this year. Even if you're not a planner, just save this message for future reference. I am excited to embark upon a year of stepping into our core mission of building stronger communities "one block at a time". A number of opportunities exist to get involved this year, so I hope you will join us for the journey.
January 22, 2020
There are many reasons to prevent food waste. After all, wasting food wastes all of the valuable resources used to grow, harvest, transport and store food in the first place. In a recent report, the Natural Resources Defense Council found that wasted food is responsible for wasting 19% of all U.S. cropland, 18% of all farming fertilizer use, 21% of our landfill content, 21% of our agricultural water usage, and 2.6% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
January 8, 2020
Here are a few quick reminders and tips that will help keep valuable recyclables out of the landfill and help keep Denver’s recycling program operating smoothly:
January 2, 2020
What better way to start off your new year than by determining to be kind wherever you go? After all, random acts of kindness can bring beauty to a person's day on both the receiving end and the giving end. Here at Extreme Community Makeover, we like to create a culture of kindness.
December 26, 2019
For our annual year in review message, I would like to say thank you for a year filled with "Getting Your Hands Dirty" while "Being Kind" and "Doing Good". Thank you for showing up in the lives of your Denver neighbors in 2019!
December 26, 2019
The legend of Santa Claus is a little mysterious. His larger than life persona has definitely made history. It's kind of strange to think of Santa as an actual real man who lived years ago. However, he was a real person! You could even say that Santa was a good neighbor. He looked out for the needs of those around him and he made it a goal to serve others. He gave his life to bless others! The HISTORY channel shines some holiday light on the very first Santa Claus.
December 18, 2019
On October 19th, Valerie Herrera, with the City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department, and Fernando Abbud ,with Planning and Design, volunteered with Extreme Community Makeover. It was a beautiful day for our last Saturday Work Day of the season.
December 10, 2019
Today is Colorado Gives Day! Our goal is to raise $5,280 so that we can
continue serving our Denver neighbors - through showing up and getting our hands dirty. Check out the video below to see how Extreme
Community Makeover is making a difference in Denver.
December 6, 2019
American households generate 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, adding one million tons of waste to landfills each week. Together, we can help change this statistic. Here are just a few tips and tools from Denver Recycles that will help you keep waste prevention, recycling, and composting in mind as we move into this festive (and often wasteful) time of year:
December 5, 2019
Please join me for Colorado Gives Day this year. It takes place on
December 10, but you can schedule your donation today. Our goal is to
raise $5,280 so that we can continue serving our Denver neighbors - like
the Westwood community. Read their story below.
December 2, 2019
Please join me for Colorado Gives Day this year. It takes place on
December 10, but you can schedule your donation today. Our goal is to
raise $5,280 so that we can continue serving our Denver neighbors - like Erlinda.
November 29, 2019
La Alma/Lincoln Park is the neighborhood where the Santa Fe Arts District is located. This neighborhood is one of Denver's oldest, and is just to the south of the area where Denver was first settled in the 1850's. Here are a few local businesses to check out the next time you're strolling through or at the district's First Friday events.
November 22, 2019
With Thanksgiving coming up next week, there are many things to be thankful for. Here are a few of the things that make our list here at Extreme Community Makeover.
November 20, 2019
Here at Extreme Community Makeover, we like to create a culture of kindness. We feel that random acts of kindness can change our world. We all benefit greatly when we give and receive kindness. Kindness is such a simple thing, yet it is so powerful.
October 23, 2019
Nowadays, the streets of West Colfax are filled with shopping centers, healthcare facilities and commercial offices that blend with residences in this Hispanic and Asian multi-ethnic neighborhood.
October 23, 2019
Summary of 10.19.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 15 Projects completed – 3 Alleys cleaned – 2 Volunteer hours invested – 60 Photos from […]
October 17, 2019
It's hard to believe we are nearing the end of another Work Day season! With our final Saturday this weekend and a final weekday group next week, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has given their time as a volunteer this year. And as we celebrate a great year, the ECM way to celebrate is to throw a party / fundraiser, which is Art is in the Air. I hope you can join us on November 7!
October 9, 2019
If you're looking for a fun and unique way to help us raise money for Extreme Community Makeover, join us for a volunteer day at Elitch Gardens! This is a great way to have fun, perhaps ride a rollercoaster or two when your shift has finished, and help us raise some money.
