"Archway Communities elevates lives by providing access to affordable housing, food security and the supportive social services people need to thrive."
ARCHWAY COMMUNITIES
NEWSLETTER | July 2021
SHINING A LIGHT ON THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAKE ARCHWAY SO SPECIAL
MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

What does it mean to be a non-profit?

When describing Archway Communities, I often find myself starting with the words: “We are a non-profit organization that provides affordable housing and related services in Colorado.”

Why do I use the term “non-profit” to describe our organization? What, exactly, does it mean? And does it matter? A definition I like has it that a “non-profit organization is a business that has been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) because it furthers a social cause and provides a public benefit.” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/non-profitorganization.asp

Note that this definition does not say anything about how the non-profit organization (NPO) should be operated. It does not prohibit an NPO from striving for excellence or using performance metrics to promote desired outcomes. It does not state that NPOs should not work to effectively compete with for-profit organizations. Nor is it written that an NPO should pay its people less than what they could otherwise make in the market. Yet these, and other myths tend to endure and influence how many non-profits operate.

At Archway we are striving for operational excellence every day. We are doing all we can to retain the most talented professionals available in the market. Put simply, we are working hard to provide more and better housing and more and better services to support our communities. If, as you read this, you ask yourself: “What can I do to help?,” well, then perhaps there is place for you at Archway - as an employee, as a volunteer or as a donor. 

For more information about Archway Communities, please visit our website: www.archwaycommunities.org

Sebastian Corradino
Help Archway Win Big!
What if we all gave together? What if we all worked together to create change? We can! Starting on July 19th, our community will come together to support the amazing work of Archway Communities to fundraise for our dedicated and experienced staff to continue to provide essential Family and Youth Services across all of our properties. Services such as weekly food banks, after-school programming, field trips, education and job support, case management and so much more allows Archway residents to thrive. With your support the youth living in Archway Communities can have the resources necessary to explore the world, participate in unique experiences and feel connected to their larger community.

A Community Thrives is a program that supports community improvement ideas with grants up to $100K. To qualify for a grant, Archway Communities needs to raise $6,000 from its own network.

Help us raise awareness and essential funds for Archway Communities by saving the date and making a donation online from July 19th through August 13th. Your donation will make an incredible difference!
What: Give to Archway Communities to support their A Community Thrives Campaign
 
When: July 19th through August 13th
 
 
How: Tell your friends! Forward this email! Share it on Facebook and Twitter. Help us get the word out about A Community Thrives. Follow the leaderboard and help us get to the top!
MONTHLY IMPACT
Number of food banks hosted
Number of adult programming hours
Number of youth programming hours

Welcome to Kicking it with Kendall!

This month we visited Yvette Wooley, property manager at Fountain Ridge, and Cica Lokossi, resident at Arapahoe Green. Lets jump in!
Meet Cica Lokossi!

As I walk through Cica’s front door into the living room a water bottle comes quickly into view as the tiny hand of an outstretched arm wraps around the plastic ridges.

“Here you go!” Cica’s middle child, all of about five or six, offers me with a smile.

“Well, thank you!” I said to him with a smile back. It was as if he’d been prepared for the moment a guest walked in the house, this was his time to shine offering the gesture of warm welcome.

We sat opposite of each other on the two couches in the room while the older kids played with action figures at the end of my couch.

Moving to the United States

I asked Cica where she is originally from and what brought her husband, Yao, and her out here.
“We are from Togo, a country in Western Africa. It is quite small but very beautiful.” She said to me. “My husband came out here first to go to school for accounting. I stayed at home in Togo. He would come back to visit every so often for about 6 years.” I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be for her to not see her husband regularly for so long. I asked if she had any of the kids yet.

“I just had my oldest at the time when I decided to move out here. My husband was staying with a cousin at the time before I came. He had applied for housing assistance and went through the waitlist period. We moved into Arapahoe Green once I got out here and have been here for 8 years now.”
Meet Yvette Wooley!

“Hot or iced?” I held up two Dunkin coffees to Yvette (pictured far right). She pauses for a second.

“Mmm, hot.” Bold choice, I thought, it was about 80 degrees outside. But we were already off to a good start because that’s exactly what I would have chosen.
Up to this point I had only seen Yvette through Zoom calls. She is the lone property manager not located in the Denver Metro, but instead in Fountain, Colorado. So, after familiarizing myself with the rest of the office outside of camera view, I started asking her how she found herself here.

