The Westside Walk to End Hunger
United in the Fight Against Hunger
The Westside Walk to End Hunger on August 2nd, 2025 was a community-led event co-hosted by Hunger Free Colorado and Denver Inner City Parish, uniting neighbors in the fight against hunger. The walk honored Denver’s historic Westside and raised awareness of food insecurity through a route centered in cultural legacy and resilience, bringing together more than 150 community members. This route took walkers through Denver’s westside La Alma neighborhood, crossing Colfax Avenue and winding through the Auraria Higher education campus, highlighting the “Displaced but not Erased” mural on the South Chiller Building. This artistic tribute honors the Aurarians who were displaced in the 1970s so that the Auraria Campus could be built. Walkers strolled down the 9th Avenue Park, which is lined by restored homes from the original Auraria community, and stopped inside St. Cajetan’s Church, a landmark from the former neighborhood.
Inside St. Cajetan’s, speakers from Denver Inner City Parish and Hunger Free Colorado discussed our collective efforts to address hunger and work together in building and advocating for community-based solutions. Virginia Castro, a leading advocate and member of the Auraria Historical Advocacy Council, as well as Nicholas Marquez, a displaced Aurarian and Senior Community Organizer at Hunger Free Colorado, shared their stories, highlighting the intersections of historic displacement, gentrification, erasure of marginalized communities, and hunger.
The walk culminated in a lively celebration at La Alma Park, complete with the music of Donnie Lucero, healthy food, a multitude of local vendors, free Little Man ice cream, a wide range of generously donated prizes, and authentic Aztec dancers. Throughout the event, we honored and celebrated the rich cultural legacy of Denver’s Westside—a community shaped by love and resilience through the leadership of its organizers, youth, and elders.
Hosting Organizations
Hunger Free Colorado
Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization, connects people to food resources to meet existing needs and drives policy, systems and social change to end hunger. We envision a day when every Coloradan has equitable access to the nutritious food needed to thrive and reach their full potential.
Hunger Free Colorado and Denver Inner City Parish partnered to host the Westside Walk to End Hunger through our deep roots in the Denver community and shared commitment to food justice. Taking place across the historic La Alma and nearby Auraria neighborhoods—where hundreds of families from marginalized communities were displaced to build the Auraria Campus—the event served to highlight how systemic injustice drives food insecurity and the urgent need for sustainable community-rooted solutions. Together, we’re created space for healing, solidarity, and action to ensure every Coloradan has equitable access to the food they need to thrive.
Day Of
Agenda
Agenda
8:30 am - Walk to End Hunger
Check in will commence 30 minutes prior to our walk to the Auraria Campus at 9:00am. Our walk will begin at Denver Inner City Parish and we will walk to St. Cajetans Church on campus where a speaking session will be held. The walking portion will take approximately 30 minutes, followed by a 15 minute participant break.
9:45 am - 10:30 am - Program on Auraria Campus
We will gather inside St. Cajetans Church to listen to several speakers including displaced Aurarians, community elders, and leaders in the hunger space. Around 10:30, we will begin our 30 minute walk back for the second half of our event at La Alma Park.
11:15 am - 1:30 pm - Community Celebration Event at La Alma Park
A community celebration event will be held with activities, prizes, vendors and resource booths, advocacy opportunities, and food. Note that this will be a kid-friendly event that will include activities for the entire family. Details below.
Community Celebration Details
Our community celebration took place at La Alma Park from 11:15am - 1:30pm and featured food, multiple vendors and resources, music, a wide range of prizes, and activities for the whole family!
Vendors and Resources
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Common Harvest Colorado
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La Raza Unida & El Semanario
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Refried Rockabilly
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In Tloque Nahuaque: Interconnected Healing
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Denver Alliance for Street Health Response
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Satisfied Cravings
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Luna Rosa Designs
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Save the Children Action Network & Catholic Charities
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MAKi Matcha
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Hunger Free Colorado SNAP Outreach
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Circle Pies
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Metro Caring & Food Justice Northwest Aurora
Prizes (experiences)
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2-night stay in a lodge room at YMCA of the Rockies
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2 soak tickets at Iron Mountain Hot Springs
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2 tickets to Urban Air Adventure Park
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Gift Membership to Museo de las Americas
Prizes (items)
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Gift Cards to Snooze A.M. Eatery, Mason Jar Lifestyle, Atomic Provisions, and Fat Sully's
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Jewelry sets, 1 solo stove, gift box from Corvus Coffee Roasters
AND MORE!
Food
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1 free food ticket provided with registration
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Food provided by Denver Inner City Parish
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Little Man Ice Cream
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Additional food through select vendors
Activities
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Kids game booth
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Face painting
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Westside Elder Storytellers
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Free backpack station
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And more!
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