Welcome to the 2010s in Denver, an age that moved so fast, it often feels like yesterday and simultaneously a lifetime ago. Rapid changes in technology and growth in the city once again changed the way Denver Kids needed to provide student support.
At the start of this decade, the city of Denver was slowly regaining stability after the effects of the 2008 market crash. Though unemployment rates were steadily dropping and banks cautiously began lending again, recovery was slow, especially for low income families. These factors gave way for the rise in a new income strategy: the gig economy. We probably can't imagine life without things such as Uber or Doordash anymore, but just a short 12 years ago, these concepts were nothing but an idea and a few lines of code. Though the gig economy helped Denverites make money fast, it was not a permanent solution to underlying financial instability.
Meanwhile, the 2010s were a huge decade for Denver in terms of population growth. Denver saw an influx of 115,000 new residents driven by a strong economy and a lifestyle that attracted young professionals. Neighborhoods like RiNo and LoDo transformed, with old industrial or more affordable areas turning into modern spots filled with new apartments, restaurants, art, and nightlife. The city became more walkable and full of new activities. On the surface, Denver was thriving. But, that growth came with a cost. Housing prices rose fast, and many long-time Denver residents struggled to keep up, leading to gentrification and lower-income families being pushed out of neighborhoods they had lived in for years.
Students also began to navigate the new age of social media. Instagram came onto the scene in 2010, Snapchat in 2011, and Twitter and Facebook were already growing. This technology not only changed the way students communicate, but also created an environment where students had an in-person persona and an online one, too. Students were mentally "on" all of the time.
While these platforms connected students they also brought higher rates of anxiety and mental health challenges. When everything around kids is moving faster, becoming more competitive, and more overwhelming, having something consistent matters even more. This is where Denver Kids continued to step in, providing stability through mentorship, guidance, and real-world, offline experiences that balanced out a life that was increasingly structured and screen-heavy.
Denver Kids helped families navigate a new Denver Public Schools school choice process, and began intentionally building and implementing Social-Emotional Learning language and practices as a key component to achieving life success, improving emotional awareness, attitudes and behaviors, and increasing academic achievement.
In an effort to broaden our reach, Denver Kids merged with fellow youth serving organization, Denver Urban Scholars, in 2019. This strategic union combined a collective 97 years of experience, creating an even more robust and holistic model to support Denver youth.
Through each new challenge a decade brings, Denver Kids remains steady in its mission to provide students with holistic support. Even through the fast-paced nature of the 2010s, Denver Kids continued working to better our programming and serve the ever-changing needs of our students.
Be on the lookout each month as we highlight success stories of each decade!
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