Dedicated to making Denver the most walkable city in the United States by 2040, Walk Denver has already received a gold certification by the national Walk Friendly Communities organization, one of just 13 cities so designated.

What change is your organization making in the world?

We are working to make Denver the most walkable city in the United States. The more walkable Denver is, the healthier and happier people will be. The number of people walking in Denver is increasing, but we still have a long way to go. We are making Denver a safer city to walk in as well, and our goal is for no car collisions with pedestrians.

What role has JVA played in helping your organization make a difference?

Janine (Vanderburg) was a founding board member, so JVA has been instrumental. She introduced us to CNDC (the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center) and they are our fiscal agent. I have taken many classes at JVA including Write a Grant in a Day and Executive Director Academy.

How did attending Executive Director Academy help you become a more effective changemaker?

It made a big difference. Taking this class helped us develop a donor base and has helped me develop important relationships. As WalkDenver has grown, this class has helped me to grow with it, transitioning into different roles as needed.