Welcome to
The Refuge!
We're glad you found your way here.
The Refuge is a hub for healing community, social action, and creative collaboration serving the Broomfield and North Denver area since 2006. We center all we do around people who are often on the margins of life, faith, and socioeconomic realities.
As an eclectic center for community, people connect to The Refuge in a wide range of ways throughout the month and year both locally in the Denver Metro area and virtually across the US and Canada.
Check out our social media pages for up to date details on events, gatherings, and stories of Refuge community life.
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What is The Refuge committed to and how is it lead?
PRACTICING EQUITY
The Refuge has a deep commitment to ongoing learning, trauma-informed principles, and practicing equity as best we can in all areas of our life together across gender and racial identities, mental and physical abilities, socioeconomic realities, faith experiences, and ages.
- We are an open and affirming community, committed to healing wounds and advocating for and with the LGBTQ+ community.
- We are dedicated to the work of racial equity and take responsibility as part of the dominant system to recognize power and privilege and use it to catalyze change.
- We work to break down socioeconomic divides through accessible, authentic healing community.
- We promote health equity and access for the most underserved.
- We value neurodiversity and try to create safe and brave environments so all can thrive.
- We dedicate ourselves to the principles of recovery, where there is no "us" or "them"--there's only us.
“Equity is a practice" - Melvin Bray
The Refuge is dedicated to inclusive and team leadership. Currently, these primary teams of leaders serve The Refuge:
- Serve and Sustain -This group serves as the Refuge board and facilitates, nurtures and supports the life of our community, and makes decisions, with input from other teams and community members.
- Community Life - Our many on-the-ground leaders, who help catalyze and carry all the areas of our life together .
- Staff - We have paid staff who support various areas of Community Life, The Refuge Cafe, and Operations.
SHARED VALUES
TEAMS
We are a fully open and affirming community and all areas of Refuge life together are centered around shared values of Presence, Engagement, Transformation, Welcome, Creativity and Celebration.
Engagement
Presence
Transformation
Celebration
Creativity
REFUGE COMMUNITY LIFE: connect to our hub
OUTREACH & SUPPORT
REFUGE CAFE - Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 10 am.- 2 p.m. Presence, hospitality and connection to resources for people experiencing homelessness and without social safety nets including Health Care Advocacy, free lunch, snacks, showers, WIFI, advocates, and a safe place to rest.
SINGLE MOMS UNITE (SMU) - This supportive group for single moms and their children meets at The Refuge one Saturday morning each month, and holds special events and gatherings throughout the year.
REFUGE READS - A one-on-one tutoring and free literacy program for all ages, especially kids who need help reading, writing, and spelling, Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30-6 pm.
BROOMFIELD CARES MOBILE OUTREACH TEAM - This mobile team of social workers, Health Care Advocates, and volunteers offers connection, supplies, and referrals to resources for our neighbors who are unhoused.
REFUGE RAINBOW: Queer Support and Socials, LGBTQIA+ Under 18 Group and Gender and Sexuality Support Alliance for parents, guardians, and allies.
FORMATION & HEALING
SOULFUL SUNDAYS - 2 Sunday evenings a month on site--one contemplative experience with Refuge Kids program and one Refuge Community Dinner Night for all ages.
CREATIVE & CONTEMPLATIVE ARTS - We host reflective experiences, workshops, art-sharing nights, and other contemplative and creative opportunities.
OPEN 12 STEP GROUP - Open 12-Step group focused on co-dependency and addictions every other Tuesday, 9-10 a.m on ZOOM.
FOREST CHURCH - One Sunday morning a month throughout the year at #beautyheals in Golden or other local locations.
REIMAGINE - A monthly virtual gathering on the first Sunday of the month 6pm MST on ZOOM for church burnouts, spiritual refugees, and people who have been wounded by faith systems and are trying to find their way forward.
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
HOUSE OF REFUGE - Every other Wednesday evening in west Arvada. It's a smaller, open group that includes potluck dinner and eclectic soulful conversations.
#NATURE HEALS - Group hikes and walks on local trails and contemplative experiences. Once a month, typically on a weekend.
#DOGCHURCH - Periodic get-togethers for dogs and their owners at various dog parks in the area.
YOUTH
Kids and youth are an integral part of all aspects of Refuge community life including Soulful Sundays; "Something Awesome" youth group; T3-Twenties, Tacos & Tough Topics; and special events.
ADVOCACY & JUSTICE
ADVOCATES LEARNING LAB - Skills, support, and sustainability for people who journey with others in hard places through a trauma-informed lens including guest speakers, soul care, and tangible practices. First and third Tuesday from 8-9:30am MST on ZOOM.
PRACTICING EQUITY IN RECOVERY - This open group is centered around modified 12 Steps for racism recovery and transformation that leads to action. 3rd Monday on ZOOM, 6:30 pm MST
+ field trips and special events.
SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING PARTIES - Throughout the year, we host guest speakers on important and challenging topics.
ECO/GREEN LEARNING - Our EcoGreen team hosts educational experiences and opporutnities to contribute to reusing, recycling, and caring for the earth in different ways throughout the year.
Health Care Advocates are onsite during various cafe hours to provide health education, support, and connection to resources
PRESENCE, HOSPITALITY, AND CONNECTION TO RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND WITHOUT SOCIAL SAFETY NETS
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, And Thursday 10am-2pm
Founded in 2013, The Refuge Cafe is a cornerstone effort of our community. Centered on healing community and restoring dignity alongside the most marginalized and disconnected, we are grateful to serve in this capacity in the community.
We Offer:
- Free lunch and snacks
- Showers
- Personal care items, outdoor gear, and pet food
- Harm reduction and health care advocacy
- Advocates to build connections to resources
- On-site community partners for housing, employment, and basic needs
- A safe place to rest and feel human.
- The Broomfield Cares Mobile Outreach Team -a team of social workers, health care advocates, and community partners bringing the hospitality and resources of the Refuge Cafe to people who are unhoused on days we’re not open.
Broomfield Cares Mobile Outreach Team is out on Mondays, Fridays, or Saturdays depending on the week, connecting with people experiencing homelessness
VOLUNTEERING AT THE REFUGE
Volunteers make The Refuge go! We’d love for you to offer your time, gifts and passion here! Some areas of need include:
Refuge Cafe
- Serving on site during open hours offering hospitality, organizing, supporting showers and helping with lunch
- Sponsor a lunch for 60 people
- Host Laundry Love on a Monday night, an evening of dinner and laundry supporting people who are unhoused
- Organize donations of essential items
- Volunteer health care advocates
Single Moms Unite
- Childcare support for Saturday gatherings
Refuge Reads
- Volunteer tutoring on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (training provided)
Also: social media, photography, other professional skills
“You can’t change the world, but you can change someone’s world”
- Jared Escobar -
HELP US SUSTAIN OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
Other Ways to Give:
- Corporate giving programs (Benevity, CyberGrants)
- Sign up with Kroger Rewards for The Refuge to receive a portion of groceries.
- Set up The Refuge through annual donor-advised funds
- Checks can be mailed to The Refuge - PO Box 6805 Broomfield CO 80021
The Refuge is a 501c3 organization (EIN 20-8442349) and all financial donations to the Refuge are tax-deductible and receipted at the end of each year.
THIS MONTH’S CALENDAR
CONTACT US
720-295-2270 (call or text)
TheRefugeOnline.org
info@therefugeco.org
PO Box 6805 - Broomfield, CO 80021
11600 Quay Street #200, Broomfield, CO 80020
therefugeonline.org/donate
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