In Commerce City and North Denver, where industrial pollution has long threatened public health, a significant victory for clean air has emerged. At the heart of this success are the voices and leadership of women in the community who refused to be silenced. Through tireless advocacy, community organizing, and relentless dedication, Cultivando, The Green House Connection Center (GHCC), Earthworks and local residents achieved a milestone in environmental justice.

Historically, women have been at the forefront of movements for justice by providing a culture of care, and the fight for clean air in Colorado is no exception. Women leaders in Cultivando and The GHCC played a central role in organizing Communities Organized for Clean Air (COCA), a coalition that successfully pushed for stronger oversight of toxic air pollutants. They brought their lived experiences, scientific data, and community voices directly to decision-makers, ensuring that the people most impacted by pollution were heard.
These women not only challenged polluters but also navigated bureaucratic hurdles, ensuring that community concerns were at the center of policy discussions. By engaging in regulatory hearings, presenting air quality monitoring data, and amplifying community testimonies, they demonstrated the strength and necessity of women’s leadership in environmental justice.

COCA’s efforts culminated in a significant achievement: the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) prioritized the regulation of air toxics that disproportionately affect Commerce City and North Denver. This victory was made possible through a powerful combination of grassroots organizing and institutional advocacy, emphasizing the need for human connection in policymaking and the next generation of environmental legal defense from the Denver University environmental law clinic.
A pivotal moment in this process was an in-person tour in October 2024, where AQCC staff, Commissioners, and the State Board of Health visited impacted neighborhoods. Women leaders guided decision-makers through polluted areas, showing them firsthand the environmental injustices their communities face daily. With the support of Cultivando’s air quality data and Earthworks’ Optical Gas Imaging technology, they made the invisible visible—demonstrating the toxic emissions affecting families and children.

Systemic barriers often exclude marginalized communities from decision-making processes, but COCA’s work challenged these obstacles. We overcame traditional participation barriers by providing education and legal resources, advocating for simultaneous interpretation, providing transportation and stipends, and ensuring food was available at public meetings. Through these practices, COCA created an inclusive space where all community members could participate. This intentionality in uplifting every voice, especially those of women and frontline residents, was key to shifting the narrative in regulatory spaces.
Two of Cultivando’s Promotoras—community health workers—alongside an impacted North Denver resident, directly addressed the AQCC Commissioners. Their testimonies, rooted in lived experience, resonated deeply, prompting Commissioners to acknowledge the disparities and prioritize the needs of the community. The presence of these women at the decision-making table demonstrated that those who bear the brunt of environmental harm must lead the fight for solutions.

This victory marks only the beginning. As the AQCC moves forward with developing regulations on air toxics through 2026, sustained advocacy will be essential. Women and community leaders must remain vigilant, ensuring that industry pushback does not dilute the progress made. The state must continue to listen—and, more importantly, act—in accordance with the needs of those on the frontlines.

The Green House Connection Center and Cultivando invite you to stay engaged in this fight to reduce pollution, improve community health, and fight for environmental justice. Sign up for updates, attend hearings, and uplift the voices of the women and community members who are leading this charge. Colorado has an opportunity to set a national precedent by prioritizing people over polluters. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and secure a future where clean air is a right, not a privilege.

Women have always been the backbone of social movements, and this victory proves once again that when they lead, communities win. Let’s continue to support, uplift, and fight alongside us  for a healthier, more just world.

For more on the day, check out Earthworks blog post below:
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Updated: Jan 29

2024 has been a transformative year for The Green House Connection Center (GHCC), marked by two visits from the legendary actor and activist Jane Fonda. These visits were not only monumental for the organization, but significant in uplifting the voices of impacted community members both in Commerce City and North Denver. 

