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For over a decade Lakewood Connects has supported and led efforts in Lakewood, Colorado and Jefferson County promoting faith Unity in order that together we might advance the common good. Built upon this is our work to unite faith with government, education and business aiming at the same goal.

WHY? We operate under the conviction that it takes collaboration to reduce suffering. One organization operating for good by itself will only make incremental advances. Suffering is too complicated and nuanced to be successfully eliminated by just one group.

We believe that most forms of human suffering are driven by problems, challenges and issues that can be solved! There are relationship building blocks that preclude this philosophy being activated which we want to talk about briefly and give some examples of in this blog/newsletter.

Homelessness: Unhoused people impact crime, addiction, economics and sense of security in a community. In the end everyone suffers! Solutions are as varied as the different kinds of people who are homeless but recently two factors aligned to help us in Lakewood; Partnership and a Care Continuum.

Our County comprises 15 cities with a local government. Within the area dozens of human services organizations operate independently. In 2025 Human Services Homelessness Coordinator, Kerry Wrenick and Lakewood’s Communities Manager, Chris Conner built a County-wide plan linking Faith + Government + Nonprofits. These groups are working together to support a Navigation Center, a rehousing organization and other programs creating a continuum of care. Unity can reduce suffering!  

Community Service: Lakewood service clubs, food support groups and churches have merged to form Serve Spot. This unusual partnership is aimed at increasing volunteerism through a city-wide service day. Each year citizens serve elementary schools, clean up public spaces and work in neighborhoods across the city on “Love Lakewood Day.” In 2025 +400 people served together at over 20 service sites.

Love Lakewood Day has now become “Love Lakewood Weekend” as 6 churches join to host a combined worship service with over 800 people attending. Organizations merged to lead a new service initiative but created more than clean parks and repainted benches! Serve Spot is inspiring incredible unity in our city!

This April in her “state of the city” address Mayor Strom renamed “Serve Spot” the “Love Lakewood Team!” This team will grow new service partnerships linking Faith – Government – Education – Business– Local Neighborhoods so that we can create a deeper connection to each other and together make our city better.

Underserved Schools: There are ten Title I elementary schools in Lakewood representing our highest need neighborhoods, families and students. Local educator, Jim McKenney (interim principal at Deane Elementary) has developed a community partnership program called, CAFÉ (Community and Family Engagement). Jim equips educators to build service partnerships with community organizations. When education partners with the community resources, solutions and programs multiply and students thrive!

Recently students at Deane wanted to attend a civic training experience. Their tiny PTA and financially thin school community can’t afford these extras so Principal McKenney reached out to local business chamber group, Alameda Connects asking if they could post this need in their newsletter. Within a week a neighborhood member wrote a check for the students! Unity leads to a thriving future for us all!

Unity creates Thriving! In each of these examples leaders, groups and organizations that individually believe, vote and are aimed at different priorities set aside their personal views in favor of the greater good. When we choose to partner with others regardless of their belief’s we have a chance to accomplish what seems impossible! This is an invitation to do together what none of us will ever be able to accomplish alone! Unity leads to thriving! Let’s strive to create thriving communities across our country by creating more opportunities to connect with each other! Together is our path forward towards solutions and success!