Gratitude Village January 2025 Newsletter

Gratitude Village Newsletter: Exciting Updates & Next Steps

We’re thrilled to share some major milestones as Gratitude Village moves forward! Our Board of Directors has officially formed and held two productive meetings. The seven member board brings a wealth of expertise, spanning environmental sciences, affordable housing development & management, land & natural resource management, construction, business and non-profit law, marketing, finance, and real estate. We are also pleased to announce that Suzie Shride has been selected as our Executive Director. Suzie, a seasoned entrepreneur with three decades of leadership, marketing, and business management experience, is deeply connected to the vision of Gratitude Village and to the communities our project aims to support.

Incorporation paperwork has been officially filed for Gratitude Village Inc, marking a crucial step in solidifying our legal foundation. Additionally, we have submitted our 501(c)(3) application, which will allow us to operate as a tax-exempt nonprofit. This status will enable us to receive tax-deductible donations and secure additional funding to bring this vision to life. In fact, all donations made while the application is being processed are tax deductible! So donate now!

We’ve had lots of interest in Gratitude Village this month! We had a couple of great Zoom presentations and a very nice, in person meeting this past Tuesday at Hello Coffee in Lakewood! If you couldn’t make one of the meetings this month (or haven’t been to a meeting in a while) join us in February for one of our presentations or our in person meeting! Dates are listed here. Once you RSVP, you’ll be sent the meeting logon or directions to the coffee shop.

We are now accepting reservations for founding members! If you’re interested in being one of the first 15 families to establish Gratitude Village, now is the time to get involved. Tax-deductible donations are also welcome, whether through a one-time contribution or a recurring monthly donation. Even $20 or $30 per month can make a significant impact in building our sustainable, community-driven future. Contributions can be made via check or PayPal.

Becoming a founding member comes with exclusive benefits, including access to our 35-page business plan, key business documents, and participation in planning and design workshops. This is a unique opportunity to play an integral role in shaping a thriving, sustainable cohousing community from the ground up and also gives you first choice of homes and homesites once the community design is finalized.

We’ve also made great progress in identifying potential parcels for Gratitude Village and three properties have been identified in Jefferson County. Two between Golden & Boulder and one off of Sheridan between 68th and 72nd. While we finalize our founding group, we have been interviewing environmental engineers to discuss Phase 1 surveys, meeting with renowned cohousing architects at Studio Co+Hab, and consulting with a couple of insurance brokers to ensure we have the necessary coverage for builder’s risk, general liability, and other essential protections.

We’re excited about the journey ahead and invite you to join us! Whether as a founding member, donor, or supporter, your involvement helps bring Gratitude Village to life. Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being part of this incredible movement!