Overview/History
In 1998, a group of community members and residents created Commerce City Community Enterprise Corporation Public Charities (Community Enterprise). Their objective was to have a consistent, organized, resident driven effort to strengthen the community. Since the organization’s inception, it has played an invaluable role engaging the wide diversity of individuals, associations, and community groups of Commerce City to improve their community. Today, we are a citizen centered organization that is a significant resource for Commerce City residents in developing neighborhood-strengthening strategies. Community Enterprise has been especially important as a grassroots planning resource and a catalyst for citizen engagement in historic Commerce City. We continue to be an effective grassroots community organization. Our work has been the organizing force behind many grassroots efforts and accomplishments, such as the following:
Youth Zone Center for Self Development
A citizen led group concerned with the lack of youth programming formed a community task force with City officials to address these concerns. Development of a 17 acre parcel of land commenced to build a park focused on youth recreational activities and recently the Boys and Girls Club of America joined the community at Kearney Middle School. The task force will continue its efforts until development on the community park and a permanent facility is built for the youth of Commerce City.
Community Leadership Academy (CLA)
The CLA is a K-8 charter school operating within in Adams County School District #14 which opened its doors in the fall of 2005. Since, the school has purchased land to build permanent residence in the district.
Neighborhood Associations
The Monaco Neighborhood Improvement Committee has been successful in their efforts as well; they motivated Adams County Commissioners to install curb/gutter and repave their streets. While the Derby neighborhood Association and Kemp neighborhoods have not repave their streets these groups of neighbors are working to bridge language and cultural barriers in their neighborhood and create a flow of information to their neighbors and from the local government – each group has successfully organized a core group of twelve and strive to represent the demographics of the neighborhood.