DFM in the Community
DFM in the Community provides organized opportunities for all members of the Department of Family Medicine to learn about, support, or volunteer at a community-serving organization. We pull together the information about a featured community partner and identify ways we can support them as a department.
Our team does the coordinating and information gathering for you, so all you need to do is sign up and show up. Remember - Your time is covered! The University of Colorado allows for employees to use up to 4 hours annually to volunteer at a community organization. Record your time (maximum of 4 hours) as "Volunteer-Administrative Leave" in your timesheet or in MyLeave.
DFM in the Community is a great way to learn about, and give back to, the communities we serve. It also is a fun way to spend time with your colleagues outside of the office.
And there are even more ways to learn about and feel connected to our fantastic community partners. Make sure to check out the corresponding articles in Spotlight and Disrupting the Status Quo blog on the Diversity and Health Equity webpages.
Village Exchange Center (VEC)
The Village Exchange Center (VEC) is a non-profit organization formed to serve immigrants and refugees in the Aurora/Denver metro area. As a community center and multi-faith worship space, they seek to celebrate cultural and religious diversity by creating an inclusive environment where community members from all backgrounds interact, share, and develop together. They offer youth and adult programs and services as well as cultural and multi-faith activities—both directly and through their partners.
The overarching goal is to create bridges between people and communities, both locally and globally.
VEC began as a concept in late 2016 when the faith community of St. Matthew Lutheran Church considered ways to be responsive to and serve its diversifying neighborhood and the City of Aurora. Aurora, a city of more than 20% immigrants and refugees, is among an increasing number of cities across the U.S. grappling with the challenges of welcoming the growing numbers of immigrant and refugee communities. VEC was co-founded by Amanda Blaurock, and her step-father, the Pastor of St. Matthew at the time, Marcel Narucki, who led the congregation to unanimously donate the building and grounds located at 1609 Havana Street in March 2017 for them to establish a community center that celebrated religious and cultural diversity. In the first two years of operations, VEC has become an anchor in the community for support and empowerment. They continue to activate the building and develop connections with and between the surrounding communities, the majority of whom are foreign-born.
VEC was the subject of short film that won the 2020 Cannes prize: ‘Jury Award for Best Documentary.’ My Father's House tells the story of a Lutheran church in northwest Aurora transitioning to the community center and multi-faith worship space for refugees and immigrants coming to Colorado to create a new life. View the trailer for this 16-minute documentary by director Rob Shearer. If you would like to view the entire documentary, please reach out to Vanessa Owen (vanessa.owen@cuanschutz.edu) for details.
VEC 2024 Highlights
For the second year in a row, the DFM collaborated with the VEC for a series of pantry and farm-related volunteer events. Many thanks to the nearly 30 people who participated in these endeavors, as well as the additional 50+ who participated in the DFM's monthly meeting featuring the VEC. When asked, "How satisfied were you with the: Volunteer opportunities provided, event communications, and event organization and management" all survey participants rated these as a “4 or 5.” We look forward to future opportunities to lend support.
Participants were asked: What was most valuable about the event opportunity?
“I loved seeing the community work collectively on common goals to make sure peoples’ food needs were getting fulfilled...“Connecting with community members and feeling like I was making even a small difference in their lives.”
“Serving others and seeing the smile and gratitude on their faces!”
“It was wonderful spending time with co-workers and contributing to a local organization. Being outside at the farm was a great summer experience.”
“Seeing the village exchange farm and hearing about what they do!”
“It was well organized and easy and kind of fun to see folks I knew outside of the work environment.”
“I love getting to engage with community...Such an enjoyable experience!"
"It was a really wonderful way to spend a few hours."
"Great event." "VEC is amazing and I hope we keep working with them!"
"I loved how organized they were."
VEC Forms and Information
VEC Stories and Blogs
Check out these fantastic, related stories on VEC & immigrant and refugee health from Department of Family Medicine's Diversity and Health Equity Team:
1. Disrupting the Status Quo Blog: An Interview with Amanda Blaurock, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Village Exchange Center
2. Disrupting the Status Quo Blog: Village Exchange Center, a non-profit serving immigrants and refugees. Story by Mireya Davila
3. Spotlight on the Village Farm at Stanley: A farm space for immigrants and refugees in Aurora. Story by Mikhaela Mullins (she/her), Village Farm Senior Manager
4. Spotlight on Refugee Health: Iraqi Migrant Health Project (IMHP). Story by: Aya Ahmad, (she/her), Project Lead
Contact:
Vanessa Owen
Volunteer Coordinator
Vanessa.Owen@cuanschutz.edu