Village Exchange Center
Empowering Change
Empowering Community Through Exchange
Celebrating religious and cultural diversity
Mission
The Village Exchange Center is a community center and multi-faith worship space that celebrates religious and cultural diversity by creating an inclusive environment where residents from all backgrounds can practice, interact, share, and develop together.
Vision
We seek to assist the immigrant and refugee population to feel empowered to use their existing strengths and unique perspectives to enrich the city’s diverse and inclusive community.
Our Impact
As we complete our fifth year of operations, we are proud to serve our community in a variety of ways and reflect on our successes:
Village Exchange Center Timeline
“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
2017
St. Matthew Lutheran Church donates the land and building, VEC is quickly established and partners with the City of Aurora, Office of International and Immigrant Affairs to implement the Natural Helpers Program and launches the Village Youth Afterschool Program
2018
VEC becomes a hub for multiple community organizations and congregations that are housed at VEC as community partners and is granted almost $900k from The Colorado Health Foundation to upgrade the building to support its youth and impactful programs
2019
Village Pantry is launched and continues to grow into 2020 distributing over 450,000 pounds of culturally responsive food in response to the global pandemic
2020
VEC launches multiple funds and grants $12.6MM in $1000 cash grants and up to $7500 in rental assistance to undocumented immigrants who lost their jobs during COVID with the Left Behind Workers Fund.
2021
VEC is chosen as a site for the Governor’s Equity Vaccine Clinics and provides over 3000 vaccines and launches a Vaccine Equity Fund. My Father’s House wins the Emerging Filmmaker Award at the Cannes Film Festival, American Pavilion Showcase.
Can we count on you for support?
When you donate you are investing in all of our communities and in our vision for a more equitable future for all of our neighbors. Please consider making a recurring donation.