2024 Keith Meyer – Candidate for President Statement

I am Keith Meyer, a delegate from Sloan’s Lake Citizens Group running for reelection to a full term as President of INC. Below, I would like to share our accomplishments over the past year and a vision for INC moving forward. 

A Vision to “Soar in 2024!”

A year ago, I laid out a vision for INC members of achieving two specific goals for the organization in 2023  ~ to Stabilize and then Sustain INC, so that we can then Soar. I’m happy to report back that we’ve accomplished these goals and more. 

 Our first objective last year was to Stabilize the organization. After a sudden leadership change in the fall of 2022, the INC Executive Committee successfully came together through board retreats and meetings to bring all of us up to speed on the foundations and operations of this historic organization by the early summer of 2023.  

From there we worked throughout last year to move INC towards becoming a more Sustainable organization. This included bringing back monthly in-person community meetings focusing on a variety of topics like ~ expanded alternative transportation options, growing RNOs, good neighbor agreements, and even special visits from Mayor Mike Johnston at two of our most recent meetings! Each month attendance and participation grew, topping over 80 participants by our final meeting of 2023! 

Last year I also laid out a programming vision of Every Block, Every Voice for INC. We focused many of our efforts in 2023 around highlighting issues of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within our community ~ both within our own organization, and across Denver. We did this by visiting a diverse spectrum of neighborhoods, highlighting the issues of concern that these neighborhoods face, and working to make sure we provided a more inclusive experience for our members and the community. As a committee, we also recognize that INC has much more work to do in the coming year and beyond.  

We also accomplished the following:

• INC RESOLUTION Passed – Supporting I-25 Interchange Pause (sponsored by West Wash Park & Lincoln Street RNOs)

• INC RESOLUTION Passed – Supporting the Greener Denver Platform

• Re-Launch of INC Zoning and Planning Committee

• Re-Launch of INC Awards Ceremony with 150 participants, over $17,000 raised & 18 neighborhood awards given out!

• Passed INC Operating Procedures Manual

• Hybrid/online option availability created for community meetings

• Redevelopment of INC Website with expected launch in early 2024!

• Developing a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policy statement 

In addition to the above, we also addressed some much needed organizational hurdles around fundraising, membership, and administration. I’m incredibly proud of the work the Executive Committee has done to get us to this point. 

When I took on the role of president of INC last spring, I said that we would need a year to focus our efforts on rebuilding this very special 48 year old organization before we really set our sights on bigger things. It has taken all of that time to get us where we are today. I’m excited that along the way we were able to accomplish so much over the past 12 months.   

Looking to the year ahead, I’m hoping that we can build on our successes over the past year and work to accomplish the following in order to Soar in 2024!:

• Continue to deepen our focus around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion

• Support RNOs by providing information and resources to strengthen their own neighborhood groups (and)

Renew our important partnerships with city services and agencies to create and maintain neighborhoods where all Denverites want to live, work & play.        

2024-Judy Baxter Candidate for Secretary Statement

Hello INC Delegates—

My name is Judy Baxter, I am a semi, semi, semi-retired professor of public health and medicine at CU and faculty for the Regional Institute for Health and Environment Leadership. My personal mission is to build and sustain community in all aspects of my life. I have been a delegate to INC from my RNO-Historic Montclair Community Association since 2018, where I am currently president. It was by attending the delegate meetings out in the neighborhoods of Denver that I gained a much wider perspective of incredible diversity, beauty and challenges of this city. With the pandemic, I was impressed that INC was able to stay connected and kept programming going on zoom. It was in 2021, that I joined the INC board as an at-large member and last year was appointed secretary to fill a vacancy. I volunteered for this not because taking meeting minutes is my forte, rather it was because I recognized the challenges and toll that the prior 3 years had taken and thought I might have something to offer. The energy drain experienced by individuals, RNOs, and INC was noticeable. I wanted to contribute to the resilience of this organization, by bringing my energy and skills to support its mission to advocate for the citizens of Denver by bringing RNOs together, in ways that inform and empower them to address issues of importance.

In this last year, the focus of INC and of our board meetings has been: How can INC rejuvenate our energy and activities to best serve the neighborhoods of Denver through their RNOs? The board together with the chairs of the committees and participation from many RNOs throughout the city have worked hard to revive INC’s purpose and activities. I hope I have contributed this by 1) providing perspective and approaches to organizational leadership that support the board to do its work, 2) contributing the work of the DEI committee by moving that work forward, and 3) providing creative input to new directions and activities INC is considering.

If re-elected as secretary of INC, my top priority will be on RNO engagement in INC. Though increasing membership is important and will be part of this focus, reaching out and learning what is top of mind and need to RNOs throughout the city is critical. From there we can best invest INC’s energies to be a vehicle for informing and empowering our neighborhoods.

2024 LaMone Noles Candidate for At-Large Position Statement

I am currently Delegate at Large on the Board of Directors for INC. The RNO I represent is the East Denver Residents Council, with a focus on senior citizens.  I also serve as Vice President of the Northeast Park Hill Coalition and past president of City Park Friends and Neighbors (CPFAN).  

As Chair of the DEI Committee, our work is just beginning.  We drafted a policy that lays down the foundation of diversity, equity and inclusion programming for INC.  With an emphasis on community engagement, this committee will continue to provide leadership support for new and existing RNOs as they build membership and outreach in their communities.

2024 Mark Tabor Candidate for At-Large Position Statement

Mark is a 10 year resident of the Baker neighborhood and has been active in a variety of local events and community affairs both professionally and publicly throughout his 40 years in Denver. He previously served as a Landscape Architect and Park Planner for the National Park Service (US Department of Interior) and as Assistant Director of Planning, Design and Construction and Principal City Planner for the City and County of Denver’s Department of Parks and Recreation. After retiring in 2021, He has served on the Baker Historic Neighborhood Association’s Board of Directors and is in his third term as President.

As a constant commitment to community advocacy, Mark has worked with the Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) both as a city official and as an RNO leader which allows him to see neighborhood involvement from both perspectives. In addition to INC’s city-wide issue and policy advocacy, he believes that another important role of INC is to work in conjunction with the Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) to provide support and guidance to each city neighborhood toward organizing their own RNO and helping grass-root neighborhood residents organize in common communities of interest. Through technical and organizational help from INC and CPD, these RNOs would be empowered to work directly with City agencies, public institutions, and private entities to further community goals. INC’s role as a strong facilitator between the City and RNOs would be a breakthrough for a city realizing critical neighborhood-based involvement in issues, ordinances, plans and policies.

If elected to this INC Board position, Mark pledges to provide steady leadership in developing more usable tools for local residents and RNOs like an INC neighborhood organizing guide and City Council & Agency Handbook reference platform that helps residents better navigate City government and help them effectively interact and advocate for community goals.