Spring is here, and Local Progress Colorado has been hard at work! In this edition of our quarterly download, we’re excited to share updates on our members’ advocacy around worker protections, cross-jurisdictional organizing on housing justice, and our big day at the Capitol. We’re proud to move forward with collective action that uplifts workers, tenants, and communities across the state.
💵 Fighting for Tipped Wage Workers
Local Progress Colorado leaders have worked tirelessly this session to fight back against HB25-1208, a bill that would have stripped local power to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers and cut pay for minimum wage workers across the state. Over a dozen Local Progress Members engaged in opposition from testifying during committee hearings to the bill to speaking at community events and press conferences, including Denver Council Member Sarah Parady at the ‘Just Say No to Wage Cuts’ press conference, hosted in collaboration with Labor partners across the state in March.
👷 Worker Protection Act
Seventeen LPCO members signed a letter urging Governor Polis to pass the Worker Protection Act (SB25-005) into law. This bill would undo an antiquated statute from the 1940s that makes it exceedingly difficult for workers to unionize in the state. LPCO leaders highlighted how stronger labor protections empower workers to organize without fear, seek legal remedies for violations, resulting in stronger and more just communities and economies across Colorado.
🏠 LPCO Members Advocate for Housing Justice
Aurora Council Member Alison Coombs and Edgewater Council Member Hannah Gay Keao, co-authored an article in Westword making the case for The Tenant Landlord Enforcement Act (SB25-020), a key housing justice bill that would empower local governments to enact and strengthen tenant protections. Their piece highlighted how preemption has long stifled local action and emphasized why restoring local power is critical for meeting the needs of Colorado communities.
🏛️ Local Power in Action at the Capitol
In April, LPCO held our first-ever Advocacy Day at the State Capitol! Eight LPCO leaders met with over a dozen legislators, advocating against HB25-1208, which would preempt local minimum wage protections for tipped workers, and in support of HB25-1004, which would ban algorithmic rent-setting practices. Even in tough conversations, our members led with conviction, lived experiences, and policy expertise to fight for local power and racial and economic justice.
Nina Waters, a leader on LPCO’s Organizing Committee and a Summit County Commissioner, brings years of deep connection to her community and its environment to our Local Progress network.
Appointed to the Board of County Commissioners in 2023, Nina has developed invaluable insights into the needs and aspirations of Summit County residents. Her passion for environmental justice, protecting Colorado’s lands, and uplifting community voices drives her leadership is guided by her strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Nina works to ensure every voice is heard and every challenge is met with innovative, community-centered solutions and has been instrumental in shaping Local Progress Colorado’s vision for how local leaders can engage to protect our state’s beautiful lands and people.
📝 Share Your Story: How is the Trump Administration Impacting your Community?
Local Progress is rolling out a new tool to measure how the Trump Administration is impacting our communities. Our new storybank form is collecting on-the-ground accounts from local officials across the country to accurately map the impact of the federal government’s actions on local communities. These stories will help our network illustrate how federal policy actions are shaping people’s day to day lives and strategize how to fight back against the Trump administration’s divisive agenda, as well as assist our press work in telling the story of our collective resistance. We’re interested in everything from how teachers may have been shut out from Head Start programs to proactive actions your legislative body has taken to affirm the rights of immigrants in your community. Check out the form here and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!
🧰 Tools to Interrupt Criminalization
The federal administration has escalated its use of criminalization to target immigrant communities and suppress dissent. In the past few weeks alone, over 300 student visas have been revoked on political grounds, and more than 200 immigrants—like Maryland father Abrego Garcia—have been deported to a notorious torture facility in El Salvador in defiance of court orders. These acts are part of a broader strategy: using criminalization to silence opposition and enforce policies that consolidate right-wing power. Local governments have the ability—and responsibility—to push back.
Here’s how we can act:
- Anchor our messaging. Use LP’s updated guides–Protecting Immigrant Rights Under a Hostile Federal Administration and Let’s Talk Real Safety–to align around a strong, consistent narrative. New content includes Best Practices for messaging on immigration and guidance on Responding to a Raid in your Community; and Addressing Public Suffering and Ending Harm and Surveillance, emphasizing the urgent need to move away from carceral solutions and toward real investments that address the root causes of harm.
