At WDC, we believe the people most affected by inequities must guide the solutions.

Our systems change work begins with listening, building trust, and honoring lived experience.

We move at the speed of trust, not urgency or external pressure.

We follow the leadership of the community.

Current Focus: Fair Work & Income Pathways for Undocumented Community Members

WDC is a community partner in a collaborative effort led by Juntos Community Organization to address barriers undocumented community members face when seeking safe, stable, and dignified income opportunities.

Restrictions on contracting in certain industries
Licensing and certification systems that require a Social Security Number
Background checks tied to SSN-based identity systems
Barriers to training, volunteer hours, or clinical hours due to clearance processes
Limited access to safe banking and payment systems
Wage theft and labor exploitation in unprotected work environments
Confusion, fear, and inconsistent information

Many community members are ready to work — but systems create the limitations.

Policy Initiative Advancing for the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session

(Led by Juntos Community Organization; WDC is a supporting partner)

The proposed legislation would allow required background checks to be completed using:

Fingerprinting through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) instead of requiring a Social Security Number.

This shift would:

Create safer and clearer pathways to work
Reduce exploitation and underground labor vulnerability
Expand access to training, licensing, and employment
Support family stability and economic mobility

WDC’s role is to:

Support community listening and story gathering
Participate in partner and stakeholder discussions
Ensure the work is culturally grounded and community-guided

Juntos is the lead organization.

WDC serves as a contributing partner, centering safety, cultural context, and community voice.

Emerging Priority: Youth Entrepreneurship Access (Exploratory Stage)

Through Youth Development programming, we see young people who are ready to create and lead businesses but face age-based licensing and banking barriers.

WDC is currently exploring:

Colorado youth business licensing requirements
Listening sessions with youth and families
Partnerships with youth entrepreneurship and youth rights organizations

This work will move forward when youth are ready to guide it.

Driver Advocacy & Support

WDC partners with African immigrant taxi, livery, and rideshare drivers to improve health access, economic stability, and safe working conditions. Many drivers work long, unpredictable hours and face barriers to healthcare, fair enforcement, and earning wages that can truly support themselves and their families.

We listen to drivers’ experiences, connect them to trusted resources, and work with community partners to advance solutions that make driving work safer, healthier, and more stable—so every driver can earn a fair living and build a secure future.

Grandparents & Kinship Care License Plate Initiative – Love That Lifts Us

WDC is leading a statewide effort to create a Colorado specialty license plate honoring grandparents and kinship caregivers who are raising grandchildren or struggling to maintain visitation during family conflict. Many caregivers face the dual burden of limited legal support and unexpected expenses while providing stability for children.

This initiative will create a dedicated fund—supported by license plate fees—to help families access legal assistance and cover urgent, essential needs such as emergency housing, food, utilities, transportation, and school-related costs for the children in their care. WDC will coordinate the campaign and administrative process, while all funds raised will directly support these families.

Add your name to help us reach the 3,000 signatures required to bring this plate to the Colorado General Assembly:

Sign the Petition

Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco /

Referendum 310

In 2025, WDC youth played an active role in the Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco campaign supporting Referendum 310 — a public health measure designed to uphold the city’s ban on flavored tobacco products. This initiative focused on protecting young people by preventing the sale of menthol cigarettes, fruit-flavored vapes, candy-flavored nicotine products, and other items intentionally marketed toward youth.

WDC youth joined organizers, canvassed local neighborhoods, held conversations with residents, and helped educate the community about the impact flavored tobacco has on young people. Their efforts contributed to the successful passage of Referendum 310, with Denver voters choosing to keep the flavored-tobacco ban in place.

This victory reflects the power of youth advocacy. By taking initiative, learning the issues, and showing up for their community, WDC youth helped create meaningful change that will protect the health and well-being of future generations.

Youth VoiceSpotlight

“Working to promote Initiative 310 taught me how important clear communication, community engagement, and persistence are when advocating for meaningful policy. I learned how to break down complex legal ideas into simple, accessible messages so people could understand why the issue matters and how it affects them. I also gained experience collaborating with different groups, listening to concerns, and building trust through honest conversations. Most importantly, the work showed me that successful advocacy isn’t just about connecting with people, understanding their needs, and motivating them to take action.”

— WDC Youth Participant

WDC & DPS StudentInternship Partnership

At WDC, we’re proud to work with high school students from Denver Public Schools through their internship and youth-employment program. This partnership helps connect young people with real work experience, mentorship, and a chance to contribute meaningfully to WDC — even if they didn’t sign up through our youth programs.

Many of our interns come to WDC via DPS’s work-based learning pathways: paid internships, school-year job placements, or summer employment. These students bring fresh energy, new perspectives, and a commitment to community — and in return, gain hands-on experience, professional mentoring, and exposure to nonprofit and youth-development work.

If you’re interested in learning more about the DPS internship or student-employment program — either as a student, parent, or community partner — you can reach out to: [email protected].