A testament to fighting for the promise of democracy, Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) and Mountain Voices Project (MVP) brought together 400 leaders and candidates for governor and attorney general for the largest action of Colorado’s primary election campaign season. Leaders shared powerful testimonies and secured public commitments from every candidate to take specific action on labor, education, housing, immigration, and consumer protections in Colorado.

[Exerpt from op-ed by CCG Leaders Claire Zilber and Shannon Hoffman originally published in Denver Westword]

“Denver, I hear you,” Mayor Mike Johnston said on social media when he announced that the city will not renew the Flock Safety camera contract that expires March 31. 

He claims he has heard the city, but has declined to meet with his constituents.

So, Flock is out and Axon Enterprise is on deck. 

Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) is not convinced this is a better option for the City and County of Denver.

While the restaurant industry has poured massive resources into national and state campaigns that pretend to help workers but really cut pay, New Yorker named Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) as a key group that successfully protected tipped workers despite these deceptive practices.

Working hand in hand with workers, unions, and local businesses, CCG stopped every version of a dangerous bill that would have forced cities to slash wages for tipped workers or stripped towns of the right to set fair, local minimum wages. Introduced in March 2025, this bill targeted wage gains in Denver, Boulder, and Edgewater. CCG organized a press conference and gave legislative testimony with Towards Justice, CWA 7777 and the Colorado AFL‑CIO, making it clear: tipped workers deserve fair wages on top of their tips—not shrinking paychecks. As a result, lawmakers backed down and removed the worst parts, preserving both workers’ pay and local control.

CCG (Coloradans for the Common Good) and member institution GES (Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea) Coalition brought together over 100 community members on June 17th for a seminar to build a constituency of residents who are connected, informed, and engaged on how the City of Denver invests in their community.

Written by Rabbi Katie Mizrahi and Reverend Sheri Fry

[Excerpts]

Many of our sacred texts and traditions, including Jewish and Christian, call us to protect the vulnerable, liberate the oppressed, and respect the dignity of workers. Gov. Jared Polis had the opportunity to live out the spirit of these traditions when the historic Worker Protection Act came to his desk last week. Unfortunately, he sided with corporate interests and a broken status quo.

On March 3, the Colorado State Legislature proposed a bill that would have cut base wages for tipped workers. Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) fought back! In collaboration with CWA 7777 and the Colorado AFL-CIO, CCG organized a press conference and successfully blocked efforts to mandate that Denver, Boulder, and Edgewater reduce the local minimum wage for thousands of tipped workers. CCG also pushed for legislation to expand the right to collective bargaining as a part of their larger strategy to support workers in Colorado.

In a press statement, they assert: “Hardworking Coloradans deserve the opportunity to earn a good wage, especially as the cost of living continues to rise…The amended version of the bill importantly avoids an immediate wage cut for tipped employees and preserves some local control. However, the bill only gives local control to local governments if they want to vote to keep their tipped minimum wage low, but will not allow them to vote to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers. We will continue to work for fair and livable wages with tips on top for Coloradans at the state and local level.” 

Last week, CCG was back at the Capitol to support the Worker Protection Act and again the next day to stand with educators against cuts to education. CCG's work at the Capitol continues as the legislature considers the Worker Protection Act, the state budget, and other issues important to members.

(Photo Credit: Denver7)

Over 300 leaders of Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) celebrated 5 years of organizing for the common good. Leaders shared stories of how this work helped them grow and develop, celebrated numerous achievements in improving conditions for working families, and committed to continue working together in the future.

"I remember when there were just a few of us around a table," B'nai Havurah member and CCG leader Zeik Saidman, "and to see all those people and institutions in the room together makes me very proud."

Some of the wins highlighted included expanding pandemic workplace protections to 50,000 grocery store and meat packing workers, obtaining $29 million in rental assistance funding in the 2024 Denver city budget, and raising wages for hourly school employees to some of the highest in the country.

"Through this organization I have been able to stand as equals with the people who run my school district," said JESPA President and CCG leader Zander Kaschub; "that is something I never thought I could do as a food service worker who was angry about what I was seeing happen to students and my colleagues."

[Photo Credit: Simone Schiess Photography]

Coloradans for the Common Good, including Jeffco Education Support Professionals Assoc. (JESPA), called on the Jeffco Board of Education to honor their commitments to promote healthy meals and end outsourcing of special ed transportation.

CCG Statement to the Jeffco Board of Education

On Tuesday, Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) leaders gathered with allies from the Denver Metro Tenants Union and the Community Economic Defense Project, in addition to the Denver Mayor and 8 members of Denver City Council, to celebrate the city's historic investment of $29.1 Million in emergency rental assistance.

This investment is expected to keep 6,000 families housed who would otherwise face eviction and comes after months of CCG organizing, including a mayoral forum in May with 350 attendees, a press conference on the issue, and countless phone calls, emails, and meetings with elected officials.

At an assembly that drawing 350 leaders from 20 institutions of Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG), community leaders secured commitments from Denver Mayoral runoff candidates around eviction, wage theft, mental health, and workers' pensions. 

After CCG leaders shared personal stories, candidates were asked to answer 'yes' or 'no' to ten proposals addressing specific housing, mental health, gun safety, workers' rights, and immigrants' rights issues.

“If the answer is 'Yes,' we’re going to cheer and applaud,” explained CCG leader Joyce Brooks.  “If the answer is 'No,' we’ll just be silent and wait for them to elaborate at the end."  Kelly Brough responded affirmatively to all ten proposals while Mike Johnston answered YES to nine of the ten.

Both candidates committed to extending subpoena power to the City’s Auditor to effectively investigate cases of wage theft.  

Yes or No? Coloradans for the Common Good Holds Reverse Mayoral Forum, Westword [pdf]

Recap of Commitments Made at Mayoral Accountability Assembly, Coloradans for the Common Good