October 9, 2019
Summary of 10.5.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 65 Projects completed – 4 Alleys cleaned – 3 Volunteer hours invested – 260 Photos from […]
October 2, 2019
Extreme Community Makeover serves eight Denver neighborhoods: Barnum, Elyria, Globeville, La Alma/Lincoln Park, Swansea, Villa Park, West Colfax, and Westwood. We take pride in serving these Denver neighborhoods to prosper and be healthy.
September 27, 2019
We all have our own reasons for volunteering, and I am sure most of our intentions are noble but, can and do our personal agendas and intentions get in the way of the spirit of helping, and service? I think sometimes, yes; how can they not…. we are human, and we are works in progress.
September 25, 2019
Summary of 9.21.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 55 Blocks adopted – 1 Projects completed – 8 Alleys cleaned – 3 Volunteer hours invested […]
September 12, 2019
During our volunteer days, we have lots of people participating and have all kinds of personalities shining through that put their unique stamp on what we're doing. During a recent volunteer day, a few volunteers had fun recreating their version of American Gothic, which we will call "Denver Gothic"...volunteer style.
September 9, 2019
Summary of 9.7.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 75 Blocks adopted – 2 Projects completed – 5 Alleys cleaned – 4 Volunteer hours invested […]
September 6, 2019
Extreme Community Makeover not only reaches people in the state of Colorado, but also beyond this beautiful state. We've had volunteers from 21 other states so far! Volunteers hear about us online by googling volunteer opportunities in Denver.
August 30, 2019
Our theme this year is Get Your Hands Dirty! We offer a variety of ways, on our Volunteer Work Days, to get your hands dirty with lots of outdoor projects, including painting someone's house or fence, removing graffiti, etc.
August 27, 2019
Summary of 8.24.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 50 Blocks adopted – 1 Projects completed – 5 Alleys cleaned – 3 Volunteer hours invested […]
August 15, 2019
ark your calendar! PaintCare is hosting a paint collection event on Saturday, August 24, from 8 AM to 3 PM at South High School (1700 E. Louisana Ave.). Don’t miss out on this free and convenient opportunity to get old, unwanted paint out of your home. Signing up for this event is as easy as creating an appointment at www.paint-denver-south-high.eventbrite.com.
August 11, 2019
Summary of 8.10.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 10 Projects completed – 3 Volunteer hours invested – 40 Photos from this Work Day – […]
August 8, 2019
I hope you are enjoying this last month of summer when the weather starts cooling down (some days) and the days get a little shorter. We have a couple of volunteer days coming up this month, if you haven't had a chance to volunteer yet this year. But we also have our Volunteer Appreciation BBQ coming up on Sunday!
August 7, 2019
On Sunday, August 11, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., we'll be hosting a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ/Fun Day and we'd love for you to join us! We always have a blast at our BBQs. It's a day of fun and celebrating volunteering in Denver.
August 6, 2019
Volunteering is a great opportunity to connect with the community, to meet people from across the city, from all walks of life. On July 27th, we at Extreme Community Makeover (ECM) ‘got our hands dirty’ with the Rock Canyon High School Football Team in Denver’s Globeville community!
August 2, 2019
There are a variety of ways that individuals, churches, organizations, schools and companies can give back to Extreme Community Makeover. One of them, you may not know about, is becoming a Work Day Sponsor.
August 2, 2019
Summary of 7.27.19 ECM Work Day: Volunteers who participated – 45 Blocks adopted – 3 Projects completed – 10 Volunteer hours invested – 270 Photos from […]
August 2, 2019
Summary of 7.23.19 & 7.25.19 ECM Work Days: Volunteers who participated – 180 Projects completed – 6 Alleys cleaned – 33 Volunteer hours invested – 970 […]
July 24, 2019
Summary of 7.16.19 & 7.18.19 ECM Work Days: Volunteers who participated – 40 Projects completed – 2 Alleys cleaned – 1 Volunteer hours invested – 132.5 […]
July 19, 2019
If you are familiar with the neighborhoods Extreme Community Makeover serves, you know there are eight Denver neighborhoods where volunteer Work Days take place. These neighborhoods are Barnum, Elyria, Globeville, La Alma/Lincoln Park, Swansea, Villa Park, West Colfax, and Westwood.
