June community engagement opportunities
CDHS employees and community partners are invited to engage with and support communities across the state at Juneteenth and Pride celebrations. These events take place all over the state during the month of June and provide a direct way to meaningfully connect with the people we serve. Meet and socialize with CDHS employees across divisions and share information on the array of services offered through CDHS.
Juneteenth:
Juneteenth honors June 19, 1865 when the last enslaved people learned they were free in Galveston, Texas nearly three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Historically, Juneteenth has been primarily celebrated within African American communities. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a Federal Holiday in 2021, and Colorado made Juneteenth a state holiday in 2022. Over the last 12 years, the Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood has become one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country.
Volunteer at Juneteenth Events:
Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival, June 16-18. CDHS will host an informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Colorado Springs.
Juneteenth Music Festival June 17-18 in Denver. CDHS will host a general informational booth and a county and Child Placement Agency foster care recruitment booth.
Being Better Neighbors Juneteenth Celebration June 17. CDHS will host a general informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Erie.
Pride Events:
The first official Pride event took place in 1970 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, a series of riots by queer patrons of a New York City queer bar against police brutality. In the 50 years since Stonewall, Pride has marched on, evolving into a global celebration of LGBTQ+ rights by queer people and allies alike. Pride parades and pride events serve as a time for members and friends of the LGBTQAI+ community to connect, have fun, demonstrate gay pride, and show support for gay rights. The first Denver PrideFest took place in 1974 to celebrate progress made in Colorado and honor Stonewall and has since grown and evolved over the past 49 years to be one of the countries largest Pride celebrations.
Pride in the Park, June 3. CDHS will host a general recruitment booth. Sign up to volunteer in Avon.
Being Better Neighbors Pride Celebration, June 4. CDHS with host a general informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Erie.
Adams County Pride, June 10. CDHS will host a general informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Brighton. CoSHI will also host a youth focused booth at Adams County Pride. Sign up to volunteer at the CoSHI booth in Brighton.
Pikes Peak Pride June 10-11. CDHS will host a general informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Colorado Springs. CoSHI will also host a youth focused booth at Pikes Peak Pride. Sign up to volunteer at the CoSHI booth in Colorado Springs
Boulder PrideFest June 11. CDHS will host a general informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Boulder
Denver PrideFest June 24-25 Denver. CDHS will host a general informational booth. CDHS will also host a county and Child Placement Agency foster care recruitment booth. CoSHI will also host a booth in the Youth Area at Denver PrideFest. Sign up to volunteer at the CoSHI booth at Denver Pridefest.
Longmont Pride June 30. CDHS will host a general informational booth. Sign up to volunteer in Longmont.
Some helpful information for volunteers:
- Please stay for your entire shift.
- Bring your own snacks and a water bottle. Most events will have refill stations.
- You will receive contact information from your booth organizer before your shift. Please contact them if you have questions or are unable to make it to your shift.
- Shift lead(s) will be available throughout the day.
- No alcohol consumption before or during your volunteer shift.
- Wear comfortable and appropriate clothing/shoes; it may be hot and you will be on your feet.
- Please remove any of your organization’s apparel when you are attending the festivities (before or after volunteering).
- Focus on creating an inclusive environment. Never assume you know someone’s gender based on how they look or dress. When in doubt, use inclusive vocabulary such as “they.”
- When engaging with the community remember to actively listen before responding and ask questions of understanding before trying to problem-solve.
- If you don’t know the answer to a question, find someone who does or direct the person to online resources.
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