This project was a 2018 initiative in which History Colorado engaged with residents living in the neighborhoods of Globeville and Elyria/Swansea of Denver to conduct a Neighborhood Memory Project. History Colorado collected the stories of more than 30 residents who collectively captured the community history of this place. by collecting and sharing these stories, History Colorado sought to foster community cohesion and shared identity making.
Residents came together via one on one interviews and three semi-structured community conversations. Participants included longtime residents and new immigrants to the neighborhoods. Some of the salient themes to this oral history include: gentrification, pollution, race relations, family ties, ethic ties and the history of the neighborhoods. Audio recordings and photos were collected and shared out via "We Are Colorado" landing page.
Community Information: As some of Denver's most diverse and rapidly changing neighborhoods, Globeville, Elyria and Swansea were considered key communities for cultural preservation programming. Additionally, the impact of the development of the National Western Center, located in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood, has already begun to impact the neighborhoods.