Date: July 17th, 2024
Time: 6:00PM to 9:00PM
Place: Center for Visual Arts, 965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204

Description:

Join the Denver Association of Business Economists (DABE) at the Center for Visual Arts for an enlightening summer event celebrating the rich history and cultural significance of Santa Fe Drive. For this event we are honored to be joined by Andrea Barela, President/CEO of NEWSED Community Development Corporation, and Deborah Jordy, CEO of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), to share their insights on the evolution of this vibrant arts and cultural district, and the role of the district of shaping the region more broadly.

In this engaging panel discussion, we will delve into the past, present, and future of Santa Fe Drive and the surrounding La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood. Our panelists will explore the 50-year history of economic development in the area, highlighting the crucial roles of arts, traditional culture, and small business ingenuity in shaping the neighborhood. They will discuss the challenges and successes faced by the community, and how these experiences have contributed to the neighborhood's current state and future prospects. We will also discuss the history of the SCFD, its unique funding model, and the role it has played in transforming communities across the Denver Metro more broadly.

Our distinguished panelists have been instrumental in the development of Santa Fe Drive, and their unique perspectives will provide a comprehensive understanding of this beloved neighborhood.

Speaker Bios:

Andrea Barela, President/CEO of NEWSED Community Development Corp. NEWSED has a 50 year history of involvement shaping the neighborhood through their various small business and economic development initiatives. NEWSED has also played an important role in helping to celebrate the neighborhood's Chicano/Mexicano/Latino culture - including through their hosting of the annual Cinco de Mayo festival, which graduated from its humble beginnings on Santa Fe to an annual event at Civic Center Park attended by upwards of 400,000 people. NEWSED is still deeply involved with the local community, though also now serves the entire Denver Metro Area through its various programs including assistance and education in homeownership, financial coaching, small business development and ownership, and its various lending programs - all targeting the region's various disadvantaged communities. They also run The Zone Marketplace - a retail incubator at 725 Santa Fe Drive, that regularly houses many of their business basics course graduates on their journey to creating the next generation of the region's dynamic small businesses.

Deborah Jordy has been a leader, connector, innovator, and champion of the arts community in metro Denver and nationally for 40 years. She has worked for and led many of Denver’s most impactful visual and performing arts organizations including the Denver Art Museum, Arvada Center, Cherokee Ranch and Castle, the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, and she’s currently the CEO of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Coupled with the dedication of her working life, she has also served on various local, state, and national boards and advisory councils that directly impact the health and vitality of the cultural sector. In her current role at SCFD, she has oversight of over $80 million in funding granted to 300 small, medium and large nonprofits throughout Metro Denver. These funds provide critical operational support to arts, science and cultural organizations.