Globeville has not been a well-known neighborhood in the city of Denver. All that most people know of it is that they can see St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church from I-70.
Part of the reason Globeville is not well known is that it is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the city because of rail lines, industrial areas, the National Western Stock Show complex, and the South Platte River. The neighborhood is home to about 4000 people, and has a poverty rate of about 28%.
The area was originally settled by eastern Europeans. Now, the neighborhood is majority hispanic. Many are native--54% of the residents were born in Colorado, as opposed to 42% in the rest of the city. Many are also immigrants. About 25% are foreign born, mostly in Mexico (16% is the average for the city). Over 50% have less than a high school education.
Habitat Metro Denver has been involved in Globeville the past few years, and made the neighborhood the spotlight of this year's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP). The work project has placed Globeville centerstage in our city, and has served as a catalyst to inspire a number of community organizations to work toward redevelopment of the neighborhood. The Carter Work Project is building 11 new homes in Globeville this week, and rehabilitating 15 others.
Metro Denver Habitat is one of the top affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International. This past summer, Metro Denver Habitat celebrated the construction of its 500th home.
The affiliate is the 4th oldest Habitat affiliate--San Antonio was the first--and the first to be organized west of the MIssissippi River. Metro Denver Habitat is about 15th of all US affiliates in house production, and typically in the top ten in best practices.
Top image: Neighborhood landmark St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church.
Bottom image: Students at Laradon Elementary School thank Mrs. Carter.
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