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One day in the early 90's, I was sitting at my desk at Hope Communities, a nonprofit organization providing affordable housing in Five Points. A struggling young man walked in to pay his rent and said, "What I really need is a good-paying job." I realized that perhaps the answer to the "Why are people poor?" question was rather simple - people need good-paying jobs! They also need coaching and connections. It was worth a grand experiment...
I was one of those "bridge people" with a foot in two worlds. I worked in Denver's inner city, but had many connections with business owners in all parts of the city. I decided to start DenverWorks in 1995, connecting jobseekers with people who needed employees. At the time, there were job training organizations and agencies that catered to a certain niche such as welfare recipients; there were few, however, which helped the vast majority of Denver's low- or no-income residents.
Thanks to the generosity of my friend Luis Villarreal, I started DenverWorks in the copy room of Save Our Youth. I held a job search workshop. Eight people attended. I held another workshop the next week. I met with jobseekers individually and handed out real job leads. They started getting jobs! I remember one beautiful young mother in particular. She came in needing a job in south Denver with hours that would allow her to drop off her kids at school, then pick them up mid-afternoon. A challenging task! We worked primarily in north Denver and part-time jobs were hard to find. But a few days later, a Denver Tech Center lawyer called needing a file clerk from 10 AM to 2 PM. Long story short, she got the job, got a college education, and is now absolutely thriving!
Since then, over 19,000 jobseekers have gotten help through DenverWorks. Over 50% of the workshop attendees get a job at an average wage of $11 per hour. Others receive professional clothing, a mentor, or other assistance that makes a real difference in their career journey.
At my ten-year mark, I passed the torch to the staff for the day-to-day running of DenverWorks and joined a nonprofit organization which among other things, helps the poor of India find jobs! I remain on the DenverWorks Board. I stopped by the DenverWorks office last week and my heart soared! People are still crowding into the office to get the help they need. I was struck by the fact that so many were smiling. How often do you walk into an office where everyone is smiling!?!
DenverWorks is a place of hope. DenverWorks is a place with real solutions to real struggles.
I thank the DenverWorks staff, volunteers, and supporters who give so sacrificially to the wonderful jobseekers who are now scattered all over Denver - WORKING!
Debbie Montavon Johnson
Founder and Former Executive Director
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