At the start of 2024, Morgan Brown joined GHCC as the Youth Organizer and Digital Specialist. One of their first tasks was to create a mini-documentary showcasing GHCC’s mission and work to share with Jane Fonda’s team. With only two days to complete the project, Morgan created a visual representation of the work we do to highlight environmental issues surrounding our connection center and elevate efforts to address these issues. Within hours of receiving the video, Jane Fonda’s team responded with enthusiasm, confirming that she would visit GHCC during her upcoming trip to Colorado. This moment marked the beginning of an unforgettable collaboration.
The day of her visit was incredibly meaningful. We hosted a powerful gathering featuring voices from Indigenous elders, frontline residents, elected officials, and environmental advocacy groups. Each speaker shared stories of resilience and the devastating impacts of poor air quality caused by surrounding industries. Jane and many affected mothers and residents boarded a shuttle to drive through the middle of the Suncor oil refinery, the only refinery in the country you can drive through. This was an opportunity for the brave women of Cultivando to share information about their community air monitoring program and environmental efforts. Seeing these realities firsthand moved Jane deeply.
Later that evening, Harmony (GHCC’s founder) and I were invited to Jane’s Climate PAC event where Jane graciously gave us a platform to address the crowd of over 120 people. Through this experience, we were able to share how pollution burdens from surrounding industries have a much greater impact on certain communities.  These areas suffer many more health and safety effects than other communities across the state.  Many Coloradoans don’t even realize how substantial these issues are even though it’s happening in their own backyard. Jane was surprised to learn that Colorado is the 3rd largest oil producer in the country with over 47,000 active oil and gas sites. This impacts our air, water, soil, and public health statewide. Pollution knows no boundaries and impacts so many communities across our state.​

Jane returned to GHCC months later for a community update on our environmental justice efforts. This time, we wanted to showcase the hope and resiliency of the community through the lens of art, activism, and policy. To open up the event, we began with a heartfelt water blessing from the Kalpulli ColorAztlan Quetzalcoatl and an honoring of Indigenous practices, grounding us all in our purpose and mission to care for people and the planet.
The day was a whirlwind of powerful voices:

• Cultivando shared their victories in challenging the Magellan Terminal expansion in Commerce City.
  
• Save the Aurora Reservoir (STAR) representatives spoke passionately about their fight against the approval of 165 new gas wells threatening their community.
  
• Dr. Beth provided critical updates on the health impacts of pollution, while EarthJustice detailed ongoing efforts to hold Suncor accountable.
  
• GHCC highlighted our work to elevate community voices in rulemakings around air toxics, cumulative impacts and oil and gas produced water.
  
• Denver County Clerk Paul Lopez reminded everyone of the vital link between environmental justice and civic participation.
  
• Allison Jackson from Jack Solar Garden gave people hope talking about the power of agro voltaics.
  
• Morgan closed out by sharing her poem “Petroleum 238” to tie everything together,
  

As Jane departed for the airport, we sent her off with a whimsical celebration of Spanish guitar music, dance, skateboarders, and heartfelt community-made signs. Jane reminded us all that hope lives in action—a message that resonated deeply as we continued the day with food, conversation, and healing activities like accudetox and music from the captivating Eutimia Montoya.

Jane Fonda’s visits to GHCC have not only elevated our work but have also deepened our resolve to keep fighting for environmental justice. Her presence reinforced the power of community-driven action and the importance of telling our stories to inspire change.
We are immensely grateful to Jane and her Climate PAC for their continued support. These visits remind us that hope is alive—and it thrives in every action we take. Together, we are building a better world, one connection at a time.

In June of 2024, the Green House Connection Center partnered with Jack’s Solar Garden, an innovative agrivoltaics farm in Longmont, Colorado, to host the Pollution and Solutions: Hope for the Future Tour. This event showcased how we can reimagine land use by integrating solar energy with regenerative farming practices to create a more sustainable and hopeful future.
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The first stop highlighted our current extractive energy practices of today by visiting Kathy Kemper’s home, located next door to an active fracking site. Kathy shared her deeply personal and troubling experiences from the past few years. She described how she has been "oil and gaslit" into doubting her own observations, despite the undeniable evidence of two oil spills, the most recent of which occurred in April of 2024. Her story was a stark reminder that oil and gas can impact residents across the state, not just those in Disproportionately Impacted Communities (DICs). 

