With sincere gratitude, we thank Outreach Coordinator Eileen Krenzel Rojas for her contribution of this story about PeaceWorks, a truly amazing organization that has served our community for over 35 years.
“Since its founding, PeaceWorks, Inc. has helped thousands of individuals and families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence and abuse.”
PeaceWorks is a safe ear and confidential resource throughout all mountain Jefferson and Park Counties, metro Denver/Colorado Springs communities, and throughout Colorado, for victims/survivors of sexual assault, sex trafficking, stalking, domestic violence (DV)/intimate partner violence (IPV) and teen dating violence. Since its founding, PeaceWorks, Inc. has helped thousands of individuals and families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence and abuse.
PeaceWorks had humble beginnings. In 1986, PeaceWorks’ founder, a local Park County Commissioner, opened up her home, making a comfortable and safe place for women and children in need of shelter from DV/IPV and sexual assault. This Commissioner knew that pets are family and, in most cases, rural area residents have pets. From our beginning, pets have always been welcomed to shelter with their owners. PeaceWorks is one of five DV shelters in Colorado to shelter pets with owners, and the only one to offer foster care to livestock. Additionally, PeaceWorks is one of 10 shelters in Colorado that is able to support survivors of sexual assault independent of DV.
In 2006, our mountain community came together and completed an extensive renovation of a larger four-bedroom house, making it a home to those in need of shelter and safety in our community. The shelter moved into its current home, Safe Shelter, a 10-bed, short-term emergency shelter with four bedrooms and a separate, detached, heated pet shelter. PeaceWorks is also able to accept exotic animals and provides fostering of livestock. Safe Shelter provides a tranquil mountain setting for recovery—not an institutional setting.
Since our founding, PeaceWorks has expanded to provide services for victims of sex trafficking,
in addition to IPV, stalking, teen dating violence and sexual assault both independent of IPV and including IPV. As the shelter has grown,
so has PeaceWorks’ services. In 2019, PeaceWorks started providing mobile advocacy services to ALL community members, including Clear Creek County and throughout the Front Range, not just Jefferson and Park County residents. PeaceWorks staff and board know that healing comes from many different modalities. In response, in 2020, PeaceWorks began a Peace & Wellness program promoting integrative wellness through movement therapies such as Reiki, yoga, nature therapy and Block Therapy™, and with various support groups including empowerment and peer support. In 2022, PeaceWorks began our Community Wellness program to provide free healing opportunities for our local communities. PeaceWorks’ community is lacking support for sexual assault victims seeking Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) exams. In response, PeaceWorks is developing a multi-disciplinary community-based Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) program to support survivors of sexual assault, ages 15+. Today, the organization’s mission is to speak out against IPV and transform society’s response to IPV through awareness and education, while assisting and empowering survivors, their children and pets in their safety and healing through support and advocacy.
PeaceWorks, Inc. administrative offices are located at 30403 Kings Valley Drive, Suite 2-110E in Conifer. Someone is typically there during business hours, however it is always best to call us first at 303.838.7176 as we do get pulled away for emergencies. You can learn more on our website, peaceworksinc.co, and reach us via email at [email protected]. For 24/7 support, call or text 303.838.8181.
Taste of Italy
PeaceWorks, Inc. is very excited to announce that our largest fundraiser and the community favorite, Taste of Italy, is back after being on a two-year hiatus due to COVID. Please join us for the 18th Annual Taste of Italy, being held on Thursday, August 25. Taste of Italy is once again being held at the beautiful Historic Glen Isle Resort in Bailey. There will be live entertainment, a Live Dessert Auction, a silent auction, and food! Happy hour will begin at 5 pm and dinner will be served beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by calling the PeaceWorks, Inc. office at 303.838.7176 or by ordering them online at bit.ly/TasteItalyPWI
Happy hour will include your choice of beer and wine at $5 each. The homemade spaghetti dinner will feature choice of pasta, roasted spaghetti squash, choice of sauce, choice of meat, salad, bread and desserts. Like other years, the Live Dessert Auction will be auctioneered by the best auctioneer in our community, Retired State Representative Jim Wilson. Mastroianni’s Italian Bakery, LLC has already donated one of their infamous Tiramisus for the Dessert Auction. Other dessert items are still coming in!
There will also be an online Silent Auction featuring goodies and fun opportunities from our local communities. Longtime Conifer Rotarian and Conifer’s unofficial mayor, Angela Bassano, is volunteering her time and supporting PeaceWorks by soliciting donations from our mountain communities. Please support her and PeaceWorks, Inc. and consider donating today! With the silent auction being online this year, there is an opportunity to support PeaceWorks from afar! Be sure to check out the online auction (bit.ly/TasteItaly2022Auction). As items for the auction come in, we will be adding them to this website and you will have the opportunity to bid soon!
PeaceWorks, Inc. is excited to welcome everyone back for the 18th Annual Taste of Italy at Glen Isle this year and cannot wait to see you on August 25!