- Interrupt policies that criminalize residents. Reach out to Interrupting Criminalization’s Help Desk for 1:1 assistance with any organizing, policy, budget, or litigation strategies.
- Strengthen community defense. Invite a local partner organization to sign up for National Immigration Project’s “Removal Defense for Community Defenders” training from May 15 through July 17.
📚 Calls to Action for Public Education
The federal government is poised to pass a billionaire-backed national voucher program that would defund our public schools and harm our students. It’s key that federal officials hear from folks on the ground about the harmful impact this defunding mechanism would have on students and the public education system. This toolkit from our friends at the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools and NYU Metro Center will help you join the ranks of fellow LP members reaching out to their representatives in Washington — it’s powerful for elected officials in D.C. to hear from local electeds!
Do you want to pass a resolution in your district about protecting public education? Do you want to connect with organizers who could work with you to advocate for this? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch to support with a draft resolution and an organizing toolkit from our partners at Public School Strong.
Our partners at Popular Democracy are convening Hands Off Our Schools organizing calls – the next two are May 14 and June 11. Want to sign up? More here.
🌍 How to Protect Communities Before and After Climate Disasters
Local elected officials need to know how to protect the communities they serve in the lead up to and before a climate disaster. Hurricanes, wildfires, and floods not only destroy people’s physical and emotional well-being but also can cause families to get to the brink of financial crisis. Working with community disaster recovery organizers, insurance consumer protection advocates, disaster response attorneys, and housing counselors, the Equitable and Just Insurance Initiative released a report that details how state and local governments can protect people’s financial well-being before and after climate disasters. The report details policy recommendations state and local governments can implement from protecting renters and homeowners to helping people avoid scams and holding fossil fuel companies accountable. Read the report here!
🏡Apply by June 9: Advance Tenant Screening Protections
Every year, approximately 3.6 million individuals facing eviction assume an additional concern for their future: the challenge of finding a new home with an eviction on their record.
Results for America, in partnership with PolicyLink, National Housing Law Project, National Consumer Law Center, TechEquity and Upturn, invites place-based teams to apply for an 8-week Solutions Sprint, Unlocked: Opening the Door to Housing Access Through Tenant Screening Protections. This free learning series will provide teams with the knowledge, tools and strategies needed to design and implement policies that prevent the harms of eviction records and tenant screening practices—and expand access to affordable housing.
🏡 Stay Connected to our Caucuses
Your one stop shop for caucus resources! Trying to remember when that next Women’s Caucus meeting is? Looking for the link to complete your Pride Caucus Survey? Want to join a caucus signal chat? Look no further! This link will continuously be updated with all upcoming Caucus events and asks so that you can constantly refer to it and make sure you’re up to date on when your next caucus meetings are.
Also, Local Progress is seeking a Healing Justice Consultant (or a team of consultants) to curate and facilitate healing spaces for our members in-person and remote spaces. The consultant will work in collaboration with LP staff and LP members to design and lead grounding and healing experiences rooted in trauma-informed practice, with an emphasis on multiple modalities, such as but not limited to, journaling, somatics, breathwork, verbal processing, sound, and movement. Please share with your network.
⚡️️ 2025 National Convening
We have less than 10 days until registration closes for our 2025 National Convening and we are almost at capacity! In July, we will gather local elected officials, movement partners, and donors who believe in the strength of bringing together people from different backgrounds and communities to build a country – city by city, county by county – where each of us can thrive. Join us in Chicago on July 10-12 to strategize toward this vision with a community of values-aligned peers and partners! Check your email for your invite and register by our May 21 deadline!
We have a packed summer and fall ahead with opportunities to engage in equitable transit and land use planning; continue the fight for increasing minimum wages and protecting tipped workers; and Local Progress’ National Convening in July!
If you’re interested in deepening your involvement to fight for racial and economic justice and wield local power to fight back against preemption at the state and federal level involved, you can schedule a time with me HERE!
We are always excited to bring new members into our work; your colleagues in local leadership positions can learn more about Local Progress and join HERE, partners can sign up too!