Andrew Klooster from Earthworks provided further insight into the unseen dangers of oil and gas emissions. Using an Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) camera, Andrew offered participants a rare and unsettling glimpse of the emissions released into the air daily at sites like the one near Kathy’s home. These emissions, invisible to the naked eye, are a persistent threat to air quality and public health.

The tour concluded at Jack’s Solar Garden, where attendees discovered the transformative potential of agrivoltaics. This groundbreaking approach combines solar energy production with regenerative agriculture, demonstrating how innovation and sustainability can coexist. Jack’s Solar Garden stands as a beacon of hope, offering a tangible vision of how we can combat climate change while nurturing the land.

Adding to the day’s uplifting atmosphere was the musical presence of Elias Garcia from ‘Los Mocochetes’.  Their performances provided a powerful reminder of music’s role in fostering hope and healing, infusing the tour with a sense of community and resilience.
The Jack’s Solar Garden Pollution and Solutions Tour was an inspiring and enlightening experience, highlighting both the challenges posed by industrial pollution and the innovative solutions that can guide us toward a brighter future. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who joined us, especially Kathy Kemper, Andrew Klooster, the youth from Denver Public Schools for Climate Action, youth from Spirit of the Sun and the team at Jack’s Solar Garden. Together, we are finding ways to heal our planet and communities, one step at a time.

Find the full mini-documentary from the day below:

Updated: Jan 29

In the summer of 2024, the Green House Connection Center (GHCC) had the extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with Justin Nobel, investigative journalist and author of Petroleum 238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It. Justin’s work has become a cornerstone for exposing the oil and gas industry’s dark underbelly, uncovering the hidden dangers of radioactive waste produced through these practices.

This journey began back in 2020 with Justin’s groundbreaking article America’s Radioactive Secret, a 20-month investigation for the Rolling Stones revealing that the oil and gas industry generates nearly a trillion gallons of toxic waste each year. That story opened the door to deeper revelations, culminating in his book, Petroleum 238. The book not only highlights industry whistleblowers but also shines a spotlight on the decades-long suppression of knowledge about the radioactive contamination affecting workers and the environment alike.

As part of the Petroleum 238 book tour, GHCC was honored to join Justin for a panel discussion. Founder Harmony spoke about her insights while working for oil and gas. This event brought together activists, community members, and environmental advocates to engage in meaningful dialogue about the challenges and solutions tied to the oil and gas industry’s legacy of harm.

Morgan, the Youth Organizer, opened the event with a poem they wrote specifically for the book, also titled Petroleum 238. This poem was their way of processing the magnitude of injustice detailed in Justin’s work, channeling the anger, grief, and hope that comes with confronting such truths. Standing in front of an audience deeply invested in environmental justice, they felt the power of art as a bridge—connecting the emotional and the factual, and fostering a shared sense of urgency.

The event was more than a panel; it was a call to action. Participants shared their own stories of activism, including their struggles and triumphs in holding the oil and gas industry accountable. The presence of GHCC highlighted the importance of grassroots organizing, and the discussion reinforced our mission: to bridge the gap between arts and activism, empowering communities to fight for stronger environmental protections.

As we reflect on this collaboration, it’s clear that Justin’s work and our involvement in his tour have strengthened the case for a future free of oil and gas’s harmful legacy. It’s not just about exposing secrets; it’s about building momentum for change. Together, with storytellers, poets, and advocates, we are pushing for a cleaner, safer, and more equitable world.

Stay tuned as we continue to amplify voices, create platforms for change, and stand firm in the fight for environmental justice. Whether through art, activism, or partnerships, the Green House Connection Center is committed to forging connections that matter.

