We are thrilled to announce that we have finalized a Land Lease Agreement with Parkview Congregational Church to build the Cultivate Aurora Greenhouse!

Parkview Church’s vision is to “serve as a vital growing force for life, love, hope, peace, justice, and reconciliation.” Their alignment with FJNWA’s work is evident in the congregation’s commitment to food access and food sovereignty: the Church hosts a food pantry, a 20-plot Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) Community Garden, a DUG Food Forest, and four hydroponic grow towers that can be seen by congregants from within the Church’s Sanctuary.

Securing access to this parcel is the first step towards building the Cultivate Aurora Greenhouse. FJNWA’s Greenhouse Manager Jenna Smith is now working to move the project through planning and permitting, utilities connections, design, and construction. The projected completion date is mid-summer 2026!

The Cultivate Aurora Community Greenhouse is centered on a shared vision to:

🌱Grow culturally relevant, climate-resilient, food-producing plant starts and perennials for Aurora’s residents, farms, organizations, and small food retailers.

👩🏻‍🏫 Provide hands-on education and training about gardening, urban agriculture, and food production to Aurora’s residents through intergenerational and peer-led programming.

👩🏽‍🌾 Create year-round and seasonal jobs and offer work force training.

💚 Prioritize distribution to NW Aurora community members through strategic partnerships, plant sales, school programs, and more.

We want your help learning what the northwest Aurora community envisions for the Cultivate Aurora Greenhouse! Please tell us what type of seedlings you want us to grow, what educational workshops you want us to host, or any other ideas you have for the greenhouse space.

Our gardening class schedule is official! All are welcome to join any of the following classes. Participants who attend the first three classes will receive seedlings to get their gardens started, and those who attend the first six classes will receive gift cards to purchase any needed garden materials!

Rebel Marketplace is back in May to begin its 2026 market season! We are thrilled to see this treasured community space back this year.

FJNWA is tabling monthly at Del Mar Park markets to share gardening resources, food access information, advocacy opportunities, and upcoming events with community members. We need your help to spread the word!

2026 Tabling Dates:

Please visit our volunteer page for more information and register on our volunteer platform, POINT, for upcoming Rebel Marketplace shifts.

We are excited to welcome Irving Reza as a new member to the Food Justice NW Aurora Board!

Irving G Reza Alarcon is a long time Denver and current resident of Aurora. As a DACA recipient has worked in immigration rights through Motus Theater "UndocuAmerica" and in food justice organizations at the Growhaus. He is passionate to share his knowledge of urban agriculture and civic rights.

Irving is serving as the Treasurer for the Board for 2026.

There were over 30 applications for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board. Interviews will be conducted the week of April 13th (exact date and time TBD) at the Aurora Municipal Center and open to the public.

The Mayor (Mike Coffman), Deputy City Manager (Laura Perry) and Mayor Pro-Tem (Allison Coombs) will bring forward 6 candidates to be confirmed by City Council on May 18th.

The City is hoping that the first DDA meeting will be held in early June to do baseline administrative work (elect officers, confirm bylaws and approve the Colfax Action Plan) and be discussing the DDA budget and priorities by July or August.

Follow us on social media for quick updates!

FJNWA is working to address the needs of the northwest Aurora community at the intersection of food access and federal immigration enforcement. We stand in solidarity with the immigrant and refugee communities that make northwest Aurora a vibrant and resilient community. We see the direct negative impacts of ICE activity on our community’s ability to access food and are taking steps to respond.

We share this report to affirm our commitment to food as a basic human right and to supporting and preserving the cultural richness of northwest Aurora. In this report, we connect food access data from our Food Justice Festival Survey to the impact of ICE’s presence in our community. We then describe how our organization directed our capacity to meet the needs of the community through conversations with residents, collaborating with statewide organizations, providing trainings and education, and engaging with local and statewide policy advocacy efforts.

Welcome Back to Idea of the Month! This month, we are focusing on the term mycology.

Mycology is the study of fungi—a kingdom of life including mushrooms, molds, and yeast. Most fungi grow as a vast network of tiny, thread-like strands called mycelium. In forests and fields, these threads spread through the soil, forming complex underground webs that connect plants and trees to one another. We are still learning exactly how these networks work, but research shows they can benefit both fungi and plants. ^Mycelial networks can help move water, nutrients and chemical signals through the soil, quietly supporting the health and balance of entire ecosystems.

Mycology offers a powerful reminder that resilience often depends on connections we cannot see. Just as mycelium links the plants through hidden underground networks, strong communities are built on the relationships that connect people—through sharing knowledge, resources, and care.

Often, the most important parts of a community happen out of sight: a neighbor helping a neighbor, someone passing along a skill, or people working together to solve a local problem. When these connections strengthen, everyone benefits. Like a thriving mycelial network, our communities flourish when we uplift one another and cultivate the unseen bonds that help us grow together.