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CEDaR food bank project helps with logistical issues during pandemic

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:23:56 +0000

CEDaR food bank project helps with logistical issues during pandemic Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 03/05/2021 - 09:23

As unemployment rose sharply and people socially distanced because of the pandemic, food banks nationwide saw increased demands for food assistance, as well as a decrease in donations and volunteer workers.

Most faced logistical issues in getting their supplies in a timely manner.

To tackle these issues locally, Denver's Neighborhood Equity & Stabilization (NEST) reached out to CU �鶹ӰԺ's Community Engagement, Design and Research Center, and CEDaR launched the "Denver Food Bank Distribution Project." The project is a partnership between the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) and the university.

"This project is an excellent example of a collaboration between the city of Denver and the university, where the university brings technical skills, interviewing and information technologies to a project identified by the city," says Brian Muller, CEDaR director. "Together we're tackling how to best manage information and activities among dozens of small and large Denver food banks."

Josh Lipson, a senior in the environmental studies and economics departments at CU �鶹ӰԺ, said he wanted to intern for the project because he feels passionate about the intertwined issues of food waste and nationwide hunger.

"The pandemic showed the fragility of our food supply chain as well as increased the number of people living in hunger," he said. "With widespread food waste and hunger existing simultaneously, both issues seem avoidable and solvable."

Denver food bank staff and pantry stakeholders have been researching ways to use technology, such as Slack, Project InKind, and Care Exchange to better meet the demands of the current crisis and in preparation for future crises, Lipson says. Primary needs include an efficient resource exchange between suppliers, food banks, food pantries and consumers; transportation coordination; tracking food inventories and deliveries; and communication at all sectors of the supply chain.

Lesly Baesens, food waste recovery program administrator for the DDPHE, said a wide network of emergency food stakeholders work to meet the needs of food-insecure Denverites.

"The use of technology would help increase the exchange of information, food, volunteers and supplies among these stakeholders," she said. "DDPHE is excited to work with Josh to help figure out which barriers prevent adopting these tools and how best to overcome those barriers."

During the initial two months of the project, Lipson researched the issues that food banks face and the apps they use and attended an emergency food stakeholders' meeting. He since designed a survey and prepared for interviews with stakeholders; the results will help him further explore how food banks use technologies and the obstacles their workers face. He plans to use this information to compile a guide as well as organize a workshop about useful technologies for food bank stakeholders.

"The food distribution issues that Denver is facing are massive, long-term issues, and I don't expect to solve them within a few months," Lipson says. "I hope though that by the end of my internship I can point to the tangible impact I made. Having the opportunity to help communities during a crisis is so important to me."

In this collaboration between the city of Denver and the university, the Community Engagement, Design and Research Center (CEDaR) and the Denver Department of Health & Environment are jointly tackling how to best manage information and activities among dozens of small and large Denver food banks during times of increased demand.

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CEDaR conference tackles challenges of city diversity and affordability

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 03:46:46 +0000

CEDaR conference tackles challenges of city diversity and affordability Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/22/2019 - 21:46

Can you afford to purchase a home in �鶹ӰԺ? Most people can't. And many small businesses have been forced out by high rents. So have working families, students, university staff, immigrants and others.

Gentrification. It's been happening across the country and especially in Colorado. Affluent people and businesses move in, rents and property prices rise, and pretty soon the lower and middle classes can no longer afford to live there.

"Everyone deserves access to a safe and stable home they can afford where they choose to put down roots," says Mackenzie Sehlke, public affairs specialist with �鶹ӰԺ County Housing and Human Services. “Without this, we suffer in so many other ways – our health deteriorates, our families struggle to thrive, our community becomes monotone, we increase our contributions to climate change and our businesses can’t keep good employees."

If you go

Who: Planners, designers, researchers, students, residents, city and town officials, agency staff and anyone interested!

What: Squeezed Out: Challenges of Diversity and Affordability in Colorado Communities

When: Oct. 25, 7:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: SEEC Building, 4001 Discovery Dr., �鶹ӰԺ

Cost: $40 conference fee, includes lunch and other refreshments. Scholarships available for students.

Registration and more information

ETC: An opening reception will be held Oct. 24, 5:30-7 pm, at the Environmental Design building, �鶹ӰԺ, ENVD 134, 1060 18th St., �鶹ӰԺ. $15 includes appetizers and drinks.