More than a Job

“Well, I’ve only been at Fountain Ridge for about a year and a half now, but I’ve been with Archway for 13 years.”

“Woah!” I said with a surprised look. Yvette chuckled.

“How did you get into this field of property management? I feel like that’s kind of a unique industry to find yourself in unless you’re looking.”
Yvette tells me that at the beginning it was just an available job when she was 18. And while her love for the work kept her in the field, she hadn’t really settled in with an organization.

“Even though all of my experience has been with non-profit organizations, not all organizations were putting people first. At the end of the day, it was just about whether or not we were getting our money. It left me with no ability to prioritize resident needs and I really didn’t like that. I wanted to be both concerned about rents and about how I could improve the lives of those I worked for; how I could restore dignity to people who have had plenty of experience being under-valued or written off.”

“Have you always had a heart for more purpose-filled work,” I asked.

“I think a lot of my motivation comes from the personal experience. I was raised by my grandparents, and they struggled a lot financially in my youth. I got to see a lot of the other side of this desk growing up, you know, being the one in need.”

“My grandfather always told me, ‘when you’re deciding what you want to be when you grow up, decide first what you want to see changed in the world. Then go be that change.’” It doesn’t always go hand-in-hand that those involved in work geared towards helping others have experienced what it’s like to be on the other side of the table. I couldn’t help but think, as I took a sip of my coffee and just listened, how admirable and invaluable Yvette’s perspective and resulting thoughts are.

“So when I did look around and evaluate, I saw that the help offered to us was offered very cold, void of the human touch and connection that makes you feel valuable and accepted. In some cases the resources we needed were also very hard to get. I didn’t like it, the feeling of being in poverty and being received so harshly.”

I could feel the reverberating effect of passion, like Yvette, it filled the room. As she talked about how property management was such a good fit, how it gave her the opportunity to offer help with compassion and in a way that restored a person’s dignity, I couldn’t help but have a sense of security. When someone is pursuing a purpose and they know they’re where they’re supposed to be it releases a sense of steadiness that puts everyone in the room at ease.
NEWS
In partnership with Urban Land Conservancy (ULC), Archway Communities will purchase four dormitory buildings at the former Johnson and Wales Denver Campus. These four historic buildings will be transformed into approximately 150 affordable housing units, creating opportunity for families along the income spectrum.

Families will benefit from a campus designed to provide an accessible site for multi-cultural, multi-generational uses, including high quality P-12 education, permanently affordable housing, culinary arts training, community spaces, and services that will enhance the surrounding communities. Archway is working to begin construction in the next 12 months with units being ready for occupancy in 2023.
Robb Lapp is a United Church of Christ minister and Co-Founder of Archway Communities. Robb has spent a lifetime “outside church doors” seeking to confront white privilege, systemic racism, and economic injustices. He has learned over a lifetime that there is an unseen, life-creating force that calls all people to engage in making life work for everyone, regardless of the cost, the doing of which gives one courage and spiritual strength. In this "life journey" novel he covers an extensive ministry filled with incredible events! You can purchase today on Amazon!
NEW TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT!
Meet Jared Harrop!

Jared has joined the Archway team as the Manager of Portfolio Maintenance. In this role he strategically assists the onsite maintenance personnel by providing guidance, support, and training so they can better help our residents and keep our buildings running optimally.
Previously, Jared was in Seattle as a multi-site maintenance manager and part-time maintenance trainer with a for-profit company that owned properties on the west coast.
Meet Chris Missroon!

Meet John Wooley!

John takes on the role as Help Desk Operator and IT Intern. In this role, he assists Kyle with IT system administration and provides support to the properties with IT-related issues. John currently is a student at Regis University finishing up his Bachelor's in Computer Science.
ARCHWAY TRIVIA!
What year was Archway founded?

A: 1986
B: 1993
C: 1995
D: 1999
Answer:
We have been developing affordable housing communities, expertly managing properties, and providing essential supportive services to individuals and families since 1995.
A gift to Archway helps provide affordable housing and year-round supportive services and developmental programs for adults and youth who reside within our housing communities!
ARCHWAY COMMUNITIES | archwaycommunities.org