Press
In the news
Most of this coverage comes from a decade of building in Denver's Westwood neighborhood, when the work drew attention from national outlets. The newer chapters are still being written.
Selected
Salud America 2017
How to Turn a Latino Food Desert into a Healthy Food Oasis
A national health-policy feature on Re:Vision and the Westwood Food Cooperative.
Denverite 2017
Still waiting for city investments, Westwood residents are finding health for themselves
A long feature on Westwood’s health, built around the promotora model: “building the knowledge and the capacity within the community.”
YES! Magazine 2016
From Growing Edible Forests to Banking Heirloom Seeds, Solutions to Keeping Your Food Local
Colorado’s entry in the “50 Solutions” issue: 400 families and a two-acre site for the co-op.
Colorado Public Radio 2014
How sunshine and soda cans help a Denver community cut heating bills
Solar furnaces built with CU Boulder engineering students: “If a promotora is sold on the idea, they sell the community.”
Honors
- 2019 Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Colorado Civic DNA Fellow Leadership fellowship, 2018–2019 class.
- 2016 ArtPlace America National Creative Placemaking Fund finalist Re:Vision, under Eric’s leadership, was one of 80 finalists from 1,300+ applicants for a grant of up to $500,000 to build Westwood’s gathering place. (Reported by Confluence Denver; archived copy.)
- 2013 Slow Money · Mamma Chia Slow Money Entrepreneur of the Year The $50,000 prize, awarded at Slow Money’s fourth National Gathering in Boulder and reported by The New York Times and Barron’s, helped form the cooperative that became the Westwood Food Co-op — and Earthworm Angels investors pledged another $60,000 the following day. (Archived copy.)
Coverage
- 2022 The Journal (Cortez) Plan for Towaoc grocery store gets a boost THRIVE Partners’ role in community engagement, planning, design, and fundraising for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s grocery store. Article
- 2021 Denverite This nonprofit is trying Westwood solutions for Westwood problems — starting with food access A retrospective on Re:Vision’s first decade, from a junkyard to a farm. Article
- 2021 Westword Pillar of Fire Church Wants to Sell Its Farm, a Hot Property in Westminster The Uplands Community Collective’s case for a ten-acre working farm addressing food insecurity. Feature
- 2021 Colorado Community Media Uplands developers says project ‘a catalyst’ On directing the Uplands investment toward the local economy and school district. Article
- 2021 Rocky Mountain PBS Westwood artist Santiago Jaramillo connects community and heritage The murals that began with a first conversation between the artist and Re:Vision’s founder. Article
- 2020 Colorado Community Media Developers offer update on Uplands plan “The Pantry” — a community garden designed with residents and their kids. Article
- 2020 Mile High CRE Uplands Forms Collective to Support Placed-Based Economic Development Efforts The Uplands Community Collective launches under Eric’s leadership. Article
- 2019 Denverite A new chapter for Westwood food nonprofit Re:Vision: the founders are moving on Handing Re:Vision to its next leaders after a decade, and launching THRIVE Partners. Article
- 2019 Denverite Work begins on Westwood complex that will nurture food, art and culture RISE Westwood breaks ground. Article
- 2018 Denver VOICE Healthy Food For All The Westwood Food Cooperative, and why food-led revitalization takes longer than anyone expects. Article
- 2017 Salud America How to Turn a Latino Food Desert into a Healthy Food Oasis A national health-policy feature on Re:Vision and the Westwood Food Cooperative. Feature
- 2017 Healthy Places by Design Communities in Action: Denver, CO Promotora-led environmental audits, a new park at Weir Gulch, and the urban farm. Case study
- 2017 Denverite Westwood’s Morrison Road will become a Mexican Cultural District On rising rents and displacement alongside the designation. Article
- 2017 Denverite Still waiting for city investments, Westwood residents are finding health for themselves A long feature on Westwood’s health, built around the promotora model: “building the knowledge and the capacity within the community.” Feature
- 2016 YES! Magazine From Growing Edible Forests to Banking Heirloom Seeds, Solutions to Keeping Your Food Local Colorado’s entry in the “50 Solutions” issue: 400 families and a two-acre site for the co-op. Feature
- 2016 University of Denver Magazine An alum-founded nonprofit envisions a healthier future for Denver’s Westwood neighborhood The Fall 2016 alumni feature: from a 2006 service-learning trip to Nicaragua to Re:Farm and RISE Westwood. (Archived copy.) Feature
- 2016 Confluence Denver A Vision for Westwood Art as the link between community assets, a place to gather, and a $500,000 creative-placemaking bid — a deep profile of Re:Vision’s work. (Archived copy; the outlet has since closed.) Feature
- 2016 Salud America Neighbors and Leaders Calm Traffic on Scary Street Turning Morrison Road into a pedestrian-safe destination, led with residents. Article
- 2015 5280 The Guide to Altruism in Colorado Re:Vision’s gardens, promotoras, and the planned co-op and incubator kitchen. Feature
- 2015 CBS Colorado Cooperative Offers Solution in West Denver Food Desert Explaining the Westwood Food Cooperative’s ownership model on CBS4. Broadcast
- 2014 University of Denver Magazine Alums’ nonprofit brings fresh food and opportunities to impoverished Denver neighborhood How two DU students turned a winter-break service trip into a Denver nonprofit. (Archived copy.) Feature
- 2014 Colorado Public Radio How sunshine and soda cans help a Denver community cut heating bills Solar furnaces built with CU Boulder engineering students: “If a promotora is sold on the idea, they sell the community.” Broadcast
- 2014 NationSwell Denver’s Re:Vision Plants Gardens in Low-Income People’s Yards Two young social entrepreneurs and a food desert turned into thriving gardens. (Archived copy.) Article
- 2013 YES! Magazine Veggies at the Liquor Store — and 5 Other Ways to Bring Food to Your Community Re:Farm’s growth from seven families to two hundred, and why the promotora model cultivates leaders. Feature
- 2013 CU Boulder School of Education Learning in the Food Movement University research built on Re:Vision’s promotora model for backyard gardening. Article
- 2013 Barron’s Slow Food, Slow Money Penta Daily on the Slow Money gathering: Re:Vision’s final pitch “brought a standing ovation — and, ultimately, the Gathering’s $50,000 prize.” (Archived copy.) Article
- 2013 The New York Times An Effort to Add a Key Ingredient to the Slow Food Movement: Investor Money On the Slow Money gathering in Boulder — and the Denver cooperative that won its $50,000 entrepreneur prize. Article
Appearances
- 2019 Reversing Climate Change Ep. 90: Restoring Community & Climate Through Place-Based Economics A 43-minute conversation on place-based economies. Podcast
- 2018 TEDxMileHigh: Uncommon Race & Identity workshop Facilitated discussion with Theo E.J. Wilson, Stephanie Tanny, Bashir Page-Sanders, and Gabrielle Bryant. Panel
- 2015 TEDxMileHigh How to Build a Place-Based Economy Where You Live The talk. 25,000+ views. Talk
- — TED × Kaiser Permanente A Way Up: TEDxMileHigh in Denver A TED-produced conversation on housing, food, and public space, alongside Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca and Dr. Lynnette Namba. Video
Media and interview requests: eric@erickornacki.com