On Friday Oct. 25, "Squeezed Out," the third annual Community Building Colorado-Style conference, will explore creative solutions to these challenges of affordability, diversity and equity occurring in rapidly-growing Colorado communities. The event, which is organized by CU �鶹ӰԺ's Community Engagement, Design and Research (CEDaR) Center and sponsored by The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), Downtown Colorado Inc. and the American Planning Association (APA), is open to the community. Registration is required.

CEDaR is a collaborative of faculty and students that works with cities and other local partners to build vital, equitable and sustainable communities. Much of CEDaR’s work occurs in neighborhoods and with populations that are in transition because of high urban costs.

The conference's 30 speakers include planning and design thinkers, neighborhood organizations and activists. During hands-on workshops, participants will explore concepts and designs for the manufactured housing community of the future, creative districts and affordable housing in the �鶹ӰԺ region.

Also included is a panel of community advocates, organizers and leaders who will offer their insights on the critical role affordable housing plays in building a strong, resilient �鶹ӰԺ County, says Sehlke. These experts have made professional contributions to mental health services, medical care, local government, community radio and translation services.

"We can still build this thriving, diverse community by tripling our supply of affordable homes across our region by 2035 with creative solutions that match the needs and resources of each community," she adds. "Most of all, we need everyone to join the conversation around finding and pursuing solutions.”

Living beyond their means

While many working people move outside of �鶹ӰԺ, many who have stayed are living beyond their means. Since 2010, the number of �鶹ӰԺ County households paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs has steadily increased, according to the �鶹ӰԺ County Regional Housing Partnership. Homes are considered affordable when rent and utilities in an apartment or monthly mortgage payment and housing expenses for a homeowner total less than 30 percent of a household’s gross monthly income.

"Many Coloradans - renters, immigrants, artists, students, seniors, mobile and manufactured homeowners, single-parent and working families, small business owners and middle-class families - are financially stressed as a result of housing and other urban costs," says Brian Muller, CEDaR director and associate professor in the Program in Environmental Design. "Coloradans are also worried about quality of life - congestion, pollution, neighborhood character and shrinking green landscapes."

Dan Carmody, president of the Eastern Market Corporation, will speak about the development of the market and its role in stimulating small local businesses and providing permanently affordable housing both in Detroit's farmer’s market district and nearby areas. Eastern Market is the largest historic public market district in the United States, with more than 150 foods and specialty businesses and attracting about 45,000 shoppers on Saturdays, according to Wikipedia. The market has become a catalyst for development in the surrounding neighborhood, and local and internationally recognized art galleries, studios and makerspaces as well as independent eateries, shops and performance spaces have sprung up in the area.

Dan Carmody

Irene Aguilar, a former state senator for southwest Denver who now directs the City of Denver Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization Team, helps people and businesses who want to stay in Denver from being displaced. Aguilar will be on a panel entitled, "Development, Affordability and Dislocation in Colorado Cities,” which will include reflections on new state initiatives created to combat displacement of businesses and people.

"If you live in a city where changes are happening that have led to displacement in other cities, don't wait," Aguilar says. "It’s time to act."

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CEDaR researchers address Emerald Ash Borer infestation

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:14:57 +0000

CEDaR researchers address Emerald Ash Borer infestation Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/21/2019 - 11:14

In partnership with the city of �鶹ӰԺ, CEDaR investigators are analyzing residents’ baseline knowledge of the Emerald Ash Borer and proposing ways to address the infestation through environmental education efforts, as well as public-private partnerships.

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CEDaR-partner organization helped motivate bill protecting mobile homeowners' rights

Anonymous — Thu, 23 May 2019 19:34:51 +0000

CEDaR-partner organization helped motivate bill protecting mobile homeowners' rights Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/23/2019 - 13:34

Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a bill that expands regulatory protections for residents across the state’s roughly 900 mobile home parks.

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Colorado MetroLab project wins "Innovation of the Month" award

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 21:22:37 +0000

Colorado MetroLab project wins "Innovation of the Month" award Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/28/2019 - 15:22

A Colorado MetroLab project, the Green Infrastructure Decision Tool, has won MetroLab Network's March 2019 "Innovation of the Month" award, given to outstanding projects nationwide that involve local government and university partners.

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