Zoom Info Session Tuesday June 2, 2026 5:30-6:30 PM MDT - REGISTER TO GET LINK
May 2026 Newsletter
Spring has given way to summer, and Gratitude Village continues to grow in ways both visible and unseen. In this month's edition of The Village Bell, we share updates on the professionals helping bring the project to life, explore what makes Brighton such a promising home for our first village, welcome new members to the community, and reflect on the many small steps that are transforming a vision into reality. While there may not yet be homes on the land, the village is already taking shape through the people, partnerships, and shared purpose that continue to move this dream forward.
Gratitude Village
6/2/20265 min read
The Village Bell – May: Building Community Before the Homes Exist
New Members, due diligence, Brighton discoveries and the team helping shape the future village
✉️ From the Founder's Porch: Seasons of Change
As summer begins to arrive in Colorado, I've found myself reflecting on how much Gratitude Village feels like the season itself—full of growth, change, and new beginnings. Over the past few months, we've celebrated new Founding Members Monica and Megan, welcomed new Exploring Members Rose, Kacie, and Jody & George, and continued preparing for our upcoming Site Design Workshop while interviewing consultants, attorneys, and technical partners who will help bring this vision to life. At the same time, we've also said goodbye to a few early supporters whose life circumstances led them in different directions. Building community before the homes exist is a beautiful, sometimes bittersweet process, and this month I'm sharing some reflections on growth, gratitude, and the exciting season ahead for Gratitude Village.
👉 Read: The full Founder’s Porch article →
Due Diligence: The Important Work Happening Behind the Scenes
Now that we have land under contract in Brighton, much of our attention has shifted to a critical phase of development known as due diligence.
Over the past several weeks, we've been coordinating environmental assessments, survey work, utility investigations, engineering studies, financial modeling, and discussions with the City of Brighton regarding zoning, access, and future development approvals. While this work may not be as visible as construction activity, it lays the foundation for every decision that follows.
One of the things we've learned throughout this process is that due diligence isn't a delay in development—it is development. Every study completed and every question answered helps reduce risk, strengthen planning, and ensure we create the best possible community for future residents.
If you're curious about what due diligence actually involves and why it takes time, we explored the topic in greater detail in a recent blog post.
👉 Read: "What Due Diligence Actually Looks Like"
The Experts Helping Turn Vision into Village
Building a village takes more than future residents—it takes a team.
Over the past several months, we've assembled an incredible group of professionals to help guide Gratitude Village through due diligence, planning, design, and development. From nationally recognized development advisors Heidi Majerik and Ken Mitchell to our architectural partner Studio Co+Hab and a growing team of engineers, environmental consultants, surveyors, and financing experts, these professionals are helping transform a vision into a viable community.
Meet the experts working behind the scenes to help bring Gratitude Village to life.
👉 Read: The Experts Helping Turn Vision into Village
Discovering Brighton: More Than Meets the Eye
When we announced that Gratitude Village had land under contract in Brighton, one of the most common reactions was, "Brighton? Really?"
The truth is that after evaluating dozens of properties across the Front Range, Brighton emerged as one of the strongest opportunities we've found. From nearby access to Barr Lake State Park and the Prairie Center shopping area to convenient connections to Denver and DIA, the city offers a unique combination of affordability, growth, amenities, and opportunity.
Learn why we believe Brighton may be one of the Denver metro area's most overlooked communities—and why we're excited about building the future village there.
👉 Read: Discovering Brighton: More Than Meets the Eye
Welcome Our Newest Founding Members
One of the strongest signs of momentum isn't a report, a meeting, or even a piece of land—it's people choosing to join the journey.
This month we're excited to welcome Monica and Megan as our newest Founding Members. Monica brings decades of experience in collaboration, nonprofit leadership, and land stewardship, while Megan joins us from Ohio with a passion for yoga, sustainability, lifelong learning, and intentional community.
Every new member helps shape the culture and character of the future village, and we're grateful to have them as part of the community.
👉 Meet Monica, Megan, and other future residents of Gratitude Village
📅 Gather With Us
The best way to understand Gratitude Village is to experience it in community.
Whether you're actively exploring membership or simply curious about cohousing, we'd love to meet you at an upcoming event.
🏡 Upcoming Information Sessions
Learn about the vision, values, timeline, and opportunities to become involved with Gratitude Village. Upcoming opportunities include:
Monthly information sessions about cohousing and Gratitude Village. Next Sessions:
Tuesday June 2, 2026 5:30-6:30pm (MT) Zoom Info Session - register to get link
Saturday-Sunday June 13 & 14, 2026 8:00am-8:00pm FOUNDERS ONLY Site Design Workshop
Saturday June 20, 2026 9:30-11:30am IN PERSON ONLY Info Session Lakewood Library (10200 W 20th Ave Lakewood, CO 80215)
Thursday May 28, 2026 5:00-6:00pm (MT) Zoom Info Session - register to get link
Community gatherings where future residents can get to know each other
Educational workshops exploring sustainable design and community living
These gatherings help shape the culture and relationships that will eventually define the neighborhood. If you’ve been curious about cohousing, we would love to welcome you to an upcoming event.
Visit our Events Calendar for upcoming dates and registration details.
🙏 The Gratitude List
Each month, we pause to recognize some of the people and organizations helping move Gratitude Village forward.
💚 The City of Brighton. We're grateful for the time, encouragement, and thoughtful conversations we've had with city staff and leadership. Their willingness to explore innovative housing solutions and engage with our vision has made Brighton feel like a true partner in this journey.
🏗️ CoHabDesign & Brightlighter Engineering
From community-centered architecture and design to civil engineering expertise, these teams are helping transform ideas into plans and possibilities into realities. Their professionalism, creativity, and collaborative spirit continue to strengthen the project at every step.
🤝 Our Founding Members
A special thank you to the Founding Members who have contributed countless hours to due diligence, planning, research, outreach, fundraising, and community-building efforts. The village is being built long before the homes exist, and your commitment continues to inspire us.
🔔 Until the Bell Rings Again
Every survey completed, every meeting attended, every study reviewed, every grant application submitted, and every new member welcomed brings us one step closer to creating Colorado's first mixed-income, fully accessible, Zero Energy cohousing community.
If you feel called to be part of what we're building, here are a few ways to step in:
🌱 Become an Exploring Member and start getting to know the community
🏡 Join as a Founding Member and help shape the future village from the ground up
🤝 Connect us with potential partners, investors, donors, or community leaders who may be able to help move this vision forward
💚 Support the project through a donation through our Colorado Gives page and help make connection, sustainability, accessibility, and affordability a reality for future residents
As I look back on the past month, I'm reminded that building a village isn't a single event or milestone. It's hundreds of small steps taken by people who believe a different way of living is possible. Every conversation, every contribution, every volunteer hour, every introduction, and every act of encouragement matters.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or have only recently discovered Gratitude Village, your interest, support, and belief in this vision help carry it forward.
Until the bell rings again, thank you for being part of what we're building.
With gratitude,
Suzie Shride
Founder & Executive Director
Gratitude Village Colorado
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Gratitude Village Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation (public charity) that values diversity, equity and inclusion as essential to our mission. EIN #33-2499522
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