On a sunny day in June of 2024, the Green House Connection Center hosted the Globeville Pollution and Solutions Tour, bringing together a vibrant group of community members, elected officials, environmental advocates, city and state governmental agencies, elders, healers, and local moms. This gathering was a heartfelt and eye-opening opportunity to share stories and insights about how pollution has impacted the children, health, and communities of 80216—one of the most polluted zip codes in the nation.
The history and challenges of this area are deeply intertwined with environmental injustice. Globeville sits atop not one but two EPA Superfund sites, a chilling reminder of the lasting effects of industrial contamination. The neighborhood is crisscrossed by railroads and highways, amplifying air pollution, and is surrounded by major industrial sources of contamination. Among these are the remnants of the Globe Smelting Plant, which polluted for generations, and the operational Suncor Refinery, which continues to do so today. Both have significantly impacted the air, soil, and water quality in the region. For more on the history, find the PBS documentary HERE.
During this walking tour, participants walked and talked while exploring the historical harm inflicted on Indigenous communities—the original stewards of this land—and reflected on their ongoing fight for recognition and healing. Elected officials and state agency representatives shared the uphill battles they face in safeguarding the well-being of these communities against powerful industrial interests and corporate profits. Most importantly, residents who live in 80216 shared their lived experiences, painting a vivid picture of resilience amidst adversity. Their stories of raising children and managing health challenges in an environment burdened by pollution were both sobering and inspiring.
Despite the gravity of these discussions, the event was not without hope. Together, we envisioned what a cleaner, safer future for Globeville could look like. One particularly moving moment came during the Indigenous water blessing led by Debora Montoya from the Kalpulli Coloraztlan Indigenous group, alongside Aracely Navarro from Groundwork Denver. When speaking to the water, they shared that it relayed the message that we should not fear the water, despite its pollution. On the contrary, the water reminded us that it is still here for us—to sing with, walk with, and serve as medicine to us—no matter how industry continues to pollute it. The water reminded us that there is still life.
The tour’s goal was to build rainbows and bridges—to foster understanding, collaboration, and solidarity across diverse groups. By coming together, we took an important step toward co-creating solutions that prioritize the health of the land and the people who call it home. The connections made during the Globeville Pollution and Solutions Tour underscore the importance of collective action. By uniting knowledge, resources, and passion, we can tackle these challenges head-on.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this impactful day. Together, we are planting the seeds of change for a healthier, more equitable future.
You can find the full documentary from the day below:

Some of Colorado’s state leaders are trying to make big changes when it comes to major  polluters like Suncor and oil and gas producers. But industry lobbying and spending have created strong headwinds against justice and accountability, allowing for only minimal environmental protections .

Small environmental improvements that have been made, quickly get wiped away  while corporations continually make record profits. This cycle has to stop. Coloradans deserve clean air, healthy communities and sustainable solutions to the looming climate crisis.
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That’s where we come in. The GreenHouse Connection Center blends art and activism together to elevate community voices to build meaningful participation in decision making processes. We are a physical community space in the heart of the Elyria neighborhood in North Denver’s GES community. We are surrounded by pollution from the Suncor refinery, industries, highways, railroads, Purina, and more. Our vision is to re-matriarch our system to reimagine a future where people’s needs for clean air and water, housing, access to healthy food, equitable transportation, health care, education and thriving environments are a cornerstone for the people that live and work in our communities.

Ultimately, we build bridges and rainbows between community members and decision makers creating informative conversations, connections, and solutions towards a better world. 

In the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision to overturn 40 years of environmental protections it becomes significantly more difficult for the federal government to protect our air and water. Further, this past legislative session Colorado failed to create meaningful legislation that would actually protect the health and safety of our communities. That’s why we need our Colorado state agencies and elected leaders to do more. 

The time is now for us to come together, get educated, and get involved to put pressure on decision makers to protect our beautiful environment for future generations.