History

The demographics of Denver changed in the 1960s when a large segment of the population moved farther away from the downtown core. Many former residents belonged to churches and when they moved, their churches and sources of philanthropy followed. In response, a coalition of churches formed five nonprofit inner city parishes across the country (Harlem, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and Denver) to provide necessary services and supplies to the residents who remained in the core urban areas.

The goals of the Inner City Parish movement were to foster social change and social action at the local level, serving those experiencing the effects of poverty through community-informed programming. Denver’s Inner City Parish is the remaining nonprofit of the five originally established and has kept the name Parish to emphasize work in a given geographical community, and though DICP originally served residents of West Denver, it now serves people from all over the Denver metro area and anyone who comes through our doors. All DICP’s programs are secular, excluding a non-denominational community worship group.

Denver Inner City Parish serves marginalized Denver residents in the face of high rents, food deserts and social isolation. Our programs are participant driven and we are highly responsive to the feedback of our community. The needs of our community have changed throughout the decades but we welcome our role in helping residents face whatever challenges life has in store for them.