Denver

Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Denver combines the culture and fun of a major city with a spirit of outdoor adventure. Nicknamed the “Mile High City,” Denver has the 10th largest downtown in the United States, and the nation’s largest urban park system. With seven professional sports teams, museums, performing arts centers, and a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking to mountain biking to downhill skiing, Denver offers attractions for all interests. Denver boasts 300 days of sunshine while still having each of the robust and distinct seasons. Denver embodies many diverse cultures and influences, from the Western exploration to Latin American history that is still being created today.

Quick Stats
Site Since: 2007
Corps Size: 125
Average yearly temperature: 50.1°
Car: Access to a car is essential

Salary: See cost of living

In 2006, Denver became a minority-majority city, citing that over half of the city’s population consisted of non-white citizens. The Latino/Hispanic population continues to grow, and currently makes up over 30 percent of the population. Additionally, Denver ranks 10th among the country’s largest cities with the highest population of gay and lesbian couples. Denver boasts multiple cultural and heritage museums to serve and appreciate the diverse interests and histories that make up this exciting city.

Life

As a city with a rapidly growing population and geographic footprint, Denver is also at the forefront of urban renewal, from redevelopment projects and mixed-use neighborhoods to new transportation initiatives such as a light-rail system through downtown.

In neighborhoods such as the Lower Downtown Historic District, or LoDo, residents find shopping, restaurants, and a vibrant night life. Corps members can attend concerts at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre, a striking, naturally-formed outdoor venue, visit the Denver Art Museum with its new building designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, or explore the Downtown Aquarium and Denver Zoo. Life in Denver provides the option of urban city living within reach of rural mountainous getaways.

Many corps members live in the heart of the city in older, historic homes and apartments. Capitol Hill, Highlands, Cherry Creek, City Park, and Cheesman Park are neighborhoods that have established, distinct atmospheres where corps members reside. This is within 20 minutes of most schools, though there is a cluster of schools in the Northeast area of the city near Montbello.

Corps Culture

As members of this Teach For America site, the Denver corps is playing a significant part in the development of regional programming and corps culture. As in all of our regions, Denver corps members are expected to attend monthly all-corps meetings, participate in learning teams with other corps members who teach the same grade or subject, and enjoy cultural events and social gatherings with colleagues and friends. There have been numerous opportunities for Denver corps members to assume leadership positions in the corps in the region's first year. Denver corps members have worked together to build a powerful and supportive Teach For America site, focused on increasing student achievement in the Denver Public Schools system.

Because diversity is essential to us achieving our goals and operating according to our core values, Teach For America • Denver engages in discussions and workshops throughout the year, as well as offers diversity-based mentoring to first-year corps members on an optional basis. This year we will organize discussions on topics such as assets-based thinking and its impact on students as well as a series of workshops on culturally responsive pedagogy. Discussions and workshops are meant to benefit our students through improving our instructional practices, and to give us opportunities to consider multiple perspectives, reflect on our practice, and work as a community towards our collective mission.

While we have these structures in place, we also recognize that they are open to continual development and input from corps members. They have evolved in the past year based on the leadership of our charter corps members, and we are sure they will continue do so as future corps members continue to engage in building discussions and learning experiences that are essential for our classroom practice and for our mission as a whole. Similarly, these structures in isolation and without corps member leadership are not sufficient to drive the type of change we know is absolutely imperative for our students. Therefore, we look forward to continual staff and corps member engagement throughout this year and years to come.